The Poison Lab

Epizódy

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  A Morel Dilemma: Episode 7 — What We Know Now 15.07.2026 22min

  After weeks of investigation, the Bozeman outbreak is contained, but the questions it raised are much harder to close.In the final episode of A Morel Dilemma, we return to Montana to understand how investigators traced the mushrooms, looked for additional cases, communicated risk to the public, and worked to prevent another outbreak. But the ending is not as simple as naming a culprit. Morels have now been linked to severe illness and death, yet we still do not know the toxin, why some people are more vulnerable, or exactly how much cooking is enough.Episode 7 brings the story back to what matters most: what we know, what we still do not know, and what has to happen next so this does not happen again.A Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  A Morel Dilemma- Bonus: Emergency Mushroom Identificaiton 12.07.2026 12min

  When someone eats a mushroom and starts to feel sick, the first instinct is often to figure out exactly what mushroom it was. But mushroom identification is harder, riskier, and more specialized than most people realize.In this bonus episode of A Morel Dilemma, we look at what actually happens after a possible mushroom exposure: who to call, why online apps and social media can be dangerous, and how poison centers work with trained mycologists and mushroom identification experts when the stakes are high.Because in a mushroom emergency, the answer is not to keep scrolling. It is to call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
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  A Morel Dilemma: Episode 6 — The Signal 08.07.2026 49min

  The Bozeman outbreak was the first loud signal, but it was not the only one.After the CDC report, toxicologists in other countries started looking back through their own poison center data and found something unsettling: more patients with severe illness after eating morels, including cases of shock, gastrointestinal bleeding, and death. And it did not stop there.In Episode 6 of A Morel Dilemma, we follow that signal beyond Montana and ask whether this was truly an isolated outbreak, or whether morels have been causing severe poisonings for years without anyone recognizing the pattern. We also meet the researchers now trying to answer the harder question: if morels are responsible, what exactly is happening inside this mushroom?The mystery is no longer confined to one restaurant. It is starting to spread.Select referecnces:Dr. Vodovar's StudySwiss Poison Center StudyPeter DaytonA Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  A Morel Dilemma Episode 6...Is Coming 01.07.2026 2min

  Hey everyone, it’s Ryan.I know many of you are patiently waiting for Episode 6 of A Morel Dilemma, and it is coming next week. I genuinely cannot wait for you to hear this one.But it is actually available right now for supporter members. You can go to www.thepoisonlab.com/support and get every single episode right now for as little as $1 a month. And full disclosure, I only get about half of that. It does not go to profit. It just helps repay some of the very real costs of making this show: the interviews, editing, sound design, hosting, and the absurd amount of time that went into producing it.So if you have been enjoying the series, becoming a supporter is an incredible way to help make work like this possible. And if you are already supporting the show, thank you. Truly. It helps more than you know. And for everyone else listening, thank you for being here and for sharing the series.But for today, I wanted to give everyone a small glimpse into the supporter bonus episodes that have been available to members throughout the series. See the episode herehttps://the-poison-lab.captivate.fm/episode/a-morel-dilemma-preview-supporting-member-bonus-episodesA Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  A Morel Dilemma Preview: Supporting Member Bonus Episodes 01.07.2026 42min

  This preview features the opening conversations from two supporting member bonus episodes in The Poison Lab outbreak series.First, we head to Ontario, where a mass aconite poisoning unfolded after a restaurant spice was contaminated with one of the most dangerous plant toxins in the world. Then we travel to Australia, where the poppy seed supply was contaminated with thebaine, triggering seizures and severe poisonings across the country.These are the kinds of outbreak stories that show how quickly a routine exposure can become a public health emergency, and how clinicians, poison centers, laboratories, and public health teams work together to figure out what went wrong.
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  A Morel Dilemma Bonus Radio Co-Broadcast: Ryan Feldman on WTMJ Conversations — Morels, Mushroom Poisoning, and the Story Behind A Morel Dilemma 28.06.2026 36min

