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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPZwLYEVUK8 (Prime Video).…

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/B017AJTSBUBy Brett Edwards

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: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mussolini-Mustard-Gas-Fascist-Way/dp/1399051660…

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_VOW9xwvHhBy Brett Edwards

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 LureauBy Brett Edwards

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: https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2023/11/29-11-2023%20CSP-28%20_Statement%20Germany%…

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 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=bellingcat+book&adgrpid=1172080294039072&hvadid=73255220590861&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocp…

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 Lepick (2008) French Military biological programme, 1…

In this episode, I interview Professor Alastair Hay about his work as a toxicologist related to the prohibition of chemical weapons.By Brett Edwards

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 BBCBy Brett Edwards

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/By Brett Edwards

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 awe-inspiring Alexander Samuel, the terrific Tonio Andrade, and…

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) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poisonous-Affair-America-Gassing-Ha…

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=sharingBy Brett Edwards

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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FrD4XJcOw4…

You can find a link to Simon's work on this subject over at https://simonjoneshistorian.com/2019/08/27/first-air-dropped-cw/By Brett Edwards

Image and sound from the US national archives. Check out Reid's website over at Military Historian - Reid KirbyBy Brett Edwards

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: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wIibQJYobwyhFNC-OhjnLYkOwVizIjuJ?usp=sharing…

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, Nerve Agents, available at the national Archives. Video …

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 1939 German invasion. Between 1940 and 1942, a unit o…

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!By Brett Edwards

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 tanks) I do not own the media clips, they can be found her…

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 you will recall, in earlier episodes, we have been c…

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 these issues first hit the headlines over at https:/…

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 up until the mid -1960’s- which involved the spread of…

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: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wIibQJYobwyhFNC-OhjnLYkOwVizIjuJ?usp=sharing…

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=sharingBy brettwiedwards

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=sharingBy brettwiedwards

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=sharingBy brettwiedwards

Hello! Welcome to The Poisons and Pestilence Podcast!By brettwiedwards