RQ Network Feed Drop – Plant Murder: Claudius vs The Death Cap Mushroom

We are featuring a feed drop from a brand-new show recently launched on the RQ Network: Plant Murder. Created and Hosted by Aaron Reardon the talented creator behind Selene.  

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. 

In this first episode, Claudius, the emperor of Rome, is seated at a feast surrounded by his family, trusted servants, and assorted 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 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! 

Introduction and outro by Billie Hindle. Listen to Plant Murder on The Rusty Quill website, on Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts, or learn more about Plant Murder on its official website.  

For ad-free episodes, extras, extended reading, Q&A's, polls and discussions you can join their Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Cleverthan 

Credits: 

Written and narrated by Aaron J Reardon 

Voice Talents 

Quotes - Tali Hamilton 

Tacitus - John Kennard 

Show theme: Poetic Justice by John Humphrey PRS 

Publisher: 2496 Sound and Music 

Some Ambiences composed by Michael Ghelfi Studios 

*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 can be found on the notes of the original episode on Plant Murder here: Plant Murder Episode 1

Content warnings: Poisoning, Murder, Conspiracy, Sudden Death, Eating / Overeating, Sickness, Bleeding, Bullying 

Mentions of: Incest  

SFX :  Sickness, Gurgling, Dying noises 

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