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PRETEND

PRETEND+
  • 4.7 (2329)
  • 犯罪纪实
  • 两周一更

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, an and based in the United States, 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. [CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]

  1. Bonus: The Psychology Behind Parasocial Relationships (Cracks in the Fandom)

    1天前 · 附赠内容 • 订阅者独享

    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 parasocial relationships for a living. He breaks down what these one-sided bonds actually are, why they feel real, and how they can slide from harmless to unhealthy faster than we think.

    26 分钟
  2. The Hypnotist - Alien Abductions

    11月1日

    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 if the people he studied weren’t crazy at all? This episode is part of a larger series I produced on hypnosis. Check out the rest of the series. Season 8 of PRETEND: https://open.spotify.com/episode/05forE4OuW9zgsI9OZ7XHy?si=71eca84e0f5843ba Listen ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1813212 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    40 分钟
  3. The Haunted Tourist

    10月31日

    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 know what’s behind it—this one’s for you. Southern Gothic: https://open.spotify.com/show/6s2eCUQgs76SLGEwiBwYOn?si=b9edd693f49b4e41 Fear Daily: https://open.spotify.com/show/5RrG0f6Yd7WNqSmuebfRMJ?si=d99660cd2e8c4a42 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 小时
  4. The Real Vampires

    10月30日

    The Real Vampires

    Hey, it’s Javier. Quick update: Meghan Walsh, the subject of my Cracks in the Fandom series, has filed copyright complaints on every major platform. As a result, Spotify and Patreon have temporarily taken down the series. My attorneys are already on it, and we expect everything to be restored soon. In the meantime, it’s Halloween weekend — so let’s have some fun. I’m bringing back some of my favorite spooky episodes from the PRETEND archives. Today’s story? Real Vampires. Yeah, real ones. It’s one of my all-time favorites, and honestly, there’s no better time of year to revisit it. Stick around... I’ll be dropping more eerie episodes all weekend long. For now, let’s press play on The Real Vampires. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    43 分钟
  5. Cracks in the Fandom part 4

    10月28日

    Cracks in the Fandom part 4

    Important Update on “Cracks in the Fandom”Meghan Walsh, the subject of my latest series, filed a copyright infringement claim with all major podcast platforms. As a result, Patreon and Spotify have temporarily removed the episodes pending review.The good news? You can still listen to the entire series on Apple Podcasts. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pretend-radio/id1245307962?mt=2 __________ In the Law & Order: SVU community, Meghan Walsh says she’s been stalked for years. She even claims Mariska Hargitay is somehow involved. Her alleged tormentor, Michelle Ivey, tells a very different story. Accusations of swatting, online impersonation, and defamation swirl around this fandom feud. The evidence is messy, and just when you think you know where it’s heading... there’s a twist you won’t see coming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    56 分钟
  6. Cracks in the Fandom part 3

    10月21日

    Cracks in the Fandom part 3

    Cracks in the Fandom — Part 3 (Edited Copyright Cut)PRETEND: Stories about real people pretending to be someone they’re not Michelle Ivey has been painted as the villain. Meghan Walsh calls her a stalker, a criminal, a threat to her life. She’s warned not to contact her. But in this episode, I do just that. I talk to Michelle. And what I find is something very different from the unhinged boogeyman Meghan has described for years. What if Michelle isn’t stalking anyone at all? What if she’s just a fan? In Part 3, the story begins to fracture. Meghan's claims get louder. But her evidence starts to slip. And the people she says are targeting her… start to speak up. This is the extended version of the episode. If you're listening now on Patreon or Pretend+, I'd love to know what you think. Is this story about stalking, delusion, or something else entirely? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    45 分钟
  7. Cracks in the Fandom part 2

    10月14日

    Cracks in the Fandom part 2

    Meghan Walsh says she is being stalked by three people. One of them is Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay. Sounds impossible, right? But she’s not the only one saying it. In this episode, we meet Lauren. She claims to be the biological mother of Mariska’s adopted daughter. Her story begins with a supposed secret adoption, and spirals into accusations of betrayal and abandonment. Lauren says the actress is not just stalking her, but working behind the scenes to silence anyone who challenges her. Meghan believes her. To her, Lauren is the missing piece that proves her own story is real. But the more we dig, the harder it becomes to separate truth from delusion. Is this the beginning of a deeper conspiracy? Or just another internet rabbit hole? This extended version includes additional narration and soundbites not available in the public edit. Let me know what you think of the series so far. Your feedback will help shape the final episodes before they go live in the main feed. All 4 Episodes Available now on Pretend+ and Patreon PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/pretendradio PRETEND+ on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/pretend/id6443456985 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    42 分钟
  8. Cracks in the Fandom part 1

    10月6日

    Cracks in the Fandom part 1

    🎧 NEW SERIES: “Cracks in the Fandom” What would you do if you thought your favorite celebrity was stalking you? That’s exactly what Meghan Walsh claims. She says she’s being harassed by not one, not two—but three stalkers. And one of them? Is Mariska Hargitay, best known as Detective Olivia Benson from Law & Order: SVU. Yeah. I know how that sounds. But here’s the thing: the more I looked into it, the more the story started to twist. This new series, Cracks in the Fandom, is not about whether Mariska is actually stalking someone (spoiler: come on). It’s about why someone might believe that. What happens when online relationships go sideways. And what’s really going on underneath the noise. I’m releasing the first three extended cuts that are ~10 minutes longer than what you'll eventually hear on the public feed. There are 5 episodes total. And trust me, this story goes places I did not expect. Your feedback means a lot. Let me know what you think of the pacing, the structure, or anything that feels confusing. This is your sneak preview—and your chance to help shape how the story is told. First 3 episodes available now on Patreon and PRETEND+: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pretendradio PRETEND+ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/pretend/id6443456985 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    39 分钟
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关于

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, an and based in the United States, 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. [CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]

信息

  • 频道
    PRETEND+
  • 创作者
    True Story Media
  • 活跃年份
    2017年 - 2025年
  • 单集
    321
  • 分级
    儿童不宜
  • 版权
    © All rights reserved 2024
  • 节目网站
    PRETEND
  • 提供者
    Javier Leiva

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