Alien abductions.
Hundreds of people say it’s happened to them.
They’re not looking for fame or attention.
Some keep it a secret...haunted by memories they can’t explain.

In Day 3 of PRETEND’s Halloween Marathon, we meet Dr. John Mack, a Pulitzer Prize–winning Harvard psychiatrist who risked his reputation to study these so-called abductees. Using hypnosis and relaxation techniques, Mack tried to uncover whether these encounters were dreams, delusions, or something far stranger.

Why would a man of science devote his life to stories most people laugh off? And what if the people he studied weren’t crazy at all?

This episode is part of a larger series I produced on hypnosis.

Check out the rest of the series. Season 8 of PRETEND:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/05forE4OuW9zgsI9OZ7XHy?si=71eca84e0f5843ba

Listen ad-free on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/collection/1813212

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It’s Day 2 of my Halloween Marathon, and today we’re diving into The Haunted Tourist.

I’m joined by Brandon Schexnayder, host of Southern Gothic and Fear Daily—two shows that live and breathe ghost stories. Together, we pull back the curtain on haunted tourism: the ghost tours, the myths, and the money that fuels them.

From fake cemeteries built for tourists to real tragedies twisted into folklore, Brandon and I explore what’s real, what’s exaggerated, and why we want to believe.

If you love a good ghost story—but also like to know what’s behind it—this one’s for you.

Southern Gothic: https://open.spotify.com/show/6s2eCUQgs76SLGEwiBwYOn?si=b9edd693f49b4e41

Fear Daily: https://open.spotify.com/show/5RrG0f6Yd7WNqSmuebfRMJ?si=d99660cd2e8c4a42

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Hey, it’s Javier. Quick update: Meghan Walsh, the subject of my Cracks in the Fandom series, has filed copyright complaints on every major platform. As a result, Spotify and Patreon have temporarily taken down the series. My attorneys are already on it, and we expect everything to be restored soon.

In the meantime, it’s Halloween weekend — so let’s have some fun. I’m bringing back some of my favorite spooky episodes from the PRETEND archives. Today’s story? Real Vampires. Yeah, real ones. It’s one of my all-time favorites, and honestly, there’s no better time of year to revisit it.

Stick around... I’ll be dropping more eerie episodes all weekend long. For now, let’s press play on The Real Vampires.

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Important Update on “Cracks in the Fandom”
Meghan Walsh, the subject of my latest series, filed a copyright infringement claim with all major podcast platforms. As a result, Patreon and Spotify have temporarily removed the episodes pending review.
The good news? You can still listen to the entire series on Apple Podcasts.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pretend-radio/id1245307962?mt=2

__________

In the Law & Order: SVU community, Meghan Walsh says she’s been stalked for years. She even claims Mariska Hargitay is somehow involved. Her alleged tormentor, Michelle Ivey, tells a very different story.

Accusations of swatting, online impersonation, and defamation swirl around this fandom feud. The evidence is messy, and just when you think you know where it’s heading... there’s a twist you won’t see coming.

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Cracks in the Fandom — Part 3 (Edited Copyright Cut)
PRETEND: Stories about real people pretending to be someone they’re not

Michelle Ivey has been painted as the villain. Meghan Walsh calls her a stalker, a criminal, a threat to her life. She’s warned not to contact her.

But in this episode, I do just that. I talk to Michelle. And what I find is something very different from the unhinged boogeyman Meghan has described for years.

What if Michelle isn’t stalking anyone at all? What if she’s just a fan?

In Part 3, the story begins to fracture. Meghan's claims get louder. But her evidence starts to slip. And the people she says are targeting her… start to speak up.

This is the extended version of the episode. If you're listening now on Patreon or Pretend+, I'd love to know what you think. Is this story about stalking, delusion, or something else entirely?

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Meghan Walsh says she is being stalked by three people. One of them is Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay. Sounds impossible, right?

But she’s not the only one saying it.

In this episode, we meet Lauren. She claims to be the biological mother of Mariska’s adopted daughter. Her story begins with a supposed secret adoption, and spirals into accusations of betrayal and abandonment. Lauren says the actress is not just stalking her, but working behind the scenes to silence anyone who challenges her.

Meghan believes her. To her, Lauren is the missing piece that proves her own story is real. But the more we dig, the harder it becomes to separate truth from delusion.

Is this the beginning of a deeper conspiracy? Or just another internet rabbit hole?

This extended version includes additional narration and soundbites not available in the public edit. Let me know what you think of the series so far. Your feedback will help shape the final episodes before they go live in the main feed.

All 4 Episodes Available now on Pretend+ and Patreon

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

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

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🎧 NEW SERIES: “Cracks in the Fandom”

What would you do if you thought your favorite celebrity was stalking you?

That’s exactly what Meghan Walsh claims. She says she’s being harassed by not one, not two—but three stalkers. And one of them? Is Mariska Hargitay, best known as Detective Olivia Benson from Law & Order: SVU.

Yeah. I know how that sounds.

But here’s the thing: the more I looked into it, the more the story started to twist.

This new series, Cracks in the Fandom, is not about whether Mariska is actually stalking someone (spoiler: come on). It’s about why someone might believe that. What happens when online relationships go sideways. And what’s really going on underneath the noise.

I’m releasing the first three extended cuts that are ~10 minutes longer than what you'll eventually hear on the public feed. There are 5 episodes total.

And trust me, this story goes places I did not expect.

Your feedback means a lot. Let me know what you think of the pacing, the structure, or anything that feels confusing. This is your sneak preview—and your chance to help shape how the story is told.

First 3 episodes available now on Patreon and PRETEND+:

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

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

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A 32-year-old woman enrolled herself in three Boston high schools and passed as a teenager. She sat in classrooms, made friends with freshmen, and even joined the girls basketball team. She wore number 32 on her jersey, which also happened to be her real age.

This is the story of Shelby Hewitt, a state social worker who lived a double life. For two years, she convinced students, teachers, and administrators that she was a foster kid with nowhere else to go. She built fake social workers and false backstories to make her cover believable.

When PRETEND first aired this episode, there were more questions than answers. Was Shelby trying to relive her youth? Was she gathering information on the kids she worked with? Or was she doing this just for kicks?

In this replay, you will hear the original story and then get the latest updates. Since the episode first aired, new details have emerged about the extent of her lies and who got caught up in them. We will also examine the criminal charges she is currently facing.

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Breaking news in the stalker case: Rick Fernandez has pleaded guilty to harassment. Instead of facing trial, he admitted responsibility for a new wave of harassment tied to the book he published while awaiting trial on felony charges.

His sentence? 180 days in jail (suspended) along with three years of probation. If Rick contacts the victims directly or indirectly, he risks going to jail and facing new charges.

In this episode, I dig into what this guilty plea really means, and you’ll also hear from Rick’s sister, Olivia Fernandez, who shares her complicated reaction to the news.

The big question is: will Rick finally stop the harassment, or is this just another chapter in a story that refuses to end?

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Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual abuse and may not be suitable for all audiences.

In 1964, Winston Moseley stalked and murdered Kitty Genovese. The case became infamous not only for its brutality but also for the silence of neighbors who heard her cries and did nothing. During his trial, Moseley confessed to other killings, including the murder of 15-year-old Barbara Kralik. But another man, Alvin Mitchell, had already confessed to that crime. Two men. Two confessions. One murder.

This episode is not just about Barbara Kralik’s death. It is about Alvin Mitchell, who later reinvented himself as a minister and claimed he was a wrongfully convicted man saved by God. Behind that testimony, his children say Alvin was hiding decades of abuse.

You will hear from Naomi, one of Alvin’s daughters, and Pastor Pete, a prison minister who once worked alongside Alvin. And for the first time, you will hear Alvin himself as I confront him directly.

This is a story about the cost of looking away.

👉 Support independent investigative storytelling. Join PRETEND on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pretendradio

Fraud Uncovered by Trade Winds

October 01, 2025 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Register here:

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/rvcxhpf/lp/3e23dfff-59f6-4be9-82b2-821afd2293b1?mode=preview&source_id=34206647-f2bd-4bc3-9c6a-4f3882a86833&source_type=em&c=

To book Javier Leiva for keynotes, workshops, or speaking events, visit pretendradio.org

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Tyler Fehrman went undercover for the FBI after his mentor, Ohio GOP chair Matt Borges, offered him a $15,000 check. His recordings helped uncover a $63 million bribery scheme that brought down House Speaker Larry Householder.

This is Part Two of State of Corruption from Pretend.

Credits: Portions of this episode reference material from the HBO documentary Dark Money Games.
Written and Produced by: Javier Leiva & Mackenzie Ames
Editor: Puneeth Shenoy with Podcast Pundits

Listening on Spotify?

Scroll down and leave a comment on this episode. Tell me what corruption stories are happening in your state.

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