Episodes

  • The Man Who Sold a Country That Didn't Exist

    The Man Who Sold a Country That Didn't Exist
    Sep 9 2025
    What if you could invent a country... and get rich doing it? It sounds like a teenager's fantasy, but 200 years ago, one man actually did it, pulling off one of the most audacious and devastating scams in history.

    This is the unbelievable story of the Poyais scam, a "too good to be true" lie that sold a dream and delivered a nightmare. We're unpacking the dark genius of Gregor MacGregor, the master con artist who created a fictional paradise on a map and conned hundreds of investors and settlers out of their life savings. But this isn't just a history lesson. We're diving into the psychology of fraud to answer the burning question: why are our brains so easily tricked by an appealing lie? We'll expose how con artists exploit our deepest desires for wealth and a better life, turning our own hope into their most powerful weapon.

    This story of a fake country reveals a timeless truth about the stories we choose to believe.

    Stay until the very end, because after we expose the heartbreaking reality of the lie, we explore a fascinating alternate history: what if the country of Poyais had actually been real?

    Ready to learn the secrets of the world's greatest con artists (so you never fall for one)? Subscribe, share this unbelievable true story, and let's explore the fine line between a brilliant dream and a devastating lie.


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    32 mins
  • The Con Man Who Sold a Lie About a Lie.

    The Con Man Who Sold a Lie About a Lie.
    Sep 7 2025
    What if the most famous con artist in history, Frank Abagnale Jr., pulled his greatest con after he was caught? What if the movie "Catch Me If You Can" isn't a true story... but is, in fact, his final, perfect lie?

    In this episode, we're diving deep into the art and science of deception. We'll start by questioning the legendary tale of Frank Abagnale, but his story is just the beginning. We'll expose how the same psychological tricks he used are now the basis for modern social engineering attacks, where hackers manipulate you into giving up your secrets without writing a single line of code.

    We'll also uncover the surprising power of a simple uniform, and how authority bias can make us follow orders or trust a narrative without a second thought. This is a deep dive into the psychology of why we believe what we believe.

    Stick with us to the very end to learn the "Three C's"—a simple mental checklist you can use to instantly spot a social engineering attempt.
    It's time to learn the playbook of the manipulators. Subscribe, share this with anyone who's ever been told a story that was too good to be true, and join the conversation about seeing through the lies.


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    39 mins
  • Your Eyes Are Lying to You.

    Your Eyes Are Lying to You.
    Sep 6 2025
    The era of "seeing is believing" is officially over. Your eyes, your ears, and your gut feelings are now liabilities in a world of perfect, undetectable lies. Welcome to the age of the deepfake.

    In this episode, we're diving headfirst into the technological abyss. You'll learn how Artificial Intelligence is being used to create flawless fakes that even experts can't reliably detect. We'll explore the chilling "uncanny valley" that makes these creations so unsettling, and the dangerous overconfidence that makes us all vulnerable.

    But the real threat isn't just a funny video. We're unpacking the legal and societal nightmare of the "liar's dividend," a terrifying new reality where real evidence can be dismissed as a fake, shattering our justice system. This is the frontline of the war on misinformation, where trust itself is the ultimate casualty.

    Stick with us to the very end to learn the one subtle, biological cue your brain uses to spot a deepfake, even when your conscious mind is completely fooled.

    It's time to upgrade our critical thinking for a new reality. Subscribe, share this crucial conversation, and let's learn how to see the truth when our eyes can no longer be trusted.


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    27 mins
  • The Original Catfish: Before Influencers, There Was LonelyGirl15.

    The Original Catfish: Before Influencers, There Was LonelyGirl15.
    Sep 3 2025
    Ever feel like you know a YouTuber… like, really know them? What if that feeling was a weapon, designed by Hollywood insiders to fool the entire world? Before the TanaCons and the Fyre Fests, there was the original sin of internet fame: LonelyGirl15.

    In this episode, we're journeying back to the wild west of early YouTube (2006, to be exact) to uncover the story of Bree, a sweet, quirky, homeschooled teenager who might be in a cult. Millions of people watched, worried, and fell in love. The only problem? None of it was real. We'll expose how a team of aspiring filmmakers meticulously crafted a scripted narrative to look like a genuine vlog, manipulating the brand-new algorithm and pioneering the art of the parasocial relationship.

