logo
episode-header-image
Sep 27
1m 40s

Introducing: Hoax! with Dana Schwartz an...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Hi, Very Special Episodes listeners! We're hard at work on the next season of VSE, which lands October 15th. In the meantime, did you know our own Dana Schwartz has a new podcast? Give it a listen!

Hoax!: Why do so many people believe things that aren’t true? In an era when claims of “fake news” come as naturally as breathing, and social media allows lies to spread and multiply like viruses, the question feels more relevant than ever. From the teenage girls who convinced Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that fairies were real in the 19th century to “Balloon boy” in 2009, Hoax! will explore the most audacious and ambitious tricks in history. Along the way, we’ll uncover the reasons people let themselves be fooled and how we can live our lives and engage with the media with a more critical eye. Co-hosted by Noble Blood’s Dana Schwartz and pop culture writer Lizzie Logan, we’ll bring you stories of pranks and grifts throughout history so big and bold they make us question why we believe what we believe in the first place.

Listen to Hoax! on the iHeartRadio App or wherever you get your podcasts!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Jul 16
Introducing: American History Hotline
Hi, Very Special Episodes listeners! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek at iHeartPodcasts' latest release, American History Hotline. American History Hotline: Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — ... Show More
1m 20s
Jul 16
The 1932 Crime That Birthed Superman
Superman is everywhere this summer, but today's bonus episode has nothing to do with James Gunn or David Corenswet. Let's go back to the beginning, when young Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster first conjured up the character. Superman may have never seen the light of day if not for a ... Show More
48m 47s
Jul 9
Hush! The Battle Over 'Goodnight Moon'
Today, Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon is considered a classic. The deceptively complex children’s book has been passed down for generations. But if the New York Public Library had gotten its way, you’d have never even heard of it. * Thanks to our Very Special guests Amy Gar ... Show More
49m 13s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Big Parma
Stuffed crust pizza. Grilled cheese burritos. How did so much cheese get into so many things? On today's episode, we peel back the curtain on the Dairy Industrial Complex — AKA Big Parma.  * VERY SPECIAL CREDITS On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story e ... Show More
40m 30s
Nov 2019
The Fascinating Origins of Everyday Foods (Part 1)
In this episode of The Brain Food Show, we start off looking at the interesting reason why milk is white, yet cheddar cheese is yellow/orange. Next up, we have a brief message from our sponsor, Blinkist, which gives you the key ideas from more than 3,000 bestselling nonfiction bo ... Show More
57m 3s
Apr 2024
Westward Hoax: The Secret History of Palisade, Nevada
In the 1870s, Palisade, NV was the meanest little town west of the Mississippi. Every week, newspapers announced another gunpowder-fueled cowboy showdown. Palisade put the wild in the “Wild West.” But there was a lot more to the story that didn’t make the papers. * Very Special E ... Show More
34m 5s
Apr 2024
Westward Hoax: The Secret History of Palisade, Nevada
In the 1870s, Palisade, NV was the meanest little town west of the Mississippi. Every week, newspapers announced another gunpowder-fueled cowboy showdown. Palisade put the wild in the “Wild West.” But there was a lot more to the story that didn’t make the papers. * Very Special E ... Show More
34m 5s
Feb 2024
Operation Lunar Eclipse
When a teenage astronomy fan is gifted a piece of the moon by NASA, he’s inadvertently pulled into the seedy underground moonrock trade. But don’t worry. With help from H. Ross Perot, NASA secret agents are on the case. * Very Special Episodes is a new podcast where we tell one i ... Show More
46m 31s
May 2024
Operation Lunar Eclipse
When a teenage astronomy fan is gifted a piece of the moon by NASA, he’s inadvertently pulled into the seedy underground moonrock trade. But don’t worry. With help from H. Ross Perot, NASA secret agents are on the case. * Very Special Episodes is a new podcast where we tell one i ... Show More
46m 31s
Sep 7
S23 Ep10: NoSleep Podcast S23E10
It's Episode 10 of Season 23. Tune in to WNSP for tales about looming loneliness. "10 Minute Confessional" written by Liz Argall (Story starts around 00:05:25) Produced by: Jeff Clement Cast: Contestant - David Ault, Story Editor - Erika Sanderson, Voice Over PA - Andy Cresswell ... Show More
1h 8m
Dec 2023
Hanukkah & Round and Round w/ Eric Silver
A time loop Hallmark Hanukkah movie? Do we really need to say more? We do, we say more for like an hour, joined by senior Jewish correspondent Eric Silver to discuss the new movie, Round & Round!Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of anti-semiti ... Show More
1 h
Mar 2024
Coco Chanel
The perfume is great... the Nazi informant stuff, not so much.Scumbags of History is a production of Voyage Media and Enthusiast Gaming. The series is produced by Nat Mundel, and Dan Benamor (Voyage Media), J.B. Elliott, Roarke Boes, and Amanda Scherker (Enthusiast Gaming) and Sa ... Show More
40m 29s
Jul 13
S23 Ep2: NoSleep Podcast S23E02
It's Episode 02 of Season 23. Tune in to WNSP for tales about things that live on and on. "The Gray House" written by G Rene Colls (Story starts around 00:04:45) Produced by: Jeff Clement Cast: Narrator - Jeff Clement, Jay - Matthew Bradford, Beast - Graham Rowat "The Cupcake Sta ... Show More
1h 21m