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The Joe Schmo Show is a real-life Truman Show—where everyone is an actor except one unsuspecting guy. It’s a reality show within a reality show. The series everyone watched on SPIKE TV was called The Joe Schmo show. But the show Matt Kennedy Gould thought he was participating in was called The Lap of Luxury—a Big Brother style television show. He had no idea that the people he was living with were all actors. The series was created by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese (Deadpool). It was hosted by Ralph Garman and written and produced by J. Holland Moore. Season one starred a young Kristen Wiig who played a quack psychiatrist. I must warn you. This show did not age well. It would not survive in today’s #metoo movement. Despite what it lacks in sensitivity, it makes up for in its ingenuity and heart. In this episode, Melissa with Moms and Murder and I talk with Chase Rogan, season three’s Joe Schmo, to find out what it’s like to be the star of television’s biggest hoax.CreditsToday’s episode was written and produced by me and Melissa. Original music was provided by thechicken.netAdditional music by Blue dot sessionsAll clips in this podcast were used in compliance with the US copyright act for fair use exemption, for criticism and commentary -------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A con artist save ChristmasBrian Earl with the Christmas Past podcast shares a Christmas story you’ve probably never heard before. In the early 1900s, children’s letters to Santa Claus never made it to the North Pole. They landed in the dead letter office and were eventually destroyed.But along came John Gluck, a hustler who took these letters to Santa and turned it into an opportunity to get rich and famous.It’s the strange and true story of government agents, spies, an art thief, U.S. presidents, and gun-toting boy scouts.Check out “My Dear Santa” with Brian Earl from the Christmas Past podcast-------CreditsToday’s show was written and edited by Javier Leiva.Our theme music was written and composed by Joe Basile with TheChicken.net.Additional music by Podington Bear.-------Support for this episode is brought to you by Detective TrappAnaheim investigator Julissa Trapp is not like other detectives. She’s the only woman on the homicide squad, and a skilled chameleon: undercover cop in vice stings, crime-scene commander, patient confidante of killers. A master interrogator, she invokes her personal experience – and deepest griefs — as a tool to elicit confessions. When a young woman’s body is found at a trash-sorting plant, Trapp learns the murder may be linked to the disappearance of three other women in nearby Santa Ana. Trapp embarks on a dark journey that brings her face to face with a man who takes “a little piece of her soul.”Listen now at Wondery.fm/PretendDT-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PrankNet is a network of online terrorists who performed crank calls which caused thousands of dollars worth in damages.These cruel prank phone calls created anxiety and fear for anyone who picked up the phone. PrankNet victims destroyed hotel rooms, set off fire alarms, and flooded rooms by damaging the sprinkler system. In part 3, you heard actual Pranknet prank calls. In part 4, you’ll hear from a former prank caller who says she was one of the architects behind Pranknet’s most despicable hoax. It involved two female KFC employees in Manchester, New Hampshire. The two employees were convinced to strip naked in the freezing cold and urinate on each other.Hear how Jeri Batsford says she helped Pranknet orchestrate some of their most twisted pranks.CreditsToday’s show was written by Javier Leiva and edited by Molly Brock.Our theme music was written and composed by Joe Basile with TheChicken.net.Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington Bear.Support for this episode is brought to you by Detective TrappAnaheim investigator Julissa Trapp is not like other detectives. She’s the only woman on the homicide squad, and a skilled chameleon: undercover cop in vice stings, crime-scene commander, patient confidante of killers. A master interrogator, she invokes her personal experience – and deepest griefs — as a tool to elicit confessions. When a young woman’s body is found at a trash-sorting plant, Trapp learns the murder may be linked to the disappearance of three other women in nearby Santa Ana. Trapp embarks on a dark journey that brings her face to face with a man who takes “a little piece of her soul.”Listen now at Wondery.fm/PretendDT------Referenceshttp://www.onpointnews.com/docs/hoax.