Episodes
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So, I've got to tell you about this crazy rabbit hole I slipped into. It's about that bizarre olive lady from the Maury show. Remember her? Olives freaked out Sally because they reminded her of, get this, dead people's eyes. Wild, right?
I always wondered... Was Sally for real or just putting on a show for the cameras? This question led me to Anthony Freire, a guy who used to produce for Maury Povich.
Man, the stuff I learned while putting together this episode! It’s like peeling back the curtain on daytime TV and finding a whole other world. Turns out, there are many mind games and behind-the-scenes tricks that go into making these shows. Anthony spilled the beans on how they get people to react a certain way or amp up their emotions for the audience.
It's not just about Sally and her olive phobia. This episode digs into the bigger picture of how these TV shows mess with people's heads, both the guests and us viewers.
If you're into the psychology used in reality TV shows or love a good behind-the-scenes story, you must check this out. It's not your average episode of PRETEND.
I can't wait to hear what you all think. Tune in, and let's get our minds blown together!
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Lisa Findley tried to steal Elvis Presley’s home. She almost got away with it.
A con artist with a long history of scams almost pulled off her biggest scheme yet—stealing Elvis Presley’s iconic home, Graceland. Using fake documents and fabricated identities, Lisa Findley tried to claim ownership of the historic estate.
In this episode, NBC News reporter Brandy Zadrozny takes us down a rabbit hole and shows us how she unraveled Findley’s web of lies, linking her to years of fraud and harassment.
This is one of the boldest property scams in recent history, and Findley came dangerously close to succeeding/ We'll also talk about the loopholes that make these crimes possible.
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Episodes manquant?
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In this episode, Dr. Jan Canty, a psychologist, author, and podcast host, shares essential advice on recognizing and avoiding con artists in modern relationships. Dr. Canty, who experienced betrayal and tragedy in her life, offers insights into the red flags of deceptive individuals and provides practical tips for safeguarding against potential scams. Through her 'Don't Con Yourself' TikTok series, Dr. Canty breaks down each stage of interactions with con artists and how to protect oneself. She also discusses her life’s work in grief counseling, her compelling past, and the importance of trusting your gut feeling in relationships.
Tune in to learn more about navigating the complexities of dating and protecting your personal boundaries.
00:20 Jan Canty's Tragic Past
01:05 Recognizing Con Artists
04:34 Understanding Psychopaths and Sociopaths
05:21 First Date Red Flags
14:24 Trusting Your Gut Instinct
16:09 CIA Techniques for Identifying Lies
21:34 Gaslighting
23:29 Dramatic and Unusual Histories
25:10 Understanding the Significance of Tattoos
28:26 The Importance of Personal Boundaries
29:26 Dealing with Missed Warning Signs
32:03 The Dangers of Sharing Personal Information Prematurely
35:14 Early Attempts at Control in Relationships
38:26 Preparing to Exit a Toxic Relationship
46:08 Finding True Love After Hardships
PRETEND podcast featuring Jan Canty's life story
The Sugar Daddy parts 1 & 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1jXDdZvO197GVomFLseUiq?si=35087f142efd41bd
A Life Divided: A psychologist's memoir about the double life and murder of her husband - and her road to recovery
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Divided-psychologists-husband-recovery/dp/0578685922
Domino Effect of Murder Podcast
https://jancantyphd.com/podcast/
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The Rise and Fall of LaDonna’s Loudest Surrogate: David McClam
LaDonna Humphrey’s most vocal supporter, David McClam, launched the We Are Not Afraid podcast to defend her against mounting accusations. Episode after episode, McClam promised to deliver proof that LaDonna’s critics were lying.
But instead of delivering proof, McClam brought Alecia Lockhart’s alleged sexual abuser on air to dismiss her claims, issued personal threats to show up at my doorstep and attack me, and even threatened to send the anti-gay hate group Westboro Baptist Church to Anthony Christopher’s gay club for a "blood bath."
This erratic behavior ultimately led to his podcast being pulled down from his hosting provider.
