Remember Mike Warnke, the world’s #1 Christian comedian from Episode 3? We’ll revisit his story with a little fact-checking, but first, we introduce you to another infamous figure of the Satanic Panic: Lauren Stratford. Her memoir, Satan’s Underground, recounted her harrowing experience with satanic ritual abuse in vivid, gruesome detail—capturing the imagination of millions. However, years after her book became a bestseller, her story was thoroughly debunked as a complete fabrication. But Lauren wasn't done. She resurfaced with a new name and a whole new grift.

As we unpack her rise and fall, we’ll also explore the broader cultural forces at play during the Satanic Panic. From the rise of daycare culture sparking anxieties around working mothers to the growing awareness of child sexual abuse, we examine how these societal fears were manipulated by the media to create and spread exaggerated, harmful narratives.

Resources:

Dr. Laura Robinson, New Testament Scholar, Butler University

Satan’s Sideshow: The True Lauren Stratford Story by By Bob & Gretchen Passantino and Jon Trott

Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a production of Christianity TodayHosted and written by Mike CosperProduced by Rebekah Sebastian, with production assistance by Dawn AdamsSound Design and Mix Engineer: TJ HesterSound Design, Animation, and Video: Steve ScheidlerGraphic Design: Nim Ben ReuvenMusic by Dirt Poor RobinsErik Petrik and Mike Cosper are the executive producers of CT Media Podcasts, and Matt Stevens is our senior producer.

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