PRETEND

Creative Babble

PRETEND is a podcast: Interviews with cult leaders, con artists, undercover agents, and anyone else who lived a life of deception.

  • 36 minutes 19 seconds
    1910: The Maury Povich Olive Lady - Revisited

    So, I've got to tell you about this crazy rabbit hole I slipped into. It's about that bizarre olive lady from the Maury show. Remember her? Olives freaked out Sally because they reminded her of, get this, dead people's eyes. Wild, right?


    I always wondered... Was Sally for real or just putting on a show for the cameras? This question led me to Anthony Freire, a guy who used to produce for Maury Povich.


    Man, the stuff I learned while putting together this episode! It’s like peeling back the curtain on daytime TV and finding a whole other world. Turns out, there are many mind games and behind-the-scenes tricks that go into making these shows. Anthony spilled the beans on how they get people to react a certain way or amp up their emotions for the audience.


    It's not just about Sally and her olive phobia. This episode digs into the bigger picture of how these TV shows mess with people's heads, both the guests and us viewers.


    If you're into the psychology used in reality TV shows or love a good behind-the-scenes story, you must check this out. It's not your average episode of PRETEND.


    I can't wait to hear what you all think. Tune in, and let's get our minds blown together!

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    11 December 2024, 8:30 am
  • 47 minutes 39 seconds
    1909: The Woman Who Almost Stole Graceland

    Lisa Findley tried to steal Elvis Presley’s home. She almost got away with it.

    A con artist with a long history of scams almost pulled off her biggest scheme yet—stealing Elvis Presley’s iconic home, Graceland. Using fake documents and fabricated identities, Lisa Findley tried to claim ownership of the historic estate.

    In this episode, NBC News reporter Brandy Zadrozny takes us down a rabbit hole and shows us how she unraveled Findley’s web of lies, linking her to years of fraud and harassment.

    This is one of the boldest property scams in recent history, and Findley came dangerously close to succeeding/ We'll also talk about the loopholes that make these crimes possible.

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    3 December 2024, 8:30 am
  • 51 minutes 50 seconds
    BONUS: How to Spot a Con Artist on the First Date and When to Walk Away

    In this episode, Dr. Jan Canty, a psychologist, author, and podcast host, shares essential advice on recognizing and avoiding con artists in modern relationships. Dr. Canty, who experienced betrayal and tragedy in her life, offers insights into the red flags of deceptive individuals and provides practical tips for safeguarding against potential scams. Through her 'Don't Con Yourself' TikTok series, Dr. Canty breaks down each stage of interactions with con artists and how to protect oneself. She also discusses her life’s work in grief counseling, her compelling past, and the importance of trusting your gut feeling in relationships.


    Tune in to learn more about navigating the complexities of dating and protecting your personal boundaries.


    00:20 Jan Canty's Tragic Past

    01:05 Recognizing Con Artists

    04:34 Understanding Psychopaths and Sociopaths

    05:21 First Date Red Flags

    14:24 Trusting Your Gut Instinct

    16:09 CIA Techniques for Identifying Lies

    21:34 Gaslighting

    23:29 Dramatic and Unusual Histories

    25:10 Understanding the Significance of Tattoos

    28:26 The Importance of Personal Boundaries

    29:26 Dealing with Missed Warning Signs

    32:03 The Dangers of Sharing Personal Information Prematurely

    35:14 Early Attempts at Control in Relationships

    38:26 Preparing to Exit a Toxic Relationship

    46:08 Finding True Love After Hardships


    PRETEND podcast featuring Jan Canty's life story

    The Sugar Daddy parts 1 & 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1jXDdZvO197GVomFLseUiq?si=35087f142efd41bd

    A Life Divided: A psychologist's memoir about the double life and murder of her husband - and her road to recovery

    https://www.amazon.com/Life-Divided-psychologists-husband-recovery/dp/0578685922

    Domino Effect of Murder Podcast

    https://jancantyphd.com/podcast/

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    26 November 2024, 8:00 am
  • 37 minutes
    1908: LaDonna's Surrogates part 4

    The Rise and Fall of LaDonna’s Loudest Surrogate: David McClam

    LaDonna Humphrey’s most vocal supporter, David McClam, launched the We Are Not Afraid podcast to defend her against mounting accusations. Episode after episode, McClam promised to deliver proof that LaDonna’s critics were lying.

    But instead of delivering proof, McClam brought Alecia Lockhart’s alleged sexual abuser on air to dismiss her claims, issued personal threats to show up at my doorstep and attack me, and even threatened to send the anti-gay hate group Westboro Baptist Church to Anthony Christopher’s gay club for a "blood bath."