    This isn't just a story about a clever hoax. It's the blueprint for modern misinformation, a masterclass in how an emotional narrative can hijack our brains and the story of the mass betrayal that taught us our first, hard lesson in media literacy.

    Stick with us to the very end to learn the one clever trick the creators used to manipulate YouTube's algorithm and guarantee their videos went viral.

    This is the most important piece of internet history you've never been told. Subscribe, share this with anyone who grew up online, and let's talk about the first time the internet fooled you.


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    29 mins
  • Before 'Bad Vegan,' There Was Belle Gibson.

    Before 'Bad Vegan,' There Was Belle Gibson.
    Sep 2 2025
    What if the glowing wellness influencer promising to cure your body... was secretly poisoning your trust? This is the unbelievable and infuriating true story of Belle Gibson, the original fake cancer influencer.

    In this episode, we chronicle the meteoric rise and spectacular fall of the woman who built a global empire—"The Whole Pantry"—on a lie. A lie about having terminal brain cancer and healing herself with a healthy diet. We'll uncover the intricate web of deceit she spun, fooling millions of followers, major corporations, and even charities she promised to support.

    But this isn't just one person's story. It's a deep dive into the psychology of deception—exploring conditions like Munchausen syndrome—and a searing look at the unregulated world of influencer accountability. How does health misinformation like this go viral, and what does the new Netflix series about her say about our fascination with scammers?

    Stick with us to the very end to hear the one simple question from a journalist that made Belle Gibson's entire wellness empire crumble in an instant.

    This is a masterclass in modern deception and a cautionary tale for the digital age. Subscribe, share this with anyone who's ever bought into a wellness trend, and let's talk about how to protect ourselves from the next big lie.


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    40 mins
  • The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits: When Doctors Believe the Unbelievable

    The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits: When Doctors Believe the Unbelievable
    Aug 30 2025
    What if I told you that in 1726, the most respected doctors in England, including the King's own surgeon, were convinced a woman was giving birth to rabbits? This isn't a fairy tale; it's the unbelievable true story of Mary Toft, and it's one of history's most bizarre cases of Mass Hysteria.

    In this episode, we're dissecting the strange and contagious nature of belief. We'll explore the phenomenon of Mass Psychogenic Illness, where symptoms with no biological cause can spread like wildfire through a population, fueled by stress and misinformation. The story of Mary Toft is a masterclass in the illusion of expertise, revealing how easily even the most brilliant minds can be fooled when a story is shocking enough.

    This isn't just a weird relic of the past; it's a critical lesson for our modern world. How does a medical hoax from the 18th century explain our vulnerability to viral lies today?
    Stick with us to the very end to learn about the one simple, physical 'proof' Mary Toft presented that convinced even the most skeptical doctors and sealed her fame.

    This is a wild ride through history, psychology, and the importance of critical thinking. Subscribe, share this unbelievable true story, and join the conversation about why we believe the things we do.


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    27 mins
  • The Alien Invasion Broadcast That Caused a Real-Life Panic (War of the Worlds)

    The Alien Invasion Broadcast That Caused a Real-Life Panic (War of the Worlds)
    Aug 28 2025
    What if the first great act of "fake news" wasn't on the internet, but came through your radio in 1938, announcing a Martian invasion? This is the story of Orson Welles' infamous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast.

    In this episode, we're dissecting the night America supposedly panicked. But did it? We'll investigate the legendary tales of mass hysteria and explore the bombshell theory: that the widespread panic was a myth, cleverly exaggerated by newspapers to discredit their new, powerful rival—radio. It was a media war hiding inside a story about a space war.

    This isn't just a history lesson; it's a blueprint for understanding our chaotic modern world of misinformation. We'll explore the timeless psychology of social proof that makes us vulnerable to viral lies, then and now. How do we know what's real when the medium itself is designed to be convincing?

    Stick with us to the very end, where we reveal the one journalistic trick used against Welles in 1938 that is being used on you on social media right now.

    This is more than a story; it's a vital lesson in media literacy. Subscribe, share this with anyone who's ever fallen for a headline, and join the conversation about how we can all become smarter consumers of information.


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    33 mins