PODCAST · history
Poisons and Pestilence
by Brett Edwards
A tour of the history of biological and chemical warfare
Episodes
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44 Movie Review Special: Cold Storage with Conor Browne
Trailer Rights;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kea7gnh1uYA
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43 Bonus Episode Major Tom and the Secret M-Device with Brian Tasman-Davies
In this episode we return to the history of the M-Device with Brian Tasman-Davies You can check out the book here: Major Tom and the secret ‘M’ device – Brian's historical adventure books We also did a previous episode on this topic with Simon Jones: 13 Bonus Episode: The M Device with Simon…
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42: Manchineel Sugar
In this episode we examine the earliest reference to poison arrows in accounts of European expeditions to the Americas in the 15th Century. This is the first part of a study which runs up untill around 1700. You can check out the show notes here:...
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41 Bonus Episode: Poisoned Weapons with Reid Kirby
Reid Kirby will be publishing his book in June. Follow him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkirby/ Media Credits: ABC news. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-jA96JgD9U
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40 Bonus Episode: From Loos to Livens with Jessica Morris
In this episode Jessica Morris discusses her work on the evolution of British Gas Strategy during WW1.
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39 Bonus Episode: Destroying Syria's Chemical Weapons with Jerry Smith
In this episode I discuss operational aspects of the destruction of declared Syrian CW stocks - with Jerry Smith. Recorded November 2024.
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38 Bonus Episode: Clouds over the Hague with Jean Pascal Zanders
You can check our more of Dr Zander's work over at The Trench – Challenging entrenched positions - Jean Pascal Zanders
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37: Arsenic Aria
This episode examines poisoning renaissance Italy You can check out the show notes here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wIibQJYobwyhFNC-OhjnLYkOwVizIjuJ?usp=sharing
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36 Bonus Episode: Have you got your gas mask? with Nathan Hazlehurst
In this episode Nathan discusses WW2 ARP preparations for gas attacks on civilian centres. Media source: Have Your Gas Masks With You (1941-1946) (youtube.com) I do not own the rights to this clip, used under fair usage.
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35 Bonus Episode: 'Back to Source ' with Seth Carus
In this bonus episode I am joined by Seth Carus, as we explore some of the earliest allegations of biological warfare- as well as the more recent modern developments, which transformed ancient fears, into Cold War era weapon systems. Do check out these two studies, I think they are great: Carus…
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34 Bonus Episode: Experience of a Porton Down Test Veteran with Ian Foulkes
In this episode I talk about Ian's experience as a Porton Down research volunteer as a serviceman during the 1980's. Ian is eager to contact other former veterans - please email be directly at Bwie20[@]bath.ac.uk. The most substantive publicly available report on this subject, which we are aware...
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33 Bonus Episode: Bio-threats ain't what they used to be (or are they?) with Michael Parker
In this episode we look at the history of bio-threat assessment. With a review provided by Michael Parker, who has collated a list of threat assessments produced over the past century. You can find further details on the project here! Do check it out! https://cobrabiosecurity.org/ Further…
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32 Bonus Episode: History of Czechoslovak Gas Masks with Andrej Boron
Find Andrej's work over at: https://www.youtube.com/@cbrnacademy And the video is available here https://youtu.be/Xf3vW3pWIm8?si=-Mpz5eNteHG61o84
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31 Movie Review: The Omega Man with Conor Browne
All clips are from the following trailers. Used under fair usage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWlNe1-5wb8&t=9s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWB6Ufh4O98 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtKMEAXyPkg&t=25s
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30 Bonus Episode: Why do bugs go bad?
In this episode I discuss pathogens, as well as security screening in the gene synthesis industry- with someone who isn't that sectors namesake- but has done a lot of work relevant to it: Gene Godbold, from Signature Science LLC.
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29 Movie Review Special: The Expanse with Emily Ricotta
Another movie special ! The expanse- and the space fungus hypothesis! With Dr Emily Ricotta. https://www.emilyricotta.com/ I do not own the right to the trailer, which is used under normal critique and review exemptions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0QwBp_da28
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28 Movie Review Special: Fallout with Gwyn Winfield
In this movie review special Gwyn Winfield discusses the series 'Fallout'- and touch on the depiction of the environmental effects of nuclear weapons- among other things. Fallout is available on Prime Video. Gwyn's magazine: https://cbrneworld.com/ Trailer audio used under fair usage:...
