PRETEND

453 kilograms of cocaine, $63 million in value, and a 60-year Illinois sentence define the Edie's clemency case that drives this Pretend episode.

This episode of PRETEND investigates Joseph Schwartz, who built a nursing home empire through Skyline Healthcare while neglecting elderly residents and committing Medicaid fraud.

Javier opens by pausing his own series, pointing listeners to Andrea Dunlop’s season seven of Nobody Should Believe Me, and framing Take Care of Maya as the reference point.

Jeffrey Potter tells Javier Leyva how a counterfeit Five-Hour Energy operation was traced with civil search orders, U.S.

A widow recounts how her husband's sudden death led her to trust a financial advisor who mismanaged her investments.

This episode explores the rise of con artists and fraud, highlighting the staggering financial losses and the systemic failures that allow criminals to escape consequences while victims suffer.

This episode investigates the five-year cyberstalking campaign against Patrick and Nikki Tomlinson, including swatting, bomb threats, and legal battles.

A true crime podcast episode documenting multiple cases of individuals impersonating ICE agents to commit crimes like rape, robbery, and kidnapping across the United States.

Host Javier welcomes Patreon listener Christine Harnose for a bonus recap episode of the podcast.

An investigation into whether a psychic medium researches clients beforehand, raising ethical questions about charging grieving parents for readings.

A skeptical critique of psychic medium Matt Fraser's claims and his online group reading event, debunking the idea that spirits are more active near Halloween.

Javier hosts a live AMA about the making of his podcast Pretend, co-hosted by Patreon supporter Katie Watson, and teases an upcoming series on psychic stings.

Doug Williams says a polygraph is "about as accurate as a coin toss," and Javier Leyva centers the episode on the former Oklahoma City police officer who built a business teaching people how to beat the test.

["Pretend's \"The Prank\" follows police-impersonation calls that pushed McDonald's and other fast-food managers into strip searches, starting with a February 2, 2003 Hinesville, Georgia case involving Tracy, Vanessa, and Sam.", "Javier Leyva ties that first case to a broader pattern the Courier-Journal tracked from 1992 to 2004, including Burger King, McDonald's, Applebee's, and Taco Bell incidents in North Dakota, Iowa, Alaska, and Kentucky.", "The Mount Washington, Kentucky tape on April 9, 2004 centers Louise, Donna Jean Summers, and Walter Nix, whose obedience lasts more than two and a half hours before the caller's demands overwhelm the office.", "Stanley Milgram's Yale shocks study, along with interviews from Wendy Wagner and Philip Zimbardo, is used to explain why people kept following a voice they thought was authority."]