A mother kills her autistic son. Why? Because he asked her to.
The mother claims he used facilitated communication to ask her to help him die. This case is just one of many tied to the controversial method that claims to give a voice to non-speaking autistic individuals. But what if the voice wasn’t theirs at all?
Share Your Thoughts:
Have you listened to The Telepathy Tapes? What do you think about the claims it makes? We want to hear from you! Send a voice memo with your thoughts to [email protected], and your message might be featured in an upcoming episode.
Resources Mentioned:
➜ Learn more about Amy Lutz’s work and her book Chasing the Intact Mind.
https://amzn.to/4gg9Mbe
➜ Read Zaid Jilani’s articles on Facilitated Communication and The Telepathy Tapes on his Substack, The American Saga.
https://www.theamericansaga.com/
➜ Explore the history of Facilitated Communication in the documentary Tell Them You Love Me (available on U.S. Netflix).
https://www.netflix.com/title/81783064
Stay Connected:
Follow PRETEND on social media and subscribe to the podcast for more stories exploring deception and the human condition.
➜ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/pretendpod.bsky.social
➜ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pretendpod/
➜ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pretendpod
➜ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pretendpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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50:15
2003: The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 1
The Telepathy Tapes podcast shot to the top of the charts, making bold claims about telepathic abilities in non-verbal autistic children. But are the claims rooted in science—or something else entirely? In this episode of PRETEND, we take a closer look at the phenomenon, the controversies, and the skepticism surrounding these extraordinary claims.
We’ll discuss:
➜ The premise of The Telepathy Tapes and the experiments it presents.
➜ Scientific skepticism surrounding telepathy claims.
➜ Ethical concerns, including the history of Facilitated Communication and its controversies.
➜ Voices from parents, experts, and critics, including Zaid Jilani and Amy Lutz.
Resources Mentioned:
Learn more about Amy Lutz’s work and her book Chasing the Intact Mind.
https://amzn.to/4gg9Mbe
Read Zaid Jilani’s articles on Facilitated Communication and The Telepathy Tapes on his Substack, The American Saga.
https://www.theamericansaga.com/
Explore the history of Facilitated Communication in the documentary Tell Them You Love Me (available on U.S. Netflix).
https://www.netflix.com/title/81783064
Share Your Thoughts:
Have you listened to The Telepathy Tapes? What do you think about the claims it makes? We want to hear from you! Send a voice memo with your thoughts to [email protected], and your message might be featured in an upcoming episode.
Stay Connected:
Follow PRETEND on social media and subscribe to the podcast for more stories exploring deception and the human condition.
➜ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/pretendpod.bsky.social
➜ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pretendpod/
➜ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pretendpod
➜ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pretendpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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46:57
Criminal Conduct S5: The Life and Death of Buffalo Jim
Hello PRETENDERS! I'm excited to announce that the new season of my other podcast, Criminal Conduct Season, is here! To listen to the rest of the story, search for Criminal Conduct and subscribe.
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Buffalo Jim Barrier was a wrestling promoter, mechanic, and Las Vegas icon. He faced off against Rick Rizzolo, a powerful strip club owner with alleged mob ties. Their feud lasted decades. Days after Rizzolo’s release from house release, Buffalo Jim was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a motel room. Evidence is missing, and there are anonymous threats. Questions remain unanswered. Criminal Conduct Season 5 unravels a story of corruption, crime, and one man’s fight for justice.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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32:45
Nobody Should Believe Me: Sophie Saves Zambia
Today on PRETEND, we’re featuring the season 5 premiere of Nobody Should Believe Me, a compelling podcast hosted by author Andrea Dunlop that explores Munchausen by proxy abuse. Dunlop’s investigative storytelling sheds light on a complex and deeply troubling form of abuse, offering listeners both empathy and insight.
Season 5 kicks off with an in-depth look at Sophie Hartman’s 2016 memoir, Crowns of Beauty, where Hartman recounts her experiences in Zambia and her journey to becoming the adoptive mother of two Zambian girls. This episode unravels the layers of Hartman’s narrative, revealing her evangelical Christian roots and the persona she crafted as both a martyr and savior.
Andrea Dunlop is joined by Chad Goller-Sojourner, a performance artist and transracial adoption coach, who provides nuanced perspectives on the challenges and intricacies of transracial adoption. Together, they explore themes of identity, privilege, and the ways in which personal narratives can obscure uncomfortable truths.
Whether you’re a fan of Nobody Should Believe Me or new to the series, this episode promises a gripping and thought-provoking listen. Tune in to hear Andrea Dunlop and her team continue their important work of exposing the hidden dynamics of Munchausen by proxy abuse.
Where to Listen: Nobody Should Believe Me is available wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t miss the season 5 premiere, streaming now!
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0tU5rLsNkx7LeI2GhLlQ4X?si=1e02ca94e6ac4066
Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nobody-should-believe-me/id1615637188
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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47:50
2002: DNA Deception
DNA evidence is often seen as the gold standard in criminal investigations—a scientific fingerprint that can definitively prove guilt or innocence. But what happens when the science behind it is mishandled or manipulated? In this episode of PRETEND, we explore two shocking cases: the Garrett Coughlin triple homicide and the wrongful conviction of Josiah Sutton. Both cases reveal how sloppy forensic work and unethical practices can set guilty criminals free and, worse, imprison innocent people. Through interviews with victims' families, experts, and journalists, we unravel the myth of DNA as infallible evidence and expose the devastating consequences of a broken system.
Featuring insights from Kathy Eppler and a special contribution from Celisia Stanton of the Truer Crime Podcast, this episode serves as a sobering reminder: DNA is only as reliable as the people interpreting it.
Credits:
Special thanks to Celisia Stanton from Truer Crime Podcast for her contributions to the Josiah Sutton case segment.
Additional reporting and analysis from Hidden Killers Podcast and forensic scientist Dan Krane.
Pitch to Truer Crime Podcast:
If you're intrigued by the case of Josiah Sutton and want to dive deeper, check out Truer Crime Podcast hosted by Celisia Stanton, where she explores the complexities of DNA evidence, justice, and wrongful convictions with a sharp and compassionate lens.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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