Podcasts

  • An image showing the book cover of Deep sniff
    Podcast

    Book club – Deep Sniff by Adam Zmith

    2021-09-16T13:30:00Z

    A history of a drug – and the queer community

  • Brewing ayahuasca
    Podcast

    DMT – Dimethyltryptamine

    2020-05-22T08:30:00Z

    Georgia Mills investigates the psychoactive found in ayahuasca that may mirror near-death experiences

  • Several pills of MDMA (Extasy) on white table
    Podcast

    2C psychedelics

    2019-06-28T10:44:00Z

    A class of hallucinogenic phenethylamines, explored by the 'godfather of psychedelics' Alexander Shulgin and sadly implicated in a tragedy at a 2017 music festival

  • Nutmeg fruit and seeds
    Podcast

    Myristicin

    2018-12-17T15:56:00Z

    The spice that gives your Christmas eggnog its distinctive taste and aroma is also a toxic narcotic that played an important role in international history

  • A Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel displays confiscated ecstasy at a press conference in Manila on September 14, 2016
    Podcast

    Pentylone

    2018-09-21T10:17:00Z

    The latest in an alarming trend of novel psychoactive substances being mis-sold at festivals as traditional street drugs, putting users at risk

  • The mad hatter's tea party
    Podcast

    Ergotamine

    2016-09-14T17:11:00Z

    Ben Valsler finds out why writing Alice’s adventures in Wonderland was such a headache for Lewis Carroll

  • Person sleeping with pills beside them
    Podcast

    Barbituric acid

    2015-03-04T00:00:00Z

    It may have been largely superceded in the clinic but Phil Robinson discovers there is no rest yet for barbituric acid

  • Spice - synthetic cannabis
    Podcast

    Cannabicyclohexanol

    2014-12-03T00:00:00Z

    Used to make synthetic cannabis, cannabicyclohexanol may be more risky than its non-synthetic counterpart

  • Tramadol pills
    Podcast

    Tramadol

    2014-11-26T00:00:00Z

    Simon Cotton introduces the painkiller tramadol – could this be the next banned drug in competitive cycling?

  • Lophophora williamsii cactus with flower
    Podcast

    Psilocybin & Mescaline

    2014-11-12T00:00:00Z

    Simon Cotton explores our hallucinogenic horizons with psilocybin and mescaline

  • Exchanging tablets in nightclub
    Podcast

    MDMA

    2014-10-09T00:00:00Z

    The drug that fuelled rave culture may yet be a treatment for PTSD. Hayley Simon introduces MDMA

  • Desomorphine
    Podcast

    Desomorphine

    2014-07-09T00:00:00Z

    From potential painkiller to kitchen-cooked heroin replacement, Nate Adams tracks the history of desomorphine

  • White powder being inhaled through a $10 note
    Podcast

    Ketamine

    2014-02-19T00:00:00Z

    Simon Cotton explores a dance-scene drug that was designed for horses, ketamine

  • Cathinone
    Podcast

    Cathinone

    2013-05-22T00:00:00Z

    Simon Cotton introduces us to cathinone, the active ingredient in the stimulant Khat

  • Cutting narcotics into lines on a glass surface
    Podcast

    Cocaine

    2012-06-20T00:00:00Z

    Simon Cotton on the 'lifestyle' drug that can be detected on 'most' banknotes

  • 'Pink Elephants on Parade' LSD blotter
    Podcast

    LSD - Lysergic acid diethylamide

    2011-10-12T00:00:00Z

    The time- and sense-distorting chemistry of LSD

  • Methamphetamine or crystal meth
    Podcast

    Methamphetamine

    2011-09-07T00:00:00Z

    A mood enhancing molecule, Simon Cotton investigates the chemistry of Methamphetamine

  • A freshly-scored opium poppy seedpod bleeding latex.
    Podcast

    Morphine

    2011-08-24T00:00:00Z

    Pain relief: provided by nature, often abused

  • Balloon and nitrous oxide canister after use.
    Podcast

    Nitrous oxide

    2011-06-01T00:00:00Z

    From Preistley's early experiments to the latest 'hippy crack' phase, we take a look at the history of laughing gas

  • cannabis plant
    Podcast

    Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

    2010-09-08T00:00:00Z

    Akshat Rathi introduces one of the key psychoactive ingredients in cannabis