Pretend - a true crime podcast about con artists
Hosted by Javier Leiva · Creative Babble, LLC
4.7from 4,826 ratings
Claimed podcast
- 352
- Episodes
- 344
- Transcribed
- 4,826
- Ratings
- Weekly
- 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
- 3 Nov 2026
Latest episodes
344 of 352 episodes have a transcript.
3 Nov 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Babalawo - Secrets of Santeria Revisited
27 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Stalker: Fit to Stand Trial? Part 24
20 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Prophet: A Word of Faith Fellowship Minister Back in Court, 13 Years Later
Inside a recent episode
The Babalawo - Secrets of Santeria Revisited
Published 3 Nov 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] The orichas helped early humans figure out how to work agriculture and how to establish villages and how to function as a society. And those orichas, those human beings, on their death, became orichas because of their extraordinary service to humanity or because of their extraordinary skill at something. […]
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.
- Fernando
- Cynthia Duncan
- Matthew Fenner
- Brooke Covington
- Jane Whaley
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
- 2,539 ratings
- Spotify
- 4.7 / 5
- 2,287 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
Contact 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 guests.
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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 weekly, 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?
344 of 352 episodes have a transcript on Pod Engine. Full transcripts are available with a Pod Engine plan.
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