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysSgG5V-R3Uhttps://www.wmur.com/news/18803151/detail.html-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When does a prank call go too far? When it leads to sexual abuse and thousands of dollars worth of destruction. PrankNetThe punks at Pranknet are believed to be responsible for tens of thousands of dollars worth in damages. They often called restaurants making employees set off sprinklers systems and fire alarms. Sometimes they would even call hotel guests directly and convince them to shatter hotel windows.An ESPN reporter falls for a Pranknet hoaxNobody is safe from PrankNet's mayhem. Even Elizabeth Moreau, an ESPN reporter, was persuaded to swing a toilet seat across her Hilton Garden Inn window in the middle of the night. She thought there was a gas leak in the building. All of these calls were recorded and posted on Youtube. You can hear the desperation in her voice during the call. Who is behind PrankNet?The mastermind behind PrankNet is allegedly a Canadian man who goes by the name of Dex. Dex, who’s real name is Tariq Malik, is clearly proud of his work. However, when exposed by an internet blog, he vanished without a trace. A prank caller confessesI wanted to learn more about PrankNet and how they operate. The question is, could I get one of them to talk with me? Fortunately, Jeri Batsford, a former PrankNet member, deflected from the group. Listen to part 3 of The Prank Call on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play.-----CreditsToday’s show was written by Javier Leiva and edited by Logan Castrodale.Our theme music was written and composed by Joe Basile with TheChicken.net.Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington Bear.-----Support for this episode is brought to you by Detective TrappAnaheim investigator Julissa Trapp is not like other detectives. She’s the only woman on the homicide squad, and a skilled chameleon: undercover cop in vice stings, crime-scene commander, patient confidante of killers. A master interrogator, she invokes her personal experience – and deepest griefs -- as a tool to elicit confessions. When a young woman’s body is found at a trash-sorting plant, Trapp learns the murder may be linked to the disappearance of three other women in nearby Santa Ana. Trapp embarks on a dark journey that brings her face to face with a man who takes “a little piece of her soul.”Listen now at Wondery.fm/PretendDT---- Referenceshttp://www.onpointnews.com/docs/hoax.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysSgG5V-R3Uhttps://www.wmur.com/news/18803151/detail.html-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A prank call leads to a 2-hour strip-search at a fast-food restaurantA prank caller posing as a cop calls a manager at a Hardee's Restaurant in Rapid City, South Dakota. He tells the store manager that one of his employees stole money from a customer. Instead of calling the real police, the manager decides to strip search the employee. This prank call went on for more than 2 hours.I spoke with the manager of that restaurant to find out why he obeyed the prank caller's every demand.Searching for David Stewart—the prank call suspectVictor Flaherty is now the Cheif of Police in West Bridgewater police department in Massachusetts at the time in 2004, he was a detective sergeant searching for the notorious fast-food prank caller. Many police stations across the United States tried to locate the perpetrator—and all of them failed. It turns out that tracing the calls back to the source proved to be nearly impossible. Listen to the lengthVictor Flaherty went through to find the suspect named David Stewart.If you want to start from the beginning, listen to part 1 here. CreditsToday’s show was written by Javier Leiva and edited by Molly Brock.Our theme music was written and composed by Joe Basile with TheChicken.net.Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington Bear. References:Rapid City JournalCourier JournalMSNBC-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Disclaimer: We will be talking about sexual abuse and other disturbing topics. Listener discretion is advised.Strip-search hoaxA prank caller pretending to be a police officer instructed fast-food managers to strip-search female employees forcing them to jog naked, do jumping jacks and perform other humiliating acts. He made more than 70 of these calls in the United States over a 12-year period.Why do we obey?Some of the managers were charged with rape and kidnapping as a result of these pranks. How could they fall for such a prank?The truth is, humans are programmed to respect authority. But why do we obey? In this episode, you'll hear real audio from Stanley Milgram's experiments on obedience and authority. The results are shocking.Bonus episodeDonna Summers, the manager from the McDonalds restaurant in Mount Washington, sued McDonald's for failing to warn her about the previous hoaxes. She asked for $50 million. She was awarded $1 million in punitive damages and $100,000 in compensatory damages.Listen to my conversation with her attorney Wendy Wagner.The Pranks part 1 BONUS (McDonalds Lawsuit)https://www.patreon.com/posts/pranks-part-1-30952858Links and sourceshttps://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2005/10/09/a-hoax-most-cruel-caller-coaxed-mcdonalds-managers-/28936597/https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/man-on-trial-for-kidnapping-rape/article_faeff508-246c-54db-8a66-15d121c5112d.htmlhttps://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2005/10/09/a-hoax-most-cruel-caller-coaxed-mcdonalds-managers-/28936597/https://web.archive.org/web/20090325234639/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15504125/CreditsToday’s show was written by Javier Leiva and edited by Molly Brock. Our theme music was written and composed by Joe Basile with TheChicken.net. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington Bear. Support for this episode is brought to you by HempFusionUse promo code PRETEND for 20% off of your first order and free shipping at hempfusion.com. Get HempFusion shipped anywhere in the US.-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The most bizarre cyberstalking story you’ll ever hearSusan Fensten is a victim of cyberstalking. Distant family members and ex-cons bombarded her with harassing emails. She felt cornered and there was nothing she could do about it.Rapists and Stalkers and cannibals, oh my.Two ex-cons convicted of raping a woman were sending her threatening emails. They even invited her to the Fall Slaughter an event hosted by a cannibalistic cult from upstate New York. The plan was to eat her alive.It was all a hoaxNone of this was real. All these threatening messages were fake. And worst of all, the people Susan thought she was interacting with weren’t real either. Today’s story focuses on the search for this cyberstalker. Who was targeting Susan? And why did they want her to suffer?Subscribe to PRETEND on your favorite podcast app:  Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play.Check out Susan Fensten’s Memoir based on this story titled, “You have a very soft voice, Susan.”Today’s show was written by Javier Leiva and edited by Molly Brock. Our theme music was written and composed by Joe Basile with TheChicken.net. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington Bear. Bonus episodes:Susan Fensten shares a story that didn't make it in her book.The full interview with FBI Special Agent Brandon WallerSupport for this episode is brought to you by HempFusionUse promo code PRETEND for 20% off of your first order and free shipping at hempfusion.com. Get HempFusion shipped anywhere in the US. -------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is not your typical internet stalker story. Susan Fensten's tale is one of torture, rape, bondage, cannibalism, and murder. It’s just plain cruel. It all started when Susan began looking for distant family members on a genealogy site. While trying to fill the gaps with her family tree, she found herself tangled in a web of lies.Her newfound cousin, Leonard Nachman, bombarded her with pornographic emails and a picture of himself masturbating while wearing nylon bodysuits. It was disturbing.But I don't want to give away too much of the story. After you’re done listening to part one, get an early preview of part two on Patreon.Also, check out Susan Fensten’s Memoir based on this story titled, “You have a very soft voice, Susan.”Subscribe to PRETEND on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play.Today’s show was written by Javier Leiva and edited by Logan Castrodale. Our theme music was written and composed by Joe Basile with TheChicken.net. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions. -------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alan Canty spent most of his lunch breaks rendezvousing with an 18-year-old sex worker named Dawn Spens in the seedy streets of downtown Detroit. His wife Jan Canty had no idea he was living a double-life.A real-life Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde sagaAlan Canty was a prominent psychologist but to Dawn, and her pimp John “Lucky” Fry, he was known as Dr. Alan Miller. He developed an alter ego in order to protect his two worlds from colliding. However, secrets can’t last forever. One day, Alan Canty’s love affair came to a tragic end. Links and sources:If you enjoyed the story, check out Lowell Lowell Cauffiel’s book titled Masquerade To read Jan Canty’s memoir visit Amazon or www.jancantyphd.comCreditsToday’s episode was edited by Bear Beat Productions and additional editing by Molly BrockOur Theme is Music by Joe Basie with theChicken.netAnd additional music by Blue Dot Sessions-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1980s Prostitution in the Streets of DetroitBack in the 1980s, Mark Bando was a Detroit police officer working the streets of Detroit. His assignment was to keep tabs on women forced into prostitution, their pimps, and the sugar daddies who kept them in business. Dawn Spens was one of those women. We follow their interlaced story.Dawn’s sugar daddy was a prominent psychologist named Alan Canty. He would meet her for sex during his lunch break. This relationship went on for two years. Meanwhile, his wife Jan Canty didn’t know what was really going on. This rendezvous didn’t last forever. Hear how Alan Canty’s double life was exposed. Meet the charactersThe Sugar Daddy- Alan CantyThe Sex Worker- Dawn SpensThe Pimp- John “Lucky”Links and sources:If you enjoyed the story, check out Lowell Lowell Cauffiel’s book titled Masquerade To read Jan Canty’s memoir visit Amazon or www.jancantyphd.comThis is part one of a two-part series. Subscribe to Patreon to listen to part two right now CreditsThis episode was written and produced by Javier LeivaEdited by Molly BrockMusic by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington BearTheme music by Joe Basile and thechicken.net-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices