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In the first episode of Fool Me Twice, comedian Brad Oakes and former police detective and deception expert Steve Van Aperen dive headfirst into one deceptively simple question: why do we lie, and how can we tell when someone else is doing it?
The episode opens with the idea that lying is not rare, criminal, or even unusual. It is an everyday social behaviour. From comedians exaggerating stories on stage, to people misrepresenting themselves on dating apps, to politicians and professionals shaping the truth to suit their audience, lying is framed as something most people do routinely, often without thinking. Brad brings humour and self awareness to the discussion, openly admitting that fabrication is a core part of comedy, while Steve grounds the conversation in psychology and real world investigative experience.
Dating apps become a recurring and relatable example of social lying, where people exaggerate height, appearance, personality, and intentions. These stories highlight a key tension: lies may get someone through the door, but reality eventually catches up. The hosts explore how people knowingly create false versions of themselves, despite understanding they will ultimately be exposed.
From there, the conversation shifts into how lies can actually be detected. Steve explains that there is no single tell. No magic eye movement or nervous twitch that guarantees deception. Instead, lie detection relies on patterns, inconsistencies, and changes from a person’s normal behaviour. Language choice, pronouns, tense shifts, response delays, body language mismatches, and micro expressions all provide clues when examined together. Crucially, Steve emphasises that most people are poor both at lying and at spotting lies, often because personality, trust, and desire cloud judgement.
The episode also tackles darker territory, discussing narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths not as movie villains, but as everyday individuals who may lack empathy and use deception strategically to manipulate others. Steve draws on his experience interviewing criminals, fraudsters, and even pleasant seeming psychopaths to show how dangerous lies are not always obvious or dramatic.
Throughout the episode, humour balances the heavier insights. Anecdotes about being conned, interrogated by police as a teenager, or falling for deals that sound too good to be true reinforce the central idea that we often want to believe lies when they benefit us.
The episode closes by reinforcing the show’s core message: lies are everywhere, truth is fragile, and learning how deception works is less about paranoia and more about self protection.
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Learn more about Fool Me Twice by visiting www.foolmetwice.com.au
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