Thoughtful, well written, and nicely produced. The tales are interesting and keep your attention. Probably the best podcast of those I listen to.

Always well told & wildly interesting. I’d love to know how they figured out where to “pull that first thread.” Also, I very much enjoy the narrator (& assume he’s writer also). I think we can all trust that anything underneath the Gladwell umbrella is going to be smart & well told. But wait! No! Is this the end of “Cautionary Tales?” Please tell me there will be more. I love your writing style & your voice & the production! Please tell me there will be more❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Remember when Tim would simply tell us a cautionary tale without excessive character voices or sound effects? Those were great times.

This is my go to podcast to hear a great story,well told.

The stories are always fascinating and well told, especially for someone like myself who has always loved reading about different kinds of disasters. That was what initially drew me to this podcast. Not only do I learn a lot about the past, though, but the podcast goes above and beyond: I often come away feeling like I understand the world better than I did when I started the episode. To me, this podcast is on point in every single episode, in its critical analysis of why such and such a thing happened, what other moments in history offer insights, and what seems to be to blame, and maybe something in the process illuminates a path forward for what could be done about the problem. I am a huge fan of the way many episodes work through the logic behind what happened towards a set of takeaways that are often much more complex or even opposite to what an observer would have concluded at the start. And the logic makes sense, I am with Tim every step of the way. I can’t think of one time I’ve been able to catch him in a major logical misstep. Let me compare that to the first season of Revisionist History, which I listened to recently: Malcolm Gladwell tries to punch as hard as possible in his conclusions, but I felt that maybe 20% of his episodes in the first season had major logical missteps that ruined his main arguments, and this left me skeptical of the rest of his episodes, even though I do still think those were mostly actually very good. And there are some episodes that raise enormous questions in my mind, but then the episode ends without giving me an idea of what to think about how to answer that question. And at first, I can’t believe he’d abandon me like that. But then I realize he’s done me a great service: he showed restraint, only telling me what he knew and leaving me to figure out the rest. Both as a global citizen and as a researcher, I appreciate that he would help me understand the context around difficult questions that I’d never even thought about before, and then leave me to figure out what to do with that information. I don’t know if I have been emphatic enough in my praise of this podcast, so let me put it differently. I am currently in an economics PhD program, and I criticize everything that I can. But this podcast is beyond criticism for me. It's perfect. I am excited that the podcast will now be releasing episodes more frequently, and I hope the team is able to maintain the same quality as always as they try to accelerate their output.

To start off I must say I enjoy CT, great stories that I have repeated often to friends. The only issue I have is that Tim has made it clear his political preference in the US, which is fine, since it is his podcast after all. As my father would say, your dime, your dance floor. But I wonder why there is no mention of UK politics and an almost weekly mention of US politics? Is the UK so meaningless there is no point? Just wondering.

Cautionary Tales is a 5 star pod cast. Risky Business can’t go 5 minutes without cursing to get a point across. Why play this garbage?

This is a good podcast with some excellent stories. The production is weak, though, and the special effects often drown out the voices. Plus, Harford is fine narrator and they don’t need the voice impersonators.

Lots of stories you probably wouldn’t hear about, except for this podcast.

Is the format of the show just one guy telling a story and the other guy saying “you know one time we had a guest who… “[insert very slightly related plug for their company here] over and over and over?? It’s quite annoying.

Tim, Tim, Tim — I’m a subscriber and fan but this epp — so topical, so under achieved on behalf of the great Widow Clicquot. There is so much more to the story. She had amazing employees, partners etc, and there were other women in the champagne business but she created an environment for more. Not only that, not going into the freedoms widows had in this period?! This incredible woman deserved a longer better researched episode. The fact that you two men were talking about her at all gives you four stars.

I've only just discovered this podcast. So glad I did. The host is intelligent and respectful of the subject matter. He provides details that you've most likely never heard before. And most importantly, he always selects unique or interesting events. Definitely give this one a listen.

A serious podcast that offers informed perspectives based on actual research.

This show is so good. The lessons to be learned are so practical for our times. I feel wiser after every episode.

This pod is being unfairly attacked by a bunch of babies who can’t stand when someone makes simple observations about reality, because it forces them to realize that they are on the wrong side of history. This is a thoughtful and not-at-all aggressively political show that is being brigades by reactionary troglodytes.

NPR who

I’m not sure if it’s just my headphones but sometimes it seems like you’re speaking into a piece of heavy cloth- the treble is diminished, and your otherwise impeccable annunciation muddled. That said; this is a fantastic show and you should be very proud of this production! I look forward to every episode!

Just when you start getting immersed into the story, another 3 minute add break, resulting 1/3 of podcast being ads, ripping you out of the story. I get the content provider needs to make money, but how much does playing the same company ad 4 times in the same podcast pay?

Spooky elites healing this "horrible horrible world"

I had previously listened to a few select episodes of Cautionary Tales (Blitzkrieg), but it wasn’t until Tim Hartford mentioned the show on the More or Less podcast that I discovered just how amazingly good Cautionary Tales actually is. I’m now thoroughly addicted and steadily working through the back catalog of episodes. Fascinating stories, amazing insights, well produced, smart and entertaining. Love it.

This is one of the best written and best produced scripted podcasts ever. Such a refreshing break from endless “conversation/interview” podcasts.

