What Are You Afraid Of? Horror & Paranormal Podcast

EPISODE 113: FOLK DEVILS & MORAL PANIC   On episode 113 of What Are You Afraid Of? Horror & Paranormal Show, authors T. Fox Dunham & Phil Thomas discuss an old concept in folk culture called moral panic. The most recent manifestation is the Momo Challenge. Momo is a horrific bird statue that first appeared in Japan, and according to the new urban legend, she assaults children and advises them to commit acts of self-harm. Momo is the most recent folk devil—the central antagonist causing moral panic—but the phenomenon goes back to the Salem Witch Trials, even further. In particular, Fox and Phil have kept their audience updated on evil clown sightings, and they discuss other relevant trends such as the satanic panic of the 1980s, the spurious demonic nature of Dungeons & Dragons and other events in hysterical society. Fox also plays the last part in his paranormal trilogy about Philadelphia’s most notorious haunted house, The Baleroy Mansion. The final chapter tells of dark heart of the house: