
Introducing: Explosive Lies
From Vine: Six Seconds That Changed The World by Global
January 31, 2026 · 3 min
About this episode
The episode introduces the podcast 'Explosive Lies', detailing the story of Jim McCormick, who sold a fraudulent bomb detection device post-9/11.
If you enjoyed Vine: 6 Seconds that Changed the World, we think you'll love Explosive Lies - your next podcast binge. Jim McCormick was a cocky English salesman with an outrageous claim: a black plastic gadget that could sniff out bombs using “electromagnetic energy.” The science was pure fiction. But in the panic after 9/11, governments bought the lie - paying up to $60,000 for a device that started life as a $20 novelty golf-ball finder. McCormick sold hope to armies and security forces across the globe. But hope turned deadly. Behind the deals were fragmented friendships, betrayals, and a truth so dangerous it would take years to drag into the light. Alice Levine uncovers the jaw-dropping story of a con that likely cost countless lives - and the unlikely people who stopped at nothing to uncover the truth. All episodes available now on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for 'Explosive Lies'. Explosive Lies is a Global Original podcast, produced by Forest Sounds in partnership with Dentsu Entertainment.
Topics covered
- fraud
- security
- technology
- history
- war
- investigation
Keywords
- Explosive Lies
- Jim McCormick
- bomb detection
- fraud
- 9/11
- security forces
- investigation
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Global, Forest Sounds, Dentsu Entertainment
Products: black plastic gadget, golf-ball finder
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