PRETEND

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2107: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 2 May 20, 2025

Show notes

The story isn’t over. In Part 2, we dig deeper into the chaos that followed Laura Owens’ accusations against Bachelor star Clayton Echard.

Internet sleuths start pulling court records, police reports, and medical documents. Their findings are wild — fake identities, stolen ultrasounds, and a pregnancy that might never have happened.

Laura pushes back. She sues YouTuber Dave Neal and threatens to sue other podcasters for even discussing the case. In court, she testifies under oath. But her story keeps falling apart.

This episode exposes the internet’s role in fighting back, not with conspiracy theories, but with receipts.

Credits:

Hosted, Produced: Javier Leiva

Written by: Mackenzie Ames

References:

⁠https://allthebestresearch.com⁠

Dave Neal's YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@davenealcomedian?si=buUz1EGyODwQ6aGv⁠

https://justiceforclayton.com/wiki/index.php/Laura_Michelle_Owens_-_Court_Case_History

https://www.reddit.com/r/JusticeForClayton/

https://victimsoflauraowens.com/coverage/

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2106: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 1 May 14, 2025

Show notes

After a one-night hookup with a fan-turned-client, former Bachelor star Clayton Echard faced an unexpected legal battle — and public accusations that threatened to ruin his life.
In this episode, we unpack the early timeline of Clayton’s explosive case with Laura Michelle Owens, who claimed she was pregnant with his twins… despite his insistence they never had sex.

But Clayton wasn’t her first target. When no one else believed him, the internet showed up and started pulling Laura’s story apart.

Stayed tuned for part 2 and 3 of the "Internet Saves the Bachelor." Be the first to listen on Patreon and PRETEND+ on Apple Podcast.

Credits:

Hosted, Produced: Javier Leiva

Written by: Mackenzie Ames

Additional Reporting: The Dating Detectives Podcast

References:

https://allthebestresearch.com

Dave Neal's YouTube: https://youtube.com/@davenealcomedian?si=buUz1EGyODwQ6aGv

https://justiceforclayton.com/wiki/index.php/Laura_Michelle_Owens_-_Court_Case_History

https://www.reddit.com/r/JusticeForClayton/

https://victimsoflauraowens.com/coverage/

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2105: The Man Who Stole 200 Million Identities May 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of PRETEND, recorded live at the GISEC cybersecurity conference in Dubai, I spoke with Hieu Minh Ngo, once one of the most prolific identity thieves in the world.

Operating out of Vietnam, Hieu stole and sold personal data on over 200 million Americans. We're talking names, birth dates, Social Security numbers—everything you’d need to become someone else.

But he didn’t hack his way in. Instead, he used open-source intelligence and even impersonated a private investigator to gain legal access to massive data broker networks.

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2104: The Digital Pickpocket Revisted May 06, 2025

Show notes

While speaking at a hacker conference in Dubai, Javier revisits a conversation with professional pickpocket and entertainer James Freedman. James reveals how a childhood scuffle led to a lifelong obsession with the art of pickpocketing, evolving from swiping coins to mastering social engineering and even digital fraud.

🔗 Listen to Part 2
Click here for The Digital Pickpocket, Part 2 →

💬 Connect with Javier on social
Instagram/Twitter/TikTok: @pretendpod

🛡 Stay safe:
Learn how to defend yourself against modern pickpockets — both analog and digital.

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LaDonna's Easter Egg Hustle Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

How LaDonna Humphrey Used a Children's Event to Funnel Money Through Oasis of Northwest Arkansas.

What happens when a glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt turns into a glowing red flag?

In this bonus episode of PRETEND, host Javier Leiva exposes a so-called family event that promised “magic,” but delivered mayhem — all tied to LaDonna Humphrey and her questionable nonprofit, Oasis of Northwest Arkansas.

Held at Mt. Hebron Park on April 12, 2025, the event was marketed as an unforgettable glow-in-the-dark Easter experience. According to the Facebook ad, attendees were told to:

“Embark on an egg-citing adventure under the starry sky..." “Search high and low for luminescent treasures..." “Watch the park come alive with a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors..." “A plethora of prizes and surprises await..."

But in reality, it was more like the FYRE Festival of Easter egg hunts.

One parent described the event as “no different than any free egg hunt at a church”—except this one cost $50 per family.

Instead of a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, this event featured crying kids, confused parents, and a nonprofit operating in the dark, literally and figuratively.

👀 New LaDonna episodes are in the works — featuring new fake accounts, missing persons cases, and a sheriff caught in the crossfire. Stay tuned.

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2102: Faking Insanity Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Can you really fake being insane—and get away with it? In this episode of PRETEND, host Javier Leiva sits down with forensic psychologist Dr. Tristin Engels to pull back the curtain on the high-stakes world of mental health evaluations in the criminal justice system.

We explore how some criminals try to game the system, what psychologists look for when evaluating claims of mental illness, and why even experts can be fooled. Plus, we revisit infamous cases like Richard Speck, George Metesky (aka The Mad Bomber), Ted Bundy, and Ed Kemper to examine how psychology—and its blind spots—played a role in their investigations.

Guest:

Dr. Tristin Engels is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, published author, and co-host of the podcast Killer Minds.

