Pretend - a true crime podcast about con artists
Hosted by Javier Leiva · Creative Babble, LLC
4.7from 4,762 ratings
Claimed podcast
- 343
- Episodes
- 160
- Transcribed
- 4,762
- Ratings
- Daily
- Cadence
- 2017
- First episode
- 651K
- YouTube views
About Pretend - a true crime podcast about con artists
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]
- Publisher
- Creative Babble, LLC
- Category
- society & culture · technology · true crime
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- Yes
- First episode
- 4 Jun 2017
- Latest episode
- 22 Sept 2026
Latest episodes
160 of 343 episodes have a transcript.
22 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 7
15 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 6
8 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, part 5
Inside a recent episode
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 7
Published 22 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Not a cancer patient. Gypsy said they would not take me now that I'm not a cancer patient. And that is all that these content creators needed, because think about what that sentence implies. Not a cancer patient now, which means that at some point she was one. And the UMKC Dental School isn't a walk-in clinic. You need a referral from a cancer clinic to get through the door. So how does a girl who never had cancer end up in an oncology dental program? They say, aha, that's the smoking gun. Well, it could be a smoking gun, but it could also be a smoking gun pointing in the other direction. What this is, is not evidence that Gypsy had cancer. […]
Read the full transcript with a Pod Engine plan.
See plansWho has been a guest on Pretend - a true crime podcast about con artists
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
- Alaura Flowers
- Amber Dietz
- Audacious Audrey
- Fancy Macelli
- Nancy Simpson
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- YouTube views
- 650,642
- Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 4.7 / 5
- 2,513 ratings
- Spotify
- 4.7 / 5
- 2,249 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 82 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
- Quality
- 90
- Social presence
- 0
- YouTube
- 86
- Engagement
- 99
Pitching Pretend - a true crime podcast about con artists
- Guest appearances
- Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting pitches.
Shows with a similar audience
Questions about Pretend - a true crime podcast about con artists
Who hosts Pretend - a true crime podcast about con artists?
Javier Leiva host the show. Published by Creative Babble, LLC.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Does Pretend - a true crime podcast about con artists take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Where can I read transcripts?
160 of 343 episodes have a transcript on Pod Engine. Full transcripts are available with a Pod Engine plan.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show
Podcast research with Pod Engine