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 | 359 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | True CrimeTechnology | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
A Colorado businessman with a criminal record, no credit, and a gift for charm somehow convinced dozens of women to finance his cars, his home, and his lifestyle. When they finally compared notes, they didn't get mad. They got organized. This is the ... more
Somebody went through hundreds of Reddit comments asking what the greatest podcast episode of all time is, then actually listened to all of them. That somebody is Ivy, the creator behind @watchandlisten.ivy on TikTok, and she has been going viral eve... more
On January 6th, 2021, Pam Hemphill followed the Proud Boys to the Capitol, got trampled by the mob, was carried out by a police officer named Joe, and recorded every minute of it. The internet called her the MAGA Granny. She did 60 days in federal pr... more
My cousin spent 23 years in an Illinois prison for a crime she says she didn't know she was committing. She was 33 when a judge handed down a 60-year sentence. She would have been 93 before she saw the outside again.
This episode is personal.
In "O... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Host
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 States13 days 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 States15 days 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 Statesa month 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
Canadaa month ago - Love this podcast!
Javier is such a great storyteller. This podcast series is so informative.
Apple Podcasts5SAV 74United Statesa month 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 | #172 | United States/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #208 | Canada/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #246 |  United Kingdom/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #203 |  Australia/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #101 |  United Arab Emirates/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #119 |  Russia/True Crime |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | |
|---|---|
| Gender Skew | |
| Location | |
| Interests | |
| Professions | |
| Age Range | |
| Household Income | |
| Social Media Reach |
Frequently Asked Questions About PRETEND
What is PRETEND about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Exploring the deceptive underbelly of human interaction, this investigative true crime podcast unveils stories of con artists and their victims, shedding light on the psychological mechanisms of manipulation. Each episode is a gripping tale that details real cases, from financial fraud to emotional scams, emphasizing the complexities of deceit without victim-blaming. Listeners can expect well-researched narratives that blend ethical journalism with engaging storytelling, offering insights into how and why such deceptions occur, while also reflecting on their impact on society. The podcast's unique focus on the human side of fraud and betrayal sets it apart, making it a compelling listen for those interested in the intricacies of trust and d... 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?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for PRETEND, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
What are the audience demographics for PRETEND?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for PRETEND, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
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 359 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. Pam Hemphill
2. Geoffrey Potter
3. Jerry Bush
4. Kenito Wills
5. Christine Harnos
6. Rebecca Catalfu
7. Scott Warwick
8. Dr. Fareed Fata
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.