logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
46m 5s

Brian Wansink: Guess Who’s Conning to Di...

Wondery
About this episode

During the early 2000s Brian Wansink made his mark as a “food psychologist” with quirky studies backed by the USDA and Cornell. His research led to the 100-calorie snack pack, the side plate for dinner, and the idea that Elmo stickers led kids to eat healthier. But one tone-deaf blog post led a pack of scientists to dig into Brian’s data. What they found was a hunt for bite-size takeaways, a lack of ethical rigor… and a whole lotta junk science.

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Listen to Scamfluencers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/scamfluencers/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Aug 18
ENCORE: George Santos: Putting the "Con" in Congress | 173
We’ll be back in two weeks with all-new Scamfluencers episodes. In the meantime, we’re returning to one of our favorites. It’s hard to know what to believe about George Santos’ wild origin story. Since being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022, almost every facet ... Show More
50m 1s
Aug 13
ENCORE: The Pop Star and the Power Broker: Part 2 | 172
As Erika Jayne’s pop star career blossoms, questions continue to mount about her husband Tom Girardi’s finances and his legal practice. His clients have been waiting in limbo to receive the settlement money owed to them, and they’re not the only ones getting angry with Tom. In th ... Show More
43m 51s
Aug 12
Business Wars Presents: The AOL-Time Warner Disaster
Think business is boring? What about when your streaming bill goes up, or your favorite restaurant files for bankruptcy? Do you ever wonder what’s going on behind the scenes? Business Wars gives you a front row seat to the biggest moments in business, to explain how they shape ou ... Show More
7m 15s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
Buried Alive | The Elusive Gary Krist | 5
Atlanta-based journalist Steve Fennessy began researching Gary Steven Krist’s past for an article he was writing for Atlanta Magazine back in 2006. The assignment took him on a deep dive into Krist’s life, from his upbringing through the aftermath of one of the most notorious cri ... Show More
35m 13s
Mar 2025
Quiz Show Rigging | The Perfect Contestant | 2
Herbert Stempel is given the opportunity of a lifetime when television producer Dan Enright offers him a guaranteed winning streak on the quiz show Twenty-One — so long as he follows the script. Stempel enjoys his newfound celebrity and financial success, but as ratings plateau, ... Show More
35m 36s
Jan 2025
Mental Health, Stalkers, and Pussy Popping with Da’Vinchi
It’s estimated that one in five Americans suffer from mental illness—but where does it come from and what can we do about it? Well, today we’ve got our man Da'Vinchi in the building, and he’s dropping some major gems on mental health. From his experience growing up with what he c ... Show More
1h 4m
Dec 2024
Lou Pearlman: Pop Music Con Man | Behind the Hit Charade | 4
Journalist Tyler Gray was working in Orlando when he first heard about Lou Pearlman and his growing business empire. But it wasn’t until authorities apprehended Pearlman in Bali in 2007 that Gray began to investigate the story behind the man who created the boy bands NSYNC and Ba ... Show More
35m 25s
Jul 8
Ruby Ridge Standoff | Visions of Armageddon | 1
Radical Christian survivalist Randy Weaver moves his family into the remote mountains of Idaho to wait out the Apocalypse. But his growing involvement in a local neo-Nazi group draws the attention of federal investigators.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, cura ... Show More
37m 43s
Jun 23
We All Fall Down | 2
Abbi joins a long line of teenage girls who’ve gone through the Liberty Godparent Home, including Toni and Zoe. Meanwhile, Nathan wonders why he hasn’t heard from Abbi.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https:// ... Show More
40m 54s
Jul 1
ENCORE: Watergate | The Cancer Within | 4
Senate hearing sets in motion a new crisis. With the cover-up unraveling, White House counsel John Dean takes matters into his own hands.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterLis ... Show More
41m 9s
Apr 2025
Quiz Show Rigging | Consolation Prize | 3
As former quiz show champion Herbert Stempel watches Charles Van Doren continue his staged winning streak on Twenty-One, he threatens to go public with what he knows. Meanwhile, another contestant quietly takes steps of his own to document the show’s fraud. Be the first to know a ... Show More
38m 23s
Mar 2025
Kara Swisher
This week on Reclaiming, we welcome renowned tech journalist and industry expert Kara Swisher. Kara offers a thoughtful prediction on the political landscape under Trump and Musk. She drops a provocative take on AI's gender problem and why she believes men are at the heart of it ... Show More
50m 30s