Pick Your Poison

Pick Your Poison
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Original Air Date: 
October 13, 2018

Covert spies painting nerve agents on doorknobs? It's not the only way to poison someone. We hear stories of radioactive paint, formaldehyde-spiked baby formula, and a beautiful garden full of plants that could kill you.

The Borax Dinner Party That Kickstarted The FDA

"Poison Squad" Volunteers taking in a dinner with a side of Borax.
Articles

Science writer Deborah Blum on the government scientists who made the case for food regulation by "eating dangerously."

Length: 
11:47

A Garden of Deadly Delights

A poison garden
Audio

Amy Stewart is a serious gardener with a side gig – writing about all the plants that could kill you.

Length: 
06:38

How To Get Away With Murder According to Agatha Christie

Poison tea
Audio

Kathryn Harkup is a chemist with an expertise in poison. She’s made a close study of a famous poisoner that employed everything from arsenic to cyanide to knock off close to 300 (fictional) victims: Agatha Christie, the mystery writer.

Length: 
12:05

Women With A Toxic Glow

Articles

How painting radium on watches and instrument dials killed more than 50 young women working in Ottawa, Illinois.

From Benign to Deadly: A Brief History Of Household Poisoning

Articles

Throughout history, we've been surrounded by substances that seemed benign and innocent in our food, in our gardens, in our medicine cabinets — until we realized they could be slowly killing us.

Extras

Show Details 📻
Airdates
October 13, 2018
June 29, 2019
March 14, 2020
January 23, 2021
September 25, 2021
August 27, 2022
Guests: 

Deborah Blum

Author and Professor
deborahblum.com
ksj.mit.edu

Kathryn Harkup

Author and Chemist
harkup.co.uk
twitter.com

Amy Stewart

Author
amystewart.com
twitter.com

Kate Moore

Author
kate-moore.com
twitter.com
Categories: 
Science
Nature
Last modified: 
August 26, 2022