Ridiculous History – "The Spiritualism Movement Was Utterly Ridiculous, Part One: A Prank Goes Viral"

Podcast: Ridiculous History (iHeartPodcasts)
Hosts: Ben Bowlin, Noel Brown
Guest: Jonathan Strickland (aka The Quizzter)
Release Date: March 5, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively and irreverent episode, Ben, Noel, and returning guest Jonathan Strickland take listeners on a winding journey through the origins of the 19th-century Spiritualism movement. They uncover how a viral prank by two young sisters sparked a global craze, examine the interplay between science, religion, and belief, and introduce the influential (and sometimes ridiculous) early figures whose ideas fueled the rise of mediums, séances, and the search for answers from beyond the grave.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Universal Fascination With the Afterlife

• Humans have always been obsessed with what happens after death, giving rise to spiritual beliefs and heated debates on consciousness and the soul ([00:52]–[01:35]).
• Ben: "Pretty much from the moment humans started humaning, everybody has been...concerned about what happens after they die." ([00:52])
• Noel: "It's the foundation of so many belief systems and debates...it gets people pretty heated." ([01:16])

2. Spiritualism Defined: Communicating With the Dead

• Spiritualism is described as a 19th-century movement centered on belief in communication with the dead, often via mediums and séances ([08:28]).
• Some spiritualists were true believers; others were hucksters chasing fame or fortune.
• Noel: "These, you know, kind of self proclaimed spiritualists, for better or worse...sought to make contact with the dead, usually through a form of seance." ([08:28])

3. The “Science” of Belief: Swedenborg and Mesmer

Emanuel Swedenborg ("Manny Swedes") [13:32–22:24, 26:15–28:12]

• Swedish polymath whose visions and writings inspired ideas about structured heavens, hells, and the spirit world.
• Claimed to receive divine instructions, detailing a cosmology with three heavens and three hells.
• Ben: "He writes prolifically...and a lot of his proposed discoveries...are way different from earlier accepted Christian thought." ([20:14])
• The hosts riff on his "Swissness," make cheese/knife jokes, and debate the seriousness of his claims.
  • “His name...literally translates to something like Sweden Castle." ([14:23])
• Notable exchange on whether Swedenborg was inspired, mentally unwell, or opportunistic ([18:18]–[18:49]).

Franz Mesmer [28:12–32:09]

• Austrian healer; originator of Mesmerism (hypnosis, 'animal magnetism').
• Believed invisible magnetic fluids could be manipulated to cure illness or induce trances where spirits visited.
• Jonathan quotes the Smithsonian:
  • "Mesmer proposed that everything in the universe...was governed by a magnetic fluid that could become imbalanced, causing illness. By waving his hands...he induced a mesmeric hypnotic state..." ([29:46])
• Discussion of how developing scientific understanding of invisible forces (like magnetism and gravity) made spiritualist ideas plausible in the popular imagination.

4. Andrew Jackson Davis: Spiritualism’s Mainstreaming “Seer” [32:09–34:35]

• Davis blended Swedenborg and Mesmer’s ideas, claimed trances in which he received messages from the spirit world.
• Authored 'The Principles of Her Divine Revelations and a Voice to Mankind', making the field both mystical and accessible.
• Comparison to Joseph Smith and Mormonism's founding revelations.

5. The Fox Sisters & The Prank That Went Viral [36:35–43:44]

• The movement's explosion begins with a childhood prank:
  • Maggie (14) and Kate Fox (11) in Hydesville, NY, claim to hear “spirit rapping” (knocks) in their home ([37:41]).
• The girls convince both their mother and the community they are in touch with the dead – even providing detailed answers to questions via knocks.
• Jonathan: "If you've ever told a little lie...and your life becomes...entangled...I feel a lot of empathy toward the Fox sisters because...they could not extricate themselves because there was just way too much pressure to keep the story going." ([38:21]–[39:04])

6. Rochester: A Perfect Storm for Movements [41:39–43:44]

• The girls are sent to live in Rochester, NY—a hotbed for new religions and social movements, including Mormonism and Seventh-day Adventism.
• The city’s openness to spiritual experimentation primes it for the wildfire growth of spiritualism.

