Fool Me Twice

25/05/2026

The Bonus Episode has just landed, featuring producer Morry Morgan and Steve Van Aperen. The two cover their first collaboration, Is This Thing On? - the comedy-drama about 10 newbies learning stand-up comedy at the Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School.

Take a listen:

In this bonus episode of Fool Me Twice, host Steve Van Aperen swaps the usual format for a behind-the-glass conversation with Morry Morgan, the show’s producer.

18/05/2026

That’s right, Monday mornings are our new launch day, and this one is a doozy.

This week, we examine the anatomy of a crime scene in vivid, colourful detail, unpacking the clues, the chaos, and the questions left behind.

You know you want to listen.

Episode 19 of Fool Me Twice features Bradford Oakes and Steve Van Aperen exploring what they call “the anatomy of a murder crime scene”

29/04/2026

Episode 17 is out, and we're talking all about Ashley Madison!

A major focus of the episode is the Ashley Madison data breach, which was specifically designed to facilitate extramarital affairs.

23/04/2026

Episode 16 of Fool Me Twice is out now!
Hosts Steve Van Aperen and Bradford Emlyn Oakes discuss supermarket scams, duty free pricing and Brad talks about a potential drug bust.

LISTEN:

Bradford recalls a tense Revolver Nightclub moment involving “ecstasy tablets” and revealing an attempted drug bust by undercover police.

10/04/2026

Dark Comedy and more this weekend at Crowne Plaza Melbourne - https://mailchi.mp/hardknockknocks.com/the-melbourne-international-comedy-festival-shows-this-weekend-17997171

03/04/2026

Watch comedy this Easter Weekend - https://mailchi.mp/hardknockknocks.com/the-melbourne-international-comedy-festival-shows-this-weekend-17997049

03/04/2026

Episode 3: Inside the mind of a liar

In this episode of Fool Me Twice, Bradford and Steve take listeners inside the mechanics of lying and explain how easily confidence and charm can mislead us. Steve defines a lie as a deliberate attempt to mislead while knowing the truth, then challenges many popular beliefs about how liars behave. He explains that nervousness, lack of eye contact, or awkward pauses rarely signal deception on their own. People show these behaviours for many innocent reasons, including stress, fear, or simple distraction.

The conversation centres on cognitive load and how lies strain the brain. When people tell the truth, they recall real memories. When they lie, they must invent details, maintain consistency, and respond to follow up questions in real time. This mental effort often leaks through behaviour. Steve describes how trained interviewers and modern technology focus on changes in eye behaviour, response timing, and speech patterns rather than dramatic physical reactions. Heart rate and sweating, for example, often reflect anxiety instead of dishonesty.

Benchmarking plays a major role throughout the episode. Steve stresses that interviewers must first understand how someone behaves when telling the truth. Only then can they spot meaningful changes. Without this baseline, even experienced professionals can miss deception. Charismatic personalities, confident speakers, and attractive people often distract interviewers and influence judgement. The episode highlights how easily appearance and personality can override logic in criminal interviews, workplace situations, and romantic relationships.

The discussion also dives into lying by omission. Steve explains that many people avoid direct lies by leaving out key details. By saying less, they reduce the risk of contradiction. Others overwhelm listeners with excessive information to steer attention away from the real issue. Both tactics appear frequently in interrogations and everyday conversations.

Through case experience, humour, and relatable stories, the episode connects professional interrogation techniques to real life situations like dating and social interactions. The message is clear. Spotting deception requires attention to patterns, context, and behavioural change over time. There is no single behaviour that exposes a lie, and anyone who relies on shortcuts will likely be fooled.

02/04/2026

Episode 2: What liars do differently – Language, behaviour, and the truth

In Episode 2 of Fool Me Twice, the focus shifts from why people lie to how liars actually behave compared to truthful people.

The episode begins with a familiar question, “How are you?” showing how even everyday interactions involve subtle forms of truth editing. This instinct to manage information sits on the same spectrum as more deliberate deception.

Drawing on police interview experience, the hosts explain that truthful people communicate with natural detail and ownership. They describe what they saw, heard, and felt because they genuinely experienced it. Liars, however, must construct their stories, which creates mental strain. This often shows up as vague language, tense shifts, evasiveness, or answering questions with questions.

A key insight is that people rarely jump straight to outright lies. They first avoid, edit, or redirect information, only lying when necessary. As pressure builds, inconsistencies begin to appear across language, behaviour, and tone.

The episode also challenges common myths. Confidence does not equal honesty, and real lie detection is not like shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Instead, it relies on listening, rapport, and recognising behavioural patterns.

Ultimately, the takeaway is clear: truth flows more naturally, while lies require effort. Detecting deception is about spotting patterns and changes in behaviour, and recognising that everyone, not just criminals, engages in it.

01/04/2026

Episode 1: How to read a liar, from dating apps to crime scenes

In the first episode of Fool Me Twice, Brad Oakes and deception expert Steve Van Aperen explore a simple but powerful question: why do we lie, and how can we spot it?

They begin by reframing lying as a normal part of everyday life. From comedy exaggeration to dating app profiles and professional spin, most people lie regularly—often without thinking. Brad leans into the humour of this, while Steve brings psychological insight and investigative experience.

Dating apps serve as a relatable example, where people exaggerate their appearance, personality, or intentions. The hosts point out the contradiction: people knowingly present false versions of themselves, even though the truth will eventually surface.

Steve explains that detecting lies isn’t about spotting a single giveaway. There’s no universal “tell.” Instead, it’s about noticing patterns—changes in behaviour, inconsistencies in stories, shifts in language, delays in responses, and mismatches between words and body language. He stresses that most people are actually bad at both lying and detecting lies, often because emotions and biases get in the way.

The episode also touches on more serious forms of deception, including individuals who manipulate others without empathy. Drawing from real cases, Steve shows that dangerous liars are often not obvious—they can appear completely normal.

Balancing these insights, the episode uses humour and personal stories to show how easily people are misled, especially when they want to believe something.

It concludes with a clear takeaway: lies are everywhere, and understanding them isn’t about paranoia—it’s about protecting yourself.

01/04/2026

In Episode 15 we discuss the Dezi Freeman manhunt and conclusion.

Take a listen:

This episode focuses on Dezi Freeman and the shooting of two police officers in Porepunkah, the manhunt and his eventual death in Thologolong.