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Artwork for Pretending to be People

Pretending to be People

Pretending to be People
Delta Green
Pulp Cthulhu
Jackfruit Frog Island
Role-Playing Games
Patreon
Upstream Church
Grover Cleveland
Community Building
Stevie
Contention Police Department
Agent Diggory
Equatorial
The Quiet Year
Crisis Cold Weather Shelter
Tsunami
Magic
Tank
Algernon
Satan
LGBTQIA Plus Community Center

Pretending to be People is a mystery/horror role-playing podcast. Join Zach, Thomas, Luke, and Joe as they navigate a terrifying campaign filled with twists, turns, and laughs - all decided on a roll of the dice. Can the officers of the Contention Police Department unravel the mysteries suddenly plaguing their sleepy town? Will they die – or worse – in the attempt? This is an actual play utilizing... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes261Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ImprovComedy

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Artwork for Pretending to be People

Latest Episodes

It's time to meet The Country Fair Five.

This episode features Juicy Garland.

Here's the link to the Scenario Contest 2026 Submissions.

Support the show on Patreon.

Buy some merch at the Contention General Store.

Follow along on Instagram a... more

Will our intrepid heroes unravel the awful avian enigma before they're all exsanguinated? Find out NOW in this thrilling conclusion to Operation: Zoonotic!

This episode features Caleb Stokes from Hebanon Games and Delta Green.

Here's the link to ... more

I see miracles all around me Stop and look around, it's all astounding Water, fire, air, and dirt Fucking magnets, how do they work?

This episode features Caleb Stokes from Hebanon Games and Delta Green.

Here's the link to the Scenario Contest 20... more

A police officer named Gilbert Mackey. A conservation agent named Lem McLamb. A former exotic animal trainer/dealer named Billy Ray Weaver. And Billy Ray Weaver's parole officer, Melissa Brundle. These four drew the short straw and must perform a com... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Juicy Garland
Drag performer and Delta Green actual-play guest
Delta Green/drag performance
Episode: Delta Green // Operation: JOHNNY B. GOODE // Part One (with Juicy Garland)
Caleb Stokes
Educator and game designer; Delta Green campaign author
Hebanon Games / Delta Green community
Episode: Delta Green // Operation: Zoonotic // Part One (with Caleb Stokes)
Ross Bryant
Guest on Pretending to be People; actor and host of Push the Roll with Ross Bryant
Push the Roll with Ross Bryant
Episode: Pulp Delta Green // Mission: Unnatural // Part Three (with Ross Bryant)
Beth May
Guest playing Dr. Angus Place
Episode: Delta Green // Operation: $PAWN (with Beth May)
Jared Logan
Guest referenced as part of a future collaboration and appearance
Glass Cannon / Stream of Blood / Last Podcast Network
Episode: S2E97 - Q&A: Part Two // All You Want Is More
Dr. Sarah Linbury
Doctor who appears as a guest, connected to Diggory's network
Episode: S2E94 - The News Brothers (Finale: Part One)
Brock Hargrave
A character revived to assist the team with magic spells
Episode: S2E82 - You're a Straight Shooter, Brock
Travis McElroy
Popular podcast host and voice actor, known for rolling dice in thrilling role-playing games.
Episode: Operation: Upstream Church // Part Three (with Travis McElroy)
Sydney Amanuel
A talented guest known for her roles in various podcasts
Get in the Trunk and The Glass Cannon Podcast
Episode: S2E75 - Amundsen-Scott: The Storm is Snow Bad (with Sydney Amanuel)

Hosts

Zach
Host of Pretending to be People (co-host); central narrator and world-builder.
Thomas
Co-host driving the show's scripting and rhythm; key improviser.
Luke
Co-host known for character work and on-table dynamics.
Joe
Co-host contributing to world-building and banter; consistent presence.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2.5k ratings
  • Pretending POD is a joke-filled dark comedy real-play podcast that's a long journey but a fun one. I came from Dungeons and Daddies and enjoyed the similarities, though Zach's skillful DM'ing navigate some dark and disgusting delights.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Guardian Beaver Spirit
    3 months ago
  • What the hell did I just listen too?

