PRETEND
byCreative Babble, LLC
SocietyCultureTechnologyTrue Crime
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 stor...
Episodes(40 episodes)
Listener's Reactions: Didn't See It Coming part 2
Patreon supporter Christine Harnos (not the Star Trek actress, the other one) joins Javier to break down Part 2 of the "Didn't See It Coming" series before listening to the finale.
They get into the weeds on Susan Gerbic's sting setup: the Facebook accounts she's been maintaining for years, the fake obituary, the hog farm detail. If a psychic mentions pigs, you know something's up. They also discuss the difference between hot reading and cold reading, why "scientifically tested" doesn't mean what mediums want you to think it means, and the troubling relationship between psychic mediums and grief...
Published: Jan 24, 2026Duration: 25:18
S25E2 - Didn't See It Coming (Part 2)
In Part 1, we watched skeptic Susan Gerbic dissect a celebrity psychic's cold reading techniques. But cold reading is the little leagues of the psychic industry. In Part 2, Susan sets her sights on something harder to catch... a hot reader.
Hot reading is when a psychic does their homework, researching their clients before the reading even starts. So Susan devises an elaborate sting: fake Facebook accounts, fake obituaries, fake family members, and $1,400 worth of bait designed to catch a medium in the act.
Six skeptics go undercover as grieving siblings. They don't know each other. They...
Published: Jan 20, 2026Duration: 33:01
Listener's Reaction: Didn't See That Coming Part 1
Longtime Patreon supporter Rebecca Catalfu joins Javier to unpack her firsthand experience going undercover at Matt Fraser's psychic readings.
Rebecca went into this investigation as a believer and came out the other side with a very different perspective. In this conversation, she and Javier break down the patterns they observed across multiple readings: the decision tree (grandparent, parent, or mystery), the "who is that to you?" fishing technique, the stop statements psychics use when they're not getting hits, and the emotional bell curve that takes grievers to rock bottom before lifting them back up with platitudes.
<...
Published: Jan 17, 2026Duration: 26:52
S25E1 - Didn't See It Coming (Part 1)
Skeptic Susan Gerbic invited PRETEND inside one of her psychic sting operations. In Part 1 of this three-part series, we go inside "Operation Gobble Gotcha," a Thanksgiving sting targeting celebrity psychic Matt Fraser. Susan and her team of volunteers infiltrate one of Matt's online group readings to observe his techniques in real time. What they witness isn't a connection to the other side. It's a technique called cold reading. And once you see it, you can't unsee it.
BINGE ALL THREE EPISODES:
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts...
Published: Jan 13, 2026Duration: 39:28
S24E8 - PRETEND Live AMA
PRETEND's first live YouTube AMA, co-hosted by Patreon supporter Katie Watson. The conversation covers listener questions about the making of PRETEND, behind-the-scenes stories, and what's coming next.
Highlights include: how Javier knows when a story is worth pursuing (hint: it's like fishing) and his techniques for getting interview subjects to let their guard down. He shares updates on past subjects including LaDonna and Frank Abagnale.
Looking ahead to 2026: Season 25 kicks off next week with psychic stings featuring undercover Patreon supporters. Also coming: State of Corruption (North Carolina), a caught-on-camera confessional, and a Word of Faith...
Published: Jan 6, 2026Duration: 1:06:09
S24E7 - Licensed to Kill Revisited
A Montana oncologist allegedly treated patients for cancer they never had and made millions doing it. We're re-releasing our two-part investigation into Dr. Thomas Weiner, plus a brand new interview with whistleblower Dr. Randy Sasich on what's happened since. The medical board finally revoked Weiner's license, but criminal charges still loom, a wrongful death lawsuit is underway, and the broken system that enabled this hasn't changed.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Published: Dec 30, 2025Duration: 1:16:51
S24E6 - The Real Life Grinch
'Tis the season for true crime chaos! Hosts Kristen Seavey from Murder, She Told, Javier Leiva from PRETEND, and Shaun from Sins & Survivors join forces to explore Christmas crimes gone horribly wrong.
From a bath salts-fueled home decorator in suburban Ohio to a serial burglar stealing Robert De Niro's wrapped presents right from under his tree, these real-life Grinches prove that the holidays bring out the worst in some people. The hosts also dive into the disturbing case of postal workers who intercepted letters to Santa meant for underprivileged children...stealing laptops, iPads, and gift cards intended fo...
Published: Dec 23, 2025Duration: 37:12
Bonus Episode: Listener Reaction - Matthew Fenner vs. Ted Bell
This bonus episode features Kim, a Patreon supporter who connected with the Matthew Fenner story...but not for the reasons you might expect.
Kim's been through the criminal justice system herself. She was prosecuted, sentenced, and spent two years in jail.
The conversation goes to some unexpected places. Kim discusses how small-town politics can impact a case in ways that seem backward.
We talk about what jail was really like, why she now advocates for criminal justice reform, how the FBI got involved with her ex-husband's January 6th case, and how Word of...
Published: Dec 20, 2025Duration: 29:42
S24E5 - The Prophet: Matthew Fenner vs Ted Bell
What happens when the person responsible for prosecuting your case seems more interested in protecting your attackers? Matthew Fenner has been asking that question for eight years. After a 2017 mistrial in his assault case against Word of Faith Fellowship members, the judge ordered an immediate retrial. It never happened. Instead, DA Ted Bell granted delay after delay to the defendants while refusing to meet with Matthew, the victim. A gag order meant to last weeks stretched into years, silencing everyone involved and shielding WOFF from public scrutiny. Now Bell has suddenly scheduled the trial—during Matthew's critical medical residency in...