👉 If you want more criminal psychology deep-dives, check out Dr. Engels’ podcast Killer Minds, where she breaks down infamous cases through the lens of a forensic expert.

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2101: My Wife, the Ponzi Schemer Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

Interview with a man convicted of a Ponzi scheme. Bill Livolsi says he was just trying to help his wife, Linda—the ringleader of a multi-million dollar investment scam.

In this episode of PRETEND, Bill opens up about how he got roped into the scheme, ignored every red flag, and ultimately landed in prison. He describes fake hedge funds, imaginary employees, and a key investor who also happened to be a self-proclaimed witch and lottery winner.

But here’s the twist: Linda isn’t just any con artist. She’s the sister of the woman who tried to steal Elvis Presley’s Graceland—something we covered in a previous episode of PRETEND. Yeah, this story just got a whole lot weirder.

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2013: I Married a Narcissist part 3 Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

Trigger warning: This episode contains graphic discussions of emotional, financial, sexual, and physical abuse. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

When Lindsay first met him, he was charming, successful, and convincing—a financial advisor with all the right answers. What started as a storybook marriage quickly spiraled into a nightmare of manipulation, gaslighting, and escalating violence.

In this episode of PRETEND, Lindsay opens up for the first time in a raw, unfiltered conversation. She walks us through the early warning signs she missed, the love bombing tactics used to win her over, and the slow, calculated process of control that followed.

💬 If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.

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2012: I Married a Narcissist part 2 Listener Reactions Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

After publishing the story of a woman trapped in a marriage with a narcissist, I wasn't sure how it would land. It wasn’t flashy. It didn’t end in violence or arrest. But the response was overwhelming. Listeners wrote in to say, “That was me.” Some still carry the trauma years later. Others are just now realizing what they went through was abuse.

In this episode, we hear from listeners who saw their own relationships reflected in Ashley’s story. We also speak with criminal behavior analyst Laura Richards to understand how abuse often hides in plain sight—through gaslighting, coercive control, and emotional manipulation. And we ask: what happens when the narcissist isn’t a partner—but a parent? Or when the survivor is a man?

This bonus episode is about the quiet kind of abuse—the kind people are afraid to talk about but desperately need to hear.

🔊 Featuring: Laura Richards and listeners who bravely shared their experiences

⚠️ Trigger warning: discussions of abuse, addiction, and coercive control

🛑 Warning Signs of Narcissistic Abuse:

Love-bombing followed by emotional withdrawal or cruelty
Gaslighting: making you doubt your memory, emotions, or reality
Blaming you for their self-harm threats or emotional instability
Constant criticism or belittling over mundane issues
Financial control or sabotage
Isolating you from family or friends
Guilt-tripping, triangulation, or passive-aggressive threats
Refusing accountability or twisting facts during arguments

📌 If you’re in a similar situation, here are resources that can help:

National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.): 800-799-7233 or thehotline.org — 24/7, free, confidential
Psychology Today Therapist Finder: psychologytoday.com
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – for substance abuse and mental health support
Domestic Shelters: domesticshelters.org – helps identify resources near you
One Mom’s Battle: onemomsbattle.com – for navigating high-conflict custody and divorce
Love is Respect: loveisrespect.org – support for young people in abusive relationships

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2011: I Married a Narcissist part 1 Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of PRETEND, we meet “Ashley”—not her real name—who recorded hours of arguments with her husband in an effort to understand what was happening inside her marriage. From the outside, it looked like petty spats over groceries or laundry. But when you hear the audio, you realize this was something darker.

Ashley’s husband was emotionally abusive, manipulative, and battling addiction. It wasn’t until COVID lockdowns that his mask slipped and she could see who he really was. He used suicide threats to control her, drained her financially, and isolated her from support. And yet, as is often the case with narcissists, everyone else thought he was the victim.

This is not one of the most outrageous stories we’ve told on PRETEND—but it’s one of the most common. It’s a story many people quietly live through and struggle to name. This is what emotional abuse sounds like.

🛑 Warning Signs of Narcissistic Abuse:

Constant criticism or belittling (often about “small” things like chores or tone of voice)
Love-bombing followed by extreme withdrawal or cruelty
Gaslighting: making you question your memory, reality, or emotions
Isolation from friends, family, or support systems
Walking on eggshells to avoid setting them off
Financial control or sabotage
Using guilt, blame, or self-harm threats to manipulate behavior
Alternating between praise and punishment
Jealousy of your attention—especially toward children

📌 If you’re in a similar situation, here are resources that can help:

National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.): 800-799-7233 or thehotline.org — Free, confidential, 24/7
Psychology Today Therapist Finder: psychologytoday.com
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Narcissist Abuse Recovery Support: DomesticShelters.org – Includes emotional abuse filters
One Mom’s Battle: onemomsbattle.com – Focused on divorcing narcissists and protecting children
Love is Respect (for younger listeners): loveisrespect.org

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🛑 Warning Signs of Narcissistic Abuse:

📌 If you’re in a similar situation, here are resources that can help:

🛑 Warning Signs of Narcissistic Abuse:

📌 If you’re in a similar situation, here are resources that can help:

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