PRETEND
PRETEND is a podcast: Interviews with cult leaders, con artists, undercover agents, and anyone else who lived a life of deception.
Creative Babble, LLC · Javier Leiva
Show overview
PRETEND has been publishing since 2017, and across the 9 years since has built a catalogue of 328 episodes, alongside 32 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 210 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence, with the show now in its 25th season.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 30 min and 46 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. Roughly 45% of episodes carry an explicit flag from the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language True Crime show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 days ago, with 43 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 58 episodes published. Published by Javier Leiva.
From the publisher
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]