Episode 3: Unforced Errors
By the summer of 2019, Coco Berthmann has gone public with her story. She's regularly invited to appear on podcasts and to speak at anti-trafficking events. One organization even flies her to Miami to give the keynote address at a star-studded benefit for survivors. But privately, Coco's story ju...
Episode 107: Sara Ganim and Karen Given Have No Affinity for Coco Berthmann
Was she a survivor of sex trafficking at the hands of her mom, a serial victim, Mormon convert, cancer patient, or was she just a liar and a fraud? Coco Berthmann’s story is anything but cogent. Whether it was summoned from the depths of mental illness or deviously designed to swindle friends and...
Episode 4: Almost Everything She Says… Is True
To try to get to the truth of Coco Berthmann’s past, the investigation turns to Germany. Coco’s mother provides evidence to contradict many of Coco’s most horrific stories. But it’s clear that people were concerned about Coco’s welfare from the age of 12, when she first started showing signs of a...
Episode 8.5: Time to Call in an Expert
From the start of our investigation, we’ve heard the same question over and over again. “Why would someone lie about these things?” This week, we attempt to find out why Coco Berthmann lies ... with Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Sohom Das.
If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available:
Sui...
Episode 10: Call Us Anytime
As Coco Berthmann’s lies are exposed, survivors band together and ask why she wasn’t stopped sooner. Meanwhile, Coco makes her last appearance in court for lying about cancer, but the case against her only addressed a fraction of the money she raised. What happened to the rest of the money? And, ...
From Poking, to Paying, to Reaching Zen
Welcome to #Millennial, the home of pretend adulting and real talk!
We're excited to announce our 2023 physical gift for BAE+ Patrons: signed album art with a super secret gift you can only get as a BAE Patron for a limited time! #iykyk
Do we judge people who work with ghostwriters to publish...
How to Track a Liar with Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story Showrunner Karen Given
The episode discussed on today's Sound Judgment is Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story. Karen worked with reporter/host Sara Ganim to create Believable.
This episode was sponsored by Signal Hill Insights.
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EP 11 | The Rise and Fall of Coco Berthmann
Coco Berthmann was the ultimate survivor. In 2020, she captivated Salt Lake City with a story so horrific it seemed impossible to ignore: a childhood spent as a victim of a high-end pedophile ring in Germany, allegedly orchestrated by her own mother. She claimed she had been raped as many as 50 t...
EP 12 | DEBRIEF: The Rise and Fall of Coco Berthmann
How do you say no to a girl who claims she survived the unthinkable? You don’t. You open your front door.
When viral anti-trafficking advocate Coco Berthmann needed a place to stay, Becky McIntosh did what any compassionate mother would do—she took her in. Becky was ready to help a traumatized s...
Episode 263: The Affinity Scam Playbook
Coco Berthmann sold a survival story. Amanda Riley sold a cancer battle. Both were lies that raided communities, wallets, and trust. Journalists Sarah Ganim, Karen Given, and Charlie Webster tell the stories; cognitive scientist Daniel Simons explains why we get taken in.Make yourself harder to f...
