Pick Your Poison: Deadly History, Poisonous Secrets and Toxic Towns

From Victorian murder mysteries to modern-day poisonings, workplace scandals and an entire community exposed to toxic pollution… this episode is enough to make you look twice at what's lurking in the shed.

This week, it's just Emma and Carrie, and we're in full throttle as we explore the fascinating, frightening and sometimes downright unbelievable world of poison.

We're talking historical poisonings, notorious cases, questionable human behaviour and the extraordinary ways people have found to kill one another throughout history. Expect dark British humour, some genuinely jaw-dropping stories and the occasional bout of raucous laughter as we ask ourselves one very reasonable question: what on earth is wrong with people?

We explore common poisons, from cyanide and carbon monoxide to medicines, lead and mercury, and discover how substances that have legitimate uses can also become dangerous or deadly.Then we turn to some extraordinary cases from history and closer to home.

We also explore the tragic story of the Radium Girls, young factory workers who suffered devastating consequences after repeated exposure to radioactive paint while painting luminous watch dials. Their fight for justice raises uncomfortable questions about workplace safety, corporate responsibility and what happens when people are assured that something is safe when it isn't.

We discuss a disturbing modern British criminal case involving Adina Mihai and Madalin Dumitru, in which men were incapacitated with a drug during robberies and two victims died. It's a sobering reminder that a substance doesn't have to be administered with the intention to kill for the consequences to be fatal.

But perhaps the most unsettling story is one in which there wasn't a single poisoner at all.

Welcome to Corby, Northamptonshire, the town at the centre of the story behind Netflix's Toxic Town.

Following the reclamation of the former steelworks site, families raised concerns about a cluster of children born with missing or damaged fingers and toes. Their fight for answers led to a landmark 2009 High Court judgment concerning the council's negligent handling of contaminated waste and the connection between airborne pollutants from the reclamation work and the children's birth defects.

It's a story about ordinary families questioning what was happening to their children, the power of people comparing experiences, and the devastating consequences when environmental contamination and public accountability collide.

From deliberate poisoning to accidental exposure, occupational hazards and environmental contamination, this episode takes us through the many ways toxic substances can change or end lives.

It's dark history, forensic curiosity, human behaviour and some uncomfortable modern realities, all delivered with the honesty, humour and curiosity you've come to expect from us.

Content note: This episode discusses poisoning, murder, suicide, workplace-related illness, industrial pollution and birth defects.

A note on research and accuracy: This episode is a part educational and part entertainment based conversation, based on historical records, published research and publicly available information consulted during its preparation in September 2026. We have made every effort to represent the information accurately, but historical accounts, scientific understanding and legal developments may change as new evidence emerges. Some cases and events are discussed in the context of the information available at the time of research. This episode is intended for discussion and education, not as a substitute for professional medical, toxicological or legal advice.

And that’s us for this episode of It’s A Death Sentence!

You can find us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and the podcast is now available on all major platforms, with the video version on YouTube and Spotify. https://linktr.ee/itsadeathsentencepodcast

Thank you for listening - find us on socials @itsadeathsentencepodcast follow and like us for more episodes. Find contact info on our web page www.its-a-death-sentence.com here you can contact us, buy our merch and send us your stories.

www.its-a-death-sentence.com

YouTube- @itsadeathsentencepodcast

Get in touch - we are Dying to talk to you

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.