ABOUT MURDER HOMES PODCAST

The real estate market has never been hotter. Houses sell as soon as

they’re listed. Bidding wars lead to all cash deals far above the asking

price. But there is one kind of property that often sits on the market

for years, no matter how much of a bargain it seems to be. Potential

buyers come and go, the price keeps going down, and still the house

stands empty. 

In real estate jargon, it’s called a “stigmatized property” because

the home comes with a history. An unfortunate one – a horrible death

occurred here. But what few people know is exactly what happened.... or

why. 

Each week, Murder Homes tells the story of a single

property. Who lived there? What secrets did they keep, and what did they

leave behind? Part history, part murder mystery, this podcast mixes

expert interviews, witness accounts, and court records to pull back the

curtain on the hidden stories each property has to tell. 

Would you be able to live somewhere that seems perfect, if it weren’t for the ghosts of its past?

Listen to Murder Homes:

iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-murder-homes-127163602/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/murder-homes/id1714612556

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZR5QWSlqXBafFkJGyzfof?si=3437778dc31c4cbc

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In the second installment of "The Doula" series, we uncover new dimensions of Kaitlyn Braun’s elaborate pregnancy scams. This episode features a new doula speaking out about her experiences, the story of how Kaitlyn was finally caught, and a revealing interview with a former friend whom Kaitlyn also deceived.

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Warning: This episode contains graphic discussions of pregnancy loss, sexual violence, and emotional abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode of "Pretend," listen to the chilling tale of Kaitlyn Braun, a woman who orchestrated an elaborate pregnancy hoax, affecting nearly 60 doulas across Ontario. Seanna Hayes, a doula from London, Ontario, provides a firsthand account of her experience with Kaitlyn Braun. The story begins on a stormy night when Seanna is called to assist Kaitlyn, allegedly in labor, only to discover a web of lies, manipulation, and betrayal that spans across multiple doulas and involves a series of fake medical emergencies and hospital visits.

This episode explores the psychological and emotional impact of Kaitlyn's actions on the doulas, the potential motives behind her behavior, and the aftermath of this bizarre case.

Stay tuned for Part Two, exclusively on Patreon and Pretend+ on Apple Podcasts, where we continue the conversation with another doula who shares a very different experience with Kaitlyn Braun.

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This episode offers an unprecedented look into the life of the 'Timepiece Gentleman' Ponzi schemer, Anthony Farrar, whose love for luxury watches spiraled into a deceitful web of lies, culminating in a rare and candid confession.

If you want to hear more wild Ponzi stories, subscribe to The Ponzi Playbook hosted by me, Javier Leiva, and my buddy Neal McTighe.

SUBSCRIBE: https://t.co/M02YhRa5Iq

_______

Also, listen to Javier's interview on The Film Nuts podcast.

Subscribe to Film Nuts Podcast on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

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In today's episode, we revisit the captivating story of Seafarer Exploration and its quest to unearth a 300-year-old treasure buried beneath the ocean waves off Florida's coast. Join us as we delve into the tale of Kyle Kennedy, CEO of Seafarer Exploration, and his fateful encounter with Dr. Michael Torres, a man whose promises and credentials were as deep as the ocean itself. What begins as a hopeful journey into the past, seeking lost treasures of a Spanish galleon quickly spirals into a lawsuit and allegations of fraud. This rebroadcast from our previous series shines a light on the treasure hunters, the technology they dream of, and the deception that lurks beneath the surface.

Guest Speakers:

• Kyle Kennedy, CEO of Seafarer Exploration
• Experts in maritime archaeology and treasure hunting
• Legal analysts breaking down the lawsuit against Michael Torres
• 
  

Listen to the Entire Series:

Don't miss out on the full adventure of treachery, technology, and sunken treasures. Click on the links below to listen to the entire series and explore the mystery surrounding Florida's Treasure Coast.

Part 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6S0XjD4QyyXvuFBh1dOyVY?si=c55b75b8eff4478e

Part 3: https://open.spotify.com/episode/19xvUTQQDILhRLrrtiB7Dk?si=df330a9fd2a54c3a

Part 4: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69e2SjjyDLJ3CmbU8mfpvn?si=06e9742270b749d4

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I recently spoke at the Triangle Content Creators Meetup in Raleigh, NC, about using OSINT techniques to locate and research your next guest. OSINT stands for Open Source Intelligence. As a journalist, I've teamed up with brilliant hackers like Mishaal Khan and Michael Bazzell to uncover new information about my subjects. 

