Ben McKenzie

Shows

Episodes

  1. Ben McKenzie (on cryptocurrency)

    MAY 13

    Ben McKenzie (on cryptocurrency)

    Ben McKenzie (Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, Easy Money) is an actor, author, and outspoken cryptocurrency skeptic. Ben joins Armchair Expert to discuss growing up in a civically minded family in Austin, studying economics at the University of Virginia, and stumbling into acting success with early fame on an unnamed hit show. Ben and Dax talk about navigating imposter syndrome after overnight success, transitioning from acting into writing and directing, and what led him into investigating crypto markets during the pandemic. Ben explains why behavioral economics reveals how irrational people really are, how financial systems exploit trust and hype, and why the promise of “easy money” taps into something dangerously universal. Sign up now in the app or at grubhub.com/plus/golddays to unlock exclusive Gold Days deals. Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds: https://www.allstate.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 52m
  2. The Other Side of the (Bit)Coin with Ben McKenzie

    APR 15

    The Other Side of the (Bit)Coin with Ben McKenzie

    As cryptocurrency continues to embed itself in American politics, Jon is joined by Ben McKenzie, author of "Easy Money" and director of "Everyone Is Lying to You for Money." Together, they investigate why digital currency appeals to those failed by traditional finance, examine how crypto reproduces and amplifies the same exploitative dynamics with even less regulation, and explore how it undermines democratic institutions while enriching the insiders closest to power. Plus, Jon talks pardons, TDS, and DMs! This episode is brought to you by: MINT MOBILE - Shop plans at https://mintmobile.com/tws INCOGNI - Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code Stewart at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/stewart FAST GROWING TREES - Go to https://fastgrowingtrees.com/tws and use code TWS to get 20% off your first purchase. Follow The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart on social media for more:  > YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@weeklyshowpodcast > Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weeklyshowpodcast > TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@weeklyshowpodcast  > X: https://x.com/weeklyshowpod   > BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/theweeklyshowpodcast.com Host/Executive Producer – Jon Stewart Executive Producer – James Dixon Executive Producer – Chris McShane Executive Producer – Caity Gray Lead Producer – Lauren Walker Producer – Brittany Mehmedovic  Producer – Gillian Spear Video Editor & Engineer – Rob Vitolo Audio Editor & Engineer – Nicole Boyce Music by Hansdle Hsu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 37m
  3. Ben McKenzie and Sarah Matthews: We Are Drowning in Scam Artists

    APR 23

    Ben McKenzie and Sarah Matthews: We Are Drowning in Scam Artists

    Trump has gone full “1984” with his claim that it’s a good thing that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. He also says that he saved some Iranian women from being executed, which the regime in Tehran called “fake news.” It’s a telling sign of the times when the public can’t figure out whether the White House or the Iranian regime is lying. Speaking of scam artists, Ben joins Tim to discuss his new film on cryptocurrency, "Everyone is Lying to You for Money." The industry is rife with crime, it sorely needs to be regulated, and some of the most unscrupulous people are behind it— including our president. Ben McKenzie and Sarah Matthews join Tim Miller. Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code THEBULWARK at https://www.Ridge.com/THEBULWARK #Ridgepod When life feels overwhelming, therapy can help. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/THEBULWARK. show notes: More on Ben's film, "Everyone Is Lying to You for Money" Tim's interview with Ben from 2023 Tim and Catherine on Tucker's despicable attack on Catherine David Kirkpatrick on Trump's $4 bil in profiteering off the presidency, mostly from crypto Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego and LA in May: TheBulwark.com/Events