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LaDonna Humphrey groomed Lexi Kakis to be her next close ally—a “surrogate in training,” if you will. Drawn in by their shared passion for cold cases, Kakis found herself getting deeper into Humphrey’s world. Surprisingly, Kakis says she never experienced the harassment others have claimed, but during our interview, she learned how LaDonna truly felt about her.
Kakis was with LaDonna the weekend the Pretend podcast series came out, and in a fit of desperation, LaDonna asked her to retaliate against her enemies. Now, Kakis looks back on how she narrowly avoided becoming more entangled in LaDonna's web.
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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 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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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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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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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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In this episode of PRETEND, I’m taking you back to the case of Tanya and Rick Fernandez—the Arizona couple behind one of the most bizarre harassment campaigns I’ve ever covered. For those of you who followed The Stalker series, you might think this story ended when they struck a plea deal, but not so fast. Despite completing court-ordered counseling and walking away without convictions, it looks like the Fernandezes are back at it.
I'll fill you in on everything that's happened since our last episode, including an anonymous email, a bizarre self-published book, and their children's involvement in keeping the harassment alive.
If you thought this story was over, you’ll want to hear what’s happened since.
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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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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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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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"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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Every charity organization LaDonna Humphrey has led seems to collapse under the weight of controversy and financial mismanagement. Today, we're closely examining Oasis of Northwest Arkansas, a sober living facility under LaDonna's direction. Our investigation reveals alarming stories of harassment, financial mismanagement, and overcrowded, unsafe living conditions.
A former resident of Oasis shares her harrowing experience living at the facility. She recounts how donations intended for her baby shower were allegedly kept by LaDonna, leaving her without the promised support. Residents describe living in cramped conditions, with up to 15 women and children in a house meant for nine. Basic amenities like smoke detectors, working washers, and air conditioning are often missing or broken.
We'll also examine the nonprofit's questionable accounting practices. Oasis's financial records show suspicious entries, such as LaDonna working 65 hours per week for only $15,600 annually and unexplained professional fees amounting to $58,000.
LaDonna is accused of using intimidation tactics, such as threatening to kick out residents over minor infractions and enforcing arbitrary fines for damages— creating a culture of fear and control.
Call to Action:
If you're as concerned as we are about the allegations against Oasis of Northwest Arkansas, we urge you to take action. Contact the Arkansas Attorney General's Office at [email protected] or call 501-682-1306. You can also raise awareness by posting on social media with the hashtag #justiceforoasis.
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Every charity organization LaDonna Humphrey has led seems to collapse under the weight of controversy and financial mismanagement.
Today, we scrutinize LaDonna Humphrey's non-profit world, focusing on her troubled history with charities. Our investigation reveals a pattern of failed ventures, harassment accusations, and questionable financial practices.
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I'd like to thank Jayson Blair with the Silver Linings Podcast for allowing me to use clips from his interview with LaDonna Humphrey.
Listen the Silver Linings Podcast: https://linktr.ee/silverliningshandbookpodcast
Also, referenced in this episode is the LaDonna Humphrey Talks Sub Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/LadonnaHumphreyTalk/
NEW EPISODES are available now:
Part 11
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/whos-afraid-of-108675318
PRETEND+ on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pretend/id1245307962?i=1000663349553
Part 12
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/whos-afraid-of-108813124
PRETEND+ on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pretend/id1245307962?i=1000664222141
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Content Disclaimer: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault.
Today, we're going to talk about the enigma that is LaDonna Humphrey. Like the fact that she was logged in under the same death fetish account, harassing her co-host, yet she denies creating the account. We'll also try to untangle how LaDonna went from attacking the death fetishers to befriending them. Or perhaps her plan to pin Missy Witt's murder on Daniel Watson despite having zero evidence.
Credits:
Written and produced by Javier Leiva.
Produced by Alison Byrne.
Edited by Puneeth Shenoy.
Theme music by Joel Basile with thechicken.net.
Referenced in this episode:
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/LadonnaHumphreyTalk
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