2407-Licensed to Kill Revisited
PRETEND
12/30/25
•76m
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A Montana oncologist allegedly treated patients for cancer they never had and made millions doing it. We're re-releasing our two-part investigation into Dr. Thomas Weiner, plus a brand new interview with whistleblower Dr. Randy Sasich on what's happened since. The medical board finally revoked Weiner's license, but criminal charges still loom, a wrongful death lawsuit is underway, and the broken system that enabled this hasn't changed.
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Previous Episode
2406: The Real Life Grinch
December 23, 2025
•37m
'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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Next Episode
2408: PRETEND Live AMA
January 6
•66m
PRETEND's first live YouTube AMA, co-hosted by Patreon supporter Katie Watson. The conversation covers listener questions about the making of PRETEND, behind-the-scenes stories, and what's coming next.
Highlights include: how Javier knows when a story is worth pursuing (hint: it's like fishing) and his techniques for getting interview subjects to let their guard down. He shares updates on past subjects including LaDonna and Frank Abagnale.
Looking ahead to 2026: Season 25 kicks off next week with psychic stings featuring undercover Patreon supporters. Also coming: State of Corruption (North Carolina), a caught-on-camera confessional, and a Word of Faith Fellowship update—the DA supposed to try the case is now on trial himself.
00:00 Intro
02:53 Katie's Podcast Journey
04:08 The Art of Storytelling
06:09 Balancing Bias in Journalism
07:49 Building Trust with Interviewees
13:33 Balancing Podcasting and Life
14:55 Ponzi Playbook & Criminal Conduct
17:22 Scariest Interview Subjects
20:08 LaDonna Updates
26:15 Red Flags and Trust
27:37 Telepathy Tapes
30:58 The Truth in Storytelling
34:36 Interview Techniques
37:20 Biggest Challenges in Podcasting
39:14 Balancing Truth and Twists
42:37 Family Reactions
44:11 Maintaining Neutrality
45:19 Dream Project: Speed Dial
46:56 What's Coming in 2026
50:06 Proudest Series
58:35 Word of Faith Update
01:03:33 Season 25 Announcement
- Blind Dave (Katie's YouTube show "Only in the UK"): https://youtube.com/@blinddave88
- Decoding the Unknown: https://youtube.com/@decodingtheunknown2373
- The Greatest Hoax on Earth by Alan Logan: https://a.co/d/gIHDef2
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