'Tis the season for true crime chaos! Hosts Kristen Seavey from Murder, She Told, Javier Leiva from PRETEND, and Shaun from Sins & Survivors join forces to explore Christmas crimes gone horribly wrong.

From a bath salts-fueled home decorator in suburban Ohio to a serial burglar stealing Robert De Niro's wrapped presents right from under his tree, these real-life Grinches prove that the holidays bring out the worst in some people. The hosts also dive into the disturbing case of postal workers who intercepted letters to Santa meant for underprivileged children...stealing laptops, iPads, and gift cards intended for kids in need.

But the main event is a fresh-off-the-press case from Bangor, Maine. When a couple woke up to find a stranger sleeping on their couch surrounded by their unwrapped Christmas presents. Police body cam footage reveals just how terrifying this "funny" story really was. 

Want to see the footage? 

https://youtube.com/shorts/XOBl40Ky6Dc

Murder, She Told: 

https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/bertha-cote-1

PRETEND: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vaCjR7UvlN9aTIzW6kNCo?si=6c96588b93d04eb3

Sins & Survivors: https://open.spotify.com/show/1W2swCx9LP38sFY06294pB?si=4b64a4ba692a4025

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This bonus episode features Kim, a Patreon supporter who connected with the Matthew Fenner story...but not for the reasons you might expect.

Kim's been through the criminal justice system herself. She was prosecuted, sentenced, and spent two years in jail.

The conversation goes to some unexpected places. Kim discusses how small-town politics can impact a case in ways that seem backward.

We talk about what jail was really like, why she now advocates for criminal justice reform, how the FBI got involved with her ex-husband's January 6th case, and how Word of Faith Fellowship's political connections might reach all the way to the White House.

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This is part of a new series of listener conversations about recent episodes. Want to be part of it? Support PRETEND on Patreon or PRETEND+ on Apple Podcasts.

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What happens when the person responsible for prosecuting your case seems more interested in protecting your attackers? Matthew Fenner has been asking that question for eight years. After a 2017 mistrial in his assault case against Word of Faith Fellowship members, the judge ordered an immediate retrial. It never happened. Instead, DA Ted Bell granted delay after delay to the defendants while refusing to meet with Matthew, the victim. A gag order meant to last weeks stretched into years, silencing everyone involved and shielding WOFF from public scrutiny. Now Bell has suddenly scheduled the trial—during Matthew's critical medical residency interview. And when Matthew asked for a single accommodation after watching defendants receive years of them, Bell said no. Matthew's response? A legal petition alleging willful misconduct, political corruption, and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. He's asking the court to remove Bell from office entirely—or at minimum, remove him from this case.

This episode features parts 10 and 11 of The Prophet series, followed by an in-depth analysis of Matthew's petition. Stick around for an update at the end of the episode.

Listen to the entire Prophet series on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4wvQwgTDC0XPEo5rkkW2Uj?si=2a9e6c9214e64b81

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Join hosts Javier from Pretend, Kristen Seavey from Murder She Told, and

Featured Guests:

Kristen Seavey, host of Murder She Told

https://open.spotify.com/show/0n9q2IMjGQyrHMMByvnA2H?si=5975eb73d4714d07

Shaun, host of Sins and Survivors

https://open.spotify.com/show/1W2swCx9LP38sFY06294pB?si=05c3269c69b94a73

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This is the story of Simple Health Plans, a $150 million health insurance scam that preyed on desperate Americans and left thousands buried in medical debt. We'll meet Dawn, who nearly fell victim to their scheme, and Steven Dorfman, the mastermind who spent over a million dollars on jewelry while his customers discovered their "insurance" was worthless.

With Open Enrollment happening right now, scammers are out in full force. This episode will help you spot the red flags and protect yourself.

PROTECT YOURSELF - ESSENTIAL RESOURCES

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Harry spent nearly two years believing the woman he loved was dying of brain cancer. He stood by her for every surgery, organ failure...None of it was real.

In this episode, Harry walks us through the emotional fantasy Rachel built.

Want the full story?

