
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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 227 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | HistorySociety & Culture | |||

Chris McKinlay is a good-looking, smart student at UCLA, but he can't seem to get a girlfriend. He's a computing expert, so why not use his technology prowess to supercharge his search for a soulmate? He starts building an army of bots and unleashes ... more
In the final days of the Sixties, The Rolling Stones join forces with other rock legends to plan a free concert at Altamont Speedway that will rival Woodstock. The "bad boys of rock" don't have the warmest relationship with the police, so they choose... more
Run by the charismatic Nicole Deadone, OneTaste billed itself as a sexual wellness startup celebrating the power of female orgasm. But behind the celebrity endorsements and promises of healing, lay a darker reality. When Bloomberg journalist Ellen Hu... more
Tony Hsieh, the billionaire CEO of Zappos, is passionate about community. He pours his time, energy and fortune into building a network of like-minded people - first in Las Vegas, then Park City, Utah. But Tony's quest to build connection soon spiral... more
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Such a wonderfully crafted show. Tim does an amazing job researching, presenting and captivating on every episode. 5 stars.
The recent episodes about Zappos CEO were captivating.
Early episodes are well done, interesting, and adhere to the "cautionary tale" where unexpected or unintuitive choices or processes cause tragedy from which we can learn. Later on, the host tends more towards just the macabre and also lots of guest podcasts and interviews. Feels very much like having jumped the shark. I'm not interested in starting my day with a random episode from another podcast or a depressing description of a tragic unavoidable event.
Story great as usual. The commercial advertising a book with crazy irritating humming my only complaint. Turned sound off during commercial . Love this show
This is a good episode but the description extolling that Singer ‘liberated’ women is offensive. He did no such thing personally and the sewing machine, which he only partly invented, only did so through his partner’s ’rent-try-buy’ idea. The description is sensationalist and offensive for what is usually a measured podcast. Please change it.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #41 | |
Apple Podcasts | #21 | |
Spotify | #23 | |
Apple Podcasts | #141 | |
Apple Podcasts | #167 | |
Apple Podcasts | #10 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Offering a unique blend of storytelling and analysis, engaging narratives revolve around true stories of human error, missteps, and the lessons learned through catastrophic events. Topics range from historical events to contemporary dilemmas, ensuring listeners are both entertained and educated. The host draws upon rich historical contexts and personal anecdotes, making complex ideas accessible and engaging. Each episode serves as a cautionary tale, shedding light on the pitfalls of human decision-making while offering insights into resilience and growth in the face of adversity.
This podcast likely captivates an audience keen on history, sociology, and psychology, intertwining humor and serious reflection in its storytelling approach.
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4. More or Less
5. Hot Money: Agent of Chaos
Cautionary Tales launched 6 years ago and published 227 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Cautionary Tales include:
1. Ellen Huet
2. Ed Thorpe
3. Richard Garfield
4. JR Martinez
5. Michael Lewis
6. Dr. Maya Shankar
7. Katie Milchman
8. Joe Robertson
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