Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

Pushkin Industries

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About

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.

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Recent episodes

  • How a Broken Arm Improved my French - with David EpsteinSep 18, 2026 · 43 min
  • Talent, Time and Money: The Curse of General MagicSep 11, 2026 · 39 min
  • Evel Knievel Faces the AbyssSep 4, 2026 · 40 min
  • Dumm und Dümmer: Hitler Invades FloridaAug 28, 2026 · 39 min
  • The DeLorean Saga: Fraud, Drugs and Marty McFly's Car - with Business HistoryAug 21, 2026 · 49 min
  • Proceed with Caution - Pascal's Guide to PodcastsAug 14, 2026 · 26 min
  • The Weight of Fame: A Hollywood TragedyAug 7, 2026 · 42 min
  • Arsenic and Lace: The Trial of the Yorkshire Witch - with Maddy PellingJul 31, 2026 · 44 min
  • The Doors of Death: The Herald of Free EnterpriseJul 24, 2026 · 38 min
  • "What a Bloody Mess we're in" - Britain's [REDACTED] AccidentJul 17, 2026 · 41 min

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