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 | 372 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | True CrimeTechnology | |||
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Latest Episodes
Her critics say Gypsy Rose Blanchard can't keep her story straight. So I sat down with her for almost three hours and asked about all of it. The pills through the feeding tube. The video where she tells Nick Godejohn she'd been hiding that she could ... more
For almost five years, the Fernandez family told me their doctor's husband was terrorizing them. Threatening messages, unpaid pizza deliveries, police at the door for crimes that never happened.
Three weeks ago, Peoria police surrounded their house ... more
Gypsy Rose Blanchard is the most beloved convicted murderer in America. Half the country sees a victim. The other half thinks she conned everyone, including her mother.
I spent months trying to figure out which side is telling the truth. Then I emai... more
Gypsy Rose Blanchard is America's most beloved convicted murderer.
The media told us she spent 23 years in a wheelchair, with a feeding tube, a breathing machine, and a diagnosis list that never ended. None of it was real. Her mother made it all up.... more
Key Facts
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Reviews
It was a good podcast but now there's a ad break every 5 to 10 minutes and it's the same ad I can't handle that crap
Podcast Addict116 days agoBeardedRingo- The work is done with care in every aspects
Rigorous, diligent , empathetic work; journalism, communication and approaches. Always very surprising and informative episodes and series. Thank you
Apple Podcasts5COBOU21
Canadaa month ago - FAVORITE PODCAST IN WORLD
Genuinely nothing like it, my mom played the Ladonna series in the car on a 17 hour road trip, we listened to the whole thing together and i still relisten to the ladonna series at least twice every year :) Love ur show Javier, and im excited for everything thats to come!
Apple Podcasts5JanieJello
United Statesa month ago - Javier Takes On the Windmills of Con (or hmmm maybe “Tracking Cons Off the Beaten Path”)!
PRETEND is mostly about people pretending to be someone else, but the landscape is usually more off-the-beaten—con-path than the usual true-crime con artist trail. It’s full of scammers, frauds, vengeful lowlifes, and, every so often, a “sacred cow” — or at least a poor man’s sacred cow (like LaDonna Humphrey or Frank Abagnale) takes their public mythology out back for some shaking up.
Javier Leiva is sort of a combo of Don Quixote, Detective Columbo, and, for those who remember the show, Kolch... more
Apple Podcasts5DondiboyUnited States2 months ago - Liberal propaganda
There’s nothing worse than leftist propaganda pushed as “journalism.” But when the pusher PRETENDS that’s not what he’s doing it’s lying and manipulation, a common tactic of far left radicals. He deceives with stories about maga grannies, ICE and Trump pardons while trying to say he’s just being a fair journalist. I’m sure others on the far left nod along, at home in their echo chamber. But the rest of the country living in reality is wondering where’s a story of Biden’s pardons? Corrupt people,... more
Apple Podcasts1MylissaRUnited States2 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #103 | United States/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #88 | Canada/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #124 |  United Kingdom/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #103 |  France/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #153 |  Australia/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #177 |  Italy/True Crime |
Talking Points
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Audience Metrics
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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?
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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. Johnathan Walton Media
5. Swindled
How many episodes of PRETEND are there?
PRETEND launched 9 years ago and published 372 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. Shelby Danielle Fernandez
2. Gypsy Rose Blanchard
3. William Ruzich
4. Darnell Emanuel
5. Javier Leiva
6. Jared Smith
7. Lynette Rosario
8. Gladys Jordan
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.