Brian Brushwood (@shwood) has spent the last 20 years entertaining and teaching people how to harness the deceptive (and self-deceptive) skills of scientists, spies, criminals, and con artists. He is the author of Scam School: Your Guide to Scoring Free Drinks, Doing Magic, and Becoming the Life of the Party. [Note: This is a previously broadcast episode from the vault that we felt deserved a fresh pass through your earholes!]
What We Discuss with Brian Brushwood:
Why being interesting isn’t a gift — it’s a practice.
How fixed action patterns help us get others to do what we want them to do. (Important note: for good — not evil!)
How to control a conversation by asking the right questions.
The best way to convince someone to help us? By making it their idea.
Why we’re all susceptible to being duped in spite of our highly developed human brains — and how practicing magic can train us to be more resistant to the fraudulent.