Podcast Episodes

Bonus Episode: Listener Reaction - Matthew Fenner vs. Ted Bell

Season 24

This bonus episode features Kim, a Patreon supporter who connected with the Matthew Fenner story...but not for the reasons you might expect.

Kim's been through the criminal justice system herself. Sh…

Published on 5 hours ago

The Prophet: Matthew Fenner vs Ted Bell

Season 24 Episode 5

What happens when the person responsible for prosecuting your case seems more interested in protecting your attackers? Matthew Fenner has been asking that question for eight years. After a 2017 mistr…

Published on 3 days, 12 hours ago

Off Script: Pretend, Murder She Told & Sins and Survivors Spill the Tea (BONUS)

Season 24

Join hosts Javier from Pretend, Kristen Seavey from Murder She Told, and Shaun from Sins and Survivors for a special holiday crossover episode where three true crime podcasters let their guard down…

Published on 4 days, 12 hours ago

Open Enrollment, Open Season for Scammers

Season 24 Episode 4

This is the story of Simple Health Plans, a $150 million health insurance scam that preyed on desperate Americans and left thousands buried in medical debt. We'll meet Dawn, who nearly fell victim to…

Published on 1 week, 4 days ago

The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 3

Season 24 Episode 3

Harry spent nearly two years believing the woman he loved was dying of brain cancer. He stood by her for every surgery, organ failure...None of it was real.

In this episode, Harry walks us through th…

Published on 2 weeks, 4 days ago

Listener Reaction: The Cancer Sympathy Machine (BONUS)

Season 24

In this bonus episode, Ali, one of my longtime Patreon supporters, reached out after listening to the Cancer Sympathy Machine series.

Ali talks openly about her past with addiction, stigma, Hep C tre…

Published on 3 weeks, 1 day ago

The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 2

Season 24 Episode 2

Why would anyone fake cancer?

Money? Sure.

Attention? Definitely.

But as I learned in this episode… the motives are a lot darker, messier, and more human than you might expect.

In Part 2 of The Canc…

Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago

The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 1

Season 24 Episode 1

Some people fake cancer for sympathy. Others do it for money. But the truth is darker than most of us want to believe.

In this episode, we break down the tactics, behaviors, and mindsets of some of …

Published on 1 month ago

Dakota Spotlight: Meanwhile in Mankato

Season 23

On PRETEND, we tell stories about people who build false identities and hide the truth in plain sight. This week, we are featuring a case that fits right into that world. It is the newest season of D…

Published on 1 month ago

From Smallville to NXIVM: The Psychology Behind Allison Mack

Season 23 Episode 9

Smallville's Allison Mack is out of prison, and she's finally talking.

What was NXIVM, and how did Allison Mack become a high-ranking member?
NXIVM was a self-help organization that sold leadership tr…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago