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From cult leaders to con artists and undercover FBI agents, PRETEND exposes those pretending to be someone they're not.
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Criminal Conduct is an investigative true-crime podcast series hosted by John Taylor and Javier Leiva. Season 1: The hosts look into the death of Michelle O'Connell, picking up the investigation where the murdered sleuth, Eli Washtock, left off. Season 2: The investigation of a rogue constable in Kentucky who is accused of planting drugs, stealing money, and shaking people down. Season 3: An American Serial Killer in Paradise: The story of serial killer William Holbert, aka "Wild Bill," and ...
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Writers talking about writing. Writers talking about publishing. Writers talking about life. Authors Terry Mixon, Paul E Cooley, and Veronica Giguerre interview, babble, and usually cover a number of disassociated topics.
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As Criminal Conduct Season 5 comes to a close, we examine the unanswered questions surrounding Buffalo Jim Barrier’s death. From the missing Rolls Royce to contradictory toxicology reports and Lisa’s elusive story, this episode leaves no stone unturned. Could his death have been staged to look like an accident? Or were key clues deliberately ignore…
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A group of women, all with eerily similar stories, say they were deceived—emotionally and financially—by the same man: William Sullivan. But instead of staying silent, they took matters into their own hands. They formed Operation Cock Block, a coordinated effort to expose what they claim were Sullivan’s deceptive tactics and warn others before they…
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Lisa was the last person to see Buffalo Jim alive, but her police interview only raised more questions than answers. From inconsistencies about their relationship to her murky account of what happened in the Motel 6 that night, her testimony leaves a trail of red flags. Could Lisa hold the key to solving the mystery of Buffalo Jim’s death? Or is sh…
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Facilitated Communication is marketed as a miraculous tool for non-speaking autistic children. But what happens when this controversial method leads to devastating consequences? In this episode, we hear from Kevin Plantin, a father who was falsely accused of assault based solely on messages typed with the help of a facilitator. Despite the evidence…
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When Buffalo Jim Barrier was found dead in a Motel 6, the scene raised more questions than answers. A mysterious phone call announced his death hours before it was confirmed, his Rolls Royce went missing and reappeared, and the woman last seen with him vanished. In this episode of Criminal Conduct, we piece together the events leading up to his unt…
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A mother kills her autistic son. Why? Because he asked her to. The mother claims he used facilitated communication to ask her to help him die. This case is just one of many tied to the controversial method that claims to give a voice to non-speaking autistic individuals. But what if the voice wasn’t theirs at all? Share Your Thoughts: Have you list…
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Social Muckery, Recycling, And Fluffy
1:00:37
1:00:37
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Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help kee…
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Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help kee…
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When Buffalo Jim Barrier checked into Room 105 of a Motel 6 on Boulder Highway, it marked the start of a series of unanswered questions and troubling discoveries. Days after his longtime rival Rick Rizzolo’s release from house arrest, the larger-than-life Las Vegas icon was found dead. A clean room, missing cash, suspicious substances, and strange …
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The Telepathy Tapes podcast shot to the top of the charts, making bold claims about telepathic abilities in non-verbal autistic children. But are the claims rooted in science—or something else entirely? In this episode of PRETEND, we take a closer look at the phenomenon, the controversies, and the skepticism surrounding these extraordinary claims. …
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Buffalo Jim wasn’t just a mechanic—he was a larger-than-life character in Sin City, known for his wrestling school and colorful personality. But his life took a turn when his neighbor, Rizzolo, demanded that he vacate his shop so the strip club could expand. What started as a property dispute quickly escalated into lawsuits, harassment, and propert…
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Criminal Conduct S5: The Life and Death of Buffalo Jim
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Hello PRETENDERS! I'm excited to announce that the new season of my other podcast, Criminal Conduct Season, is here! To listen to the rest of the story, search for Criminal Conduct and subscribe. ____________________ Buffalo Jim Barrier was a wrestling promoter, mechanic, and Las Vegas icon. He faced off against Rick Rizzolo, a powerful strip club …
