Alien abductions.Hundreds of people say it’s happened to them.They’re not looking for fame or attention.Some keep it a secret...haunted by memories they can’t explain.
In Day 3 of PRETEND’s Halloween Marathon, we meet Dr. John Mack, a Pulitzer Prize–winning Harvard psychiatrist who risked his reputation to study these so-called abductees. Using hypnosis and relaxation techniques, Mack tried to uncover whether these encounters were dreams, delusions, or something far stranger.
Why would a man of science devote his life to stories most people laugh off? And what if the people he studied weren’t crazy at all?
This episode is part of a larger series I produced on hypnosis.
Check out the rest of the series. Season 8 of PRETEND:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/05forE4OuW9zgsI9OZ7XHy?si=71eca84e0f5843ba
Listen ad-free on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/collection/1813212
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
39:56
--------
39:56
The Haunted Tourist
It’s Day 2 of my Halloween Marathon, and today we’re diving into The Haunted Tourist.
I’m joined by Brandon Schexnayder, host of Southern Gothic and Fear Daily—two shows that live and breathe ghost stories. Together, we pull back the curtain on haunted tourism: the ghost tours, the myths, and the money that fuels them.
From fake cemeteries built for tourists to real tragedies twisted into folklore, Brandon and I explore what’s real, what’s exaggerated, and why we want to believe.
If you love a good ghost story—but also like to know what’s behind it—this one’s for you.
Southern Gothic: https://open.spotify.com/show/6s2eCUQgs76SLGEwiBwYOn?si=b9edd693f49b4e41
Fear Daily: https://open.spotify.com/show/5RrG0f6Yd7WNqSmuebfRMJ?si=d99660cd2e8c4a42
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
1:00:29
--------
1:00:29
The Real Vampires
Hey, it’s Javier. Quick update: Meghan Walsh, the subject of my Cracks in the Fandom series, has filed copyright complaints on every major platform. As a result, Spotify and Patreon have temporarily taken down the series. My attorneys are already on it, and we expect everything to be restored soon.
In the meantime, it’s Halloween weekend — so let’s have some fun. I’m bringing back some of my favorite spooky episodes from the PRETEND archives. Today’s story? Real Vampires. Yeah, real ones. It’s one of my all-time favorites, and honestly, there’s no better time of year to revisit it.
Stick around... I’ll be dropping more eerie episodes all weekend long. For now, let’s press play on The Real Vampires.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
43:00
--------
43:00
2304: Cracks in the Fandom part 4
Important Update on “Cracks in the Fandom”Meghan Walsh, the subject of my latest series, filed a copyright infringement claim with all major podcast platforms. As a result, Patreon and Spotify have temporarily removed the episodes pending review.The good news? You can still listen to the entire series on Apple Podcasts.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pretend-radio/id1245307962?mt=2
__________
In the Law & Order: SVU community, Meghan Walsh says she’s been stalked for years. She even claims Mariska Hargitay is somehow involved. Her alleged tormentor, Michelle Ivey, tells a very different story.
Accusations of swatting, online impersonation, and defamation swirl around this fandom feud. The evidence is messy, and just when you think you know where it’s heading... there’s a twist you won’t see coming.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
56:21
--------
56:21
2303: Cracks in the Fandom part 3
Cracks in the Fandom — Part 3 (Edited Copyright Cut)PRETEND: Stories about real people pretending to be someone they’re not
Michelle Ivey has been painted as the villain. Meghan Walsh calls her a stalker, a criminal, a threat to her life. She’s warned not to contact her.
But in this episode, I do just that. I talk to Michelle. And what I find is something very different from the unhinged boogeyman Meghan has described for years.
What if Michelle isn’t stalking anyone at all? What if she’s just a fan?
In Part 3, the story begins to fracture. Meghan's claims get louder. But her evidence starts to slip. And the people she says are targeting her… start to speak up.
This is the extended version of the episode. If you're listening now on Patreon or Pretend+, I'd love to know what you think. Is this story about stalking, delusion, or something else entirely?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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, an and based in the United States, 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.
[CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]
UK