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Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

By: Pushkin Industries
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About this listen

We tell our children unsettling fairy tales to teach them valuable lessons, but these Cautionary Tales are for the education of the grown ups – and they are all true. Tim Harford (Financial Times, BBC, author of “The Data Detective”) brings you stories of awful human error, tragic catastrophes, and hilarious fiascos. They'll delight you, scare you, but also make you wiser. New episodes every Friday.

2025 2025 Pushkin Industries Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • The Treasure Hunt that Broke America (Part 1)

    The Treasure Hunt that Broke America (Part 1)
    Nov 7 2025

    Forrest Fenn never does things the regular way. Despite no formal training and little knowledge of art, he becomes a millionaire gallery owner. An outsider by nature, Fenn’s charm, audacity, and disregard for convention earns him both wealth and respect. When a streak of bad luck threatens to destroy his empire, Fenn dreams up an audacious final act. He'll mastermind the greatest treasure hunt America has ever known. As the legend spreads, and gold fever grips the nation, Fenn begins to lose control.

    The story of Forrest Fenn's treasure hunt will continue next week.

    This episode discusses death by suicide. If you are suffering emotional distress or having suicidal thoughts, support is available - for example, from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US, or the Samaritans in the UK on 116 123

    Read more about Tim's work at http://timharford.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    39 mins
  • The Truth About Hansel and Gretel (Classic)

    The Truth About Hansel and Gretel (Classic)
    Oct 31 2025

    Was the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel - the story of a woodcutter’s children abandoned in the woods and left at the mercy of a witch - in fact, early true crime? A hit book - The Truth About Hansel and Gretel - said that historical records pointed to the story being based on fact. Are we too quick to dismiss the truth behind tall stories? Or are we always falling for tales that are too good to be true?

    This episode discusses death by suicide. If you are suffering emotional distress or having suicidal thoughts, support is available - for example, from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US, or the Samaritans in the UK on 116 123

    Read more about Tim's work at http://timharford.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • On Fire from the Inside - Lethal Injection Up Close with Malcolm Gladwell

    On Fire from the Inside - Lethal Injection Up Close with Malcolm Gladwell
    Oct 28 2025

    Last week, Cautionary Tales told the tragic story of Derek Bentley, exploring Britain's troubled relationship with capital punishment. Across the Atlantic, Revisionist History has also been scrutinizing what it means for a state to try to execute a person. For this bonus episode, Malcolm Gladwell joins Tim Harford to discuss his new series The Alabama Murders, and to confront the disturbing truth behind the death penalty in America today.

    Hear Revisionist History: The Alabama Murders wherever you get podcasts.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    27 mins
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I really enjoy how the tales are told and the lessons that we are presented in that story format. It's a fantastic podcast that I binged every episode and wish there was more to hear.

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