reverse
psychology

2 RECORDED APPEARANCES

20 Questions · interrogation editions

These editions use questioning and interrogation to uncover a fictional crime.

2game appearances
0explicit participant winners
1results needing restraint
0different recorded winners

Deathtrap ↗

Listen to the full Deathtrap episode ↗

Game / activity

20 Questions: interrogating Ethan

Led by Curtis

Curtis introduces 20 Questions: Brad, Ryan and Curtis play detectives, while Ethan plays a suspect whose crime they must identify within twenty opportunities, or he walks free. Ethan must tell the truth, and a later instruction asks him to stick to yes or no. This is one shared deduction round, not a points contest between the detectives. The source accepts Bruce the shark as the solution.

What was recorded

Within the recorded rounds · 5 recorded contributions

Follow the round structure (1)

One suspect, one shared question budget

The detectives narrow down a crime before realizing their suspect may not be human. An explicit recap says eleven of twenty questions have been used. The Mitch Hedberg clarification is explicitly charged; the later Wawa joke has no clear counting ruling. The final total is not reconstructed.

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

Attribution unavailable
Evening, place, motive and assistance

Brad asks whether the crime happened in the evening: yes. Ryan asks about Andalusia and Curtis asks about a crime of passion; both get no. Brad asks about assistance “in this murder,” and Ethan says he had none. The detectives correct the question to “crime” because murder had not yet been established.

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

Attribution unavailable
Exactly one murder—and Mitch Hedberg rules

Ryan asks whether Ethan murdered one person. Ethan says no under a literal reading, but yes under “Mitch Hedberg rules.” Ethan then explains the joke: “I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to too,” supporting the inference of more than one victim. Curtis explicitly counts that clarification as a used question.

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

Attribution unavailable
No weapon, a public place, no shoes

Brad asks whether there was a weapon: no. Ryan’s recap turns into a question, and he asks whether Ethan murdered without a weapon; Ethan confirms that he did. Curtis asks about a public place: yes. Brad asks about shoes and witnesses: no shoes, but yes to a witness. The repeated no-weapon exchange is preserved as a clarification rather than silently collapsed.

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

Attribution unavailable
From sand to water and a boat

Ryan asks whether the crime happened on sand: no. Curtis asks whether it happened in a body of water: yes. A Wawa pronunciation joke follows without a clear ruling on whether it spends a question. Brad asks about a boat. Ethan says he has been on one and that a boat may have been involved in one of the crimes.

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

Attribution unavailable
The suspect is Bruce the shark

Peer discussion raises the shark from Jaws before Curtis formally asks Ethan. Ethan demands the name before answering. Curtis asks whether the shark was named Ethan, which is rejected. Curtis announces an online lookup and supplies “Bruce the shark.” Ethan accepts the name and confirms his identity. The source does not award an individual winner.

The segment is recorded; individual answers are not available in this archive entry.

Pod Harder Part 2 ↗

Listen to the full Pod Harder Part 2 episode ↗

Game / activity

20 Questions: interrogating Curtis

Source excerpt ↗ 1:05:26

Led by Curtis

How this one works

How it works
  1. Curtis has committed some heinous act.
  2. we only have 20 questions to make this determination
  3. before we must let you go.
  4. A fictional interrogation guessing game.
Prompt
  1. Vin and I will ruthlessly interrogate you to determine what you did and why you did it.

RESULT STATUS

The recorded result is unresolved.

Taking part: CurtisRyan

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:13:38

Recorded conversation

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: Because it's brutalist architecture.; But that was the one that I was near.; I just want to be rid of the ones that have been built.; I didn't intend for that to happen.; I did do it at like, you know, 9 a.m.

Follow the round structure (1)

Round
Source excerpt ↗ 1:05:50

So we're trying to figure out what the crime he did actually was, right?; Yes, and why he did it.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:06:08

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Uh, was this a felony?

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

CurtisSource excerpt ↗ 1:06:11

I don't actually know what defines a felony, but I'm gonna say yes.

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: It's a felony.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:06:17

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Did this involve Turkey?

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:06:22

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Was there a man or a woman killed in this treason?

