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Artwork for Cautionary Tales

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

Pushkin Industries
Wernher Von Braun
Nazi Germany
World War II
Tenerife Airport Disaster
V2 Rocket
Torrey Canyon
George Washington
Peenemünde
Rocketry
Missile Technology
Concentration Camps
Happiness Lab
Soviet Union
American Dream
HMS Association
Captain Pastrengo Ruggiati
Martin Luther King Jr.
Gerald Ratner
Aiming and Aerodynamics
A4 Rocket

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 Frida... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes240Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for Cautionary Tales

Latest Episodes

Tim is running the London Marathon on the 26th of April. To give him a week off to finish training, we're playing this running-themed classic from the archives. If you would like to donate to Teenage Cancer Trust, Tim's fundraising page is at tinyurl... more

In 1860, police officer Robert O'Hara Burke plans an expedition to map the mysterious blank in the centre of Australia. Joining him is scientist William Wills, and a ragtag team of hires. Burke falls out with virtually everyone around him, and demons... more

Millionaire-making tech start-ups are most often associated with Silicon Valley. But this software revolution begins on a woman’s kitchen table in rural Britain in the 1960s. Steve Shirley faced extraordinary odds. After escaping Nazi Germany as a ch... more

As the Victorian era dawns, modernisation erodes the old ways of life and poverty rises. In the unrest, an unlikely hero emerges, capturing the imagination of the countryside's working class. He claims to be the new Messiah, and promises a better fut... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Ian Breckon
Author of Mad Tom's Rising, The Revolutionary Mystic, Sir William Courtenay, and The Last Battle Fought on English Soil
Author
Episode: The Mad Mystic and the Last Battle on English Soil - with Ian Breckon
Peter Mahn
Chief elected judge for the Royal Commission on Erebus
Royal Commission / Air New Zealand case
Episode: The Sightseeing Flight and the Invisible Mountain
Gordon Vettie
Experience Antarctic pilot who questioned the briefing and risk
Air New Zealand / Antarctic flying community
Episode: The Sightseeing Flight and the Invisible Mountain
Peter Mulgrew
Famed Antarctic explorer, entertained passengers in cockpit
Antarctic exploration
Episode: The Sightseeing Flight and the Invisible Mountain
Martha McPhee
Person sharing firsthand experience with Xanax use
Episode: Presenting: Drug Story - On Xanax and Anxiety
Helena Merriman
Presenter of Putin and the Apartment Bombs, The History Bureau
BBC Studios
Episode: Explosives or Sugar? The Deadly Art of Distraction in Putin’s Russia - with Helena Merriman
Ellen Huet
Bloomberg Journalist and author of 'Empire of Orgasm'
Bloomberg
Episode: Powered by Orgasm: The Rise and Fall of a Sex Cult - with Ellen Huet
Ed Thorpe
Mathematician and casino player known for card counting and developing wearable computing.
MIT
Episode: Fritterin' Away Genius (Classic)
Richard Garfield
Renowned game designer and mathematician
Magic: The Gathering, King of Tokyo
Episode: "They fall behind and are slowly crushed" - Board Games and Economics with Richard Garfield

Host

Tim Harford
Respected journalist and economist known for his engaging storytelling and analytical insights.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 13.2k ratings
  • Top 5 Podcast for True Crime and Story Podcasts

    I needed a few new podcasts to take over the ones that aren't cutting it anymore. I like true crime podcasts like Dateline, 20/20, Casefile True Crime, etc., interesting story podcasts like Heavyweight, This American Life, Radio Lab, and Snap Judgement. Tim Harford's Cautionary Tales is now in my top 5. The episodes are presented at the right speed and content always one step ahead providing me a captivating story that keeps my interest to and from work.... I'm excited to get in my car for the... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mrokusek
    United States7 days ago
  • Cautionary Tales is the Best

    Just dive in!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    grizzlydad
    United Kingdom8 days ago
  • So far so good

    Advertising for ai now.. I hate it here.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    1LMP
    Canada16 days ago
  • Thoughtful and interesting

    A variety of interesting topics, delivered in a thoughtful way that makes you think beyond the basics / headlines.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lathamfamily
    United Kingdom16 days ago
  • Ai Irony

    Imagine being a show entirely dedicated to learning from the catastrophic bad ideas of the past, but then shilling for ai companies in your ads. The show is lost.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BanjoKaDrewie
    United States22 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some comments express frustration over frequent ad breaks, detracting from the overall listening experience.
The podcast is often described as insightful, educational, and thoroughly entertaining, making it a favorite among diverse audiences.
Many highlight the host's captivating delivery and ability to tackle complex subjects in an easy-to-understand manner.
Listeners praise the engaging storytelling and well-researched narratives, expressing appreciation for how the episodes combine humor with important life lessons.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#43
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#26
United States/History
Spotify
#25
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#212
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#218
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#8
Canada/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Mad Mystic and the Last Battle on English Soil - with Ian Breckon
Q: Ian, welcome to Cautionary Tales.
Tim welcomes Ian; Ian responds with a brief greeting.
Presenting: Drug Story - On Xanax and Anxiety
Q: How did anxiety evolve into a medical condition, and what role did medications like Xanax play in that history?
Anxiety shifted from a normal emotion into a diagnosable disorder as post-World War II life and societal pressures increased. Medications like benzodiazepines were developed to provide rapid relief, with Xanax becoming highly popular due to fast action and aggressive marketing. Over time, dependence, withdrawal, and misuse highlighted the risks, leading to current guidelines that favor psychotherapy and SSRIs over long-term benzo use.
"They fall behind and are slowly crushed" - Board Games and Economics with Richard Garfield
Q: What would happen if the jobs went away?
Garfield suggests that universal basic income could serve as a thought exercise for dealing with a future where most jobs are automated, advocating for consideration of UBI as a mechanism to support citizens.
Kyoto: The Battle that Defined Climate Politics - with Joe Robertson
Q: What does Santa tell the conference and how does Don deal with him?
Santa communicates that human emissions are influencing global climate, which Don undermines through disinformation tactics.
Kyoto: The Battle that Defined Climate Politics - with Joe Robertson
Q: How did you come across this story and what convinced you of the dramatic potential?
We had an interest in polarization and stumbled on the story of Kyoto, realizing it spoke to divided societies and showcased the difficulties of reaching agreement.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cautionary Tales

What is Cautionary Tales about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast provides a compelling blend of storytelling and education by examining true stories of human error, disasters, and intriguing historical events. Each episode features a unique narrative that highlights fascinating characters, analytical insights, and the often unintended consequences of people's actions. With a focus on cautionary tales, it seeks to unpack complex themes related to society and culture, addressing the lessons that can be drawn from misadventures, failures, and even humor from real-life scenarios. This blend of history and narrative craft makes it a rich resource for listeners interested in learning from the past in an entertaining manner.

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How many listeners does Cautionary Tales get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Cautionary Tales?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Cautionary Tales:

1. Revisionist History
2. 99% Invisible
3. Against the Rules: The Big Short Companion
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. More or Less

How many episodes of Cautionary Tales are there?

Cautionary Tales launched 6 years ago and published 240 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Cautionary Tales?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Cautionary Tales?

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What guests have appeared on Cautionary Tales?

Recent guests on Cautionary Tales include:

1. Ian Breckon
2. Peter Mahn
3. Gordon Vettie
4. Peter Mulgrew
5. Martha McPhee
6. Helena Merriman
7. Ellen Huet
8. Ed Thorpe

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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