Plant Murder

About Plant Murder

Plant Murder is a podcast that unearths the deadly intersection of plants and true crime. Each episode delves into the dark history behind fascinating plants, their fatal impact on infamous figures, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding their use. Did a Roman Emperor really die from a tiny mushroom? Why did the Victorians invent a deadly pear? Who in the Borgias brandished Belladonna and which man-eating plants are only a myth? Discover the sinister side of nature’s flora. Hosted by Aaron J. Reardon, dig into the stories of poisonous plants and the fatal roles they’ve played in shaping human history. A Clever > Than Production https://www.patreon.com/Cleverthan www.cleverthan.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Aaron J. Reardon

Category

history · true crime

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Oct 2024

Latest episode

11 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Nov 2025

   Addendum - Garlic vs The Vampire's Surgeon

   Some background on the making of the episode, vampire panic and Hammer Horror. Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls: https://www.patreon.com/Cleverthan A Clever > Than Production Show theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRS Publisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   28 Oct 2025

   Garlic vs The Vampire's Surgeon (Johannes Flückinger)

   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/Cleverthan A Clever > Than Production Show theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRS Publisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   30 Jul 2025

   Addendum - Leningrad vs The Winter Pea

   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 (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   10 Jul 2025

   Addendum - Lucrezia Borgia vs Belladonna

   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 (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   4 Jul 2025

   Fresh Cuttings - Addendums, Butchers and A Sense of History

   The hosts of Plant Murder discuss addendums, audio mixes, listener comments, and the film *A Sense of History* in this episode.

6. 

   1 Jul 2025

   Errata - The Earl vs The Chained Oak

   The hosts discuss the episode "The Earl vs The Chained Oak," providing background information and analysis of its themes.

7. 

   27 Jun 2025

   The Earl vs The Chained Oak

   The podcast explores the legend of the Chained Oak of Alton Towers, examining its connection to the Talbot family tragedy and the potential origins of its deadly curse.

8. 

   14 Feb 2025

   Lucrezia Borgia vs Belladonna

   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 Kennard Plant Murder Ad free episodes, extras, discussion and polls: https://www.patreon.com/Cleverthan A Clever > Than Production Show theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRS Publisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

9. 

   28 Jan 2025

   Leningrad vs The Winter Pea

   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/Cleverthan A Clever > Than Production Show theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRS Publisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

10. 

    14 Jan 2025

    Lord Carnarvon vs Nile Papyrus (The Pharoah's Curse)

    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/Cleverthan A Clever > Than Production Show theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRS Publisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

11. 

    27 Dec 2024

    The York Princes vs The Barley Husk

    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/Cleverthan A Clever > Than Production Show theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRS Publisher: 2496 Sound and Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

12. 

    10 Dec 2024

    Violet Sharpe vs Bitter Almonds

    Violet Sharpe's tragic story of murder and systemic injustice unfolds in this gripping episode, raising questions of guilt, innocence, and the crushing weight of class and vengeance.

13. 

    31 Oct 2024

    Edgar Allan Poe vs The Ugni Blanc Grape

    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. Reardon Exceptional Voice Talents: Edgar Allan Poe - Jeremiah Dalton Frances Sargent Osgood - Tali Hamilton Special thanks to The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore 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/Cleverthan A Clever > Than Production Show theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRS Publisher: 2496 Sound and Music Some Ambiences composed by Michael Ghelfi Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

14. 

    13 Oct 2024

    Claudius vs The Death Cap Mushroom

    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/Cleverthan Written and narrated by Aaron J Reardon Voice Talents Quotes - Tali Hamilton Tacitus - 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 (2003 Aveline, 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.com A Clever > Than Production Show theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRS Publisher: 2496 Sound and Music Some Ambiences composed by Michael Ghelfi Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

15. 

    7 Oct 2024

    Teaser - Claudius vs The Death Cap Mushroom

    Teaser trailer for the upcoming episode - Claudius vs The Death Cap Mushroom Was 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 (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

10 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

20

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

81

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.