Plant Murder

Johannes Flückinger was a military surgeon sent to a frozen Serbian village in 1732 to explain a series of deaths the locals blamed on the dead rising from their graves. The villagers armed themselves with garlands of garlic, swearing its scent alone kept the revenants at bay. What Flückinger found defied every principle of medicine he had learned in Vienna: bodies unnaturally preserved, blood fresh in their veins, and villagers whispering one name...Arnold Paole. In this episode, we exhume one of Europe’s strangest medical reports, the Visum et Repertum Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls:https://www.patreon.com/CleverthanA Clever > Than ProductionShow theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRSPublisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A warm welcome to new listeners. An update on addendum episodes, new episodes, audio mixes, some comment shout outs and a short film reco. Special thanks to the gang at Rusty Quill Network and ACAST. A Sense of History: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105355/Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls:https://www.patreon.com/CleverthanA Clever > Than Production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spoilers for the episode.Some background and discussion about the episode The Earl vs The Chained Oak. Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls:https://www.patreon.com/CleverthanAlton Towers Amusements: https://www.altontowers.com/Wicker Man Roller Coaster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf3FEAN3HIw&t=3sRonald Hutton - Lecture on Druids: https://youtu.be/Q1FgRKzAF_Y?si=Ts7Ex_luMNUCZjN7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beneath the rain-soaked hills of Staffordshire stands a tree bound in iron: the Chained Oak of Alton Towers. Some say its branches hold the deaths of a dynasty; others call it a tourist trap with roots in stolen land and old resentments. But when tragedy cut through the Talbot family, suspicion circled the woods: a poacher’s vendetta, a servant’s secret, a ghost in the nursery, or something much older, an ancient order guarding nature’s law. Who chained the oak and created the deadly curse?Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls:https://www.patreon.com/CleverthanA Clever > Than ProductionShow theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRSPublisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some extra thoughts about the Showtime series, Borgia vs Medici and French obsessions.Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls:https://www.patreon.com/Cleverthan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive into the turbulent life of Lucrezia Borgia in this episode of Plant Murder. Explore the myths and truths surrounding one of history's most infamous women. Was she a master poisoner or merely a pawn in the deadly games of Renaissance Italy? From Victor Hugo's dramatic portrayals to her tender exchanges with Pietro Bembo, and a provocative Tate Gallery painting, we dissect the legacy of a woman whose story is as complex as it is misunderstood. Join us as we peel back the layers of scandal and suspicion that have clouded the true story of Lucrezia Borgia.Featuring the voice talents of John KennardPlant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls:https://www.patreon.com/CleverthanA Clever > Than ProductionShow theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRSPublisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spoilers for the episode.Some discussion on plant domestication and crop preservation, Leningrad struggles during the siege and Soviet propaganda cinema. Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls:https://www.patreon.com/Cleverthan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the Siege of Leningrad, as bombs fell and over a million people starved, a small group of scientists protected something extraordinary, something the Germans would have done anything to seize. But the real battle wasn’t just against the enemy at the gates—it was against Stalin’s regime, which threatened to undo everything they fought to protect. In this episode of Plant Murder, we uncover the untold story of resilience, betrayal, and the secrets that held the key to humanity’s survival.Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls:https://www.patreon.com/CleverthanA Clever > Than ProductionShow theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRSPublisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

November 1922. In the scorching Valley of the Kings, a sealed tomb is breached for the first time in millennia. Months later, Lord Carnarvon—financier of the discovery—lies dead. Whispers of a curse spread like wildfire: was it the vengeance of Anubis, guardian of the dead? Or could the true killer have been lying in wait among the sacred papyrus garlands and ancient wreaths meant to protect the boy king?In this episode of Plant Murder, we follow the deadly trail of mold spores unleashed from within Tutankhamun’s tomb. From the life-giving marshes of the Nile to the suffocating stillness of the afterlife’s chambers, we’ll uncover how a plant meant to symbolize eternity may have carried a more sinister legacy. Join us as myth collides with science in the story of a curse that transcends time.Subscribe for ongoing episodes, please rate and review to help the show.Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls:https://www.patreon.com/CleverthanA Clever > Than ProductionShow theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRSPublisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1483, beneath the cold stones of the Tower of London, two young brothers—Edward V and Richard of York—vanished into the shadows of history. Was it a knight’s trembling hand guided by loyalty or the dark whispers of a ruthless king that sealed their fate? And what role could a humble barley-stuffed pillow play in one of England’s most infamous mysteries?Join us for this episode of Plantagenet Murder as we unravel the secrets of betrayal, power, and the deadly intersection of history and agriculture. From the blood-soaked fields of Towton to the shadowed corridors of the Tower, we’ll explore the twists and turns of a murder that reshaped the course of a nation—and ask the question that still echoes centuries later: who killed the Princes in the Tower?Subscribe for ongoing episodes, please rate and review to help the show.Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls:https://www.patreon.com/CleverthanA Clever > Than ProductionShow theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRSPublisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this gripping episode of Plant Murder, we delve into the tragic and mysterious story of Violet Sharp, a young British maid entangled in the shadow of the Lindbergh kidnapping. Amid the frenzy of America's most infamous crime, Violet’s life unraveled under relentless scrutiny, shifting alibis, and mounting suspicion. Her tragic death—by poison with the scent of bitter almonds—left behind questions of guilt, innocence, and the crushing weight of systemic injustice. Was she a scapegoat for a desperate nation seeking answers, or did she carry dark secrets to her grave? Join us as we explore the storm of class, grief, and vengeance that turned Violet’s life into a cautionary tale of justice gone awry.Subscribe for ongoing episodes, please rate and review to help the show.Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extra, discussion and polls:https://www.patreon.com/CleverthanA Clever > Than ProductionShow theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRSPublisher: 2496 Sound and MusicSome Ambiences composed by Michael Ghelfi Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Step into the fog-drenched streets of 19th-century Baltimore, where one of literature's darkest minds, Edgar Allan Poe, took his final, mysterious steps. Was it madness, murder, or something far stranger that led to Poe’s demise? This episode of Plant Murder uncovers an unexpected suspect: the Ugni Blanc grape, the humble foundation of cognac, a drink that Poe may have known too well. We journey through his tangled life and storied obsessions, tracing the poisonings, heartbreak, and rumors of alcoholism that tainted his final days.Could the pale grape and its potent spirit have been one of his last companions, pulling him into a fevered haze? Or does something more sinister lie beneath the city’s gas-lit glow? We examine the enigma of Poe’s missing days and the haunting legacy he left behind.Join us for this exploration of Edgar Allan Poe’s final days in this spine-chilling Plant Murder episode.Written and narrated by Aaron J. ReardonExceptional Voice Talents:Edgar Allan Poe - Jeremiah DaltonFrances Sargent Osgood - Tali HamiltonSpecial thanks to The Edgar Allan Poe Society of BaltimoreSubscribe for ongoing episodes, please rate and review to help the show.Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extra, discussion and polls: https://www.patreon.com/CleverthanA Clever > Than ProductionShow theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRSPublisher: 2496 Sound and MusicSome Ambiences composed by Michael Ghelfi Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Claudius, the emperor of Rome, is seated at a feast surrounded by his family, his trusted servants, and an assortment of delicacies. but something about this night is different. It happens fast—. One minute, he’s gorging himself on his favorite foods, the next, he collapses, and vomits blood across the mosaic floor, his body convulsing. Within hours, he’s dead. As Claudius lay gasping for breath on the cold marble floor, his body wracked with convulsions, the evidence of his murder was already slipping away. What killed him? Poison in the mulsum wine. The stuffed dormice, the oysters? Or his favorite, a tiny hidden killer – slipped onto his place of Mushrooms! And who put it there?Join us for this episode of Roman intrigue as we peel back the mystery and determine if it was Plant Murder! For ad-free episode, extras, extended reading, Q&A's, polls and discussion Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CleverthanWritten and narrated by Aaron J ReardonVoice TalentsQuotes - Tali HamiltonTacitus - John Kennard*A note on ableism and Claudius: While history often mocks Claudius as a fool, it’s important to remember that these slights were due to his perceived indecisiveness and political naivety, not his physical afflictions. His stammer, limp, and other challenges were frequently weaponized against him by a ruthless elite, but his struggles did not define his intellect or accomplishments. In fact it showed great strength of character to weather those slights and persist. Claudius’ weakness lay in his trusting nature, not in his disabilities. It is my hope that this episode reflects that understanding. Sources for this episode:The many fantastic lectures of historian Mary Beard (youtube)Swindle, Jenifer M. A Rhetorical Use of Women in Tacitus' Annales (2003Aveline, John. The Death of Claudius (2004)Carney, T.F. The Changing Picture of Claudius (1960)Green, C.M.C. Claudius, Kingship, and Incest (1998) -Griffin, Miriam. Claudius in Tacitus (1990)Grimm-Samuel, Veronika. On the Mushroom That Deified the Emperor Claudius (1991)Paschalis, Michael. The Afterlife of Emperor Claudius in Seneca's Apocolocyntosis (2009)Vessey, D.W.T.C. Thoughts on Tacitus' Portrayal of Claudius (1971) Subscribe for ongoing episodes, please rate and review to help the show.www.plantmuder.comA Clever > Than ProductionShow theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRSPublisher: 2496 Sound and MusicSome Ambiences composed by Michael Ghelfi Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teaser trailer for the upcoming episode - Claudius vs The Death Cap MushroomWas a powerful Roman emperor really murdered by a tiny mushroom?Coming soon from Clever > Than and The Rusty Quill Network. www.rustyquill.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.