  In this bonus episode of A Morel Dilemma, Ryan shares his recent interview on WTMJ Conversations with Libby Collins.The conversation goes behind the scenes of the series and explores why Ryan spent two years investigating the 2023 Bozeman, Montana morel mushroom outbreak, one of the strangest poisoning outbreaks in recent history. Ryan discusses how the outbreak challenged long-held assumptions about morels, why mushroom poisonings are not all the same, and how public health investigators work through uncertainty when people become seriously ill from a shared exposure.The episode also covers mushroom foraging safety, the difference between true and false morels, why raw or undercooked morels can be dangerous, and what Wisconsin poison center toxicologists commonly see during mushroom season. Ryan also talks about broader poisoning outbreaks, including vape-associated lung injury, contaminated synthetic cannabinoids, pediatric exploratory ingestions, THC edibles, and other toxicology problems that show up far more often than mushrooms.This is a good episode for anyone who wants a more conversational introduction to A Morel Dilemma, the public health stakes behind poisoning outbreaks, and the strange world of mushroom toxicology.Topics covered include:Why foraging is becoming more popularWhy you should never eat a mushroom unless you are 100% sure of its identificationTrue morels vs. false morelsWhy morels should never be eaten raw or undercookedThe Bozeman morel mushroom outbreakHow investigators think through foodborne poisoning mysteriesMushroom poisonings seen by poison centers in WisconsinDeath caps, destroying angels, and amatoxin poisoningPediatric poisoning risks, including laundry pods, THC edibles, and household chemicalsWhy poisoning outbreaks are difficult to recognize and investigateWhat A Morel Dilemma is really trying to uncoverYou can learn more about the series at ThePoisonLab.com or TheMorelDilemma.com.A Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  A Morel Dilemma: Episode 5 — Trial of the Morel 24.06.2026 52min

  The case against the morel mushroom is starting to come together, but there are still major problems. Not everyone who got sick ate morels, and not everyone who ate morels got sick. If the mushroom is really the culprit, those gaps have to be explained.In Episode 5 of A Morel Dilemma, we put the CDC data on trial with Dr. Grant Comstock and stress-test the evidence linking morels to the Bozeman outbreak. We look at case definitions, dose response, why some may have gotten sick but not others,Because the question is no longer just whether morels can make people sick.It is why this is happening now.and whether this is truly a new danger or something that has been hiding in plain sight.Select references:Dr. Beck's Study Dr. Leang's Case SeriesA Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  A Morel Dilemma: Episode 4 — A Familiar Shape 17.06.2026 32min

  When every obvious test comes back negative, investigators have to look for another way to prove what caused the outbreak. So this episode takes a step sideways, from Bozeman, Montana to a small mountain village in the French Alps, where researchers faced a different kind of mystery: a cluster of ALS cases with no clear cause.What they found there may help explain how scientists can link a mushroom to a devastating illness, even without finding a toxin.In Episode 4 of A Morel Dilemma, we follow the investigation into Montchavin, mushrooms, environmental exposure, and the kind of epidemiologic detective work that becomes necessary when the lab tests do not give you the answer.Select resourcesMt Chavin investigationMushroom IdentifcationA Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  A Morel Dilemma: Episode 3 — Testing the Evidence 10.06.2026 32min

  With the restaurant closed and the first interviews underway, investigators bring in the CDC and FDA to help answer the question at the center of the outbreak: what actually made people sick?The leading suspect is still the morel mushroom, but proving that is not simple. The symptoms could fit bacterial food poisoning, spoiled fish, a chemical contaminant, a mislabeled spice, or even a toxic mushroom mixed in by mistake. So the team starts testing everything they can: patient samples, food samples, bacteria, pesticides, heavy metals, classic mushroom toxins, and more.In Episode 3 of A Morel Dilemma, we go inside the science of a poisoning investigation and ask what happens when every obvious test comes back negative. Because when there is no toxin to find, the mystery does not end. It gets harder.A Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  A Morel Dilemma: Bonus — Who Treats Mushroom Poisoning 03.06.2026 3min

  Who actually treats mushroom poisoning?In this short mini episode, we answer a surprisingly important question: when someone gets sick after eating a mushroom, who do they call, and who helps the doctors figure out what to do next?We break down the role of poison centers, medical toxicologists, emergency clinicians, and why the most important number to remember is 1-800-222-1222.A Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  A Morel Dilemma: Bonus — Remembering poisonous mushrooms (GOTTA PICCEM) 03.06.2026 19min

  In this bonus episode, Dr. Rob Bassett from Philadelphia Poison Control walks us through one of the most useful teaching tools in mushroom toxicology: GOTTA PICCEM.This mnemonic organizes toxic mushrooms by their clinical syndromes and, most importantly, by the timing of symptom onset. That timing can be one of the biggest clues toxicologists use to decide whether a mushroom exposure is likely to be mild, dangerous, or potentially life-threatening.Dr. Bassett is a gifted educator, and in this episode he breaks down the major mushroom toxins in a way that is practical, memorable, and useful for anyone who might someday need to recognize a serious mushroom poisoning.Select Resources:Richard Hamilton's Original MnemonicA Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  A Morel Dilemma: Bonus — Muscarine Poisoning 03.06.2026 9min

  This bonus episode takes a deeper look at the muscarine poisoning case discussed by Dr. Matthew Stanton. We break down how muscarine causes toxicity, why its symptoms can become life-threatening, and why its important for foragers to recognize so they can be treated.Select References:Dr. Stanton's case reportWisconsin Muscarine Case Series (Not yet available)A Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  A Morel Dilemma: Episode 2 — Investigations and Falsehoods 03.06.2026 41min

  As reports of severe illness and death come in, the Bozeman outbreak moves from medical mystery to full public health investigation. Local and state investigators race to identify the source, shut down the risk, interview patients, collect food samples, and figure out whether anyone else could still be in danger.The early signal points toward one unlikely ingredient: morel mushrooms. But for toxicologists, that raises more questions than answers. Morels are supposed to be edible. Rapid vomiting and diarrhea usually suggest foodborne illness, not a deadly mushroom poisoning. So investigators have to ask the question that will drive the rest of the series: is the morel really the culprit, or is something else hiding in the meal?In Episode 2 of A Morel Dilemma, we meet the public health team on the front lines, hear how the outbreak was contained, and begin testing the first theories behind what made diners so sick.Select references:False Morel Text BookFDA Survey of Imported Mushrooms Contamination with Toxic SpeciesDr. Vohra' studyBonus Episode on Remembering Toxic MushroomsDr. Stanton's Muscarine CaseBonus Episode on MuscarineA Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  A Morel Dilemma: Episode 1 — Outbreak in Bozeman 03.06.2026 33min

  A deadly outbreak begins with a single meal at a sushi restaurant in Bozeman, Montana. Within hours, diners develop severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some collapse. Two people die. At first, it looks like food poisoning, but investigators quickly notice one strange ingredient connecting many of the sick patients: morel mushrooms.In the first episode of A Morel Dilemma, we meet the people caught in the earliest moments of the outbreak and begin following the investigation as it unfolds in real time. What starts as a suspected restaurant-associated illness quickly becomes a much stranger question: how could a prized edible mushroom, eaten for centuries, suddenly be linked to death?This is not a retrospective summary. It is the beginning of a poisoning mystery, told the way investigators experienced it: with urgency, uncertainty, and more questions than answers.Select referencesCDC Report on Bozeman Morel Mushroom OutbreakRat Poison Contaminated synthetic cannabisE cigarette and vaping assosciated lung injuryEnoki-Listeria outbreakAconite outbreak in Canada mentioned in the introductionArsenic Coffee Pot Poisoning in MaineLeongatha Mushroom MurdersA Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  Introducing: A Morel Dilemma 01.06.2026 4min

  Available June 3rd- A deadly outbreak begins at a sushi restaurant in Bozeman, Montana. Diners develop rapid, severe gastrointestinal illness. Some collapse. Two people die. And the only clue pointing investigators toward a cause is also the hardest one to believe: morel mushrooms.A Morel Dilemma is a serialized outbreak investigation from The Poison Lab, following the story in real time as clinicians, toxicologists, public health officials, mycologists, and families try to answer one unsettling question:How could a prized edible mushroom suddenly be linked to death?This is a story about poisoning, public health, uncertainty, and the uncomfortable process of discovering that something we thought we understood may be far more complicated than it seemed.A Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  Gas Station Heroin? Kratom, Regulation, and Recovery — A Co-Broadcast with the Kratom Sobriety Podcast 24.05.2026 1h 14min

