PRETEND

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  • 4.7 (2.2K)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
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From cult leaders to con artists and undercover FBI agents, PRETEND exposes those pretending to be someone they're not.

  1. Operation Cock Block

    3 DAYS AGO

    Operation Cock Block

    A group of women, all with eerily similar stories, say they were deceived—emotionally and financially—by the same man: William Sullivan. But instead of staying silent, they took matters into their own hands. They formed Operation Cock Block, a coordinated effort to expose what they claim were Sullivan’s deceptive tactics and warn others before they fell victim. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min
  2. The Telepathy Tapes B-side part 3

    FEB 11

    The Telepathy Tapes B-side part 3

    Facilitated Communication is marketed as a miraculous tool for non-speaking autistic children. But what happens when this controversial method leads to devastating consequences? In this episode, we hear from Kevin Plantin, a father who was falsely accused of assault based solely on messages typed with the help of a facilitator. Despite the evidence, some courts and institutions still give FC credibility—with tragic consequences. In this episode, Kevin Plantan recounts how a letter typed via FC led to his wrongful imprisonment for 10 months on charges of sexual assault. We also revisit the story of Janyce Boynton, a former FC facilitator who now warns against the practice after witnessing its harmful effects firsthand. Featured guests in this episode: Kevin Plantin: Sharing his personal story of wrongful imprisonment. Janyce Boynton: Former FC facilitator and advocate against the practice. Additional Resources: Learn more about Facilitated Communication: https://www.facilitatedcommunication.org/ Read about Syracuse University's involvement with FC: https://dailyorange.com/2024/02/mixed-messages-how-facilitated-communication-persists-at-su/ Prisoners of Silence documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMn_sDCFAuI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min
  3. BONUS: Telepathy Tapes B-side (Janyce Boynton full interview)

    FEB 10 · BONUS • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    BONUS: Telepathy Tapes B-side (Janyce Boynton full interview)

    When you finish listening to part 3 of my Telepathy Tapes B-side series, check out my full-length interview with former facilitator Janyce Boynton.

    44 min
  4. The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 2

    FEB 4

    The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 2

    A mother kills her autistic son. Why? Because he asked her to. The mother claims he used facilitated communication to ask her to help him die. This case is just one of many tied to the controversial method that claims to give a voice to non-speaking autistic individuals. But what if the voice wasn’t theirs at all? Share Your Thoughts: Have you listened to The Telepathy Tapes? What do you think about the claims it makes? We want to hear from you! Send a voice memo with your thoughts to javier@pretendradio.org, and your message might be featured in an upcoming episode. Resources Mentioned: ➜    Learn more about Amy Lutz’s work and her book Chasing the Intact Mind. https://amzn.to/4gg9Mbe ➜    Read Zaid Jilani’s articles on Facilitated Communication and The Telepathy Tapes on his Substack, The American Saga. https://www.theamericansaga.com/  ➜   Explore the history of Facilitated Communication in the documentary Tell Them You Love Me (available on U.S. Netflix). https://www.netflix.com/title/81783064 Stay Connected: Follow PRETEND on social media and subscribe to the podcast for more stories exploring deception and the human condition. ➜ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/pretendpod.bsky.social ➜ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pretendpod/ ➜ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pretendpod ➜ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pretendpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min
  5. The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 1

    JAN 28

    The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 1

    The Telepathy Tapes podcast shot to the top of the charts, making bold claims about telepathic abilities in non-verbal autistic children. But are the claims rooted in science—or something else entirely? In this episode of PRETEND, we take a closer look at the phenomenon, the controversies, and the skepticism surrounding these extraordinary claims. We’ll discuss: ➜ The premise of The Telepathy Tapes and the experiments it presents. ➜ Scientific skepticism surrounding telepathy claims. ➜ Ethical concerns, including the history of Facilitated Communication and its controversies. ➜ Voices from parents, experts, and critics, including Zaid Jilani and Amy Lutz. Resources Mentioned:    Learn more about Amy Lutz’s work and her book Chasing the Intact Mind. https://amzn.to/4gg9Mbe    Read Zaid Jilani’s articles on Facilitated Communication and The Telepathy Tapes on his Substack, The American Saga. https://www.theamericansaga.com/    Explore the history of Facilitated Communication in the documentary Tell Them You Love Me (available on U.S. Netflix). https://www.netflix.com/title/81783064 Share Your Thoughts: Have you listened to The Telepathy Tapes? What do you think about the claims it makes? We want to hear from you! Send a voice memo with your thoughts to javier@pretendradio.org, and your message might be featured in an upcoming episode. Stay Connected: Follow PRETEND on social media and subscribe to the podcast for more stories exploring deception and the human condition. ➜ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/pretendpod.bsky.social ➜ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pretendpod/ ➜ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pretendpod ➜ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pretendpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  6. Criminal Conduct S5: The Life and Death of Buffalo Jim

