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 | 385 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | True CrimeTechnology | |||
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Latest Episodes
A 19-year-old says members of his church held him down, choked him, and beat him for two hours, trying to cast out what they called his “homosexual demons.” That was in 2013. Thirteen years, a mistrial, and countless delays later, the minister accuse... more
When Gypsy Rose Blanchard was a little girl, the thing that comforted her most was her mother's touch. In the final episode of The Gypsy Rose Obsession, I ask Gypsy when that changed. I also track down the attorney who drew up a power of attorney for... more
This week I'm handing the feed over to Andrea Dunlop and her show, Nobody Should Believe Me. Andrea has spent years covering medical child abuse, and she came to the subject through her own family.
In 2019, Dr. John Cox, an ER physician at Children'... more
When Gypsy Rose Blanchard announced she was pregnant, the internet opened an investigation. The woman who spent her childhood trapped inside her mother's medical lies was now raising a daughter of her own.
In this episode, I look at what the researc... more
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Reviews
- Great Podcast
This has become one of my favorite podcasts. The journalism is thorough, and reporting is top notch.
Apple Podcasts5Sarah Olivia Harris
United States18 days ago - Moved me enough to FINALLY LEAVE A REVIEW
Javier I love this podcast. I love all your podcast. I’m a Plus subscriber. I think you do a really good job in reporting. Today the episode with Dr. Melville really touched a spot. I forgot we were even talking about Gypsy for a minute! I listen to Andrea‘s podcast as well.
I’m not a medical child abuse survivor, but I have my own story. And I am almost 5 years sober, with lots of child, trauma therapy, and somatic therapy. I’ve come along myself and today’s episode….Had me laughing and crying... more
Apple Podcasts5BabyguysmomUnited States19 days ago - Gypsy
I found this podcast only recently so am limiting this review to the Gypsy Rose Obsession. As my introduction to Javier and his “journalism”, I am very disappointed. He seems to almost crush on Gypsy and is just as manipulated by her as others - it’s almost farcical. In asking her about her racist and offensive prison calls, he actually leads her with the question- “do you think you were mirroring them” - meaning, just reflecting back what she thought her prison callers wanted to hear…. Ummmm, Y... more
Apple Podcasts1LizzyDNUnited States19 days ago - M
His research is not as top-notch as it used to be. That DUI conviction is not a good look!
Apple Podcasts1Mimi5959nUnited States23 days ago - Great stories
Listening to the Gypsy Rose series. It’s giving Brittany Spears vibes. People should just leave her alone
Apple Podcasts5praxis78United Statesa month ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #113 | United States/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #89 |  Canada/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #150 |  United Kingdom/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #123 |  Australia/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #42 |  South Africa/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #57 |  Colombia/True Crime |
Talking Points
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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 an investigative true-crime series focused on real people who lie for a living—con artists, scammers, and the victims caught in their wake. Each episode blends thorough reporting with cinematic storytelling to unpack how deception operates, from financial schemes and phishing to social engineering and manipulation. The host, a journalist known for rigorous interviewing and balanced framing, guides conversations with insiders, victims, and experts to illuminate the psychology of persuasion without shaming those harmed. Across seasons, the show stands out for its ethical approach, storytelling variety (long investigations and stand-alone episodes), and its willingness to examine systemic harms behind complex scams and high-control ... more
Where can I find podcast stats for PRETEND?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for PRETEND. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to PRETEND and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
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. Johnathan Walton Media
4. Betrayal Season 6
5. The Binge Cases: Doctor Billions
How many episodes of PRETEND are there?
PRETEND launched 9 years ago and published 385 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?
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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.
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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for PRETEND?
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What guests have appeared on PRETEND?
Recent guests on PRETEND include:
1. Dr. John Cox
2. Chrissy G.
3. Fancy Basile
4. Fancy Miceli
5. The Other Javier Leiva
6. Audacious Audrey
7. Kira Dineen
8. Fancy Maselli
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.