    Umm just spent two years listening to season 2. What the? A chaotic mad mix of story threads that I had to struggle to follow. The players were true to their characters which only further pushed my troubled mind. What more can I say? I might go and listen to it again. 😏Highly recommended. 😁👍🏻😵‍💫

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gwtoooq
    Australia5 months ago
  • Good Ol’ Boys

    It’s like a soap opera if “soap opera” meant comedy-horror-rpg-improv. It’s very funny, sometimes disturbing, and always squamous, if “squamous” actually meant “friend group with great chemistry,” rather than “scaly.”

    I am glad we get to listen in on their game. And to the dulcet tones of Wolf the Dog, of course.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RatsAteMyRainbow
    United States6 months ago
  • Super fun, very weird, creepy, & excellently produced. I think Delta Green is hard to design, & Zac(h?) does an *amazing* job.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    SterlingVix
    8 months ago
  • They Bone my Back til I Kudzu

    I don’t know what a podcast or an rpg is but my slimey wolf dog daddy radio dj told me to leave a review for the best actual play podcast going and like a government agent trapped in a cats body chasing a laser pointer I obliged.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jerk Bronson
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The cast has amazing chemistry and the humor lands even in scary moments.
People love the immersive, cinematic feel and the depth of world-building.
Guests add fresh perspectives and spikes in energy that keep arcs exciting.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#55
United States/Comedy/Improv
Apple Podcasts
#27
Canada/Comedy/Improv
Apple Podcasts
#138
United Kingdom/Comedy/Improv
Apple Podcasts
#45
Australia/Comedy/Improv
Apple Podcasts
#158
Italy/Comedy/Improv
Apple Podcasts
#164
France/Comedy/Improv

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Delta Green // Operation: Zoonotic // Part Three (with Caleb Stokes)
Q: Does Caleb have a full bird degree in bird law, or is he just a hobby practitioner?
Caleb clarifies that he does not have a formal bird law degree; he was exploring exotic birds as a storytelling hook and game inspiration rather than a regulatory credential.
Delta Green // Operation: STOP REPO // Part One (with Jared Logan)
Q: How does the party intend to handle the artifacts and cars they've inherited?
The group discusses mapping the cars' locations, then negotiating or purchasing them back from the vampire trio, with the Denver airport auction acting as a potential route to reclaim or secure the vehicles, while leveraging a vampire-driven social contract to keep the secret.
S2E97 - Q&A: Part Two // All You Want Is More
Q: What was the deal with the Godel Company vs the Godel Corporation terminology?
The group explains it's a naming choice that evolved into a running bit, but it also signals an intentional branding of a powerful entity within the story.
S2E97 - Q&A: Part Two // All You Want Is More
Q: Question about the music: was there significance in switching from Altar Girl to Dragon and Threes?
Yes, the music cues are thematically tied to the story's arcs, and the switch reflects a deliberate shift in tone and overarching themes as the season progressed.

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 Pretending to be People

What is Pretending to be People about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show blends mystery and horror with long-form tabletop storytelling, anchored by a tight-knit group that leans into character-driven improvisation, dark humor, and cinematic set-pieces. Delta Green and Pulp Cthulhu are the primary systems used, with episodes weaving investigative tension, otherworldly threats, and high-stakes action through party banter and on-mic storytelling. Guests consistently bring credibility and variety to the world, from Delta Green veterans to crossover talents, while ongoing story threads mix legal/ethical dilemmas, bizarre artifacts, and escalating peril in atmospheric, often surreal, settings. The format appeals to listeners who enjoy immersive narratives, character chemistry, and a blend of scares with pla... more

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How many listeners does Pretending to be People get?

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What are the audience demographics for Pretending to be People?

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How many subscribers and views does Pretending to be People have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Pretending to be People 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 Pretending to be People?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Pretending to be People:

1. Push The Roll with Ross Bryant | Call of Cthulhu Improv TTRPG Podcast
2. The Glass Cannon Podcast
3. Mystery Quest
4. Dungeons and Daddies
5. Gumshoes & Dragons

How many episodes of Pretending to be People are there?

Pretending to be People launched 8 years ago and published 261 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 Pretending to be People?

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 Pretending to be People?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Pretending to be People from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Pretending to be People?

Recent guests on Pretending to be People include:

1. Juicy Garland
2. Caleb Stokes
3. Ross Bryant
4. Beth May
5. Jared Logan
6. Dr. Sarah Linbury
7. Brock Hargrave
8. Travis McElroy

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.

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