Published: Dec 17, 2025Duration: 58:41
Off Script: Pretend, Murder She Told & Sins and Survivors Spill the Tea (BONUS)
Join hosts Javier from Pretend, Kristen Seavey from Murder She Told, and
Shaun from Sins and Survivors for a special holiday crossover episode
where three true crime podcasters let their guard down and talk shop.
Featured Guests:
Kristen Seavey, host of Murder She Told
https://open.spotify.com/show/0n9q2IMjGQyrHMMByvnA2H?si=5975eb73d4714d07
Shaun, host of Sins and Survivors
https://open.spotify.com/show/1W2swCx9LP38sFY06294pB?si=05c3269c69b94a73 Learn more about your...
Published: Dec 16, 2025Duration: 36:42
S24E4 - Open Enrollment, Open Season for Scammers
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 who spent over a million dollars on jewelry while his customers discovered their "insurance" was worthless.
With Open Enrollment happening right now, scammers are out in full force. This episode will help you spot the red flags and protect yourself.
PROTECT YOURSELF - ESSENTIAL RESOURCES
Verify a Company is Legitimate:
- NAIC...
Published: Dec 9, 2025Duration: 28:00
S24E3 - The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 3
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 story?
🎧 Listen to The Rachel Cancer Scam
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Hn5De466DmCIN8Sppw5Ik?si=6ba6b8cee95e4697
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rachel-cancer-scam/id1772955263
Protect your business before hackers even make a m...
Published: Dec 2, 2025Duration: 41:32
Listener's Reaction: The Cancer Sympathy Machine (BONUS)
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 what they’re really going through.
I’m also sharing two listener stories about friends, classmates, and loved ones who faked cancer.
Thanks to everyone who’s reached out, shared stories, and supported the show. And if you’ve got something you want to talk about, send it my way: javier@pretendradio.org<...
Published: Nov 28, 2025Duration: 20:22
S24E2 - The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 2
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-grabbing scams and into the emotional machinery behind these lies. With the help of cancer-survivor-turned-researcher Bill Petrich, we break down the categories of cancer fakers — from those seeking sympathy to those hiding crimes, escaping abuse, or covering up addictions.
We revisit the infamous cases you’ve hea...
Published: Nov 25, 2025Duration: 30:34
S24E1 - The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 1
Some people fake cancer for sympathy. Others do it for money. But the truth is darker than most of us want to believe.
In this episode, we break down the tactics, behaviors, and mindsets of some of the most convincing cancer fakers out there. From Madison Russo’s botched medical props to Elizabeth Teckenbrock’s alleged search history...“Is it illegal to fake cancer?” Um, yeah.
Bill Petrich, a real cancer survivor who now investigates fake cases, helps us understand the psychology behind the deception.
We als...
Published: Nov 18, 2025Duration: 37:49
Dakota Spotlight: Meanwhile in Mankato
On PRETEND, we tell stories about people who build false identities and hide the truth in plain sight. This week, we are featuring a case that fits right into that world. It is the newest season of Dakota Spotlight, titled “Meanwhile in Mankato.”
In 1965, an 18-year-old gas station attendant named Ray Dahm was murdered during an overnight shift at a rural Minnesota truck stop. The person who killed him was a clean-cut 17-year-old who looked harmless, the kind of kid no one would ever suspect. On the surface, it seemed simple. A robbery. A terrible act of viol...
Published: Nov 17, 2025Duration: 56:03
S23E9 - From Smallville to NXIVM: The Psychology Behind Allison Mack
Smallville's Allison Mack is out of prison, and she's finally talking.
What was NXIVM, and how did Allison Mack become a high-ranking member?NXIVM was a self-help organization that sold leadership training and personal development courses. Beneath the surface, it operated as a coercive group led by Keith Raniere, using control tactics like starvation diets, sleep deprivation, emotional manipulation, and eventually a secret “master-slave” subgroup called DOS.
Who is Allison Mack?Allison Mack, best known from Smallville, joined NXIVM in the mid-2000s. She rose quickly inside the group and later played a majo...
Published: Nov 11, 2025Duration: 43:23
Bonus: The Psychology Behind Parasocial Relationships (Cracks in the Fandom)
This bonus episode is a chance to step back and make sense of everything that just unfolded in Cracks in the Fandom. If you listened to the series, you saw how an Instagram unfollow spiraled into harassment, infighting, and full-on chaos inside the SVU fandom. This series was petty, confusing , and pretty revealing about how people form attachments online.
I wanted to understand why this happens. Why someone can feel personally betrayed by an actor they don't even know. So I reached out to Bradley J. Bond, a professor at the University of San Diego who studies...
Published: Nov 10, 2025Duration: 28:05
S23E7 - The Hypnotist - Alien Abductions
Alien abductions.Hundreds of people say it’s happened to them.They’re not looking for fame or attention.Some keep it a secret...haunted by memories they can’t explain.
In Day 3 of PRETEND’s Halloween Marathon, we meet Dr. John Mack, a Pulitzer Prize–winning Harvard psychiatrist who risked his reputation to study these so-called abductees. Using hypnosis and relaxation techniques, Mack tried to uncover whether these encounters were dreams, delusions, or something far stranger.
Why would a man of science devote his life to stories most people laugh off? And what i...
Published: Nov 1, 2025Duration: 39:56
S23E6 - The Haunted Tourist
It’s Day 2 of my Halloween Marathon, and today we’re diving into The Haunted Tourist.
I’m joined by Brandon Schexnayder, host of Southern Gothic and Fear Daily—two shows that live and breathe ghost stories. Together, we pull back the curtain on haunted tourism: the ghost tours, the myths, and the money that fuels them.
From fake cemeteries built for tourists to real tragedies twisted into folklore, Brandon and I explore what’s real, what’s exaggerated, and why we want to believe.
If you love a good ghost story—but also like to k...
Published: Oct 31, 2025Duration: 1:00:29