Yes, it's amazing what we reveal unintentionally. And how we 'misremember' events.
I think good cold reading is actually very clever. It is something that interests me enormously that plus the power of suggestion.
There are some very clever tricks you can do with cards where just by the words you use and the gestures you make you can influence people to do what you want. It doesn't always work but if you do it in a room of 100 people maybe 80-90% follow the pattern.
It's things like having a row of five cards and asking people to pick one and saying things like "don't be influenced by the fact there are only two red cards at either end" and most people won't pick them.
Similar is the Forer effect. He can describe you well can't he?
"You have a need for other people to like and admire you, and yet you tend to be critical of yourself. While you have some personality weaknesses you are generally able to compensate for them. You have considerable unused capacity that you have not turned to your advantage. Disciplined and self-controlled on the outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure on the inside. At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations. You also pride yourself as an independent thinker; and do not accept others' statements without satisfactory proof. But you have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others. At times you are extroverted, affable, and sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, and reserved. Some of your aspirations tend to be rather unrealistic."
It's all very vague but based on high probability.
https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/Forer_effect