In this talk, I explain how Alan Logan and I exposed Frank Abagnale and how Mishaal Khan and I investigated the Stalker case. I thought you might find this interesting. 

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Previously on Pretend, we dived deep into the murky waters of academic fraud. Celebrity behavioral scientist Dan Ariely of Duke University, alongside Francesca Gino from Harvard and other distinguished behavioral scientists, embarked on a series of experiments with a noble aim: to enhance honesty among individuals. 

Their investigation centered on whether positioning an honesty pledge at the top of a form, as opposed to the bottom, would discourage deceit. However, it emerged that two out of the three experiments underpinning the study were marred by fabricated data.

I interviewed Dan Ariely about these troubling allegations, but our conversation was cut short. I assumed that was the last time I would hear from him. Surprisingly, Ariely reached out, proposing a second interview to directly address what he termed as "false accusations" on my podcast. He stipulated, "If you intend to add these false accusations to the podcast, maybe it's best to have another session and get my answers on the record, but I  will ask you to promise me not to edit these. And to give my answers exactly as I present them. If you're up for this,  let's schedule a sum If you're up for this, let's schedule something." And so, I agreed.

You're going to listen to my follow-up interview with Dan Ariely. I will, however, interject here and there to add context. But rest assured, every moment of our 43-minute exchange will be presented. I'll upload the raw, unedited versions of both interviews on Patreon and Pretend Plus, accessible for free. You don't need a subscription to tune in.

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Everything we believe about what drives us to be honest might be a lie.

A scandal rocks the behavioral science world, casting shadows over renowned researcher Dan Ariely and the integrity of academic research on honesty.

We all tell lies—it's a human thing. But can we modify behaviors to coax people into doing the right thing? Let's delve into what the research indicates. After all, facts and numbers don't lie, and academic researchers shouldn't lie either, right? But what happens when these so-called truth experts, the Ivy League researchers who literally wrote the book on dishonesty, are accused of lying and manipulating data?

Who fact-checks the truth-tellers? 

Science stands as our final bastion of objectivity. However, the individuals behind the studies we're discussing are people. And people make mistakes. But what happens when errors are set aside and data is deliberately fabricated to create an illusion of truth? The consequences could be dire, undermining our trust in everything we hear or read. 

Today's story recaps a major scandal in behavioral science, one that's been spotlighted by The New Yorker, The Atlantic, NPR, and podcasts like Freakonomics and Planet Money. Each outlet brought attention to different aspects of the story, but they all missed one critical voice—Dan Ariely, a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University. In a rare interview, I confronted Ariely about the studies in question, and to my surprise, he answered all of my questions.

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I discovered a little-known realm of con artists within the legal system. I found story after story of people impersonating attorneys, prosecutors, and even judges. One woman hacked into the court system and dropped the charges against her.

Get early and ad-free episodes:

PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/pretendradio

PRETEND+ on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/pretend/id6443456985

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Cybercrime writer Eileen Ormsby delves into the chilling world of the BESA Mafia, a purported online hitman service. What unfolds is a story of modern folklore, a sophisticated scam targeting those with the darkest intentions, and a relentless pursuit of exposing the world of online assassinations-for-hire in the digital age.

Today's episode was a partnership with the podcast HACKED. HACKED is hosted by Jordan & Scott. They explore the strange tales of hacking, internet grifters, cybersecurity and tech.

Subscribe to HACKED wherever you listen to pods:

RSS: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/hackedpodcast

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/hacked-podcast/id1049420219

Google: https://play.google.com/music/m/I5tmfgninpb6lkzqs6rzljnybby

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/21zZfOy7VCSIIWlJ64DElv

Stitcher: https://stitcher.com/podcast/sticks-stones/hacked

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/hacked

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Think all forensic evidence is foolproof? You'd be surprised. In our latest bonus episode of PRETEND, we're taking a deep dive into the murky world of forensic science with M. Chris Fabricant from the Innocence Project. We're talking about how some methods, like bite mark analysis and cadaver dogs, might not be as reliable as you’d think. It's a thought-provoking look at the challenges of separating solid science from shaky beliefs in our legal system. 

Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System by M. Chris Fabricant: https://www.amazon.com/Science-American-Criminal-Justice-System/dp/1636140300

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