PRETEND

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**PRETEND**

PRETEND is an investigative true crime podcast about real people who lie for a living — con artists, scammers, and the victims caught in their web.

Hosted by journalist Javier Leiva, PRETEND exposes the human psychology behind deception and fraud. Each episode follows a real case of manipulation — from financial scams and Ponzi schemes to digital hoaxes and emotional cons

PRETEND explains how and why deception works without shaming victims, combining ethical journalism with cinematic storytelling.

Featured in lists of the best podcasts about con artists and scams, PRETEND investigates crimes of persuasion, trust, and betrayal. New episodes drop regularly with stories that reveal how manipulation shapes modern life, both online and off.

PRETEND is produced by Creative Babble, LLC.

© 2026 Creative Babble LLC

[CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]

Latest Episodes:

LaDonna's Surrogates part 2 Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

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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LaDonna's Surrogates part 1 Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

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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1904: The White Collar Support Group Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

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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1903: The Naked Surgeon Revisited Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

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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1902: The Greatest Footballer Who Never Played Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

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.

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The Return of the Stalker part 20 Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

Rick and Tanya Fernandez of Peoria, Arizona, entered a felony-diversion program in February 2024 instead of standing trial on charges of harassing a Phoenix pediatric doctor. Then copies of a book called Layers of Attack landed on the desks of executives at her hospital. The book is credited to a mysterious author named "Rachel Cholla," tells the Fernandezes' story from Rick's point of view, and uses the real names of Dr. Gressman and her husband. Javier follows Phoenix Police Detective Anthony Hardina as he traces the Cholla PO box and email account back to Rick, while new police reports from the Fernandezes' son, Blake, accuse Dr. Gressman's husband of crimes. Plus, an unexpected email from the Fernandezes' adult daughter.

Correction: An earlier version of these notes, and parts of this episode's audio, described the Fernandezes' arrangement as a "plea deal" and said they were "on probation." Neither is accurate. Court records show Rick and Tanya Fernandez pleaded not guilty and entered the Maricopa County Attorney's Felony Diversion Program, a deferred-prosecution program, in February 2024. PRETEND corrected this in "The Stalker Correction" (Oct. 3, 2024).

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Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 16 Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

Can you believe this is the 16th episode of our investigation into LaDonna Humphrey—a story that, honestly, I didn’t think would last this long. But here we are.

Now, if you’ve followed along, you know this has been a wild ride. LaDonna, once a respected figure in the true crime community, has become the center of some truly shocking accusations. Stealing evidence from the Fort Smith Police Department? Allegations of harassment? Manipulating people for her own gain? It’s been hard to keep up, even for me.

In this episode, we’ll get a little help trying to make sense of it all. I brought in retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley—yes, the Julia Cowley, the one who worked on the Golden State Killer case. She will help us break down LaDonna’s behavior and explain why someone might go to such extreme lengths to control others. You might be surprised by some of the parallels she draws between white-collar criminals and more violent offenders.

We’re also going to revisit some of the disturbing messages that LaDonna has allegedly sent to her victims. And I’ll share some new evidence we’ve uncovered—evidence that links multiple harassing messages to a phone number connected to LaDonna herself. It’s the kind of proof that, quite frankly, is hard to ignore.

But here’s what makes this episode different: today, we’re not just looking at the past. We’re asking what’s next for LaDonna Humphrey. With court cases, potential criminal investigations, and a growing list of accusers, is the end finally near for her? Or is this just another chapter in a never-ending saga?

Guest:

Julia Cowley, Retired FBI Profiler

https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/

Watch LIVE Q&A:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJr5bDWJ2nY

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Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 15 Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

We continue our investigation into Charles Ray Vines and his potential

involvement in the Melissa Witt murder. In this episode, we track down

Vines’ former neighbor and friend, Thomas Seymour. Seymour claims that

he spoke with Vines just before Vines was heading to the bowling alley

to meet a girl named Melissa. What other information does Seymour have

that could shed light on this 30-year-old mystery?

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Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 14 Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

I’ve been investigating the Melissa Witt case for a while now, and just

when I thought I had a handle on it, a new lead dropped into my lap. In

this episode, I sit down with Patti Rush, a victim advocate who might

have uncovered the most crucial evidence yet. We’re talking

about a case so warped by misinformation that even those

closest to it can’t tell what’s real anymore. But now, we’re pulling on a

thread that could unravel the whole story—and maybe, just maybe, lead

us to the truth about who really killed Melissa Witt.

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LADONNA BONUS: A Swing and a Miss Sep 03, 2024

Show notes

"Javier, aren't you worried that LaDonna might target you next?" That's the question I get asked most frequently. The answer is too late.

Even before this series dropped, LaDonna began sending me spoof emails. I've received various messages, including some from fake accounts, and even attempts to hack into my podcast platform. Additionally, LaDonna tried other creative ways to obstruct my investigation and stop the legitimate reporting of her abusive behavior toward others.

Fun, fun.

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If you need an Intellectual Property attorney, I know a good one.

https://www.casimirjones.com/

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