PRETEND

Publicly listed emails

javier@thisispretend.com

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The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 10

October 13, 2026

When Gypsy Rose Blanchard was a little girl, the thing that comforted her most was her mother's touch. In the final episode of The Gypsy Rose Obsession, I ask Gypsy when that changed. I also track down the attorney who drew up a power of attorney for Gypsy in 2013, and she tells me Dee Dee came into her office claiming her 22-year-old daughter was mentally disabled and asking for guardianship. Then I follow the money in the Gypsy Rose economy. Sir Morbid X, the YouTuber who helped build the...

Nobody Should Believe Me: The Case of Dr. John Cox

October 10, 2026

This week I'm handing the feed over to Andrea Dunlop and her show, Nobody Should Believe Me. Andrea has spent years covering medical child abuse, and she came to the subject through her own family. In 2019, Dr. John Cox, an ER physician at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, brought his adoptive infant daughter to her pediatrician with an injured arm. Within months, he was charged with abusing her. NBC News covered his case as a wrongful accusation. Andrea went back to the records, talked to ...

The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 9

October 06, 2026

When Gypsy Rose Blanchard announced she was pregnant, the internet opened an investigation. The woman who spent her childhood trapped inside her mother's medical lies was now raising a daughter of her own. In this episode, I look at what the research actually says about the cycle of abuse, and at what happens when a mother is watched as closely as Gypsy is. Strangers called CPS over a livestream and a baby with colic. Someone pulled her daughter's shot records from a state database and put...

True Crime News: The Podcast · Medium booking difficulty · 10,000 - 100,000 listeners

The Slippery · Medium booking difficulty · 1,000 - 10,000 listeners

A Moment In Crime · High booking difficulty · 1,000 - 10,000 listeners

Live, Laugh, Larceny · Low booking difficulty · 1,000 - 10,000 listeners

How do I get in touch with PRETEND?

PRETEND is hosted by Javier Leiva. Its publicly listed email is javier@thisispretend.com. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.

What is the email for PRETEND?

The publicly listed email for PRETEND: javier@thisispretend.com.

How many listeners does PRETEND have?

Podseeker estimates PRETEND reaches 10,000 to 100,000 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.

Who is an ideal guest for PRETEND?

PRETEND typically books rising experts. Typical guest background: Relevant professional expertise in fraud, scams, psychology, genetics, medicine, criminal justice, or investigative journalism; established true-crime or investigative creators; podcast hosts with direct subject expertise; or individuals with firsthand knowledge of a featured case. Common among recent guests: Hosts or creates an established investigative or true-crime program; Conducts original research or reporting on a featured case; Holds professional credentials relevant to medical, genetic, psychological, or criminal topics. Recent guests include Nancy Simpson, Fancy Macelli, and Andrea Dunlop.

How hard is it to get booked on PRETEND?

Medium. Guests usually need solid credentials in the topic and an idea that fits the show.

What topics does PRETEND cover?

Recent episodes cover True Crime, Fraud, Scams, and Con Artists. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.