Best Cleverly Ridiculous Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 275 - Christmas Q&A Special 2:17:56

Play Pause

6d ago2:17:56

2:17:56

Happy holidays, Merry Christmas and Good Krampus Vibes to all! This is our end of year, festive Q&A special - and extra long episode where we answer all of your questions, drink fizz and sample some spicy pigs-in-blanket. From queries about the show and poisons to our ideal festive snacks, perfect holiday and Nick's thing about being an official he…

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Ep 274 - The Brutal Vengeance of Olga of Kiev 59:13

13d ago59:13

59:13

Ep 274 is loose! And we have another badass woman from history tell the tale of Saint Olga, one ruler you really did not want to mess with... Who was Olga? Why was she so hell bent on revenge? And should we use more birds in warfare? The secret ingredient is...a boat! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by fo…

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Ep 273 - The Bloody History of Marie Tussaud 1:11:41

20d ago1:11:41

1:11:41

Ep 273 is loose! And we're diving into the history of one of the world's most famous attractions, Madame Tussauds! Who was the woman behind the famed house of wax? How did she learn her skills? And is this the most tenuous cocktail link in history? The secret ingredient is....wax! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales eve…

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Ep 272 - The Double Life of Eugène-François Vidocq 1:04:53

27d ago1:04:53

1:04:53

Ep 272 is loose and we're off to France to hear the tale of a man who played on both sides of the law... Who was Eugene? How did a criminal end up leading a police force? And how do YOU Google? The secret ingredient is...a rogue! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by following and subscribing to The Poisoner…

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Ep 271 - Kings, Queens and Clever Marketing in the Viking Age 1:05:32

1M ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Ep 271 is loose! And we're heading way back to the time of the Vikings for a few tales of adventure, of bloody feuds and very bad bargaining... What do you REALLY know about the Vikings? Who was Gunnhildr, Mother of Kings? And why you should never trust a Viking travel brochure... The secret ingredient is...Norway! Thanks again to Villains Rum for …

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Ep 270 - Roxelana & The Ottoman Empire 56:00

1M ago56:00

56:00

Ep 270 is loose and we're off to the Ottoman Empire to learn about Hürrem Sultan who became one of the most powerful woman in the empire's history. Who was Roxelana? How did she win the heart of Suleiman the Magnificent? And why oh why oh WHY did this week's cocktail happen? The secret ingredient is...Constantinople! Get cocktails, poisoning storie…

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Ep 269 - Eleanor of Aquitaine 54:33

2M ago54:33

54:33

Ep 269 is loose and we have another badass woman from history - the mighty Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine who ruled England AND France. How did she rise to power? How did she bag two kings? And are sons always more trouble than they are worth? The secret ingredient is...a QUEEN! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every wee…

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EP 268 Halloween Special: The Terrifying Witch Trials of Europe 1:03:40

2M ago1:03:40

1:03:40

Ep 268 and our Halloween special is loose! And we have more gruesome tales of 'witches' and the truly chilling trials and hunts that took place in Europe for centuries. How did the witch trials start in Germany? What happened in Würzburg? And who was Magic Jack? The secret ingredient is... even MORE witches!!! Happy Halloween spooky ones! Get cockt…

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Ep 267 - Mad Science & The 'Real' Dr Frankenstein 58:43

2M ago58:43

58:43

Ep 267 is loose! And it being spooky season, we thought we should explore another 'Universal Monster' and dive into the history of Frankenstein! Who or what was the inspiration for Mary Shelley's great gothic novel? What crazy experiments were carried out in the pursuit of beating death? And how do you like your frogs' legs? The secret ingredient i…

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EP 266 - Murder in Portsmouth & The Bloody Footprints 54:53

2M ago54:53

54:53

Ep 266 is loose! And this week a man and his housekeeper lie in pools of blood in their Portsmouth home... Who wanted Mr Langtrey dead? Why were these killings so vicious? And have we found another truly clueless policeman? The secret ingredient is...a barber's pole! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by fol…

