PRETEND is an investigative true crime podcast hosted by journalist Javier Leiva about con artists, scammers and their victims. It has 326 episodes, released roughly every 6 days, with typical episodes around 37 minutes. Estimated downloads are 20,000 to 80,000 per episode (estimated), a sponsorship range of $360 to $2,000 per episode, with one distinctive detail: a multi-part case series, The Gypsy Rose Obsession.
Long-running investigative true crime show with an engaged, loyal listener base
- Apple Podcasts shows 2,539 ratings with a 4.7 average, a strong signal of an engaged audience.
- Weekly cadence over eight years and 326 episodes gives sponsors a durable, repeatable placement.
- Host-read mid-rolls sit within narrative case stories with a documentary-style tone.
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- narrative, multi-part investigation, solo monologue, bonus episodes
- Tone
- investigative, cinematic
- Language
- English
- Production
- Studio production
- Typical length
- 35 to 40 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- None yet
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- Yes
Funding is through Patreon, linked on the website and in the episode pages, and no sponsor mentions were found in the feed.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Feed is flagged explicit and recent titles cover a child-abuse-related medical case and a death, such as 'BONUS: Gypsy Rose Blanchard's Partner Ken Urker Has Died'.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | thisispretend.com/ |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1245307962 |
| RSS feed | feeds.megaphone.fm/ADV1293150108 |
Benchmark score: 100 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 10 | 2026-10-13 | 56 min |
| Nobody Should Believe Me: The Case of Dr. John Cox | 2026-10-10 | 42 min |
| The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 9 | 2026-10-06 | 37 min |
| BONUS: How Doctors Diagnose Medical Child Abuse | 2026-10-03 | 35 min |
| BONUS: Gypsy Rose Blanchard's Partner Ken Urker Has Died | 2026-10-03 | 15 min |
| The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 8 | 2026-09-29 | 40 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 6 days ago, a new one about every 6 days.
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…
About PRETEND
PRETEND is an investigative true crime podcast hosted by journalist Javier Leiva, according to the show's website. It covers con artists, scammers and the victims caught in their schemes, with reported, fact-checked episodes and multi-part investigations such as The Gypsy Rose Obsession. The show launched in June 2017 and has 326 episodes in its feed, released roughly every six days, with a median episode length of about 37 minutes.
Apple Podcasts lists 2,539 ratings with a 4.7 average and a true crime, technology and podcast genre mix. The website describes the show as holding a top spot on true crime charts across multiple countries and notes adaptations for Netflix and Discovery+. Audience figures here are estimates, not published numbers, and are inferred from ratings count, cadence and hosting.
The feed shows no sponsor mentions across the last 20 episodes and the show is funded through Patreon. Estimated downloads are 20,000 to 80,000 per episode, and a mid-roll host-read at $18 to $25 per 1,000 downloads implies roughly $360 to $2,000 per episode. The show suits true crime, identity protection and streaming brands, with brand-safety review advised.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. PRETEND can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about PRETEND
How much does PRETEND charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on estimated downloads of 20,000 to 80,000 per episode, a host-read mid-roll is estimated at roughly $360 to $2,000 per episode. Actual rates are set by the show and may differ.
What is PRETEND about?
PRETEND is an investigative true crime podcast hosted by Javier Leiva about con artists, scammers and the people they fooled, with multi-part case investigations.
How do I contact PRETEND about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked directly.
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