Season 2, Episode 1: Minimum Viable Company

How I created a real company, run by fake people

Nov 12 • 

Evan Ratliff

8

5

1

32:57

The One-Person Unicorn

Shell Game's Season 2 trailer is live! Here's what the show is about.

Nov 7 • 

Shell Game

7

2:02

October 2025

Season 2 Announcement!

We have a date, and some other news.

Oct 7 • 

Shell Game

13

1

July 2025

The Era of Ambitious AI-Powered Cons Arrives

In a thwarted Marco Rubio impersonation, a new twist on a French-Israeli conman's legendary ploy.

Jul 9 • 

Evan Ratliff

13

1

April 2025

What's a little scamming among friends?

AI Evan becomes a mentor, plus: a Webby nomination for the podcast, go vote!

Apr 4 • 

Shell Game

5

February 2025

When AI doomerism spirals into violence

The backstory of my two years on the trail of the Zizians for WIRED, and a personal history of the ideas that set them on a path to mayhem.

Feb 25 • 

Evan Ratliff

15

2

5

January 2025

And how does that make you feel?

As AI’s are increasingly used as counselors and confidants, the research struggles to keep up.

Jan 27 • 

Evan Ratliff

3

December 2024

Guided by Voices

I looked into whether OpenAI was using my voice, and discovered how quickly human-AI bonds can form.

Dec 24, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

9

2

1

7:54

AI Granny to the rescue?

A UK phone company launched an AI voice agent to intercept scams. Will it do any good?

Dec 11, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

6

November 2024

Satoshi and the Dangers of Narrative Momentum

A new documentary claimed to unmask Bitcoin's creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Does the evidence back it up?

Nov 18, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

6

October 2024

Machine vs. machine

Can AI voice detection software work on my clone, and the voice agents that call it?

Oct 31, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

8

4:00

Voice agents in the NYT, and the twisting tale of a lawsuit over AI origins

Two Shell Game-adjacent articles, in other venues.

Oct 16, 2024 • 

Evan Ratliff

8

1