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Special Episode - Vampires of Asia 53:40

3M ago53:40

53:40

This is a special release of one of our Halloween Patreon episodes from 2024 in place of the main episode for 10th October 2025, due to illness. In the spirit of spooky season and bloodsuckers, Nick brings us tales and crazy folklore from China, Japan and Malaysia about gruesome creatures of the night. A scary twist for October, enjoy! Get cocktail…

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EP 265 - Horror on Long Island 52:49

3M ago52:49

52:49

Ep 265 is loose and we're off to Long Island (a place that Nick has a LOT of facts about) as a terrible crime has been committed. But who is responsible? What happened on Long Island in 1883? Who would target so many innocent people? And DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG LONG ISLAND IS???: The secret ingredient is...a tramp! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and…

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Ep 264 - Edward II, Isabella of France & A Pointy Fate 58:57

3M ago58:57

58:57

Ep 264 is loose and we're diving back to the 1300s to tell the tale of Edward II who was said to have died in a pretty nasty way. But what bout his badass wife? Was Edward II a good king? What drove Isabella to seek revenge on him? And why was everyone so hot in this? The secret ingredient is...a red hot poker! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and …

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Ep 263 - The Drama of the Druse Household 57:25

3M ago57:25

57:25

Ep 263 is loose and we have a grim and gruesome tale of a family not exactly living in harmony. Why has no one seen William Druse lately? What went on behind the closed curtains? And do you live in fear of old chokey? The secret ingredient is...a revolver! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by following and …

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Ep 262 - The Marvelous Mary Quackenbos 1:01:43

3M ago1:01:43

1:01:43

Ep 262 is loose and we have the tale of the woman dubbed Mrs Sherlock Holmes! Who was Mary Quackenbos? How did she fight crime? And why don't more people know about her? The secret ingredient is...a magnifying glass! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by following and subscribing to The Poisoners' Cabinet wh…

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Ep 261 - The Princes in the Tower 1:03:39

4M ago1:03:39

1:03:39

Ep 261 is loose and we are tackling the huge, haunting mystery at the heart of the War of the Roses - what happened to the princes in the tower? What led to the young boys' disappearance? Was Richard III responsible? And why did all these cousins keeping slapping each other? The secret ingredient is...a tower! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and h…

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Ep 260 - The Messy Legend of Dick Turpin 1:02:53

4M ago1:02:53

1:02:53

Ep 260 is loose! And this week it's the tale of that dashing highwayman Dick Turpin...but WAS he all that dashing? Who was this masked myth? What was the real story behind his crimes? And what make-up do you wear in the woods? The secret ingredient is...some very villainous rum! Thanks to the lovely people at Villains Rum https://villainsrum.com/ f…

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Ep 259 -Helen Duncan, The Blitz Witch 1:11:58

4M ago1:11:58

1:11:58

Ep 259 is loose, it's the 1940s and we have another witch on our hands. OR DO WE? Who was Helen Duncan? What led to her being on trial under rumours of witchcraft? And can YOU taste the hoisin sauce? The secret ingredient is...bleach! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by following and subscribing to The Poi…

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Ep 258 - The Batavia & Horrors on the High Seas 51:15

4M ago51:15

51:15

Ep 258 is loose! And it's time to make a voyage to the East Indies, but I wouldn't advise boarding the Batavia to get there... What makes this vessel so famous? Why didn't it make it to its destination? And was everyone terrified of the wallabies? The secret ingredient is...the East Indies! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime…

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Ep 257 - Wat Tyler & The Peasants' Revolt 56:18

5M ago56:18

56:18

Ep 257 is loose! And the peasants are revolting! Rude... It's time for the tale of the peasants' revolt and the folk hero Wat Tyler. What caused the people to rise up in 1381? Why do we remember Wat Tyler's name? And have you ever tried to impress someone with a pointy shoe? The secret ingredient is...peasants! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and …

