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Episode 1

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Published on:

4th Dec 2025

The Girl Who Shook France: The Possession of Martha Brossier

Welcome, my December souls!

A young French woman ignites chaos in the 1590s when claims of demonic possession turn her into a national obsession. Was Martha Brossier truely tormented... or performing for influence?

Follow me as I delve into the case that rattled priests, physicians, and even the king's court.

*Listener Discretion is Strongly Advised*

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Sources & Further Reading:

A True Discourse vpon the Matter of Martha Brossier of Romorantin (1599), translated by Abraham Hartwell

Anita M. Walker & Edmund H. Dickerman, “A Woman Under the Influence: A Case of Alleged Possession in Sixteenth-Century France,” Sixteenth Century Journal

D.S. Ferber, Possession and Exorcism in the Sacramental Life of Early Modern France

“Martha Brossier” — Encyclopedic and secondary analyses, including Wikipedia for contextual reference

Further Reading:

Nancy Caciola, Discerning Spirits: Divine and Demonic Possession in the Middle Ages (Cornell University Press, 2003)

Sarah Ferber, Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Modern France (Routledge, 2004)

Brian Levack, The Devil Within: Possession and Exorcism in the Christian West (Yale University Press, 2013)

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About the Podcast

Beauty Unlocked the podcast
Buckle up and get ready as I delve into a variety of topics regarding physical beauty.

We'll take a look at our society's obsession with physical beauty and the consequences these impossible beauty standards have had on us.
Let's face it; this fascination regarding physical beauty and body image isn't a recent phenomenon; it has been around for centuries, crossing borders, and has affected men and women alike.
The realization of this podcast has come about by my own experiences having to deal with society's perverse notion of physical "perfection" and researching an array of topics that have intrigued me over the years.
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About your host

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Carissa Vikis

Hey there!
I'm Carissa, host, content creator, and producer of the indie podcast Beauty Unlocked.
Growing up, I was frequently compared and criticized for my looks and weight. This started the vicious cycle of being self-critical and loathing my body. I knew I wasn't the only one suffering from society's ridiculous notion of what "we should look like." I started digging deeper and researching various topics, and the rest is h(er)story!
Beauty Unlocked The Podcast aims to educate and bring awareness of our society's obsession with physical beauty and the emotional consequences these impossible beauty standards have. Beauty Unlocked's social media platform showcases not only my work but that of other artists, illustrators, and fellow podcasters that I admire and that share a similar message of inspiration, empowerment, positivity, and raising awareness on a variety of social issues.