🎧 Listen to The Rachel Cancer Scam

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Hn5De466DmCIN8Sppw5Ik?si=6ba6b8cee95e4697

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rachel-cancer-scam/id1772955263

Protect your business before hackers even make a move.

Get 20% off all NordStellar plans with the Black Friday code: BLACKFRIDAY20 (valid until December 10, 2025).

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In this bonus episode, Ali, one of my longtime Patreon supporters, reached out after listening to the Cancer Sympathy Machine series.

Ali talks openly about her past with addiction, stigma, Hep C treatment and why some people hide the truth about what they’re really going through.

I’m also sharing two listener stories about friends, classmates, and loved ones who faked cancer.

Thanks to everyone who’s reached out, shared stories, and supported the show. And if you’ve got something you want to talk about, send it my way: [email protected]

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Why would anyone fake cancer?

Money? Sure.

Attention? Definitely.

But as I learned in this episode… the motives are a lot darker, messier, and more human than you might expect.

In Part 2 of The Cancer Sympathy Machine, we go beyond the headline-grabbing scams and into the emotional machinery behind these lies. With the help of cancer-survivor-turned-researcher Bill Petrich, we break down the categories of cancer fakers — from those seeking sympathy to those hiding crimes, escaping abuse, or covering up addictions.

We revisit the infamous cases you’ve heard about: Belle Gibson, Scamanda, and Jennifer Cataldo.

To learn more about Bill Petrich’s work documenting these cases, check out his TikTok: @faking.cancer.expert:

https://www.tiktok.com/@faking.cancer.expert

Listen to eLIESabeth podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2nlxXhewsTRAyJhvyvaQbb?si=5de4d34489f549e9

Protect your business before hackers even make a move.

Get 20% off all NordStellar plans with the Black Friday code: BLACKFRIDAY20 (valid until December 10, 2025).

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Some people fake cancer for sympathy. Others do it for money. But the truth is darker than most of us want to believe.

In this episode, we break down the tactics, behaviors, and mindsets of some of the most convincing cancer fakers out there. From Madison Russo’s botched medical props to Elizabeth Teckenbrock’s alleged search history...“Is it illegal to fake cancer?” Um, yeah.

Bill Petrich, a real cancer survivor who now investigates fake cases, helps us understand the psychology behind the deception.

We also take a look at the biggest cancer cons in recent history: Scamanda, Belle Gibson, Jennifer Flynn Cataldo and how these scams went from emotional manipulation to full-on fraud.

To learn more about Bill Petrich’s work documenting these cases, check out his TikTok: @faking.cancer.expert:

https://www.tiktok.com/@faking.cancer.expert

Listen to eLIESabeth podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2nlxXhewsTRAyJhvyvaQbb?si=5de4d34489f549e9

Protect your business before hackers even make a move.

Get 20% off all NordStellar plans with the Black Friday code: BLACKFRIDAY20 (valid until December 10, 2025).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On PRETEND, we tell stories about people who build false identities and hide the truth in plain sight. This week, we are featuring a case that fits right into that world. It is the newest season of Dakota Spotlight, titled “Meanwhile in Mankato.”

In 1965, an 18-year-old gas station attendant named Ray Dahm was murdered during an overnight shift at a rural Minnesota truck stop. The person who killed him was a clean-cut 17-year-old who looked harmless, the kind of kid no one would ever suspect. On the surface, it seemed simple. A robbery. A terrible act of violence. Case closed.

But that was only the beginning. Reporter James Wolner later uncovered that the killer did not stay locked away for long. Within a few years, he was quietly back in the community, working around teenage girls who had no idea they were interacting with a convicted murderer. His past had been buried, ignored, or conveniently forgotten.

“Meanwhile in Mankato” is a story about manipulation, vanished accountability, and the people who were left to carry the fallout of one man’s lies. It is exactly the kind of story we look at on PRETEND, because it shows how someone can reinvent themselves while everyone else looks the other way.

If you follow PRETEND, you will want to hear this one. It is sharp reporting, unsettling truth, and a reminder that the most dangerous story is often the one no one bothered to check.

Subscribe to Dakota Spotlight on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZqpK6FfXIvS35TUYjckd6?si=fe79cf9a61264247

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