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Ep 256 - The Body In The Garage 57:10

5M ago57:10

57:10

Ep 256 is loose! And we have a dead body on our hands, and a locked....garage! What happened to Vivian Messiter? What happened in that garage in Southampton? And can juries be trusted? The secret ingredient is...a wolf! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by following and subscribing to The Poisoners' Cabinet…

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Ep 255 - The Fox Sisters' adventures in Spiritualism 58:30

5M ago58:30

58:30

Ep 255 is loose! And it's time to gather around the table and see if we can hear any knocks or clicks from the other side... Who were the Fox Sisters? How did they become so famous? And what was up with their toes? The secret ingredient is...a fox! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by following and subscrib…

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Ep 254 - King James' Bewitched Voyages 1:07:34

6M ago1:07:34

1:07:34

EP 254 is loose! And we're back with our old 'pal' King James VI/I to look at the sea voyages that inspired him to hunt witches en mass across Scotland and England. Why did stormy weather cause such a stir in the monarch? Who was dragged to North Berwick Witch Trials? And how much padding does your wedding outfit require? The secret ingredient is..…

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Ep 253 - The Legend of Ma Barker 1:00:08

6M ago1:00:08

1:00:08

Ep 253 is loose! And we've got a gang on our hands, lead by the notorious Ma Barker. Or was it...? Who was Ma Barker? How did she get this fearsome reputation? And did we find the perfect summer cocktail? The secret ingredient is...silver nitrate! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by following and subscribi…

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Ep 252 - The Pazzi Conspiracy 1:00:50

6M ago1:00:50

1:00:50

Ep 252 is loose! And we're off to 15th century Italy where people are plotting to take down the most powerful family in Florence, the Medici... What was the cause of the Pazzi Conspiracy? What went wrong in the cathedral? And how do you like your tea syrup? The secret ingredient is...a conspiracy! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical tru…

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Ep 251 - The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 1:12:10

6M ago1:12:10

1:12:10

We're back for season 6 and headed straight to the oooold West with Wyatt, Doc and other people in big hats for one of the most famous fights in history. What caused the famous gunfight? Who was involved in the shootout? And how do you moor a horse? The secret ingredient is...tombstone! ∙ Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime t…

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Bonus Patreon Release - The Many Lives of Julie d'Aubigny 43:26

7M ago43:26

43:26

Bonus Patreon release! As we are on our season break, enjoy this free episode from our Patreon files. It's a wild ride with the tale of hard fighting, hard singing, globe trotting and free loving Julie d'Aubigny, the wild woman of 17th century France! Are the tales about her to be believed? We think so... Get cocktails, poisoning stories and histor…

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Ep 250 Season 5 Finale: The Disappearance of Agatha Christie 1:11:16

7M ago1:11:16

1:11:16

It's our season 5 finale! And we're dealing with the sudden disappearance of the Queen of Crime in 1926... What happened to Agatha Christie for 11 days in December? Is it a conspiracy? Or was someone spreading nasty rumours? The secret ingredient is...Professor Plum in the Library with the Candlestick! Also as mentioned in the show here is the link…

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Ep 249 - The Ouija Board Murders 1:00:15

8M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

Ep 249 is loose and this week it's the bizarre, mystical case of murder, artists and Ouija boards. Who would want Clothilde Marchand? Were the spirits whispering warnings or was there a nastier presence at work? And would you take off your clothes for a smooth-talking artist? The secret ingredient is....MORE witches!! Get cocktails, poisoning stori…

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Ep 248 - Norman Baker & The Quack's Cure for Everything 57:15

8M ago57:15

57:15

Ep 248 is loose! And we have the tale of an inventor, performer, broadcaster and conman Norman Baker. Who was this boisterous chap from Iowa? Did he really have a cure for cancer? And what trained animals do you send through the mail? The secret ingredient is...watermelon! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week …

