March 5, 2025
Raleigh man's 'Pretend' podcast explores deceptive world of true crime
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Javier Leiva has lived in the Carolinas for the past decade.
In 2017, the Raleigh man began hosting the "Pretend" podcast.
"Pretend" is a documentary-style, true crime podcast about real people pretending to be someone else.
In 2024 alone, he surpassed 5 million audio downloads.
Plus, a Spotify billboard featured "Pretend" on a Times Square billboard in New York City.
Leiva spoke with WRAL News' senior multiplatform producer Mark Bergin about how he’s covered con artists, cult leaders and even debunked claims made in the movie “Catch Me If You Can.”
