Introducing: Cautionary Tales

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 Pelling, co-host of the After Dark ...  Show 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 off Zebrugge, Belgium, a singl ...  Show more

Here’s a special preview of the new season of Cautionary Tales from Pushkin Industries. On Cautionary Tales, bestselling author Tim Harford shares stories of human error, natural disasters, and tragic catastrophes from history that teach us important lessons for today. In this pr ...  Show more

What can history teach us about the present? How can the average person use critical thinking to avoid being taken in by slick infographics and ardent pundits? In today’s interview, Ben, Matt and Noel sit down with legendary economist, author and podcaster Tim Harford to learn ...

History can be amusing, as these two tales from the Cabinet will illustrate. Pre-order the official Cabinet of Curiosities book by clicking here today, and get ready to enjoy some curious reading this November!Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes!: https://www.patreon.com/griman ...  Show more

There's a lot to get upset about in life, but these two stories are perfect proof that sometimes one era's complaint is another's curiosity.