NO SUCH THING

Do lie detector tests actually work?

November 11, 2026·48 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Is it possible to objectively know when someone is lying? Humans have wrestled with this problem for centuries. And about 100 years ago, the polygraph device was made to solve it. But can this machine, commonly known as a lie detector, actually do what it says? This week, we dive into the controversial history of the polygraph to find out how it works, why Pete Hegseth is using it to hunt Pentagon leakers, and how the government has allegedly punished people for selling tips to "beat" the machine, all while the device remains banned from most courtrooms. Our guests this week helped us cover this one from all angles: Amit Katwala, author of Tremors in the Blood Murder: Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector George Maschke, former U.S. Army interrogator and reserve intelligence officer and co-founder of AntiPolygraph.org Nathan Gordon, Director of The Academy for Scientific Investigative Training, President of the International Society of Polygraph Examiners Have a question or argument you want us to tackle? Leave us a voicemail at (860) 325-0286 or send us an email at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com And lastly: Subscribe to our newsletter for an exclusive announcement of a new era of the podcast: NST GOLD, coming soon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of NO SUCH THING and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.