How Do Con Artists Keep Fooling Us?

You've heard the saying "stress kills." But are there good and bad stresses? Why does stress affect our appetites? And why do scientists think that mowing the lawn can make you less tense? Will and Mango take a carefree dive into the science of stress, from why it can help us to ... Show More

How did flight delays lead to the invention of Irish coffee? Do you need a screwdriver to make an authentic screwdriver? And who the heck is Tom Collins, anyway? We hope you're thirsty, because Will and Mango have whipped up 9 cocktail facts that you can enjoy shaken or stirred. ... Show More

Who knew there was so much to know about our 50th state? From ice caves hidden under a volcano, to the wonderful reason you should never bring pork to the windward side, to the kinda disgusting way parrotfish have shaped the islands’ landscape, Will and Mango are taking a dip int ... Show More

Parcast’s Original Show, Con Artists, peeks behind the masks of hustlers, swindlers, and Nigerian Princes. We’ll dive into their psychology, and teach listeners how to spot a con. Every week tells the story of a different scammer, someone like Gregor MacGregor, who sold investmen ... Show More

Whether they are online scams or in person card tricks, confidence games - better known now as cons - have been around for as long as we have. But while humans remain fundamentally gullible, the tricks of the trade have changed.Today, Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with writer and su ... Show More

Whether it’s robocalls, catfishing, Tekashi 6ix9ine, or Aunt Becky - it seems like everyone is out here scamming!! But why do WE keep falling for them? We turned to Dr. Lasana Harris to help us understand human motivations and interpersonal behaviors making us susceptible to thes ... Show More

Earning money legally? Boooring. It's not just in the movies that you find dishonest people who will do anything to line their pockets. These crooks you're about to hear about have been making money by ripping off the world for years. Worthy of the greatest Hollywood scenarios!Bo ... Show More

Tim Harford joined Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova on their podcast Risky Business to discuss two of history’s most compelling swindlers: Sam Israel III and John Law. We hope you enjoy this episode of Risky Business. It's available wherever you listen to podcasts.See omnystudio.c ... Show More

The annals of history hold a special place for people who have carried out treachery and betrayed their own. Thousands of years later, their names are still synonymous with being a scoundrel around the world. From Marcus Brutus to Vidkun Quisling and more, in this classic episode ... Show More

Cautionary Conversation: Celebrated physicist Professor Paul Frampton was on his way to Brussels to meet the love of his life, swimwear model Denise Milani. Or so he thought. When he found himself in jail, he realized he’d fallen prey to a confidence trickster. Tim Harford is joi ... Show More