The Devil You Know with Sarah Marshall

Episode 5: The Devil in Delaney

13 snips
Nov 17, 2025
Delaney, a woman whose life was deeply affected by childhood trauma and the satanic panic of the 1980s, shares her journey through her manuscript. Her struggle with repressed memories leads her to therapy, where she uncovers painful recollections of ritualized violence. The podcast explores the complex dynamics of memory, trauma, and societal influences during this tumultuous time. Delaney’s story reflects on the lasting impacts of her experiences and how she found purpose in community work and advocacy.
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ANECDOTE

Therapy Producing Vivid Ritual Memories

  • The episode recounts high-profile recovered-memory cases like Vanessa and Michelle Remembers where therapy produced vivid satanic memories.
  • Delaney compiled a manuscript in the 1990s blending memory, imagination, art, and fragments to make sense of her past.
ANECDOTE

Peeling Back Childhood Layers

  • Delaney found a counselor in 1987 who listened and validated her, beginning a process of peeling back her childhood memories.
  • She recalled alcoholism, corporal punishment, and chaos at home that contrasted with earlier pristine memories.
INSIGHT

Recovery Culture Encouraged Memory Interpretation

  • Self-help and recovery books like The Courage to Heal framed many life problems as signs of repressed childhood sexual abuse.
  • Checklists and therapeutic techniques made interpretation of dreams and symptoms into presumed memories.
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