7. Exploiting Grief: The Power of Hope [47:49–51:46]

• The upper class, grieving Post family invites the Fox sisters for séance demonstrations.
• Their apparent success at channeling the dead spreads rapidly; soon, the sisters are performing in front of hundreds.
• Ben: "This would prove to be the engine of spiritualism’s success...targeting the vulnerable." ([48:49])
• Noel: "Hope is a hell of a drug, right?" ([49:24])
• The hosts discuss cold reading, mentalist tricks, and how belief (and sometimes mere entertainment) can overrule skepticism.

8. Spiritualism Becomes Show Business [52:56–59:01]

• The Fox sisters go on tour, giving séances in elite hotels and societies, with up to three “shows” a day.
• They attract notable intellectuals, social reformers, and celebrities—many convinced of their powers.
• Ben: "The show...became the thing to see, like going to see Hamilton..." ([57:38])
• Some skeptics debunk them (noting their talent for cracking toe joints!) but most audiences want to believe.

9. The Role of Technology & Confirmation Bias [59:01–61:43]

• The belief in and popularity of spiritualist phenomena grows alongside emerging tech (photography, telegraph).
• The hosts compare spiritual photography and death masks to so-called “magical” innovations.
• Jonathan: "There is an association between the supernatural and technology because...photography seemed akin to magic." ([60:13])

10. Looking Ahead: The Rise & Fall of Spiritualism

• The episode ends with the Fox sisters at the height of their fame.
• Tease for Part Two: Why did spiritualism eventually fall from grace? ([61:43])
• Jonathan: "I was so excited to be on here. I hope I did not interject too much." ([61:57])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Spiritualism’s Appeal:
  "Forget those crotchety, creepy priests. I'm going to roll up my sleeves. I'm going to hold a seance. I will be the person who saves my soul."
  — Ben Bowlin ([55:12])

• On Grief and Hope:
  "Hope is a hell of a drug, right?"
  — Noel Brown ([49:24])

• On the Original “Viral Lie”:
  “I feel a lot of empathy toward the Fox sisters because...at a certain point, they could not extricate themselves because there was just way too much pressure to keep the story going.”
  — Jonathan Strickland ([38:48])

• On Science Making the Supernatural Plausible:
  "If you can have an invisible force in front of you...then why not a spiritual force as well?"
  — Jonathan Strickland ([31:20])

• On the Rise of the Medium as Celebrity:
  "They did three shows a day around this giant table...the show became the thing to see."
  — Noel Brown & Ben Bowlin ([57:26]–[57:38])

• On Skepticism and Belief:
  "The power of belief was so strong that many learned individuals were taken in...including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle."
  — Noel Brown ([59:01])

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:52]–[01:35] — Why people are obsessed with the afterlife
• [08:28] — Defining Spiritualism
• [13:32]–[22:24] — Deep dive into Emanuel Swedenborg’s influences & wild beliefs
• [28:12]–[32:09] — Franz Mesmer and the appeal of “invisible forces”
• [32:09]–[34:35] — Andrew Jackson Davis: “Seer” and popularizer
• [36:35]–[43:44] — The Fox Sisters’ prank sparks a movement
• [41:39]–[43:44] — Rochester as fertile ground for new religious ideas
• [47:49]–[51:46] — Grief, cold reading, and the rise of spiritual séances
• [52:56]–[59:01] — Spiritualism becomes entertainment and big business
• [59:01]–[61:43] — Tech, confirmation bias, and spiritualism’s mainstream moment
• [61:43]–[63:55] — Wrap-up; tease for Part Two

Tone & Style

• The hosts blend humor, skepticism, and genuine curiosity—never shying from poking fun at both dupes and hucksters but always expressing empathy for the grieving and those desperate for answers.
• Running gags involve puns, personal anecdotes, and tongue-in-cheek references to pop culture (e.g., “Loopers”, “Swissness”, “Greatest Showman”).
• Clear focus on the intersection of human psychology, belief, and the sometimes ridiculous ways we seek meaning.

Summary

This episode kicks off a two-part deep dive into Spiritualism, tracing its bizarre, prankish roots through the legendary (and sometimes laughably fraudulent) figures who propelled it. Rich with historical context, contemporary parallels, and pointed wit, it’s both an accessible primer for the uninitiated and a treasure trove of oddities for fans of the weird and wonderful in history.

Look out for Part Two: How Spiritualism Fell from Grace!