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 | 375 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | True CrimeTechnology | |||
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Latest Episodes
According to the anti-Gypsy camp, they've found it. The smoking gun. Gypsy Rose Blanchard has a rare genetic disorder, a microdeletion on chromosome 1, and depending on who you ask online, that one word explains the feeding tube, the leukemia, the pa... more
I sat down with Alaura and Amber from Into the Weeds, the podcast that first dug through the Gypsy Rose Blanchard FOIA files. I wanted their honest reaction to my microdeletion episode, including the part where they felt like I'd pitted them against ... more
According to the anti-Gypsy camp, they've got the receipts. Gypsy really had leukemia. She really needed that bone marrow treatment, and the feeding tube and the surgeries were all real and documented, not fabricated. Case closed, they say. Munchause... more
It's like getting to the end of a movie and discovering the twist, then going back to the beginning because every scene means something else. That's what I've been doing all week with the Rick and Tanya Fernandez interviews. This time we're looking a... more
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- I always come back to this Podcast
I work from home and I absorb a lot of investigative podcasts. I love content about quirky/different stories that can unfold as the narrative of the podcast is forming. I also love subjects where stories turn into places you didn’t expect. Time and time again I keep coming back to PRETEND. Javier’s storytelling is one of the most natural I’ve heard and I love how I feel like he’s telling me, personally, a crazy story over a few long coffee chats. I’ve loved The Stalker series, LaDonna and curren... more
Apple Podcasts5Harryhausen
United Kingdoma month ago - I wait with baited breath for the Truth to be brought out, as a start I feel he may do this the just
So for once, as lovely Nancy from @thetollpodcast, I will reserve all judgement u til this whole month long series comes out…. I know this may be in vain, however, I can’t wait and hopefully he will follow this addressing the new Prison calls ?
Be blessed guys 1 I know we all are thinking this could be another fluff piece , but pls I know , give it time - he may explain even why he is addressing this the way he is .. for just the beginning ❤
Furthermore,
My psychiatric professor (student MH ... more
Apple Podcasts3ckprankin30United Kingdoma month ago 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 Addict1a month 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
Canada2 months 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 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 | #112 | United States/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #118 | Canada/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #164 | United Kingdom/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #124 |  Australia/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #129 |  France/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #226 |  Italy/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?
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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. Chameleon
5. Swindled
How many episodes of PRETEND are there?
PRETEND launched 9 years ago and published 375 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.
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. Fancy Maselli
2. Christie Blanchard
3. Nick Godejohn
4. Gypsy Rose Blanchard
5. Shelby Danielle Fernandez
6. William Ruzich
7. Darnell Emanuel
8. Javier Leiva
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.