    1h 19m
  4. The Wolves of Fraud Street: Crypto’s Enron Era With Ben McKenzie

    MAY 12

    The Wolves of Fraud Street: Crypto’s Enron Era With Ben McKenzie

    Actor-turned-crypto-whistleblower Ben McKenzie joins Rick Wilson for a brutal, no-b******t takedown of the crypto industry just as Congress barrels toward two major crypto bills hitting the floor this week on Capitol Hill. From meme coins and “decentralized finance” scams to billion-dollar rugpulls, political bribery, and money laundering dressed up in Patagonia vests and TED Talk jargon, Rick and Ben break down how crypto became the preferred playground for grifters, oligarchs, libertarian weirdos, and every guy who says “bro” before pitching financial collapse. They unpack why Washington suddenly wants to legitimize the casino after years of fraud, who’s cashing in, and why the American taxpayer always seems to end up holding the empty bag while crypto bros flee to Dubai. It’s the great Ponzi scheme of our time — powered by hype, corruption, influencer cults, and vibes-based economics — and the wheels may finally be coming off in public.•••••Ben McKenzie is on X @@ben_mckenzie. His movie, ‘Everyone is Lying to You for Money,’ is playing now in select theaters. His best-selling book, ‘Easy Money,’ is out now, wherever fine books are sold.  Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln. Visit www.quince.com/lincoln for free shipping + 365-day returns. #ad  Build credit fast and get your first month for just a dollar at getkikoff.com/lincolnproject today. Thanks to Kikoff for sponsoring us! #ad

    47 min
  5. 1029 - The F-Files feat. Derek Davison & Ben McKenzie (4/20/26)

    APR 21

    1029 - The F-Files feat. Derek Davison & Ben McKenzie (4/20/26)

    We have a Chapo Double Feature for you this week! First, Derek Davison returns for more coverage of the wars in Lebanon and Iran, including a Wall Street Journal article showing just how checked out Trump is from the apocalyptic destruction he’s bringing about on the world. Plus: more Ka$h Chronicles, as the FBI tries to take him down for the crimes of having too much fun and sleeping through an alarm. We’re then joined by actor Ben McKenzie (The O.C., Junebug) about his new crypto documentary Everyone Is Lying to You For Money. Our 10 year anniversary merch is ready for pre-order through April 30! Order at https://chapotraphouse.store/ Find all of Derek’s foreign policy coverage at: www.foreignexchanges.news www.americanprestigepod.com And go see Everyone Is Lying to You For Money when it’s near you!

    1h 55m
  6. The Crypto Boom, Bust, and Backlash (ft. Ben Mckenzie & Dave Miller) | April 16, 2026

    APR 16

    The Crypto Boom, Bust, and Backlash (ft. Ben Mckenzie & Dave Miller) | April 16, 2026

    On today's episode Arian, PFT and Big T talk to the director of ‘Everyone Is Lying to You for Money’ and author of ‘Easy Money’, Ben Mckenzie. Ben breaks down the wild rise, messy fall, and behind-the-scenes truths from his new documentary ‘Everyone Is Lying to You for Money’, a deep dive into how hype, misinformation, and big money fueled the crypto boom and burned everyday investors. Plus, the guys get into Clavicular, the LIV tour, Allbirds new business strategy, Pablo Escobar’s hippos, Tottenham FC, a missing nuclear official and much more. Enjoy! Follow @everyoneislyingfilm on Instagram or go to EveryoneIsLying.com for updates on where and when the film is playing near you. (00:05:35) Commanders New Uniforms (00:13:16) Clavicular (00:31:32) LIV Tour (00:35:49) AllBirds is Now an AI Company (00:54:01) Pablo Escobar’s Hippos (00:57:42) LIV Tour (cont.) (00:59:48) Tottenham FC (01:08:10) Missing Nuclear Official (01:12:58) Nullarbor Links (01:22:30) Ben Mckenzie & Dave You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/macrodosing

    2h 16m
  7. John Phelan Fired as Navy Sec., Replaced with Witch-Hunter Hung Cao | Ben McKenzie

    APR 24

    John Phelan Fired as Navy Sec., Replaced with Witch-Hunter Hung Cao | Ben McKenzie

    Michael Kosta dives into America's naval blockade of Iranian ports to pressure Iran as the U.S. Navy quietly falls apart on the home front. After Pete Hegseth's firing of Navy Secretary John Phelan, Trump replaces the unqualified rich guy with the technically more qualified Hung Cao, who is famous for his hatred of witches and calls for more "alpha males and alpha females" in the military. Not even the war in Iran can distract Trump from his longstanding blood feud with wind energy, but what's behind the president's anti-wind vendetta? Desi Lydic chronicles how, for Donald Trump, wind turbines morphed from a simple eyesore near his Scottish golf course in 2012 to the source of all the problems on planet Earth, in this installment of The Art of the Altercation. Ben McKenzie, actor, author, and director of the new documentary “Everyone Is Lying to You for Money,” talks to Michael about the ugly truths of cryptocurrency. He explains why crypto is not real money, how celebrity advertisements and lack of transparency mislead people on the risk level of their investments, and how criminals permeate the crypto industry, starting with Jeffrey Epstein. They also discuss crypto’s targeting of young men and the changes McKenzie hopes to see in the crypto world, from stricter regulations to legal consequences. "I am not saying it should be outlawed, I am simply asking for it to be regulated properly. And I’m also asking, politely, for the criminals to go to jail." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    35 min
  8. Crypto and The Golden Age of Scams with Ben McKenzie

    APR 21

    Crypto and The Golden Age of Scams with Ben McKenzie

    We’re in an era where it seems like get rich quick schemes, quick money, and scams of all kinds are all around. It’s become a dominant feature and cultural force in American politics and American life more broadly. And cryptocurrency is the vector by which the Trump family is making vast sums of money. The rise of crypto and the harsh truth about this is the subject of a new documentary called “Everyone is Lying to You for Money.” Ben McKenzie is an actor and made his directorial debut with this film. He joins WITHpod to discuss why so much of life on the internet feels very scammy, his critique of crypto and more. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content from this and other shows. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    51 min
  9. Fighting The Crypto Cult with Ben McKenzie

    APR 22

    Fighting The Crypto Cult with Ben McKenzie

    Hasan sits down with former teen heart throb and current cypto skeptic, Ben McKenzie, to talk about his new documentary “Everyone is Lying To You For Money”, how the main use case for crypto is still basically a crime, and to roast our fellow celebrities who endorsed it.You can try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE at https://ziprecruiter.com/hasan.Co-Creator & Executive Producer: Hasan MinhajCo-Creator & Executive Producer: Prashanth VenkataramanujamExecutive Producer/Director: Tyler BabinExecutive Producer/Showrunner: Scott VroomanProducer: Kayla FengProducer/ Copywriter: Annie FickCinematographer: Austin MoralesEditor: Tyler BabinTalent Coordinator: Tanya SomanaderExecutive Assistant: Samuel PilandYOU CAN WATCH ON CNN.COM/WATCH OR THE CNN APP. Thanks so much for listening to Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know. If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to subscribe to Lemonada Premium. Just hit the 'subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts, or, for all other podcast apps head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe. That’s lemonadapremium.com.

    52 min
  10. Jim Acosta & Ben McKenzie

    APR 18

    Jim Acosta & Ben McKenzie

    The Jim Acosta Show’s Jim Acosta stops by to talk about Trump’s market manipulations. Actor and director Ben McKenzie joins us to discuss his new documentary, Everyone’s Lying to You for Money. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    55 min
  11. Ben McKenzie’s Crypto Warning: ‘Everyone Is Lying to You for Money’

    APR 24

    Ben McKenzie’s Crypto Warning: ‘Everyone Is Lying to You for Money’

    This week, Kim Masters speaks with Ben McKenzie about his documentary Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, which examines fraud in the cryptocurrency world. The actor discusses leaning into his popularity as Ryan on The OC as a narrative device in the film—one that helped get him in the room for a cringe-inducing interview with now-convicted crypto figure Sam Bankman-Fried. McKenzie also explains how he bet against crypto to help finance the project and shares some thoughts on the celebrities who profited from crypto endorsements. Plus, as the White House Correspondents’ Dinner approaches—with Donald Trump expected to attend and a mentalist booked instead of a comedian—Masters and Matt Belloni examine concerns about the event’s legitimacy, media boycotts, and the broader political entanglements facing outlets like CBS News under David Ellison’s leadership.

    30 min
  12. Is This the Shittiest Supreme Court in History? | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, May 2, 2026

    MAY 2

    Is This the Shittiest Supreme Court in History? | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, May 2, 2026

    Friends, Today, Heather and I ask: Why is Trump so obsessed with his ballroom? What is actually going on in Iran? Is this the worst Supreme Court of all time? We look ahead to the midterm elections in six months and make some predictions. We’re also joined by Ben McKenzie to discuss Trump’s crypto corruption. So please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join in the discussion. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

    53 min
  13. Everyone Is Lying to You For Money

    APR 17

    Everyone Is Lying to You For Money

    Back in the depths of the pandemic, what was an actor to do? Ben McKenzie started looking into cryptocurrency—and his research yielded both a book and a new documentary. The works are both non-fiction, which is more than McKenzie can say for crypto. Guest: Ben McKenzie, actor, director of the documentary Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, and co-author of Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Evan Campbell, and Patrick Fort. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  14. Munich Security Conference Chair Wolfgang Ischinger 

    MAY 12

    Munich Security Conference Chair Wolfgang Ischinger 

    The Iran conflict may be America's and Israel's war of choice, but the fallout hits allies in Europe particularly hard. As their countries invest billions to rebuild their militaries in the face of a growing Russian threat, European leaders are standing up to US pressure. Wolfgang Ischinger was Germany's Ambassador to the United States. Now he's Chair of the Munich Security Conference, and he joins the show.  Also on today's show: Cochav Elkayem-Levy, Lead author, report on Sexual and Gender-based violence on October 7th; Ben McKenzie, Writer-Producer-Director of the new documentary "Everyone is Lying to You for Money"    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    56 min
  15. ‘Stop Trying to Unmask Satoshi Nakamoto’ Says Actor Ben McKenzie

    APR 28

    ‘Stop Trying to Unmask Satoshi Nakamoto’ Says Actor Ben McKenzie

    Actor Ben McKenzie (The O.C.) is out with a new documentary, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, which follows his journey into becoming an anti-cryptocurrency advocate. He says we should all stop trying to unmask the presumed original developer(s) of bitcoin known as Satoshi Nakamoto because it benefits only the mysterious inventor. The actor-director talks with Katie about why he thinks crypto is a scam, and why he says people are falling for it.  Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    34 min
  16. Special Report: Ben McKenzie on Crypto Scams, the Rise of Digital Currency, and Life After The OC

    APR 26

    Special Report: Ben McKenzie on Crypto Scams, the Rise of Digital Currency, and Life After The OC

    Sami sits down with Ben McKenzie to explore the rise of cryptocurrency and the ideas behind his documentary Everyone Is Lying to You for Money. McKenzie breaks down crypto’s origins, market manipulation, and the fallout of Sam Bankman-Fried, while also reflecting on his journey from The OC to becoming a sharp critic of the crypto industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min
  17. Part I: The End's Not Near, It's Here with Ben McKenzie and Josh Schwartz

    05/09/2023

    Part I: The End's Not Near, It's Here with Ben McKenzie and Josh Schwartz

    The end is near- Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke are recapping the last episode of The OC series.  Today the ladies are  joined by Ben McKenzie and Josh Schwartz for a special two-part episode of Season 4, Episode 16, “The End's Not Near, It’s Here.” The End’s Not Near, It’s Here Synopsis:  Six months after the earthquake, everyone makes decisions that will determine the rest of their lives. Please check out Ben’s new book, “Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud,” that you can pre-order on Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Money-Cryptocurrency-Casino-Capitalism/dp/1419766392 Please support our sponsors:  Head to https://www.magicspoon.com/THEOC to grab a custom bundle of cereal and try the magic for yourself! And be sure to use our promo code THEOC at checkout to save five dollars off your order! Time is a beautiful and meaningful sentiment—show the moms in your life how much you appreciate all the time they’ve given you. Save big on your best Mother’s Day gift ever from MVMT. Get up to 40% off at https://www.mvmt.com  and use code OC. Exclusions may apply. Lume’s Starter Pack is perfect for new customers. It comes with a Solid Stick Deodorant, Cream Tube Deodorant, two free products of your choice (like Mini Body Wash and Deodorant Wipes), and free shipping.  As a special offer for listeners, new customers GET $5 OFF a Lume Starter Pack with code OC at https://www.LumeDeodorant.com Follow @rachelbilson, @themelindaclarke, @mrbenmckenzie and @joshschwartz76 on Instagram  Subscribe to Broad Ideas: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/broad-ideas-with-rachel-bilson/id1625760667 Subscribe & Follow Bye, Bitches: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bye-bitches-podcast/id1686651893 on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheByeBitchesPodcast   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 1m
  18. Actor Ben McKenzie on Crypto Schemes, Dr. Greg Hammer Discusses Two Types of Happiness & How Our Brains Are Wired + News With Recent Sinead O’Connor Passing, & a Frozen Mitch McConnell

    07/31/2023

    Actor Ben McKenzie on Crypto Schemes, Dr. Greg Hammer Discusses Two Types of Happiness & How Our Brains Are Wired + News With Recent Sinead O’Connor Passing, & a Frozen Mitch McConnell

    Chris starts off the show with Adam reporting the news, beginning with the death of Irish singer Sinead O’Connor. We also view an odd video of Mitch McConnell freezing mid speech during a press conference which leads to a discussion on age and careers. Lastly, we discover how Florida water temperatures reached 100 degrees. Adam welcomes Actor & Author Ben McKenzie to discuss all things crypto, which Ben pinpoints as, “The greatest ponzi scheme in history”. Only a small percentage of crypto is real money, and a whopping 80% of people in the US never even dabbled in the crypto arena. Adam next welcomes Dr. Greg Hammer who is a physician, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine as well as an author. Dr. Hammer shares two specific types of happiness that people experience in life, and additionally he shares that in his professional career he's never seen such stressors before as he has the last several years affecting humanity. Also, our brains are wired towards a negativity bias, where only 20% of our thoughts are positive. They also discuss other keys to happiness concerning the 10,000 hour rule, patience and hardwork, delayed gratification, and more. PLUGS: Read Ben McKenzie’s book ‘Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud’ wherever you find books And learn more about Ben McKenzie at Ben-McKenzie.com Check out Dr. Greg Hammer ‘s book ‘GAIN Without Pain: The Happiness Handbook for Health Care Professionals’ wherever you find books And learn more at GregHammerMD.com THANKS FOR SUPPORTING TODAY’S SPONSORS: LearAdam.com or call 800-489-6450 Angi.com The Jordan Harbinger Show ForThePeople.com/ADAM or dial #529 OReillyAuto.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 44m
  19. What Ben McKenzie Learned When He Started Investigating Crypto

    06/29/2023

    What Ben McKenzie Learned When He Started Investigating Crypto

    When the pandemic struck in 2020, the actor Ben McKenzie (who you might know from The OC and Gotham) had a lot of time on his hands. And like a lot of people, he suddenly got interested in crypto when an old friend of his pushed him to buy some Bitcoin. But unlike a lot of other people, McKenzie didn't rush out to buy it. Instead, he dusted off his old economics degree and decided to learn about how the industry really works. And what he learned shocked him. So he (along with his co-author Jacob Silverman) spent the last few years writing a new book titled Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and The Golden Age Of Fraud. In an interview conducted live at the Bloomberg Invest summit, McKenzie explains why he thinks the industry is rotten and corrupt and designed in a way to enrich a small group of insiders at the expense of a large, misinformed and desperate public.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    50 min
  20. What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future - Everyone Is Lying to You For Money

    APR 17

    What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future - Everyone Is Lying to You For Money

    Back in the depths of the pandemic, what was an actor to do? Ben McKenzie started looking into cryptocurrency—and his research yielded both a book and a new documentary. The works are both non-fiction, which is more than McKenzie can say for crypto. Guest: Ben McKenzie, actor, director of the documentary Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, and co-author of Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Evan Campbell, and Patrick Fort. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
Ben McKenzie on Apple