57. The Art of Pretend and Related Investigations with Javier Levia

The Data Sleuth Podcast

On this week's episode, Javier Levia discusses a side of investigations we have not visited much in the past, the side of the pretender. Javier explains how his podcast started off as a simple discussion of people pretending to be someone else but quickly turned into a true crime podcast.

PRETEND is a story-driven show about real people pretending to be someone who they're not. The podcast features interviews with con artists, snake oil salesmen, and undercover agents—anyone living a lie.

His investigative podcast career has taken him to some wild places. Javier reported from inside a cult, which is the basis for this film. During his reporting, the host inadvertently became part of the story. He's also interviewed a woman who sells bleach as a form of medication. And his reporting exposed a prank ring responsible for thousands of dollars in damages.

Javier worked 15 years in television, producing documentaries, news, and commercials. Most recently, he's worked as a creative director at various marketing agencies. Regardless of the medium, his passion is storytelling.

Connect with Javier:
PRETEND Podcast: pretendradio.org
Criminal Conduct Podcast: criminalconduct.net
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javierjleiva/
Twitter Profile: https://twitter.com/PretendPod