Weird Crap in Australia

For decades, death cap mushrooms were regarded as a rare but deadly hazard, claiming lives through tragic mistakes and misidentification. But in recent years, two Australian cases thrust these lethal fungi into the national spotlight for very different reasons.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the mysterious Canberra poisonings of 2012 and 2014 before turning to the case that captivated the world: the Erin Patterson mushroom lunch. They explore the biology of Amanita phalloides, how these toxic mushrooms found their way into Australia, the investigations that followed, and why a simple foraging mistake can have devastating consequences. 

From accidental poisonings to one of Australia's most infamous criminal cases, this episode uncovers the deadly history of the world's most notorious mushroom.

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In 1966, teenagers Garry Heywood and Abina Madill disappeared after leaving a dance in Shepparton. Weeks later, their bodies were discovered in bushland, launching one of Victoria's longest-running murder investigations. Detectives had fingerprints from the crime scene, but no name to match them, and for nearly two decades the case remained unsolved.

Join Holly and Matthew as they unravel the remarkable investigation that linked the murders to a series of violent sexual assaults across Melbourne, and discover how police finally identified the man known as "Mr Stinky." It's a story of old-fashioned detective work, painstaking fingerprint analysis, and a breakthrough that nobody saw coming

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For more than four decades, Fred Nile was one of the most recognisable and controversial figures in Australian politics. As the founder of the Call to Australia Party, later the Christian Democratic Party, he built a career campaigning on conservative Christian values, influencing legislation in New South Wales despite rarely holding the balance of power outright.

Join Holly and Matthew as they trace Fred Nile's political career, from his early activism and election to the Legislative Council through to the campaigns, controversies, and social debates that made him a fixture of Australian public life. Whether opposing censorship, gambling, abortion, same-sex relationships, or changing social attitudes, Nile remained one of the country's most persistent political campaigners.

Love him or loathe him, Fred Nile left an undeniable mark on New South Wales politics. This episode explores the man, the movement, and the legacy of one of Australia's longest-serving parliamentarians.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

For more than four decades, Fred Nile was one of the most recognisable and controversial figures in Australian politics. As the founder of the Call to Australia Party, later the Christian Democratic Party, he built a career campaigning on conservative Christian values, influencing legislation in New South Wales despite rarely holding the balance of power outright.

Join Holly and Matthew as they trace Fred Nile's political career, from his early activism and election to the Legislative Council through to the campaigns, controversies, and social debates that made him a fixture of Australian public life. Whether opposing censorship, gambling, abortion, same-sex relationships, or changing social attitudes, Nile remained one of the country's most persistent political campaigners.

Love him or loathe him, Fred Nile left an undeniable mark on New South Wales politics. This episode explores the man, the movement, and the legacy of one of Australia's longest-serving parliamentarians.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

For more than four decades, Fred Nile was one of the most recognisable and controversial figures in Australian politics. As the founder of the Call to Australia Party, later the Christian Democratic Party, he built a career campaigning on conservative Christian values, influencing legislation in New South Wales despite rarely holding the balance of power outright.

Join Holly and Matthew as they trace Fred Nile's political career, from his early activism and election to the Legislative Council through to the campaigns, controversies, and social debates that made him a fixture of Australian public life. Whether opposing censorship, gambling, abortion, same-sex relationships, or changing social attitudes, Nile remained one of the country's most persistent political campaigners.

Love him or loathe him, Fred Nile left an undeniable mark on New South Wales politics. This episode explores the man, the movement, and the legacy of one of Australia's longest-serving parliamentarians.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.