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Ep 247 - Du Yuesheng, Kingpin of Shanghai 1:02:43

8M ago1:02:43

1:02:43

Ep 247 is loose! And we are off to China for the tale of a notorious mob boss who presided over Shanghai with an iron fist. Who was Du Yuesheng? How did he gain control of the city? And how do you like your twigs serves? The secret ingredient is... Shanghai! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by following an…

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Ep 246 - The Earl of Sandwich and His Deadly Love Triangle 1:03:16

8M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

Ep 246 is loose and we have the 4th Earl of Sandwich, the beautiful Martha Ray, the pining Rev James Hackman, and two loaded pistols... Did John Montagu really invent everyone's favourite lunch? What led to a bloody showdown at the theatre? And what on EARTH happened with this week's cocktail? The secret ingredient is...a sandwich! Get cocktails, p…

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Ep 245 - Who put Father Casper in the trunk? 54:54

9M ago54:54

54:54

Ep 245 is loose! And there's a strange smell coming from a rented room in a New York apartment... What on earth happened to Father Casper? What was in his secret pouch? And could we drink this week's cocktail? The secret ingredient is...a priest! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by following and subscribin…

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Ep 244 - The Murder of Juan Borgia 1:05:54

9M ago1:05:54

1:05:54

Ep 244 is loose and we're back with the Borgias for another dive into this famous family's secrets - particularly the death of one sibling... Who would want Juan/Giovanni Borgia dead? Who was sleeping with who? And what did the donkey know? The secret ingredient is...a masked man! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales eve…

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Ep 243 - Luther Jones & His Felonious Foolery 1:05:29

9M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

Episode 243 is loose, and we have the little-known tale of Luther Jones, a career criminal! And a bad one at that. Why did Luther turn to a life of crime? Why did he keep making mistakes? And how do you serve your bean beverages? The secret ingredient is...poker! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by followi…

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EP 242 - Poison, plots and penance: Terrible Popes Through History 1:05:26

9M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

Ep 242 is loose! And we're taking a look at some of the worst popes in history - criminals, plotters, and madmen. Why did so many Popes live debauched lives? Why was a dead pope put on trial at Cadaver Synod? And who was plotting to poison Pope Leo X in an...unusual way? The secret ingredient is...a pope! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and histor…

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Ep 241 - Who Killed Pamela Werner? 56:33

10M ago56:33

56:33

Ep 241 is loose and we're off to China for one of Nick's famous episodes from the Far East. And it's a brutal tale of murder and mystery this time... Who was Pamela Werner? Who would want her dead? And where would you definitely not go cycling? The secret ingredient is...Beijing! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales ever…

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Ep 240 - Seven Assassins for Queen Victoria 1:13:16

10M ago1:13:16

1:13:16

Ep 240 is loose! And this week we look at the multitude of men who seemingly tried to get rid of Queen Victoria. Who were the seven assailants? Did they really want the queen dead? And how do YOU walk around the park? The secret ingredient is...assassins! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by following and s…

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Ep 239 - Lyda Southard & The Terrible Typhoid 1:00:15

10M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

Ep 239 is loose! And we have a good ol' fashioned poisoning story from the deadly Lyda Southard. Who was this flame haired beauty? Why did so many men sign her papers? And will there be an alarm this week...? The secret ingredient is...fever! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every week by following and subscribing to…

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Bonus Episode - 5th Bday Q&A! 2:02:11

10M ago2:02:11

2:02:11

A sizzlingly sensational special bumper Q&A episode, to mark 5 years of the Poisoners' Cabinet! Nick and Sinead answer a stack of questions from fans about the show, about life and about snacks. It's a much more relaxed episode with no main case and lots of silly fun, and occasional grown-up content. Thank you everyone, for an amazing 5 years; we l…

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Ep 238 - Madness, Mayhem & Murder in Ancient Rome 1:08:53

