Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
Pushkin IndustriesWe 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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 263 | Founded | 7 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | HistorySociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
How does a story on Cautionary Tales come to life? In this episode of our subscriber-exclusive series, Proceed with Caution, sound designer Pascal Wyse shows Tim how the audio magic happens. He explains how he picks the music in an episode, why it's ... more
Talented and beautiful, Molly O'Day is a rising star in 1920s Hollywood. But when Molly's teenage body starts to change and she can no longer fit into the dress she wore when she was 16, the studio wants nothing to do with her. As the scripts dry up ... more
Mary Bateman lived in Yorkshire in the late 18th Century, an age that prized rational thought. Many people still longed to believe in the old ways and Bateman used this to her advantage, selling spells and enchantments to the desperate. Dr Maddy Pell... more
The Herald of Free Enterprise is a new class of ferry that allows cars to drive directly into the ship. The doors must be closed before every departure, or the ship sails with a gaping hole at one end. One black night in 1987, on the freezing waters ... more
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Reviews
Intriguing stories of things gone wrong and what we can learn from them.
Podcast Addict5a month agopetermckMy favourite podcast. The stories are fascinating and expertly delivered by Tim. If you want to learn something interesting and be entertained without the inane chat that so many feature nowadays, this is the podcast for you.
Podcast Addict5a month agoWizzo- Jean Shepherd - seriously?!
Like many others, as these ratings display, I’ve always enjoyed this show as a form of journalistic history. It maintains a scholarly sense of detail mixed with an eyebrow-raising judgey opinion. When the subjects are criminals, of course they’re sitting targets for this author’s upturned nose, and deservedly so. But a hit piece on Jean Shepherd of all people? I still can’t figure out why he qualified. Harford explained to his global audience who this blue collar cranky misfit was- in terms of t... more
Apple Podcasts1Spring7Boy
United Statesa month ago - Best podcast
Cautionary tales is BY FAR my favorite podcast. I love Tim’s narration, and the stories and philosophical lessons are always interesting. 10/10 would recommend.
Apple Podcasts5JScherf2012United Statesa month ago - So nice
I love putting this on for my daughter and she really like it too!
Apple Podcasts4CutieNark3
United Kingdom2 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
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Spotify | #48 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #43 | United States/History |
Spotify | #23 | United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #227 | United Kingdom/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #20 | United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #25 |  Canada/History |
Talking Points
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cautionary Tales
What is Cautionary Tales about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Cautionary Tales combines rigorous storytelling with historical and behavioral analysis to unpack how humans bungled, misread, or manipulated systems—often with outsized consequences. Episodes weave archival voices, expert interviews, and careful research to explore disasters, hoaxes, technological missteps, and the social psychology behind risk. A standout feature is the tight narration and production that turn complex cases into accessible, morally cheeky narratives that stay with you after the credits, while maintaining a scholarly undercurrent. The show often pairs historical events with modern implications, making it appealing for listeners who enjoy learning from mistakes and understanding how institutions fail and adapt.
Noteworthy ... more
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How many listeners does Cautionary Tales get?
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What are the audience demographics for Cautionary Tales?
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How many subscribers and views does Cautionary Tales have?
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Which podcasts are similar to Cautionary Tales?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Cautionary Tales:
1. Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem
2. 99% Invisible
3. The Last Archive
4. Against the Rules with Michael Lewis
5. More or Less
How many episodes of Cautionary Tales are there?
Cautionary Tales launched 7 years ago and published 263 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?
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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. Pascal Wyse
2. Maddy Pelling
3. Tom Toohey
4. Lorna Rainbow / Arnold
5. Sir William Penny
6. Bill Penney
7. Tom Tuohy
8. Whitney Phillips
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.