PRETEND
Creative Babble, LLCPRETEND is an investigative true crime podcast about real people who lie for a living — con artists, scammers, and the victims caught in their web. Hosted by journalist Javier Leiva, PRETEND exposes the human psychology behind deception and fraud. Each episode follows a real case of manipulation — from financial scams and Ponzi schemes to digital hoaxes and emotional cons PRETEND explains how and ... more
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 365 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | TechnologyTrue Crime | |||
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Latest Episodes
In part three of Chain of Command, we hear from those who grew up in the New Testament Christian Churches of America. From Victor Johanson, a former Army soldier who confirms on tape that NTCC ministers got vasectomies because children would interfer... more
Part one was about control. Part two is about the money.
Behind the soul-winning and the sermons and the bylaws, the New Testament Christian Churches of America runs a very well-funded business. Tithing is tracked, enforced, and tied to your militar... more
Deep Cover is a true crime show about double lives, brought to you by our friends at Pushkin Industries.
Their new season, The Family Man, is a gripping story about how families can deceive each other and the lengths we’ll go to to protect our loved... more
In 1996, Sarah DeJonghe was a 20-year-old Navy Seabee stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Two guys in uniform approached her on base and invited her to church. She said no.
They came back anyway.
Four months later, Sarah was out of the Navy and on her way... more
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Reviews
- Too political
I used to really like this podcast. It’s become way too political now and I won’t listen again till he gets back to good story telling. Disappointed in the direction he is going.
Apple Podcasts1TMS51
United Statesa month ago - Started with The Stalker, stayed for Javier!
Like many others, I became hooked when I first listened to season 12, The Stalker, but I quickly became obsessed with the rest of the content. Javier is by far my favorite podcast host (and I consume a LOT of podcast content, he has stiff competition). Javier is respectful, intelligent, and curious. I love the stories he chooses, love the way he interviews subjects, love his energy. I’ve listened to every episode, and have gotten my sister and best friend hooked as well. I even purchased a patre... more
Apple Podcasts5Bek3930United Statesa month ago - javier is more and more political
I love Javier, I have listened to a lot of his seasons, but recently I have to bail because I just can’t stand his bias reporting. He didn’t used to be that way.
Apple Podcasts2usedtolikehimUnited States2 months ago - Long time fan
I listen to a lot of podcasts and this one is and always has been in my TOP 10. Great stories, great host
Apple Podcasts5Discolunchbox
Canada2 months ago - Love this podcast!
Javier is such a great storyteller. This podcast series is so informative.
Apple Podcasts5SAV 74United States2 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #148 | United States/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #107 | Canada/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #229 |  United Kingdom/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #100 |  France/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #179 |  Australia/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #25 |  Colombia/True Crime |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions About PRETEND
What is PRETEND about and what kind of topics does it cover?
- PRETEND is a true crime investigative series focused on deception, scams, and manipulation, with cinematic storytelling and ethical journalism that centers victims. Across recent episodes, the show investigates coercive control in high‑control groups, romance scam networks, and white‑collar fraud, often blending survivor testimony, expert context, and procedural details to expose how manipulation operates in online and offline spaces. Notable throughlines include the psychology of con artists, the mechanics of recruitment and financial control, and the ongoing challenge of holding perpetrators accountable without shaming victims. The show frequently ties individual cases to broader themes around power, money, and accountability, and tends... more
Where can I find podcast stats for PRETEND?
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How many listeners does PRETEND get?
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What are the audience demographics for PRETEND?
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How many subscribers and views does PRETEND have?
To see how many followers or subscribers PRETEND has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to PRETEND?
These podcasts share a similar audience with PRETEND:
1. Nobody Should Believe Me
2. The Opportunist
3. Scamfluencers
4. The Rachel Cancer Scam
5. Swindled
How many episodes of PRETEND are there?
PRETEND launched 9 years ago and published 365 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact PRETEND?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for PRETEND?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for PRETEND from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for PRETEND?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of PRETEND. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on PRETEND?
Recent guests on PRETEND include:
1. Marissa Giammanco
2. Elise Giammanco
3. Sarah DeJonghe
4. Andrew Shelton
5. Roger Davis
6. Michael Kekel
7. Jamie White
8. Michael Kechel
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.