  In this special co-broadcast episode, The Poison Lab joins forces with The Kratom Sobriety Podcast for a deeper conversation about kratom, regulation, addiction, recovery, and what poison center data can tell us about real-world harm.Kratom is a plant-derived substance that contains mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, compounds with opioid-like effects. It is sold in many forms, including powders, capsules, drinks, tonics, and concentrated extracts, often in gas stations, smoke shops, and online. For many people, kratom is encountered with little warning about its risks, including dependence, withdrawal, and toxicity.Study NewsThis episode grew out of our newly published study in Addiction, which examined kratom-related poison center calls across states with different legal approaches: states with bans, states with kratom consumer protection acts, and states with no specific regulation.The study began with a real policy question in Wisconsin: is the public better protected by prohibition, by regulated access, or by leaving kratom largely unregulated? As clinical toxicologists and poison center clinicians, our goal was not to write policy, but to add objective data to a debate that often moves faster than the evidence.Ryan discusses how that question led to a broader debate within medical toxicology and poison center circles: What are the harms of prohibition? What are the risks of unfettered access? Is regulation safer than a ban? And what can poison center data actually tell us about those questions?After the study was published, people reached out from several directions: journalists, policymakers, people concerned about the risks of prohibition, and people who had experienced harm from easy access to kratom. That included the team behind The Kratom Sobriety Podcast, who wanted to talk about the study and the lived experience of kratom dependence and recovery.The conversation highlights both the data and the human side of the issue: people who developed kratom dependence, struggled to stop, and found their way into recovery. The episode explores why policy decisions around kratom are so difficult, why easy access to opioid-like substances can be dangerous, and why lived experience matters alongside epidemiologic data.Topics covered include:What kratom is and why it is often called a “gas station drug”Mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and opioid-like effectsKratom dependence, withdrawal, and recoveryHow poison centers track emerging substancesDifferences between state bans, consumer protection acts, and unregulated accessWhat poison center data can and cannot tell usWhy kratom policy is more complicated than “ban it” versus “leave it alone”The importance of listening to people with lived experienceThis episode is a longer-form conversation about science, policy, toxicology, and recovery. It is not medical advice, and it is not meant to tell any individual person what they should do. But it is meant to bring more evidence, nuance, and humanity into a debate that needs all three.If you or someone you know is struggling with kratom or any substance use, help is available. In the United States, you can contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.ExtrasFree to read version of the study News articles about the studyUS Kratom Use Surges 65-Fold in 13 YearsCalls to poison centers over 'natural' supplement have skyrocketed by 6,500% since 2010Kratom Use Soars in US, Alters Lives Dramatically | Mirage NewsKratom use is surging in the US, with life-changing consequences, study revealsKratom use is surging in the US, with life-changing consequences | EurekAlert!
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  Outbreak: 75 Fatalities After a Funeral Poisoning in Mozambique 07.05.2026 2min

  In this episode of The Poison Lab Outbreak, Ryan talks with Dr. Alaina Steck about a devastating mass poisoning in Mozambique that began at a funeral and ultimately sickened more than 200 people, with a fatality toll of over 70.Early reports blamed crocodile bile. Others suspected intentional poisoning. But as the investigation unfolded, the clinical picture, timeline, and exposure history did not fit neatly with the early theories.Dr. Steck, then a medical toxicology fellow at Emory, joined a CDC-supported outbreak investigation team sent to Mozambique. She walks through what it was like to investigate the outbreak on the ground, including the overwhelmed rural health center, limited medical records, scarce biological and environmental samples, early toxicologic hypotheses, and the eventual role of comparative food testing in identifying the cause.This episode explores the real-world uncertainty of outbreak investigation: incomplete data, competing theories, community fear, and the importance of epidemiology, toxicology, public health, and analytical chemistry working together.Topics CoveredMass poisoning investigation in rural MozambiqueEarly reports of crocodile bile and suspected intentional poisoningClinical presentations including GI symptoms, seizures, pulmonary edema, liver injury, kidney injury, and multisystem diseaseChallenges of interpreting sparse medical records during a mass casualty eventHow toxicologists approach possible intentional poisoningWhy exposure history and timing matter in outbreak investigationThe importance of control samples in analytical testingLessons for clinicians, poison centers, and public health teamsGuestDr. Alaina SteckMedical toxicologist, Emory UniversityFormer medical toxicology fellow involved in the CDC-supported investigation of the Mozambique outbreakResources (Spoilers)Outbreak paperU.S. CaseInstagram @tox_talk • Twitter @LabPoison • Email toxtalk1@gmail.comDisclaimer: The Poison Lab is for educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. If you suspect a poisoning, contact your local poison center. In the U.S., call 1-800-222-1222.A Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  Rebroadcast: Phenibut. The emerging drug you don’t know about (yet) 04.05.2026 1h 6min

  Phenibut is an emerging and unfamiliar drug taking hold in the US that is readily available online and legal to obtain. It acts as a GABA-B agonist and carries risks of dependency and withdrawal. In this episode Ryan interviews phenibut users as well as experts involved in phenibut treatment. They explore the history, current trends, toxicity, and management of phenibut, a novel GABA-B agonist. He is joined by guest Dr. Matthew Stanton PharmD and Dr. Benjamin Weston MD who listen in to an audio documentary that includes clips from Dr. Janessa Graves PhD and Dr. Erica Liebelt MD who wrote a recent report on increasing phenibut exposures, Dr. Dan McCabe MD who is the author of the largest published phenibut case series, and Elliot, a recovered phenibut user who we would like to sincerely thank for sharing his story of use and recovery.+Update- a systematic review of phenibut withdrawal treatment strategies authored by the poison lab host himeself, Ryan!+More on St Anthony's fire CDC MWR Study documenting increased poison center exposures (Dr. Graves & Dr. Liebelt) Phenibut case series from Dr. McCabe All published cases of phenibut withdrawal, reported baclofen regimens, clinical outcomes, multimodal therapiesTHEORETICAL UNTESTED Phenibut withdrawal treatment schema (Not tested, not intended as treatment, intended to stimulate discussion and highlight key considerations in managing withdrawal)A Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  If I had a Nickel (Mystery Case) & Toxicologist vs The internet (#13) with Dr. Damilola Idowu-Ellsworth 11.02.2026 1h 35min

  In this episode of The Poison Lab, host Ryan Feldman is joined by medical toxicologist Damilola Idowu‑Ellsworth for a fast-moving, case-heavy conversation packed with clinical pearls, listener participation, and classic toxicology weirdness.The show opens with listener guesses for the previously released mystery case before diving headfirst into a rapid-fire series of Stump the Toxicologist cases—questions pulled straight from the internet and real-world toxicology problem-solving. Along the way, Ryan and Dami cover everything from rodenticides and drug-testing myths to how to clean a benzodiazepine bottle, plus one of the most toxic substances you’ve probably never heard of.One lucky listener also wins a copy of Poisonous Fungus Amongus, and a shout-out to the newly released second edition featuring photography from expert mycologists.Skip the listener guesses and jump straight to the mystery toxin: 38:15Mystery toxin caseThe rest of the episode is Dr. Idowu and Ryan discuss the topics below. Looking for timestamps? Join the supporting member feed!Looking for time stamps for the rest of the show? Join as a supporting memberStump the Toxicologist – Case Discussions(Looking for timestamps? Join the supporting member feed!)Case #1A methemoglobinemia, renal failure inducing enemaCase #2Wide-complex dysrhythmia from an over-the-counter topicalBonus - Paper from Ryan on the topical toxicity (or lack there of) of this productCase #3Black stools, seizures, high sodium and low potassium after trying to beat a drug test.Case #4GCS 15 and normal vitals… until they’re not — delayed seizures, neurologic collapse, and a toxicologic time bomb.Paper from Ryan on this tricky toxic time bombInternet & Listener QuestionsDo GLP-1 agonists release toxins from fat and how might that impact drugged driving laws with THC?Why do sedatives make you twitch?Not all benzos are XanaxWhat shape is a ketamine crystalA Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website
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  Poison Lab Update: Mushroom Poisoning Radio Roundup 04.02.2026 1min

  Hey everybody, you’re listening to The Poison Lab—well, almost.We’ve got a new episode coming next week, but we’re running a little behind on our usual release schedule because… life happens. That said, if you’re looking for some toxicology content right now, I’ve got you covered.Recently, I had the chance to appear on two local and state radio shows talking about one of my favorite topics: mushroom poisoning 🍄—and both were an absolute blast.🌱 Garden Talk (Call-In Episode) (Ryan starts @ 1 hour and 14 min)The first appearance was on Garden Talk, a fun, live call-in show where we covered:Mushroom poisoning basicsListener questionsMy game GOTTA PICCEMThe book Poisonous Fungus Among UsIt was lively, unpredictable, and a great example of how curious people are about mushrooms once you open the door.📻 Local Health Update Radio SegmentAfter that, I joined a local radio health update to talk specifically about mushroom poisoning from a public-health perspective. It’s always interesting to hear how radio hosts approach such a niche topic—and how quickly it turns into something broadly relevant.🔬 Want a Quick Toxicology Fix?If you’re itching for some Poison Lab content while you wait for the next full episode, these two appearances are a great place to start.And don’t worry—we’ll be back next week with a full episode and answers to our mystery case.Thanks, as always, for listening.Hope to see you there.— Ryan