The Devil Within
Prayers for the Damned — Episode One: The Girl Who Wouldn’t Stay Saved
At 3:17 AM, the screaming stopped.
For twenty-three days, a convent in Earling, Iowa endured sounds that tested the limits of faith — inhuman voices, violent manifestations, and a woman whose suffering stretched back more than a century.
But the story of Anna Ecklund didn’t begin in America.
It began in a remote Austrian village… with a father’s betrayal.
Episode Overview
In Episode One, we follow the origins of what would become America’s most documented case of demonic possession.
This episode explores:
Emma Schmidt’s childhood in 19th-century Austria
The abuse and trauma that preceded her first possession in 1823
Early exorcism attempts by local priests
Strange phenomena: foreign languages, supernatural knowledge, violent reactions to sacred objects
The role of occult practices allegedly performed by her father and a local witch
The growing isolation of a family marked by fear, shame, and suspicion
The Church’s early failures — and the long shadow those failures would cast
As Emma becomes Anna Ecklund and emigrates to America, her symptoms disappear for years… until the darkness returns — stronger, more organized, and waiting.
Themes in This Episode
The intersection of trauma, faith, and possession
Generational sin and spiritual consequence
When religious intervention fails — and what that does to belief
How a single case can ripple through communities, clergy, and institutions
What Comes Next
By 1928, Anna is sixty-nine years old.
The Church prepares for one final attempt.
It will take twenty-three days.
And it will change how the Catholic Church understands possession forever.
🎧 LISTEN & FOLLOW
If you’re enjoying the show, make sure you’re following the entire Evio Creative lineup wherever you get your podcasts — The Devil Within, The Ides of April, Criminal Mischief, Taboo Treasures, Finding Me with Josh Wolf, and more — so you never miss a new episode.
⭐ RATE & REVIEW
Ratings and reviews genuinely help independent shows grow.
If you have a moment, leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more than you think, and yes… we read them.
📺 WATCH & SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
You can now watch full video episodes, clips, and exclusives from all Evio Creative shows on YouTube.
👉 Subscribe to Evio Creative on YouTube and turn on notifications so you don’t miss new drops across the network.
📲 FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
Follow for updates, visuals, and behind-the-scenes content:
• @thedevilwithinpod
• @idesofaprilpod
• @eviocreative
• @findingmewithjoshwolf (Instagram, TikTok & Facebook)
🌐 VISIT THE NETWORK
Explore all of our shows, projects, and upcoming releases at
eviocreative.com
✉️ GET IN TOUCH
Have a story, tip, correction, or something you think we should cover?
Email us at info@eviocreative.com
🔁 SHARE THE SHOW
If you know someone who loves true crime, history, horror, or stories that refuse to let go — share the episode.
Word of mouth keeps this network alive.
💼 SPONSORS
🛋️ RULA
Online therapy that takes your insurance.
Get matched with a licensed therapist today:
👉 http://www.rula.com/IDES
🧥 QUINCE
Luxury essentials at affordable prices.
Free shipping + 365-day returns:
👉 http://www.quince.com/MISCHIEF
📱 MINT MOBILE
Premium wireless for just $15/month.
Switch and get free shipping:
👉 www.mintmobile.com/DEVILWITHIN
🛰️ EXPRESSVPN
Protect your data anywhere.
Get up to 4 months free:
👉 http://www.expressvpn.com/DEVILWITHIN
🌿 MOOD
CBD and THC gummies shipped nationwide.
20% off with code DEVILWITHIN:
👉 http://www.mood.com/DEVILWITHIN
🐶 OLLIE DOG FOOD
Real, fresh, human-grade meals for your dog.
60% off your first box:
👉 http://www.ollie.com/IDES
💰 MONARCH
The only finance app you’ll ever need.
50% off your first year:
👉 www.monarchmoney.com/IDES
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices