Ben McKenzie Exposes Crypto’s Biggest Lies | Shane Smith Has Questions

Most people know Ben McKenzie from The O.C. Over the past several years, however, he has made an unlikely transformation into a serious crypto investigator—and, as Shane puts it, a hell of a journalist and filmmaker. McKenzie joins Shane to discuss his documentary, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, and the journey that took him from casual crypto skeptic to interviewing major industry figures, anticipating the collapse of companies like Celsius and FTX, and testifying before the Senate Banking Committee. Together, they examine the machinery behind the crypto boom: celebrity endorsements, insider control, market manipulation, Trump’s crypto ventures and the absence of meaningful enforcement. They also explore the human cost of an economy that increasingly encourages ordinary people to gamble their way toward financial security. The conversation eventually moves beyond crypto to prediction markets, legalized gambling, artificial intelligence and the opportunists who migrate from one technological gold rush to the next. It’s a sharp, funny and deeply human conversation about money, power—and who is left holding the bag when the hype collapses. For a limited time only, join audiences around the world for a special global streaming event celebrating Everyone Is Lying to You for Money followed by a live Q&A with director Ben McKenzie, actress Morena Baccarin, and special celebrity guests. Only available August 22nd through September 6th, 2026 -Get 20% off your first order at ⁠⁠https://www.mood.com⁠⁠ with promo code SHANESMITH -Save 20% on your first online Lucy order at ⁠⁠https://www.lucy.co/ QUESTIONS⁠⁠ with promo code QUESTIONS! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices