Episodes 305
Avg. Duration 38m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.7 (2,426)
Since Jun 2017
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
74%
Hosting
feeds.megaphone.fm

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About This Podcast

PRETEND 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 why deception works without shaming victims, combining ethical journalism with cinematic storytelling. Featured in lists of the best podcasts about con artists and scams, PRETEND investigates crimes of persuasion, trust, and betrayal. New episodes drop regularly with stories that reveal how manipulation shapes modern life, both online and off. PRETEND is produced by Creative Babble, LLC. © 2026 Creative Babble LLC [CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]

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Recent Episodes

S26E5 Chain of Command part 5

Jun 09, 2026 30m

Rony Denis wasn't just the spiritual leader at the House of Prayer Christian Church... He was their god. In Part 5, former members start connecting the dots on how Rony Denis consolidated control,…

The Lottery Curse with Murder: True Crime Stories

Jun 05, 2026 5m Bonus

I teamed up with Carter Roy for a special guest collaboration on Murder: True Crime Stories and this one is something else. For the full episode, follow Murder: True Crime Stories on your favorite…

S26E4 Chain of Command part 4

Jun 02, 2026 42m

Note: This episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse and psychological manipulation. It started with a revolt. Thirty ministers walked out of NTCC mid-service and never looked back. They…

S26E3 Chain of Command part 3

May 26, 2026 34m

In part three of Chain of Command, we hear from those who grew up in the New Testament Christian Churches of America. From Victor Johanson, a former Army soldier who confirms on tape that NTCC…

S26E2 Chain of Command part 2

May 19, 2026 31m

Part one was about control. Part two is about the money. Behind the soul-winning and the sermons and the bylaws, the New Testament Christian Churches of America runs a very well-funded business.…

S26 The Raid | From Deep Cover: The Family Man

May 18, 2026 39m

Deep Cover is a true crime show about double lives, brought to you by our friends at Pushkin Industries. Their new season, The Family Man, is a gripping story about how families can deceive each…

S26E1 Chain of Command part 1

May 12, 2026 39m

In 1996, Sarah DeJonghe was a 20-year-old Navy Seabee stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Two guys in uniform approached her on base and invited her to church. She said no. They came back anyway. Four…

S25E16 Operation Cockblock Revisited

May 05, 2026 54m

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,…

S25E15 The Greatest Podcast Episodes Ever Made (Bonus)

Apr 28, 2026 45m Bonus

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…

S25E14 I Beg Your Pardon part 6: The MAGA Granny

Apr 21, 2026 48m

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…

S25E13 I Beg Your Pardon part 5

Apr 14, 2026 29m

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…

S25E12 I Beg Your Pardon part 4

Apr 07, 2026 25m

Content Warning: This episode contains detailed descriptions of nursing home neglect, including accounts of residents found in unsanitary conditions. Listener discretion is advised. You're about to…

S25 Introducing Season Seven of Nobody Should Believe Me

Mar 31, 2026 1h 4m Bonus

Introducing Season Seven of Nobody Should Believe Me. Andrea revisits the case of Maya Kowalski—the story at the center of the Netflix film Take Care of Maya–and the family’s high-profile lawsuit…

S25E11 I Beg Your Pardon part 3

Mar 24, 2026 36m

You know that little bottle of 5-Hour Energy sitting on the counter of almost every gas station in America? Someone was faking it. Millions of bottles, mixed by hand in a filthy warehouse by day…

S25E10 I Beg Your Pardon part 2

Mar 17, 2026 40m

Twelve days. That’s how long David Gentile spent in federal prison for a $1.8 billion fraud that wiped out the retirement savings of 17,000 people. On Thanksgiving 2025, President Trump signed a…

S25E9 I Beg Your Pardon part 1

Mar 10, 2026 38m

Jerry Bush was a plumber from Virginia with fourteen employees, a wife battling cancer, and a business his father built from nothing. When a big construction job left him waiting on $350,000 he'd…

S25E8 Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey Revisited

Mar 03, 2026 42m

CONTENT WARNING: Graphic content. Listener discretion is advised.   Who’s Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey — Revisited A lot of people ask: where should I start if I just discovered PRETEND? The answer is…

S25 Update on “The Hand That Held Me”

Feb 28, 2026 0m Bonus

I want to share a quick update about the "Hand That Held Me" series. Due to some recent developments, I’ve made the decision to postpone the release. I know many of you were expecting it, and I’m…

S25E7 The Pests part 3 & 4 Revisited

Feb 24, 2026 1h 21m

We conclude one of the most disturbing series ever covered on this podcast. Here are parts 3 and 4 of the Pests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S25E6 The Pests part 1 & 2 Revisited

Feb 17, 2026 1h 3m

This week, we're revisiting one of the most terrifying series ever produced for PRETEND. It's about a gang-stalking internet group known as The Pests. Content Advisory: This episode is disturbing…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does PRETEND have?

PRETEND has published 305 episodes since June 2017, covering topics in Society & Culture, Technology.

Is PRETEND still active?

PRETEND is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 38m.

How do I contact PRETEND for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for PRETEND, including email and social media links.

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