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:06:27

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Is that many, like many men or many people?

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:06:41

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Was this done in the U.S.?

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:06:44

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Was there a plane involved?; Or planes?

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: I just didn't hear the word plane.; No good hint there.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:06:58

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Was an explosive used?

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:07:15

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Was the government involved in any way?

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: Like any government buildings or any government...

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: CurtisSource excerpt ↗ 1:07:38

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Action

I'll just say warmer.

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: I know that wasn't a question.; It doesn't count.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:07:43

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Did this happen in D.C.?

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:07:51

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Does this involve the White House?

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:08:17

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Did you target the government people on purpose?

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

CurtisSource excerpt ↗ 1:08:19

Actually, the people, I did not target the people on purpose.; They were just in my way.

More of this contribution
  • Classification response: False

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:08:27

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Was the Capitol building involved?

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: CurtisSource excerpt ↗ 1:08:39

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Action

Now, they have nothing to do with this.

More of this contribution
  • Response context: And then you have the senators and the House of Reps.
  • Answer qualification: Well, that wasn't a question.; That's a good hint, though.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:09:00

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Oh, Curtis, you didn't think I meant the country, did you?; I meant the meat.

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: No, I meant the already packaged meat.; I'm using that as my question.

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

CurtisSource excerpt ↗ 1:09:04

I am not a genie.; I'm not trying to trick you with my answers.; There was no turkey harmed.

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: Anyway, Turkey wasn't involved in either the animal nor the country nor the food product.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:09:35

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Was this an online crime?

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: You can blow it up via hacking.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: CurtisSource excerpt ↗ 1:10:01

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Action

Well, I will say it's the likes of you's interviewing me who are, you know, you're some of the survivors,; really.; What agency would you be interviewing me?

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:10:10

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Did you take out the FBI?

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

CurtisSource excerpt ↗ 1:10:12

I blew up the FBI building, the J. Edgar Hoover building in D.C.

More of this contribution
  • Adjudication: You're gosh darn right.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:10:25

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Is that the headquarters?

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: I'm going to use this as one of my questions.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:10:36

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

You hate J. Edgar Hoover?

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:10:48

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Hey, is this going to be super political?

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: No, I will treat that as a question.

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

CurtisSource excerpt ↗ 1:10:51

There's nothing political about this.

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: That building knows what it did, and it had it coming.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:10:57

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Were you on a wanted list?; Is that why you did that?

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:11:26

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Do you just hate that there's like an overhang?

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

CurtisSource excerpt ↗ 1:11:33

Warmer.

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: It has nothing to do with the overhang itself, but your line of questioning is effective,

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:11:41

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Do you hate what the location of the building is?; Is it too hard to get to?

RECORDED ANSWER / CHOICE

Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:11:54
Recorded conversation
More of this contribution
  • Response context: We've established it's FBI HQ.; You hated something about the building, but not the overhang.; Something with the building, we believe.
  • Answer qualification: It wasn't the White House.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:13:02

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

You ask one more question, then both of you get to make a guess.

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: We'll both make an accusation.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:13:09

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Prompt
Question / challenge

Is it because of how ugly the building is?

More of this contribution
  • Answer qualification: That was 20.

WHAT THEY BROUGHT

RyanSource excerpt ↗ 1:13:32
Recorded conversation

You blew up a bunch of people in the FBI because you think the building's ugly.

More of this contribution
  • Adjudication: Yeah.

RECORDED EXCHANGE

Participant cited: Attribution unavailableSource excerpt ↗ 1:13:36

“Participant cited” identifies a contributor, not the speaker of every word in this excerpt. It may include other participants’ replies or reactions.

Action
More of this contribution
  • Adjudication verdict: Yeah.
  • Correct answer: I'm just not a fan of brutalist architecture.
Round context
  • Adjudication: Yeah.
View source wording — how it was explained on the show
  • Activity premise: Curtis has committed some heinous act.
  • Correct answer: I blew up the FBI building, the J. Edgar Hoover building in D.C.; I'm just not a fan of brutalist architecture.
  • Final adjudication: Yeah.