Pretend
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed
"Pretend fills a gap between true crime and social psychology — it's not about blood, it's about belief, and why we want to trust people who are lying to us."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories
Pros & cons
- +High binge factor — listeners consistently come back for more
About this podcast
Deep dives into con artists, fraudsters, and grifters. Less violence, more psychology — Pretend examines why people deceive, how they get away with it for so long, and what that reveals about the people who believed them.
Rate this podcast
Community reviews
0 reviewsWrite a quick review
No reviews yet. Be the first!
Frequently Asked Questions about Pretend
What is Pretend about?
Deep dives into con artists, fraudsters, and grifters. Less violence, more psychology — Pretend examines why people deceive, how they get away with it for so long, and what that reveals about the people who believed them.
Is Pretend worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Worth a listen". It scores 7/10 on binge factor. Deep psychological dives into con artists and fraudsters — the why, not just the what.
Who is Pretend for?
Pretend is ideal for: Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories.
What is the best episode of Pretend to start with?
Start with whichever case title sounds most interesting to you.
Where can I listen to Pretend?
Pretend is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Pretend?
If you enjoy Pretend, you might also like: The Retrievals, Hunting Warhead, Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes, The Clearing. See our full "Podcasts Like Pretend" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Binge factor
- 7/10
- Country
- United States
Listen on
Browse category
Newsletter
Get weekly recommendations
Curated picks, new reviews, hidden gems.
If you liked this, try…
See all alternatives
The Retrievals
True crime fans interested in medical crime, systemic bias, and the treatment of women in healthcare; essential for anyone who has ever been dismissed by a doctor.
Hunting Warhead
CBC/Vice's award-winning investigation into the international hunt for a dark web child abuse network.
Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes
Ronan Farrow's raw tapes from the Weinstein investigation — including what NBC refused to broadcast.
The Clearing
Amanda Knox and Jon Ronson examine cult psychology through the prism of Knox's own experience.
The Lazarus Heist
BBC World Service investigates North Korea's billion-dollar state-sponsored hacking operation.
Crimetown
True crime fans who want novelistic, character-driven storytelling about organised crime and institutional corruption; listeners who want something that feels as much like great drama as documentary.
Explore more in these categories: