Privacy Policy

This policy explains what information https://thisispretend.com (the "site") collects, how it's used, and the choices you have. The site is operated by Javier Leiva / PRETEND Podcast. If you have questions, email javier@pretendradio.org.

Information collected automatically

Like most websites, this one collects some information automatically when you visit:

• Analytics. We use Google Analytics (GA4) to understand traffic — which pages get visited, how people arrive at the site, and general device/browser/location information (typically city- or region-level, from IP address). Analytics only runs if you accept cookies in the banner shown on your first visit.
• Advertising. We use Google AdSense to show ads that help fund the show. AdSense may use cookies to serve ads, including interest-based ads, but only after you accept cookies. If you decline, ads may still appear but without personalization.
• Local storage. The site uses your browser's local storage (not cookies) to remember your cookie choice and whether you've dismissed a promotional banner. This stays on your device and isn't sent to us.

You can accept or decline non-essential cookies at any time using the "Cookie Preferences" link in the site footer. Declining means no analytics or ad-personalization cookies are set by us, though third-party services you interact with (like an embedded player or a link you click to Spotify) have their own cookie practices we don't control.

Information you provide directly

If you use the tips form, the speaking-inquiry form, or email Javier Leiva directly, you're giving us whatever you choose to include — which can range from nothing (the tips form accepts fully anonymous submissions) to your name, email address, and details about a story, event, or booking request.

Forms on this site are processed by Formspree, a third-party form service, and delivered directly to Javier Leiva's email. The site itself has no database and doesn't store form submissions — Formspree and standard email retention are where that data lives after you submit it. See Formspree's privacy policy for how they handle submitted data.

For tips specifically: whether we can reference what you send on-air or in reporting is controlled by the consent checkboxes on the tips form, or by whatever you agree to directly with Javier Leiva if you use email or Signal instead. If you share your identity, it is never published or shared without your explicit permission. Sensitive documents are kept on encrypted drives.

Podcast listening

If you listen to PRETEND through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or another app, your listening activity is collected by that platform under its own privacy policy — this site doesn't have visibility into or control over that data. The podcast's RSS feed is hosted by Megaphone, which may include standard podcast-industry download tracking (e.g. episode download counts) used to measure audience size; this is aggregate and not tied to you personally as far as we're concerned.

How we use information

• To operate, maintain, and improve the site
• To understand aggregate traffic and audience size
• To respond to tips, story submissions, press, and booking inquiries
• To serve advertising that helps fund the podcast

We don't sell your personal information.

Third parties this site relies on

Google (Analytics and AdSense), Formspree (form processing), Cloudflare (hosting and content delivery), and Megaphone (podcast hosting and RSS distribution). Each has its own privacy policy governing how they handle data that passes through their systems. Links to Patreon, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and our merchandise store take you to services with their own separate privacy practices.

Children's privacy

PRETEND covers true crime, fraud, and material meant for adult audiences. This site is not directed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13.

Your choices

• Decline or change cookie consent any time via "Cookie Preferences" in the footer.
• Submit a tip anonymously — name and email are optional.
• Email javier@pretendradio.org to ask what information we hold about you or to request it be deleted from anything we directly control (this doesn't extend to data already held by third parties like Formspree or Google under their own policies).

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the site or the tools it uses change. Material changes will update the "Last updated" date above.

Contact

Questions about this policy: javier@pretendradio.org.