I am a podcast junkie and this one is the one I look forward to the most. I've also listened to an episode and then followed up with more reading to find out more information. I cannot rave about the show enough

I love the podcast but u feel like there isn’t a lot half of the episodes are episodes promoting something else it’s very irritating seeing a notification for a new episode and it’s for another show

I look forward to each and everyone of the Cautionary Tales. The latest one “Steel and Kindness” is an absolute keeper for me! Really love the research, insight and thoughtfulness that goes into each episode. Tim Hartford is a wonderful storyteller!

Well the reviews speak for themselves. Just look at how consistently high they were before you started bringing your politics into the episodes. It is possible to tell a story without injecting personal biases into them. The point of a podcast is to reach as many people as possible, no???? Get back to doing that and leave tour agenda on the shelf. I don’t talk politics with friends and family, what makes you think that I hi e one flip what you think politically? I could car less, so leave it at home.

Tim Harford makes history compelling as well as giving it context, showing how it directly affects us today. He is a master storyteller as well. You don’t feel lime you’re learning, you feel like you’re being entertained!

I love Pushkin as a company, especially the Paul McCartney show, but this one I expected a little bit more, I expected it to be more straightforward cautionary tales some of these like Martin Luther King Jr. is wrapped up in another story so it’s kind of convoluted.

Fr it’s good

1 star cuz some random kid was advertising it sorry maybe u will to it and change my rating one day

Amazing and well crafted podcast. I stop what I'm doing to listen to the episodes when a new one drops. this is the podcast I recommend to people who are now only interested in getting into Podcasts. And it doesn't hurt at all that old Timmy Tim Tim has a beautiful voice and excellent delivery. and for the record, I am not his mom

My favorite podcast. Captivating, informative, interesting. I love how he weaves the past and present. Dan for life.

Informative + interesting material, mellifluous voice, and a hint of admonishment. Love it!!

One of the best podcasts, entertaining and fun, yet also educational and informative - the way Tim picks the stories and the unique way of telling the stories (brings back memories of old radio shows , half theatrical..) makes it all come together ! Thank you!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Great story, Am I miss annoying the name Adidas?

I used to really like Malcolm Gladwell but now i associate his voice with 15 minutes of long commercials in a 50 min podcast

I had always heard that the purchaser of the Segway company had a big cocktail party and was showing off and went over a cliff. Everyone had a laugh at his expense. For years. I love the way you include “No way! I had no idea!” in your subliminal lessons. Thank you so giving me the opportunity expand my mind.

Wow!! I recently discovered this podcast and can’t get enough. In a captivating storytelling format, Tim Hartford mixes snippets of history with social science to teach important truths about human nature and society. If you love narrative nonfiction, this podcast is a MUST!

Love this podcast, however I have a comment about the “When the Robots take over…” in a reply to a question, there is a statement which says governments give money to their retired citizens, which is not true, the workers have to contribute throughout their lives a high percentage of their income to be able to receive a retirement income

Malcom Gladwell is a rude and disrespectful child. Is this episode, Malcom acts like a little boy who is angry with his dad. Or daddy. Someone give this little boy a hug and be his friend. Tim Hartford’s episodes are almost always enjoyable. This episode was quite irritating. Malcom should go clean his room like a good little boy. Don’t be afraid, son. Daddy’s guns will keep you safe.

This show was wonderful, but following the Pushkin model it is now just an ad for a large corporation. T-mobile, HBO

Love the content but as with all the Pushkin podcasts the ad content is just too heavy. It’s like network TV shows where you get 10 minutes of show followed by 5 minutes of commercials. I know people need to get paid and content costs money but there are plenty of great podcast out there with less advertising.

Truly the greatest podcast of our time. Normally I’d be dissatisfied with the time between episodes, but that’s overcompensated by the insanely high quality of the content produced. I wait for each episode VERY eagerly. 11 / 10 , 6 Stars if I could. -Clemr

Tim has a great delivery, and presents a wonderful podcast, but the great detractor for me is his lack of control over his political views. I’d love to provide a 5-star rating, but the political viewpoints he voices are not appropriate if he wants to keep his audience.

Between the long real commercials and the story written to support the HBO series, this show has gone from a decent podcast to a barely listenable show. The story is now very choppy and staged around the commercials to keep you listening.

I love listening to it but I just wish they posted more often, and also do less interveiw-type episodes.

I love Cautionary Tales, all the tales are really engaging and balance artistry and practice in the best way. It’s my favorite podcast! I wish it was translated to other languages so I could share with my family who are not so proficient in English.

The whole episode is just a commercial for an HBO series. Not interested. This podcast used to be quite enjoyable. This review reflects more recent episodes (as of late March 2024)

Just got hit with an ad for History of Israel podcast while listening, which pretty much dismissed and laughed at the current situation and genocide. I’m really disappointed you’d take their money, now you won’t be getting mine

I am a paid subscriber, but not for long. Someone used to put remarkable care and thought into each episode. “Cautionary Tales” was a rare, reliable bit of wonder and delight. Speaking of cautionary tales, I remember a little story from my childhood about a goose that laid the golden egg. To spell it out for the business types, I don’t subscribe to the collaborating or substitution podcasts because I don’t want them. You explained why you added them. (That was irritating.) The only relevant questions are, “Is the goose already dead? Or, can the Brits revive the spirit James Harriot to save it?”