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?”

Love this show, but I’ll have to stop listening if these ads continue.

With most podcasts, I’ll check titles & read descriptions, then skip episodes that don’t interest me. But I never miss a Cautionary Tale! Because on the rare occasion I’ve thought an idea seemed boring, I end up captivated by the end. The writing, acting, music, & sound design are all top-shelf. The mix of history, modern events, & science never disappoints. The scope from global catastrophe, to personal stories, makes every perfectly-paced minute unmissable. Easy to follow. Deep & profound. Add to that Tim’s stellar presentation… I get hooked, lined, & sinkered every time. First-class. ☕️

Absolutely disgusted when you have me download an episode that is titled Air Disaster only to find out it’s nothing more than a thinly veiled preview and the majority of the podcast is literally a completely different podcast. Unsubscribe

Everything a podcast should aspire to be -excellent writing, research, production, sound production, acting and incredibly interesting topics. Truly fantastic!!

Perfect amounts of entertaining, informative, and intriguing

The stories are well written and, as far as I can tell, are well researched. The audio quality is top notch with interesting background music, sound effects and quoted media all mixed together expertly.

Show now resorts to just running previous episodes without telling the listener that they’re just running previous episodes. Complete meh….

Used to be a great show but has now resorted to tricking people to listen to what they think is a new episodes, with ads beforehand, only to find out it’s only a preview for a show you HAVE to pay for. I know that is done frequently on podcasts that are paid subscriber only- but that is usually more clear in the title and does not include ads at the beginning.

Well, I feel like I’ve been tricked. Not good Pushkin. Don’t give us a teaser and then explain we will have to pay to hear the rest. So sad!

Loved the show, but running ads for Donald Trump is low.

I get you need to pay for the content you produce, but tricking people into listening to what they think is a new episode about an air disaster and it’s really just ads with a preview for the version on your subscription model? No thanks! Why not list that in the episode title instead of whatever this was? Some other episodes off a podcast called deep cover. Instead of being up front, Pushkin is using trickery to get you to either. Listen to more ads or to subscribe to more podcasts. At this point I’m done with Pushkin podcasts and you should be too.

Tim Harford is brilliant and a wonderful storyteller. The combination of these two skills comes together in every episode, and the twist at the end of most shows always leaves me in awe of the tapestry Tim has woven together. To see this on full display, check out the MLK Jr. episode. I’ve listened to it four times since its original airing and have shared it with several friends who regularly engage in public speaking. I appreciate the hard work and creativity that goes into each episode. Keep up the great work!

So many interruptions by too much advertising ruins this podcast.

I love this podcast! One of my favorites!

Now this podcast is its own cautionary tale. What happens to a brilliant podcast author after success and accolades lead to a desperate search for topics and ends up with boring interviews, guests and endless ads.

It saddens me to leave such a low review for such a great show but the ad breaks are so frequent, repetitive and lengthy that they pull you out of the narrative. Very sad to see this change, I love Hardford but have no love for Pushkin

I love the show, so I can’t give it less than five stars. *But* in what region of America is the word ‘important’ pronounced as ‘im•poor’•ant’? It’s not only wrong but a distractedly lame affectation. You don’t drop the middle ‘t’ in any other word or construction. You call yourself a doctor, so talk like one.

Easily a top three podcast. Keep up the good work.

wonderful show, though the ads will drive you away from listening, so subscribe to pushkin