Scamapalooza with Nicholas J. Johnson

By: Nicholas J. Johnson
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  • Summary

  • You can’t trust anyone. Particularly not author, entertainer and collector of scams Nicholas J. Johnson. Scamapalooza attempts to separate facts from fraud as Nicholas explores the worlds of deception, illusion and swindles with the rogue's gallery of writers, magicians, comedians and confidence artists that are his guests. For business inquiries, topic suggestions, and guest proposals, email info@conman.com.au. “Nicholas J. Johnson is the man to talk to about scams.” - ABC Statewide Drive Victoria
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Science Social Sciences
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Episodes
  • 69: Detecting Misinformation with Steve Rathje

    69: Detecting Misinformation with Steve Rathje
    Sep 16 2023
    PATREON
    MY STUFF
    STEVE'S WEBSITE
    STEVE'S TIKTOK

    I’ve been sick for the past few months. Which is why there has been an episode of a Scamapalooza in a little while.

    Instead, I’ve been spending a lot of time in bed feeling sorry for myself while trawling tiktok.

    Among the craft videos, slime reviews and video game analysis, I came across a video of a young academic making iced coffee while explaining his research into why some people detect misinformation on social media while others let it slide.

    Is it an education issue? A psychological block? Or do people just lack the proper motivation?

    On this episode of Scamapalooza, I talk to Steven Rathje about his research into fake news, his one point one million followers, and how to fix the problem of truth on social media.

    He also gives me genuinely useful ideas on the types of TikTok content my followers would want to see.
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    57 mins
  • 68: Collecting Magic with Kent Blackmore

    68: Collecting Magic with Kent Blackmore
    Jul 26 2023
    Support the podcast on Patreon!

    Magicians have secrets that you don’t see on stage. I’m not talking about HOW they do the tricks—the trapdoors and mirrors—but the mundane secrets that make the show happen. 

    The tour schedules, the marketing plans, the box office reports and the horror stories of gigs that went off the rails. 

    Kent Blackmore, digs up those secrets. An author and magic historian, Kent has dedicated his life to telling the stories of Australia’s most colourful figures. 

    From William Fraser, the Convict Conjurer, to magic superstars like Les and Esme Levante, Blackmore has spent decades piecing together posters, newspaper articles, and ephemera to explore not just their stage personas but the stories of people behind magic.

    KENT’S WEBSITE: https://sydneymagic.net/
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    48 mins
  • 67: Nobody's Fool with Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris

    67: Nobody's Fool with Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris
    Jul 14 2023
    Support the podcast on Patreon!

    If I had an origin story as a magician/con artist/science communicator it would be me, in the early 2000s, hunching over my computer trying to count how many times a basketball is being thrown while completely missing the full-size gorilla walking right through the middle of the shot.

    The creation of psychologists Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons, The Invisible Gorilla video went viral and the research paper become infamous, winning the pair an ig nobel award in 2004.

    Now, Daniel and Christopher are back with a new book Nobody’s Fool an exploration of all the ways human beings are deceived and a few ideas on how to avoid it!

    On this episode of the podcast, we talk about the book, the gorilla, and the best ways to avoid being taken for a ride.

    The Book
    My Website
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    53 mins

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