Demonology, Real Life Possessions, and the DEADLIEST Cults Ever
Demonology, Real Life Possessions, and the DEADLIEST Cults Ever  
Podcast: HORRORble Podcast
Published On: Wed Mar 25 2026
Description: Professor Joseph Laycock joins Askia to break down demonology, exorcism, and the academic study of spirit possession. They cover the real history behind "The Exorcist," the global prevalence of demon beliefs, the Satanic Panic, and why unregulated exorcisms can get people killed.______________________________Check out some of Joe's books!https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2206651/joseph-p-laycock/https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002I728MQ?ccs_id=290752eb-287c-4dff-b55c-e86b6ce01b23Get Yumwoof, the healthiest food for dogs, for 20% with our code HORRORBLEhttps://yumwoof.com/HORRORbleGo check out Warming Trends, the company that built the amazing fire centerpiece on our set! https://www.warming-trends.comProduced by Q6 Mediahttps://q6.media______________________________Joseph Laycock is a religious studies professor that gets roughly two calls a month from people convinced they're possessed (he stays out of it, because he's not a mental health professional, and he's definitely not an exorcist). This episode goes deep on the etymology of the word "demon," the Nephilim, books that got cut from the Bible, and why "The Exorcist" triggered a wave of real exorcism requests that still hasn't stopped.______________________________Timestamps:00:00 - Introducing Joseph Laycock01:48 - Growing up with religion and horror03:40 - Alien abductions05:53 - Demons in modern society10:21 - Religious studies vs theology12:59 - Exorcisms gone horribly wrong14:20 - What really is a demon?18:36 - Animal sacrifice23:27 - Nephilim and the Book of Enoch31:08 - Possessions and inherited demons35:28 - Santería38:20 - Santa Muerte42:58 - Spirit possessions around the world50:16 - What does Hell look like in other religions?56:01 - The impact of The Exorcist (1973)1:06:43 - The Satanic Panic1:14:44 - Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker)1:15:12 - 764 criminal organization1:19:46 - What exorcisms actually look like1:32:15 - What is a cult?1:38:18 - Jonestown cult1:40:10 - Branch Davidians cult FBI standoff1:42:26 - Order of the Solar Temple cult1:42:42 - Aum Shinrikyo cult1:42:58 - Heaven's Gate cult1:45:10 - The occult