BONUS SHOW #62: The Strange Origins (And Stranger Persistence) Of The ”Razor Blades In Candy” Myth

Episode notes

This is the bonus show for Episode 62! (Halloween Stores)

Alex Schmidt and Jason Pargin explore the obviously incredibly fascinating topic of the U.S. and Canada’s favorite Halloween urban legend: what it is, why it’s a myth, and how it became one of the most persistent beliefs in North America.

Originally released Sept 27th, 2021, exclusively for patrons at http://sifpod.fun/.

Research sources for Alex’s new intro:
the journal Science: “Fainting From Fentanyl Exposure? Nope.” https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/fainting-fentanyl-exposure-nope
CBS News: “Sen. Chuck Schumer warns drug dealers are pushing rainbow fentanyl to children” https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/sen-chuck-schumer-warns-drug-dealers-pushing-rainbow-fentanyl-to-children/
clip of scaremongering on Fox News: https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1574878436211957783
example of a scaremongering article, from Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/rainbow-fentanyl-targeted-children-lego-box-halloween-1749492
Here’s a piece from The Guardian, published April 2022, covering one form the actual fentanyl crisis is taking: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/23/san-francisco-homelessness-street-team-fentanyl

Source links for the original bonus episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-show-62-of-56574011