logo
episode-header-image
May 18
1h 46m

How a Method Actor Fooled the Internet: ...

Andrew Callaghan
About this episode

In this episode, we delve into the bizarre world of William Banks to unravel how he blurred the lines between performance and reality, tricked the internet into thinking he was in prison, and the ethics of lying for a good cause. 

Up next
Jul 1
Are We on the Brink of WW3? :5CAST w/ Andrew Callaghan (#9) ft. James Gelvin
In this 5cast, we cover the recent escalation between Israel, Iran, and the United States. Our correspondent Agat provides on-the-ground coverage from Israel shortly after the start of the bombings. We also sit down with James Gelvin to break down the situation and whether we're ... Show More
1h 9m
Jun 26
The Dark Truth about US Copper Mining: 5CAST w/ Andrew Callaghan (#8) ft. Naelyn Pike
This episode breaks down the U.S.’s growing reliance on copper and how it affects the Apache people of Oak Flat, where a huge source of the material was found underneath their sacred land. 
1h 42m
Jun 8
Living in Walter White's House & Dodging Pizzas: 5CAST w/ Andrew Callaghan (#7) ft. Joanne Quintana
In this episode, we sit down with the owner of the iconic 'Breaking Bad' Walter White house and discuss the trials and tribulations of living in such a famed spot. 
47m 2s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
FROM THE VAULT - Episode 291 - The Silk Road: Drugs, Data & The Dread Pirate Roberts
With Ross Ulbricht now a free man thanks to his recent presidential pardon we thought it would a good idea to look back at who he is, what he did, and what he represented as "The Dread Pirate Roberts". So enjoy our episode from all the way back in March 2023 for some all importan ... Show More
54m 55s
May 12
Richard Merritt Part 1
Richard Merritt was a well-known, successful attorney in Smyrna, Georgia, until he was caught stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his clients. Richard pleaded guilty to the financial crimes and was given two weeks to get his affairs in order before he had to report to ... Show More
59 m
Dec 2024
Talking Dateline: The Man of Many Faces
Andrea Canning and Dateline producer Lynn Keller go behind the scenes of their latest episode, “The Man of Many Faces."  In 2020, American fugitive Nicholas Rossi tried to evade law enforcement and a slew of criminal charges by faking his own death, fleeing the country, and takin ... Show More
21m 3s
Nov 2024
Bill Hader
Bill Hader joins Ted Danson to talk about his path from reality show PA to Saturday Night Live, the highwire act of live performance, co-creating Barry on HBO, handling negative feedback, and his friendship with Larry David. Bonus: Ted and Bill trade celebrity doppelgängers.  Lik ... Show More
1h 33m
Jun 24
Alexander Skarsgard — on imposter syndrome and channeling a kinky gay biker
'Murderbot’ star Alexander Skarsgard joins the show. Over ravioli and spaghetti, Alexander tells me about his Emmy winning role in ‘Big Little Lies,’ being convinced HBO would fire him on ‘Generation Kill’ and the Michael Jackson music video that haunted him as a child. This epis ... Show More
48m 31s
May 2
632. When Did We All Start Watching Documentaries?
It used to be that making documentary films meant taking a vow of poverty (and obscurity). The streaming revolution changed that. Award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler talks to Stephen Dubner about capturing Billie Eilish’s musical genius and Martha Stewart’s vulnerability — and wh ... Show More
54m 21s
Mar 2024
Dr. Love: The 18-Year-Old Who Faked Being a Doctor & Stole Thousands…
Malachi Love-Robinson is a con artist who committed several crimes starting at the age of 18. Though he began his fraudulent schemes posing as a doctor with a PhD, he would go on to later scam innocent people and businesses out of money. Malachi has, at times, denied wrongdoing, ... Show More
53m 7s
May 19
Richard Merritt Part 2
Richard Merritt was a well-known, successful attorney in Smyrna, Georgia, until he was caught stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his clients. Richard pleaded guilty to the financial crimes and was given two weeks to get his affairs in order before he had to report to ... Show More
53m 23s
Aug 2022
Prison Break
Prison breaks loom large in both literature and pop culture. But how should we evaluate them ethically? New Generation Thinker Jeffrey Howard asks what a world without prison would look like. His essay explores whether those unjustly incarcerated have the moral right to break out ... Show More
14m 41s