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 | 329 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | True CrimeTechnology | |||
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Latest Episodes
This is the story of Simple Health Plans, a $150 million health insurance scam that preyed on desperate Americans and left thousands buried in medical debt. We'll meet Dawn, who nearly fell victim to their scheme, and Steven Dorfman, the mastermind w... more
Harry spent nearly two years believing the woman he loved was dying of brain cancer. He stood by her for every surgery, organ failure...None of it was real.
In this episode, Harry walks us through the emotional fantasy Rachel built.
Want the full s... more
In this bonus episode, Ali, one of my longtime Patreon supporters, reached out after listening to the Cancer Sympathy Machine series.
Ali talks openly about her past with addiction, stigma, Hep C treatment and why some people hide the truth about wh... more
Why would anyone fake cancer?
Money? Sure.
Attention? Definitely.
But as I learned in this episode… the motives are a lot darker, messier, and more human than you might expect.
In Part 2 of The Cancer Sympathy Machine, we go beyond the headline-g... more
Key Facts
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Reviews
- Offensive political bias
Most of the episodes are interesting but anytime there is political commentary, the egregious liberal bias is overwhelming and ruins the episode. This isn’t journalism, it’s propaganda. Do better.
Apple Podcasts2DC from CW
United States2 months ago - Warning to Pretenders! Javier is looking for you!
This podcast discovers hidden
Pretenders everywhere! With mirth and intensity - I await every episode with presumptive delight!
Apple Podcasts5Cowgirl SlimUnited States2 months ago - Omg this is so weird
Megan wake
Apple Podcasts1AsolareUnited States2 months ago - Okay narrator, terrible reporter
I've had issues with Pretend for ages, things like Javier consistently getting people's names wrong (including his editor somehow???). I've overlooked a lot because he finds super interesting stories. I even joined the Patreon.
However the episode where he talks about the murder of Kitty Genovese is inexcusable. There has been so much information about how the initial reporting on her murder and the "bystander effect" was blatantly false, but he cited the false reporting in depth with a level o... more
Apple Podcasts1CLH0713United States2 months ago - Awesome podcast
I discovered this podcast during the Ladonna season (MUST listen) and I was hooked. Time after time my jaw is on the floor listening to the things he uncovers. Javier is smart, a great investigator, and isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions. Great storytelling!
Apple Podcasts5YinMnBlueOrchidsUnited States3 months 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 | #180 | United States/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #192 |  Canada/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #204 |  France/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #208 |  Australia/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #82 |  Finland/True Crime |
Apple Podcasts | #99 |  Japan/True Crime |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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?
This podcast presents a gripping exploration of deception and fraud, focusing on the lives of con artists and the victims they ensnare. Each episode investigates real-life cases that reveal the intricacies of human psychology behind lies, manipulation, and scams, ranging from elaborate financial frauds to emotional cons. With a commitment to ethical journalism, the host guides listeners through engaging narratives that reveal how deception affects individuals and society, without placing blame on those deceived. The storytelling is likely to intrigue true crime enthusiasts and those interested in understanding the mechanics of trust and betrayal in everyday life, making it a compelling listen.
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 Binge Cases: Watching You
5. Swindled
How many episodes of PRETEND are there?
PRETEND launched 9 years ago and published 329 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. Bill Petrich
2. Elizabeth Tekkenbrock
3. Trey Renee
4. Michelle Ivey
5. Meghan Walsh
6. Olivia Fernandez
7. Naomi Mitchell
8. Joe Pistone
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.