10M ago1:08:53

1:08:53

Ep 238 is loose on our 5th birthday - and to celebrate we're going to Rome! We dip our toe into the huge history of the Roman Empire and chat weird facts and crazy stories featuring famous and lesser known figures from the ancient city... Was Caligula really as mad as people said? Did Nero fiddle while Rome burned? And what do you write on your cur…

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Expert Witness: Cathryn Kemp & A Poisoner's Tale 36:53

10M ago36:53

36:53

Was Giulia Tofana a murderer...or a saviour? This is the question posed by Cathryn Kemp in her new historical fiction novel, A Poisoner's Tale - a retelling of the legend of Giulia and her poison, Aqua Tofana. Cathryn kindly joined us to talk about her process for writing the book, the story of Giulia and the main players in her story, and her advi…

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Ep 237 - Stephen Ballew & The Quincy Fiend 1:07:03

10M ago1:07:03

1:07:03

Ep 236 is loose! And we're headed to Quincy, Illinois where a dashing young man has arrived at his extended family's farm with big tales and big promises... Who was Stephen Ballew? What business did he really do? And how do you like your silk shirts? The secret ingredient is...flint! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales …

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Ep 236 - Polly Bodine & The Murderous Media 53:59

11M ago53:59

53:59

Ep 236 is loose and we're looking at the case of Polly Bodine, the Witch of New York accused of a horrific murder and tried by the press for it... Who was Polly? Why would she want her sister-in-law dead? And where do you put your granite to sleep? The secret ingredient is...an apothecary! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime …

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Special Episode - The Strange Story of Phineas Gage 47:54

11M ago47:54

47:54

It's a special episode from our Patreon files! And we tell the incredible story of Phineas Gage... Originally broadcast on Patreon in October 2024, this Deadly Nightcaps episode follows on from Ep 217 and delves deeper into the pseudoscience of phrenology and the story of a man who seemingly changed completely after an unfortunate accident with an …

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Ep 235 - The Secret Murder of Jane Stanford 58:31

11M ago58:31

58:31

Ep 235 is loose and we're off to the hallowed halls of Stanford University to discover what really happened to one of its founders... Who was Jane Stanford? Why would anyone want her out of the way? And what do you shout out on dates? The secret ingredient is... a university! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales every we…

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EP 234 - Elizabeth Duncan & Motherly Love 1:02:00

11M ago1:02:00

1:02:00

Ep 234 is loose and we're telling the story of how having a mother-in-law can quite literally can be murder... Who was Elizabeth Duncan? Why was she so obsessed with keeping her son close? And which friend would you ask to help plan a crime? The secret ingredient is...a mother-in-law! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime tales…

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Ep 233 - The Deadly Work of The Radium Girls 1:04:30

12M ago1:04:30

1:04:30

Ep 233 is loose! And this week we have the terrifying tragic tale of the Radium Girls and their fight for justice. Why was radium all the rage in the early 1900s? Why were so many women working with poison daily? And where do you put your toxic waste? The secret ingredient is....honeycomb! Get cocktails, poisoning stories and historical true crime …

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Revisited: Ep 2 & The Bradford Sweets Poisoning 52:13

12M ago52:13

52:13

It's the second of our Revisited episodes where we take another look at the story of the Bradford Sweets Poisoning! Revisited are new bonus episodes where we re-record and refresh early episodes of The Poisoners' Cabinet to improve quality and offer new perspectives - and drinks! This week, it's the story of the mass poisoning at Humbug Billy's swe…

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Expert Witness: Poisons of Japan with TK from For The Love Of History 49:24

12M ago49:24

49:24

How do you like your tea? Deadly? In this instalment of Expert Witness, Sinead speaks to the wonderful TK from For the Love of History podcast about the popular poisons from days gone by in Japan. Expect ninja, curious teapots and early versions of pepper spray. For the Love of History is available on all podcast platforms, give them a follow! http…