S3E3 Liars (And Lying) 101
Summary
John Kiriakou opens with a personal account of being deceived by a con artist posing as a wealthy heir, illustrating the dangers of ignoring intuition. He then defines various types of lies, from white lies to bold-faced deceptions, and analyzes famous historical liars including the Trojan Horse, Charles Ponzi, Benedict Arnold, and Frank Abagnale. The episode explores how these figures used manipulation and fabrication to achieve their goals, offering lessons on spotting deception. Kiriakou concludes by discussing statistical data on lying behaviors across genders and professions, emphasizi…
Topics discussed
Zinn Nicotine Pouches Ad: New Flavors
Meeting David Sassoon and the initial red flags
David Sassoon's lies and the Mike Pompeo connection
Show intro: The world of secrets and liars
Recruiting sociopaths for intelligence work
Defining liars and the spectrum of dishonesty
White lies and benevolent deception
Discerning truth in informant statements
Deception in military ops: Operation Mincemeat
Creating the persona of Captain William Martin
Euphemisms: The Berlin Wall and gangster talk
Self-protective lies and blame shifting
Gaslighting and playing the victim
Misinformation in the hunt for mole Aldrich Ames
The psychology and origins of gaslighting
How liars commandeer victimhood
Bold-faced lies and political confusion
Famous liars: Lance Armstrong and Bill Clinton
Lie detectors and the difficulty of lying
The scope of lying from a spy's perspective
The Trojan Horse: Sinon's sales pitch
Sinon's arguments and Laokoon's warning
Cassandra's curse and the fall of Troy
Promo: Just the Photographer podcast
Herodotus and the invention of history
Herodotus's mission and title innovation
Criticism of Herodotus: Fabrications and folklore
Quince Ad: Cashmere sweaters and linen trousers
Quince Ad: Ease of dressing and value
Quince Ad: Winter staples and app offers
Zinn Nicotine Pouches Ad: Musical jingle
Charles Ponzi: Confidence and invincibility
Ponzi's arrival in Boston and early jobs
The origin of the Ponzi scheme
Ponzi's forgery and imprisonment
International Reply Coupons and arbitrage
Exploiting postage inflation for profit
Ponzi's stock company and initial investors
The scheme's unsustainable losses
Boston's wealthy invest; suspicion grows
Panic run and Ponzi's public reassurance
McMaster's investigation into Ponzi
Bank Commissioner Allen's concerns
The collapse of Ponzi's banks and investors
Ponzi's release, deportation, and later life
Ponzi's death and meager estate
Zinn Ad: Recognizing the lie being sold
Benedict Arnold: Personification of deception
Arnold's military success and growing resentment
The plot to betray West Point
Arnold's motivations: Unappreciation and debt
Arnold's reception in Britain and later life
The 'Benedict Arnold' type of traitor
Frank Abagnale: The fabulist liar
Debunking Abagnale's biographical claims
The danger of charming fabulists
Study: Men and women lie at different rates
Lying by age, gender, and profession
The World Lying Games competition
Zinn Nicotine Pouches Ad: New Flavors
Listen ad-free on Castria