    JAN 21 · BONUS

    Criminal Conduct S5: The Life and Death of Buffalo Jim

    Hello PRETENDERS! I'm excited to announce that the new season of my other podcast, Criminal Conduct Season, is here! To listen to the rest of the story, search for Criminal Conduct and subscribe. ____________________ Buffalo Jim Barrier was a wrestling promoter, mechanic, and Las Vegas icon. He faced off against Rick Rizzolo, a powerful strip club owner with alleged mob ties. Their feud lasted decades. Days after Rizzolo’s release from house release, Buffalo Jim was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a motel room. Evidence is missing, and there are anonymous threats. Questions remain unanswered. Criminal Conduct Season 5 unravels a story of corruption, crime, and one man’s fight for justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min
  7. Let’s Talk About The Telepathy Tapes

    JAN 16 · BONUS • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Let’s Talk About The Telepathy Tapes

    Hey everyone, I’m working on an episode taking a critical look at The Telepathy Tapes, a podcast making some pretty wild claims—like non-verbal autistic people having telepathic abilities. The podcast even features experiments to back up these claims, and I have to admit, as someone who leans hard into skepticism, I was genuinely shocked by what I heard. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, this conversation is worth having. Here’s where you come in: I want you to listen to the first episode of The Telepathy Tapes and then let me know what you think. Are you convinced? Skeptical? Somewhere in the middle? Send me a voice memo at javier@pretendradio.org, and I might include your response in my episode. Think of it like a podcast book club—we’re all digging into this story together and unpacking what’s really going on. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts. Let’s see where this takes us. Talk soon, Javier

    2 min

  8. JAN 14 · BONUS

    Nobody Should Believe Me: Sophie Saves Zambia

    Today on PRETEND, we’re featuring the season 5 premiere of Nobody Should Believe Me, a compelling podcast hosted by author Andrea Dunlop that explores Munchausen by proxy abuse. Dunlop’s investigative storytelling sheds light on a complex and deeply troubling form of abuse, offering listeners both empathy and insight. Season 5 kicks off with an in-depth look at Sophie Hartman’s 2016 memoir, Crowns of Beauty, where Hartman recounts her experiences in Zambia and her journey to becoming the adoptive mother of two Zambian girls. This episode unravels the layers of Hartman’s narrative, revealing her evangelical Christian roots and the persona she crafted as both a martyr and savior. Andrea Dunlop is joined by Chad Goller-Sojourner, a performance artist and transracial adoption coach, who provides nuanced perspectives on the challenges and intricacies of transracial adoption. Together, they explore themes of identity, privilege, and the ways in which personal narratives can obscure uncomfortable truths. Whether you’re a fan of Nobody Should Believe Me or new to the series, this episode promises a gripping and thought-provoking listen. Tune in to hear Andrea Dunlop and her team continue their important work of exposing the hidden dynamics of Munchausen by proxy abuse. Where to Listen: Nobody Should Believe Me is available wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t miss the season 5 premiere, streaming now! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tU5rLsNkx7LeI2GhLlQ4X?si=1e02ca94e6ac4066 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nobody-should-believe-me/id1615637188 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    48 min
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Trailers

Shows with Subscription Benefits

  • Criminal Conduct is an investigative true-crime podcast series hosted by John Taylor and Javier Leiva. Season 1: The hosts look into the death of Michelle O'Connell, picking up the investigation where the murdered sleuth, Eli Washtock, left off. Season 2: The investigation of a rogue constable in Kentucky who is accused of planting drugs, stealing money, and shaking people down. Season 3: An American Serial Killer in Paradise: The story of serial killer William Holbert, aka "Wild Bill," and his victims. Season 4: Getting Away with Murder: The Death Investigation of Pravin Varughese Season 5: The Life and Death of Buffalo Jim Barrier

    • 4.6 (1050)
    • TRUE CRIME

  • Welcome to The Ponzi Playbook, the podcast that exposes the dark underbelly of the financial world. Join hosts Neal McTighe and Javier Leiva as they take you on a journey through the seedy world of financial fraud, exploring the twisted minds of the people behind some of the most audacious Ponzi schemes in history.

    • 4.7 (80)
    • BUSINESS
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4.7
out of 5
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About

From cult leaders to con artists and undercover FBI agents, PRETEND exposes those pretending to be someone they're not.

Information

  • Channel
    PRETEND+
  • Creator
    Creative Babble
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    279
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved 2024
  • Show Website
    PRETEND
  • Provider
    Javier Leiva

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