ABOUT THIS EPISODE
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
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Blind Dave (Katie's YouTube show "Only in the UK"): https://youtube.com/@blinddave88
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Decoding the Unknown: https://youtube.com/@decodingtheunknown2373
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The Greatest Hoax on Earth by Alan Logan: https://a.co/d/gIHDef2
ChaptersLinks
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