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27 Bonus Episode: The Sulphurous Schemes of Lord Dundonald
In this episode we examine some 19th century chemical warfare plans, which were a prelude to the first large scale use of gas warfare in WW1. Book link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Admirals-Secret-Weapon-Dundonald-Stephenson/dp/B017AJTSBU
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26 Bonus Episode: Mustard and the Fascist Way of War with Charles Stephenson
In this episode, I am joined by Charles Stephenson, who discusses the use of chemical weapons by Italian invaders in the war against Ethiopia in the campaign of 1935-6. You can find the book he recently published on this topic here:...
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25 Movie Review Special: The Rock with Steve Johnson
The second of our movie review specials. This one looking at The Rock (1996). With Steve Johnson https://x.com/CBRNEsteve?t=_sSXmOA7t4xGzvcW8TUYPA&s=09 I do not own the rights to the trialer used here under fair use. Epic rap battles https://youtu.be/_wYtG7aQTHA?si=RltWpU_VOW9xwvHh
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24 Movie Special: Outbreak and Contagion with Saskia Popescu
In our first ever movie review special, Dr Saskia Popescu reviews the classics Contagion (2011) and Outbreak (1995). This episode was edited and produced by the wonderful Nicolas Lureau
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23 Bonus Episode: Tear Gas Tasting Notes with Dan Kaszeta
In this episode we consider the long and complex history of Riot Control Agents- from the first world war, to the battlefields of modern Ukraine. There is also a list of recent statements below made in the context of the OPCW on the Ukraine issue:...
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22 Bonus Episode: Foreign Agents with Eliot Higgins
In this episode I discuss the emergence of OSINT and Bellingcat- with a focus on work related to chemical weapons. Sources: https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/have-chemical-weapons-been-used-ukraine Book...
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21 Bonus Episode: The French Connection with Etienne Aucouturier
In this episode, we examine the development of the French CBW programme post WW-2 Etienne Aucouturier (2023) Biological Warfare. Another French Connection https://materiologiques.com/en/histoire-des-sciences-et-des-techniques/303-biological-warfare-the-french-conection-9782373612394.html Olivier...
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20 Bonus Episode: No Fire No Thunder with Alastair Hay
In this episode, I interview Professor Alastair Hay about his work as a toxicologist related to the prohibition of chemical weapons.
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19 Bonus Episode: Dark Power with Karl Dewey
Karl Dewey (2022) Poisonous affairs: Russia’s evolving use of poisons in targeted killings https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/poisonous-affairs-russias-evolving-use-of-poisons-in-targeted-kil https://twitter.com/KarlDewey1 Audio credit: Clip BBC
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18 Bonus Episode: The Clouds of Auguste Trillat with Étienne Aucouturier
A history of the foundation of the French BW programme. You can find a list of Etienne's publications here: https://irfu.cea.fr/Pisp/etienne.aucouturier/
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17 I’m all about that basilisk
In this episode, we examine the western gunpowder revolution and consider ideas for poison weapons which were outlined at this time in numerous military manuals. I am very grateful for the input from: the stupendous Seth Carus, the amazing Anna Roessing, the unbelievable Una Jacob, the...
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16 Bonus Episode: Before the Storm with Al Mauroni
In this episode we examine preparations by the US in the advent of Operation Desert Storm (2003) for dealing with what was believed at the time to have been a large Iraqi CBW capability- with Al Mauroni. Further reading: A Poisonous Affair: America, Iraq, and the Gassing of Halabja (2007)...
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15: Baby, you Khan light my fire(-lance)
The latest installment- covering the spread of gunpowder west, via the Mongols. Show notes available at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wIibQJYobwyhFNC-OhjnLYkOwVizIjuJ?usp=sharing
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14 Bonus Episode: Dirty War with Glenn Cross
You can check out Glenn's book here: Dirty War: Rhodesia and Chemical Biological Warfare 1975-1980 - Glenn Cross - Google Books We didn't have time to cover the smaller and largely exploratory BW aspect of this programme but hopefully we will in s future episode. Audio clip:...
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13 Bonus Episode: The M Device with Simon Jones
You can find a link to Simon's work on this subject over at https://simonjoneshistorian.com/2019/08/27/first-air-dropped-cw/
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12 Bonus Episode: Bio-chemical Airpower with Reid Kirby
Image and sound from the US national archives. Check out Reid's website over at Military Historian - Reid Kirby
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11: Great Balls of Fire
In this episode we examine the impact of the development of gunpowder on chemical and biological warfare. We focus on China in the 9th -16th centuries. Next week we follow the spread of gunpowder west. Show notes are available here:...
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10 Bonus Episode: The bottom of the barrel with Dan Kaszeta
In this episode Dan discusses his work examining the life of Edmund Tilly. After WW2 Tilly interrogated those involved in the German chemical warfare programme- which was the first to develop and produce a nerve agent ' Tabun'- on a large scale. Sound Credits: This clip is from the 1963 film…
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9 Bonus Episode: ’The Polish Retort’ with Robert Petersen
During World War II, the Polish resistance movement used chemical and biological weapons (CBW) against the Third Reich. The use of CBW against the Third Reich most likely originated in a secret Polish biological-weapons program, which existed in the 1930s and went underground after the September...
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Season 2 Teaser
Won't be long until we are back looking at poison arrows, toxic smoke, water poisoning and the laws of war from the 13th to the 18th century. Drop me a line if you have ideas for the show!
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8 Bonus Episode: ’Survive to Fight’ with Gareth Davies
In this episode, we look at transitions in Chemical and Biological defence in the British army between the tail end of the Cold War and the Gulf War. We talk about noddy suits- and I didn't make a joke about being cold once. Be sure to say hello to Gareth on Twitter ( especially if you like…
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7: If you buboe me by now
Hello! And welcome to episode 7 of the poisons and pestilence podcast- If you buboe me by now. Now I had a great time putting together the last two specials- and I hope you enjoyed them. However, it is high time we returned to our trundle through the history of biological and chemical warfare. As...
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6 Bonus Episode: ’The Monks of Moonfleet’ with Mike Kenner
You can check out the Declassified MOD film on the Lyme Bay Trials here (a clip of this appears in the show audio) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTwQJ1ASyws&t=302s You can also check out various documentaries and excerpts of press coverage of the Zinc Cadmium and Lyme Bay Trials produced when...
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5 Bonus Episode: ‘Clouds over Gas Lane‘ with Mike Kenner
Welcome to the first-ever bonus episode of the poisons and pestilence podcast! This episode is the first in a two-part special on large area biological weapon simulant trials, carried out in the UK during the Cold War. In this episode, we focus on work carried out by scientists from Porton Down…
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4: Fire in the hole
This episode we're going to be looking at the time- period between roughly 1 AD and 500AD. As we continue our trundle through the history of chemical and biological weapons and warfare You can check out the show notes here:...
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3: I don‘t love you Hellebore
In Episode 3, we examine the history of biological and chemical warfare from 1000BC to 1AD You can check out sources and show notes at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wIibQJYobwyhFNC-OhjnLYkOwVizIjuJ?usp=sharing
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2: Hittite me Plaguey one more time
In Episode 2, we continue our discussion of pre-historic biological warfare Check out the show notes for this episode here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wIibQJYobwyhFNC-OhjnLYkOwVizIjuJ?usp=sharing
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1: Shoot that Poison Arrow
The first episode covers the pre-history of poison arrows- check out the show notes here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wIibQJYobwyhFNC-OhjnLYkOwVizIjuJ?usp=sharing
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A tour of the history of biological and chemical warfare
HOSTED BY
Brett Edwards
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Poisons and Pestilence have?
Poisons and Pestilence currently has 47 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Poisons and Pestilence about?
A tour of the history of biological and chemical warfare
How often does Poisons and Pestilence release new episodes?
Poisons and Pestilence has 47 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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Who hosts Poisons and Pestilence?
Poisons and Pestilence is created and hosted by Brett Edwards.
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