PRETEND

De: Creative Babble
  • Resumen

  • From cult leaders to con artists and undercover FBI agents, PRETEND exposes those pretending to be someone they're not.
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Episodios
  • 2103: LaDonna's Easter Egg Hustle
    Apr 29 2025
    How LaDonna Humphrey Used a Children's Event to Funnel Money Through Oasis of Northwest Arkansas. What happens when a glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt turns into a glowing red flag? In this bonus episode of PRETEND, host Javier Leiva exposes a so-called family event that promised “magic,” but delivered mayhem — all tied to LaDonna Humphrey and her questionable nonprofit, Oasis of Northwest Arkansas. Held at Mt. Hebron Park on April 12, 2025, the event was marketed as an unforgettable glow-in-the-dark Easter experience. According to the Facebook ad, attendees were told to: “Embark on an egg-citing adventure under the starry sky..." “Search high and low for luminescent treasures..." “Watch the park come alive with a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors..." “A plethora of prizes and surprises await..." But in reality, it was more like the FYRE Festival of Easter egg hunts. One parent described the event as “no different than any free egg hunt at a church”—except this one cost $50 per family. Instead of a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, this event featured crying kids, confused parents, and a nonprofit operating in the dark, literally and figuratively. 👀 New LaDonna episodes are in the works — featuring new fake accounts, missing persons cases, and a sheriff caught in the crossfire. Stay tuned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 m
  • 2102: Faking Insanity
    Apr 22 2025
    Can you really fake being insane—and get away with it? In this episode of PRETEND, host Javier Leiva sits down with forensic psychologist Dr. Tristin Engels to pull back the curtain on the high-stakes world of mental health evaluations in the criminal justice system. We explore how some criminals try to game the system, what psychologists look for when evaluating claims of mental illness, and why even experts can be fooled. Plus, we revisit infamous cases like Richard Speck, George Metesky (aka The Mad Bomber), Ted Bundy, and Ed Kemper to examine how psychology—and its blind spots—played a role in their investigations. Guest: Dr. Tristin Engels is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, published author, and co-host of the podcast Killer Minds. 👉 If you want more criminal psychology deep-dives, check out Dr. Engels’ podcast Killer Minds, where she breaks down infamous cases through the lens of a forensic expert. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 m
  • 2101: My Wife, the Ponzi Schemer
    Apr 15 2025
    Interview with a man convicted of a Ponzi scheme. Bill Livolsi says he was just trying to help his wife, Linda—the ringleader of a multi-million dollar investment scam. In this episode of PRETEND, Bill opens up about how he got roped into the scheme, ignored every red flag, and ultimately landed in prison. He describes fake hedge funds, imaginary employees, and a key investor who also happened to be a self-proclaimed witch and lottery winner. But here’s the twist: Linda isn’t just any con artist. She’s the sister of the woman who tried to steal Elvis Presley’s Graceland—something we covered in a previous episode of PRETEND. Yeah, this story just got a whole lot weirder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 m
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Lo que los oyentes dicen sobre PRETEND

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  • Total
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this

Very good podcast. If you like casual crime without the gory stuff this is the one to listen too!! Javier does a very good job!!

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  • Total
    5 out of 5 stars
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well worth the time

I am about 2/3 way through the catalog and have enjoyed most episodes. there's a casual yet familiar feel but the episodes are clearly well researched

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  • Total
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting

The story telling is well paced, keeps you listening to the end, and waiting for more!

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

All about clicks and views

The guy who hosts this podcast is just interested in exploiting sensational topics. He tries to pretend he's sincere but he is fundamentally unethical.

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