EPISODE NINE: THE ALASKAN KILLER PLANT MYSTERY
In this episode, we dive into the controversy of what happened to Chris McCandless, a 24-year-old college grad who died in Alaska in 1992.
Guests:
Samuel Thayer — edible plants expert
Mark Kaufman — science writer at Mashable and former Alaskan park ranger
Source material:
How Chris McCandless Died by Jon Krakauer
How Chris McCandless Died: An Update by Jon Krakauer
Presence of L-Canavanine in Hedysarum alpinum Seeds and Its Potential Role in the Death of Chris McCandless in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine
Krakauer's wild theory on McCandless gives short shrift to science by Dermot Cole
Into the Wild hikers latest movie fans to require rescue by Ben Child
Into the Wild: woman dies in Alaska river trying to reach famous bus by Associated Press in Fairbanks, Alaska
The beatification of Chris McCandless: From thieving poacher into saint by Craig Medred
Malnutrition by the World Health Organization
The Silent Fire: ODAP and the death of Christopher McCandless by Ronald Hamilton
The Cult of Chris McCandless by Matthew Power
Should We Still Care About Chris McCandless? by Diana Saverin
How Christopher McCandless lost his way in the wilds by Jon Krakauer
Examining Chris McCandless, 20 years after he went 'Into the Wild' by Craig Medred
Chris McCandless from an Alaska Park Ranger’s Perspective by Peter Christian
End of the Trail by Bill Hewitt
Research sheds light on toxin in seeds eaten by McCandless by Indiana State University staff
Lessons from neurolathyrism: A disease of the past & the future of Lathyrus sativus (Khesari dal) in the Indian Journal of Medical Research
Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