    This erratic behavior ultimately led to his podcast being pulled down from his hosting provider.

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    19 November 2024, 8:30 am
  • 33 minutes 5 seconds
    1907: LaDonna's Surrogates part 3

    LaDonna Humphrey groomed Lexi Kakis to be her next close ally—a “surrogate in training,” if you will. Drawn in by their shared passion for cold cases, Kakis found herself getting deeper into Humphrey’s world. Surprisingly, Kakis says she never experienced the harassment others have claimed, but during our interview, she learned how LaDonna truly felt about her.

    Kakis was with LaDonna the weekend the Pretend podcast series came out, and in a fit of desperation, LaDonna asked her to retaliate against her enemies. Now, Kakis looks back on how she narrowly avoided becoming more entangled in LaDonna's web.

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    12 November 2024, 8:30 am
  • 31 minutes 37 seconds
    1906: LaDonna's Surrogates part 2

    What's the old saying? People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

    Well, it turns out that Dennis McCaslin, editor of LaDonna's tabloid blog, has some skeletons in his closet.


    Listen to part 3 of LaDonna's Surrogates:

    https://www.patreon.com/posts/ladonnas-part-3-114712491

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    5 November 2024, 8:30 am
  • 29 minutes 33 seconds
    1905: LaDonna's Surrogates part 1

    LaDonna Humphrey uses her surrogates to do her dirty work; in part one,

    we discuss how she weaponized Dennis McCaslin, a Fort Smith, Arkansas tabloid blogger, to go after her enemies.


    Listen to LaDonna's Surrogates Part 2: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ladonnas-part-2-114024374


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    29 October 2024, 7:30 am
  • 59 minutes 23 seconds
    1904: The White Collar Support Group

    It’s hard to imagine former executives, investment fraudsters, and insider traders gathering for weekly support meetings.


    When I first heard about a support group for white-collar criminals, I was skeptical. It sounded like an SNL sketch: former hedge fund managers, insider traders, and embezzlers sitting in a circle, sharing their woes. However, Jeff Grant, the founder of the White Collar Support Group, doesn’t see it that way. After serving time for his crimes, Grant emerged with a mission—to help others like him rebuild their lives, one meeting at a time. “I was lost,” he admits.


    After his release from prison, Grant realized there was no blueprint for people like him to re-enter society. That’s why he founded the White Collar Support Group, a space for those prosecuted for financial crimes to navigate life after prison.

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    22 October 2024, 7:30 am
  • 55 minutes 6 seconds
    1903: The Naked Surgeon Revisited

    Where do sovereign citizens go when they need medical attention? Some of them seek help from homeopathic quacks like Rick Van Thiel. 

    Rick Van Thiel is not a surgeon. He's a porn star operating on people with dirty scalpels, reused needles, surrounded by filth. And the worst part is that he performs his surgeries in the nude. 


    This episode is part of my sovereign citizens series. I first learned about this story from Jerri William's podcast called FBI retired Case File Review.


    Disclaimer

    It's safe to assume that most PRETEND episodes are unsuitable for young children. Unfortunately, this is one of those episodes. In fact, trigger warning: today, we're going to talk about sexual assault and suicide. This episode is pretty disgusting. So, if you have the stomach for it, please proceed. You've been warned.  



    Check out my Spotify Radar Billboard in New York City:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA8vNvnOSTF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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    15 October 2024, 7:30 am
  • 35 minutes 1 second
    1902: The Greatest Footballer Who Never Played

    In this episode of PRETEND, we uncover the unbelievable story of Carlos

    Henrique Raposo, better known as "Kaiser," the man who lived the life of

    a soccer legend without ever kicking a ball. He partied like a star,

    signed with major teams, and tricked the entire football world for

    nearly three decades. I sit down with the producer of Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football, Louis Myles, to unravel how Kaiser pulled off this audacious stunt and the real story behind the myth.


    Keep the conversation going. Join the official PRETEND Facebook Group:

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    8 October 2024, 7:30 am
  • 33 minutes 46 seconds
    1901: The Return of the Stalker

    In this episode of PRETEND, I’m taking you back to the case of Tanya and Rick Fernandez—the Arizona couple behind one of the most bizarre harassment campaigns I’ve ever covered. For those of you who followed The Stalker series, you might think this story ended when they struck a plea deal, but not so fast. Despite completing court-ordered counseling and walking away without convictions, it looks like the Fernandezes are back at it.


    I'll fill you in on everything that's happened since our last episode, including an anonymous email, a bizarre self-published book, and their children's involvement in keeping the harassment alive.


    If you thought this story was over, you’ll want to hear what’s happened since.


    ______


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    1 October 2024, 7:30 am
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