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Rifts and Horrors - Brainstorming with Antowan
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The DRS Crew helps Antowan brainstorm his sci-fi/fantasy novel. Chat will no doubt add to the chaos. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consi…
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Buffalo Jim Barrier was a wrestling promoter, mechanic, and Las Vegas icon. He faced off against Rick Rizzolo, a powerful strip club owner with alleged mob ties. Their feud lasted decades. Days after Rizzolo’s release from house release, Buffalo Jim was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a motel room. Evidence is missing, and there are an…
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CRIMINAL CONDUCT Season 5 The Life and Death of Buffalo Jim Barrier
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Buffalo Jim Barrier was a wrestling promoter, mechanic, and Las Vegas icon. He faced off against Rick Rizzolo, a powerful strip club owner with alleged mob ties. Their feud lasted decades. Days after Rizzolo’s release from house release, Buffalo Jim was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a motel room. Evidence is missing, and there are an…
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Nobody Should Believe Me: Sophie Saves Zambia
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Today on PRETEND, we’re featuring the season 5 premiere of Nobody Should Believe Me, a compelling podcast hosted by author Andrea Dunlop that explores Munchausen by proxy abuse. Dunlop’s investigative storytelling sheds light on a complex and deeply troubling form of abuse, offering listeners both empathy and insight. Season 5 kicks off with an in-…
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DNA evidence is often seen as the gold standard in criminal investigations—a scientific fingerprint that can definitively prove guilt or innocence. But what happens when the science behind it is mishandled or manipulated? In this episode of PRETEND, we explore two shocking cases: the Garrett Coughlin triple homicide and the wrongful conviction of J…
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What would aliens actually look like? Are they carbon-based? Arsenic-based? Silicon? What about their chirality? Do they have DNA? The DRS Crew discusses. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discor…
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People panicked when a swarm of mysterious drones appeared in New Jersey’s night skies. Were they military? Foreign spies? Aliens? But buried under all the hysteria was one theory that refused to die: Birds Aren't Real. Yeah, that old internet conspiracy claiming birds are actually government surveillance drones. But here’s the thing—what if the jo…
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What's the difference between an episodic series and a saga? And what about stand-alone stories with the same characters in a series? Is it part of a series? The DRS Crew offers their experiences and somewhat maybe informed opinions. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: ht…
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1914: BONUS: Grapes, Grifts, and Gavel
1:08:25
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As a holiday treat, Amanda of Wine & Crime, Javier of PRETEND, and Whitney of Navigating Advocacy sit down to chat true crime, being in the podcasting industry, cases that haunt us, dream collaborations, and more! Enjoy this bonus conversation and check out all of these amazing shows wherever you get your podcasts! Javier Leiva - PRETEND, Criminal …
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In today's Christmas episode, we delve into the story of David Ellisor, a man whose grand Christmas scheme left the city of Miami in disbelief. Ellisor, a real-life Grinch, planned to host "Christmas From Around the World," a supposed once-in-a-lifetime event promising the presence of ambassadors, live reindeer, and a spectacle of global traditions…
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1912: BONUS: Affirmative Pretend Bullsh**
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The true crime podcasting community has come together for the holiday season to discuss all things true crime podcasting. Over the next two weeks, ten shows will be dropping bonus episodes sharing these conversations. In this episode, I'm joined by Alvin Williams (Affirmative Murder) and Josh Hallmark (True Crime Bullsh**) to discuss how we started…
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Your house is filled with guests. Your children are driving you nuts. Construction people are ripping your home apart. There is no safe place to create. What do you do? The DRS Crew discusses. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http:…
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When the IRS knocked on John Coutu's door, demanding $80,000, his girlfriend, Jennifer Mitchell, offered to help with his taxes. It seemed like a simple gesture of support. But John would soon find himself caught in a troubling situation. Unbeknownst to him, his taxes were never filed, and a series of lies began to unravel. As John speaks out, his …
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V is thinking about starting a Patreon. Paul and Terry do their best to provide advice. We're sure chat will chime in, too... Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Pat…
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