The Full Facts Book of Cold Reading by Ian Rowland is the definitive manual for understanding how psychics, mediums, and illusionists appear to know intimate details about people they’ve never met. Far from supernatural powers, cold reading is a psychological art, using subtle cues, generalisations, body language, and verbal tricks to create the illusion of insight.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the techniques that underpin fortune telling, psychic readings, and even some forms of high-pressure sales. You'll learn how statements like “You’re the kind of person who’s usually outgoing… but sometimes you like to keep to yourself” are engineered to feel deeply personal. Rowland doesn’t just expose the tactics, he categorises and explains them with surgical precision, offering one of the most comprehensive breakdowns ever written on persuasive manipulation.

Whether you're fascinated by magic, sceptical of psychic claims, or simply curious about the psychology of persuasion, this episode will forever change how you see those who seem to "just know."