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Recent Episodes
S2E9 Meth Monks: Smoke in the Sanctuary
A temple stands empty after a drug raid. Robes folded. Bowls untouched. Silence where chanting once lived.This episode begins inside that abandoned sanctuary, then follows the trail outward to the…
S2E8 Kahve: The Biography of a Cup of Joe
Before it fueled boardrooms and builders, revolutions and writers, coffee was a humble cherry growing wild in the highlands of Ethiopia. In this episode, we trace the epic journey of coffee from its…
S2E7 Ergot Fungus & Witchcraft: Holy Fire, and Visions of Hell
Ergot is one of the most influential organisms you’ve probably never heard of.In this episode, we break down what ergot actually is, how it infects crops, and what happens when humans consume it. We…
S2E6 Opium Wars: How the Crown's Cartel Toppled a Dynasty
In this episode, we unpack the Second Opium War—the conflict that forced China to legalize opium, opened Beijing to foreign powers, and helped ignite the “Century of Humiliation.” From the Arrow…
S2E5 Opium Wars: Tea, Taels & Turmoil (Part 1)
This episode examines the complex interplay of silver, tea, and global trade that set the stage for the Opium Wars. It explores Ming China’s silver-based tax system, the influx of silver from Japan…
S2E4 Heaven's Gate: Beyond the Next Level
In this episode, we dive into one of the most infamous modern cults in history: Heaven’s Gate. Under the broader lens of human sacrifice, we examine the role pharmaceuticals played in the group’s…
S2E3 Human Sacrifices: Dying for a Higher Power
Bog bodies, ancient psychedelics, and the unsettling chemistry of ritual killing—welcome to history’s darkest trip. We dive into Iron Age bog bodies in Roman Britain—well-groomed men carefully…
S2E2 Gods Gone Wild!: Holy Highs & Sacred Drugs
Drugs weren’t just used to reach the gods—sometimes, they were the gods. In this episode of Pills and Power, we explore deities whose identities were inseparable from intoxicating substances. From…
S2E1 Stone(d) Age: The First High
The Stoned Age is a quick trip back to prehistory to explore our oldest drugs and where they fit into the very fabric of being human. From “caveman meth” to mushroom-headed shamans, this episode…
S2 Season 2: Trailer
Season 2 of Pills and Power is coming—and it’s bigger, older and weirder than ever.This season we dive into prehistoric drugs, religion, cults, power, and the rituals people swear by—from ancient…
S1E10 Fentanyl of the Opera: Terrorism in Moscow
What happens when a hostage crisis collides with geopolitics, decades of oppression, and one of the most potent drugs on Earth? In October 2002, Chechen militants took over a packed Moscow…
S1E9 Built by Prohibition: The Origins of Mexican Cartels
What started with speakeasies and rum runners during U.S. Prohibition spiraled into a global criminal network. In this episode, we trace the underground booze routes of the 1920s, and how these early…
S1E8 Snake Oil & Morphine: Wild West Travelling Medicine Shows
Step right up! In this episode, we dive into the raucous world of Wild West traveling medicine shows—part vaudeville, part medieval quackery, and all about the drugs. From narcotic-laced “cures” to…
S1E7 High Society: The Victorian Cocaine Craze (Part 2)
In Part 1, we sniffed around the medical labs. Now, in Part 2, we hit the streets. This episode dives into how real-life Victorians embraced the white stuff: from coca wine and the original…
S1E6 High Society: The Victorian Cocaine Craze (Part 1)
This episode uncovers how a sacred South American leaf turned into Victorian society’s favorite “miracle” drug. Ray and Eliza explore coca’s ancient uses, its transformation into cocaine, and the…
S1E5 Cult in a Cage: South Africa's Numbers Gang
Beneath the brutal order of South African prisons lies the secret code of the Numbers gang — a sprawling brotherhood with its own legends, rules, and rituals. In this episode, Ray and Eliza trace the…
S1E4 The Real Housewives of Amphetamines (Part 2)
When the troops came home from World War II, they didn’t just bring back stories—they brought back a taste for amphetamines. In this episode, we trace how wartime “pep pills” flooded postwar…
S1E3 Sleepwalker Army: Meth in Nazi Germany (Part 1)
During WWII, methamphetamine wasn’t just a drug—it was a weapon. In this episode, we explore how drug affected Nazi brains, powered Blitzkrieg tactics, fueled Hitler’s personal addiction, and found…
S1E2 Gin & Tonic: The Dark History of a Light Drink
In this episode, we unravel the surprising colonial legacy behind one of the world's most iconic cocktails: the Gin and Tonic. What began as a bitter necessity for British soldiers in India turned…
S1E1 MK-Ultra: Can You Pass the Acid Test?
In this episode, we dive into one of the most infamous covert programs in U.S. history: MK-Ultra. Born in the shadows of the Cold War, this CIA-led operation explored the use of LSD to control…
Frequently Asked Questions
Pills and Power has published 21 episodes since June 2025, covering topics in Documentary, Society & Culture.
Pills and Power is currently dormant with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 50m.
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