Voodoo is a religion found in parts of Africa and Haiti that's often misunderstood. In this episode, Josh and Chuck separate the faction from the fiction as they explore how Voodoo really works.
AI Summary
In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck explore the fascinating world of voodoo, separating fact from Hollywood fiction. They trace the religion's origins in West Africa and its evolution in Haiti, explaining how voodoo is actually a legitimate spiritual practice involving ancestral spirits called loa, not the evil spell-casting and zombie-making that movies have portrayed. The hosts dive into voodoo ceremonies, the role of spirit possession, and how the religion got mixed with Catholicism during colonial times, while debunking common Western misconceptions about this widely misunderstood faith.
Angel Heart
1987
1h 53m
★ 7.1
"Well, I mentioned Angel Heart. We should mention the movies real quick. Angel Heart. Great movie. — Josh mentioned this as one of the movies dealing with voodoo themes while discussing how films have contributed to misconceptions about voodoo."
— Josh
Blazing Saddles
1974
1h 33m
★ 7.2
"You know the line in Blazing Sails? Now go do that Voodoo that you do so well. — Chuck referenced this comedy film while wrapping up the episode and asking for listener mail from voodoo practitioners."
— Chuck
Live and Let Die
1973
2h 1m
★ 6.5
"And then, of course, Live and Let Die, we like to talk about Bond. I love that one. There's some voodoo in that. — Josh mentioned this James Bond film as containing voodoo elements, which led to a discussion about Roger Moore as Bond."
— Josh
Night of the Living Dead
1968
1h 36m
★ 7.6
"titled, Night of the Living Dead 2 colon — Josh referenced this zombie film title while discussing a 1984 research paper that made controversial connections between voodoo practices and AIDS transmission in Haiti."
— Josh
The Brady Bunch
1969
★ 6.7
"it's definitely not like you see in the movies or the Brady Bunch — Josh used this as an example of how voodoo dolls are portrayed incorrectly in popular media compared to their actual use in voodoo practice."
— Josh
The Serpent and the Rainbow
1988
1h 38m
★ 6.4
"Voodoo, Serpent in the Rainbow. Great movie. — Josh cited this as another voodoo-themed movie, noting it was based on Wade Davis the anthropologist's work but contributed to misconceptions about voodoo."
— Josh
White Zombie
1932
1h 7m
★ 6.0
"one of them was called White Zombie in 1932 — The hosts mentioned this as an example of movies from the 1915-1935 period that portrayed Haitian voodoo negatively during the U.S. Marine occupation of Haiti."
— Josh
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