We like to think that con artists only prey upon the weak, or gullible. But psychologist Dan Simons says all of us can fall victim to scams, because the best scammers know how to take advantage of our biases and blindspots.
Jul 6
Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 2
Last week, we talked with psychologist Lisa Miller about the science of spirituality. Today, we explore what those ideas can look like in everyday life. Miller explains why moments of connection, spiritual practices, and even periods of suffering can sometimes open the door to de ... Show More
1h 33m
Jun 29
Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1
Food, safety, and strong relationships are essential to our survival. Psychologist Lisa Miller says our brains also crave something else: transcendence. She suggests that spirituality is a universal human capacity, and that feeling connected to something larger than ourselves may ... Show More
50m 5s
Jan 2025
Encore - Why we get conned and how to avoid it, with Daniel Simons, PhD, and Christopher Chabris, PhD
From Ponzi schemes to email phishing identity thieves, the world can seem full of people who want to deceive us. Daniel Simons, PhD, and Christopher Chabris, PhD, co-authors of Nobody’s Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It, talk about the cognitive habits that pu ... Show More
34m 35s
Jul 2023
Why we get conned and how to avoid it, with Daniel Simons, PhD, and Christopher Chabris, PhD
From Ponzi schemes to e-mail phishing identity thieves, the world can seem full of people who want to deceive us. Daniel Simons, PhD, and Christopher Chabris, PhD, co-authors of the “Nobody’s Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It,” talk about the cognitive habits ... Show More
32m 50s
Aug 2025
There's Probably a Con Artist in Your Life Right Now. Here's How to Spot Them.
Most of us like to think we could spot a con artist. But according to Emmy-winning television producer and investigative podcaster Johnathan Walton, the truth is much scarier: Scammers don’t look like strangers. They look like friends, neighbors, even soulmates. In his new book ... Show More
18m 50s
Aug 2025
Scams: What to Look Out For, Recovery, AI, and How to Protect Yourself
From VA Imposter Scams to “Free Piano” Scams, scammers will stop at nothing to lure you in and take your money. With the introduction of AI into our everyday lives, scammers have used this as a tool to deceive individuals, leaving victims penniless or even stealing their identity ... Show More
34m 34s
Jul 2019
Welcome to Con Artists!
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
3m 26s