After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
Episode: Who Was Nostradamus?
Hosts: Anthony Delaney & Maddy Pelling
Date: November 13, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling dive into the life and legacy of Nostradamus—one of history’s most enigmatic figures, often credited with predicting devastating events like the Great Fire of London, the rise of Hitler, and 9/11. The hosts unravel the real story behind Michel de Nostredame's transition from plague doctor and apothecary to famed prophet, exploring themes of science, superstition, personal tragedy, and the cultural need to believe in prophecy. The conversation is lively, skeptical, and peppered with historical insight and wry humor.
Key Topics & Discussion Points
1. Nostradamus’s Early Life and Renaissance Education
[04:39-07:07]
- Born in 1503 as Michel de Nostredame in a Jewish family that converted to Catholicism, making him something of an outsider.
- Studied languages, mathematics, and astrology under his grandfather; later attended University of Avignon for liberal arts, and then Montpellier for medicine.
- “He grows up, like many a Renaissance man, learning languages, mathematics and astrology from his grandfather.”—Maddy [04:39]
- At this time, astrology wasn’t considered odd; it was a respected blend of science and tradition.
2. Professional Shifts: From Doctor to Controversial Figure
[07:07-09:58]
- Pursued multiple careers: medical practice, faith healing, printing almanacs (combining calendars with astronomical data).
- “He's involved in the printing of almanacs... suggests to me that he understands the power of getting this information out there and the power of print, actually, and spreading ideas, spreading your own agenda.”—Maddy [07:33]
- Treated plague victims in the 1530s; was expelled from Montpellier for being an apothecary, which was considered less prestigious.
- Suffered personal tragedy: lost his first wife and children to the plague.
- After expulsion and bereavement, wandered through Europe, developing interests in the occult, astrology, and herbalism.
3. Conflict with the Church and the Inquisition
[09:58-11:45]
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Faced accusations of heresy (reportedly for criticizing a religious statue), causing him to flee potential torture and investigation by the Inquisition.
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Lived as something of a fugitive, using this period to reinvent himself and gather diverse knowledge.
“The Inquisition do become involved and want to question, torture him. So he goes on the run. This is around sort of 1538.” —Maddy [10:29]
4. Building a Reputation: From Almanacs to Prophecies
[12:24-14:57]
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Settled in Salon, France, remarried, had six children.
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Began compiling his famous book Les Prophéties in poetic quatrains composed in a blend of French, Latin, Greek, and Occitan—imparting scholarly legitimacy.
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Published successive editions: the final (1568) posthumous edition counted 942 quatrains.
“He writes them all as four line poems, which says... a lot about his training, his education, and his desire to insert himself into a learned space.” —Maddy [14:22]
5. The Prophecies: Game Time with Interpretations
[19:47-25:11]
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Maddy reads out selected quatrains, and Anthony tries to guess the corresponding historical event—demonstrating their extreme vagueness and adaptability.
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Events purportedly “predicted” include:
- The Great Fire of London [20:27–21:18]
- The French Revolution [22:18–22:35]
- The rise of Hitler [23:24–23:47]
- JFK assassination [24:01–24:49]
“That is not a prediction of the Great Fire of London.” —Anthony [21:18]
6. Nostradamus & Conspiracy Culture
[25:11-27:00]
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The continued reinterpretation of Nostradamus’ prophecies through modern catastrophes like 9/11.
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Exploration of how vague prophecy enables wide-ranging conspiratorial thinking.
“Do you know where I first became aware of Nostradamus? ... 9/11. That’s when I first became aware of Nostradamus because there was talk that he had predicted this catastrophe.” —Anthony [25:27]
7. Nostradamus at Court: Legitimacy and Patronage
[26:23-27:22]
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Catherine de Medici’s fascination brought Nostradamus into royal circles.
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The famous death of Henry II in a jousting accident, reportedly predicted by Nostradamus, is discussed as a key episode cementing his myth.
“She brought him into the fold, and she was very interested in what he had to say. And one of the things that he had to say was a prediction about her husband, Henry II of France.”—Maddy [26:32]
8. Nostradamus's Death and Legend
[27:22-29:56]
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Died in 1566 (heart failure from gout), after allegedly predicting his own death.
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Persistent myths include French Revolutionaries drinking from his skull, and the mystical plaque prophesying his exhumation—debunked as legend.
“The night before he dies... he makes his final prediction. He says, ‘Tomorrow I will be no more.’” —Maddy [28:20]
9. Debates on Gender, Class, and Witchcraft
[30:45-31:56]
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Discussion of how Nostradamus's status as an educated man may have spared him the fate of “witches”—most often prosecuted women or marginalized men.
“Would a woman making these predictions have got so far? Would she have survived?” —Maddy [31:15]
10. The Enduring Appeal of Divination
[32:18-36:05]
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Reflection on Nostradamus’s lasting legacy and the human need for prophecy in uncertain times.
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Personal anecdotes about tarot readings, skepticism vs. hope, and the psychological comfort sought through divination.
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Literal suggestion that tarot can act as a tool for self-reflection, not just prediction.
“It offers you some control.”—Anthony [35:21]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Nostradamus’s Range:
“He’s sort of a jack of all trades, master of none kind of vibe.” —Maddy [08:40] -
On the Craft of Prophecy:
“He writes them all as four line poems... people will take the prophecies seriously if they are trained.” —Maddy [14:22] -
On Vagueness:
“That is not a prediction of the Great Fire of London.” —Anthony [21:18] “You could read it as anything.” —Maddy [22:59] -
On Modern Conspiracies:
“You can see where there’s a link between Nostradamus and conspiracies on the Internet now.” —Maddy [25:11] -
On Death and Self-Prediction:
“The night before he dies... he makes his final prediction. He says, ‘Tomorrow I will be no more.’” —Maddy [28:20] -
On Gender Privilege:
“Would a woman making these predictions have got so far? Would she have survived?” —Maddy [31:15] -
On the Allure of Prediction:
“It offers you some control.” —Anthony [35:21] -
Humorous Self-Reflection:
“Virgo and Aquarius shall rise from the ashes...” —Anthony [32:33]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [04:39] Introduction to Nostradamus’s life and context
- [07:07] Early career: medicine, almanacs, and faith healing
- [09:58] Personal tragedies and dispute with the university
- [10:29] Inquisition and exile; formation of an occult reputation
- [12:24] Settlement in Salon and start of the prophecies
- [14:08] Format and publication of his prophecies
- [19:47] Nostradamus Game: analyzing sample quatrains
- [25:11] Nostradamus, conspiracy, and 9/11
- [26:23] Patronage of Catherine de Medici and court notoriety
- [27:22] Death, posthumous myth, and final prediction
- [30:45] Gender and class debate
- [32:18] Discussion about tarot, scepticism, and the need for control
Summary
This episode critically explores the legend and reality of Nostradamus, blending teasing skepticism with genuine curiosity. The hosts trace Nostradamus’s life from outsider scholar to plague doctor, occult wanderer, and published seer. Through reading and playfully deconstructing his famously ambiguous quatrains, they show how his reputation has outlived his era—thanks, in part, to humanity’s eternal fascination with fate, tragedy, and patterns.
The critical discussion affirms that the real story of Nostradamus is less about true prophecy and more about the social, psychological, and historical needs that allow such legends to flourish—needs that are still alive and well, from Renaissance France to modern internet culture.
For further episodes: expect more dives into history’s spookiest stories, with the same sharp wit and skeptical lens.