The Real Catch Me If You Can

PRETEND+

5.0 (3)
TRUE CRIME
SERIES

$4.99/mo or $49.99/yr after trial

The true story of Frank Abagnale, the man behind Catch Me If You Can.

EPISODE 1 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Real Catch Me If You Can part 1

This might be my favorite PRETEND series of all time. Remember the movie Catch Me If You Can? Most people believe the film is based on a true story. But, did you know it's mostly made up? I spent the last few weeks and months pouring over court records, police reports, and other documents to prove that Frank Abagnale faked his entire life story. It turns out that the real story behind Catch Me If You Can is actually a lot more fascinating than the one you thought you knew.

47 min
EPISODE 2 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Real Catch Me If You Can part 2

Frank Abagnale claims he never stole money from the little guy—it was all victimless crimes. But that's not what I found. Hear the story of one family who says they were robbed blind by Abagnale.

56 min
EPISODE 3 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Real Catch Me If You Can part 3

Two reporters destroy Frank Abagnale's story. Yet nobody cared. _______ Listen to part 4 right now on Patreon: https://pretendradio.org/donate/ Special Thanks to: Fact-checking for this episode by Kate Gallagher. Special thanks to Alan Logan, author of The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/173619741X/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_5EAWP7S0XC5J1WJQF2D5

41 min
EPISODE 4 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Real Catch Me If You Can part 4

If Frank Abagnale wasn't posing as a doctor, a lawyer, or a professor, then what the heck was Frank Abagnale up to? This is the story Abagnale never talks about.

49 min
EPISODE 5 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Real Catch Me If You Can part 5

I confronted Frank Abagnale in Las Vegas, NV. He claims he posed as a pilot, a lawyer, a doctor, and a professor from the age of sixteen to twenty-one years old. But how is that possible if he was sitting in prison most of that time? You won't believe his response.

1h 1m
EPISODE 6 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Real Catch Me If You Can part 6

This series is not just a story about a con man who lied about his past experience. No, it's much bigger than that. This series is about correcting history. For decades, we've celebrated Frank Abagnale's life like he's a hero or something. He's invaded our living rooms in countless tv interviews. He's had Leonardo DiCaprio play him in a movie. John Williams even scored his superhero theme song. And his life has even been turned into a musical that one reviewer wrote: "is an amazing true story with a happy ending we all need." But it turns out that America's favorite con man is really just another petty criminal who's never really repaid back all the money he stole. But if we zoom out, this is the story of the spread of misinformation. Where politicians and other grifters have taken a page out of Abagnale's book and learned that if they repeat multiple lies over and over, most people won't question it. And they can actually get away with it. Frank claims he evaded the FBI for 5 years. They couldn't catch him even if they tried. Sure, he admits he finally got arrested, but in his version of the story, he became a hero by working undercover for the FBI. I may not believe his account, but I think he won in the end. The guy is in his mid-70s, lives in a multi million-dollar island home, and makes a pre-school teacher's annual salary every time he takes the stage. He made it! And besides his alleged victims, no one seems to question his success. He fooled us all. And he would have gotten away with too, if it weren't for this meddling kid and his scrappy friend from Belfast. (The Irish guy is Alan Logan, the author of the Greatest Hoax on Earth.) We're on a mission to set the record straight. So that when you ask someone if they know who Frank Abagnale is, Instead of it being based on a true story, they'll tell you that he made it all up. Abagnale may have been on the run for the last 50 to 40 years, getting away with his biggest lie. But guess what... We caught him. Listen to part 6 of The Real Catch Me If You Can, then send me a voice memo with your thoughts on this series. Your audio could make it on the show. Email me at [email protected]. ___________________________ "CAUGHT" t-shirts now on sale! He dared to write the autobiography Catch Me If You Can*. And we caught him! Do your part in correcting history by buying your very own "CAUGHT" t-shirt. https://pretend-radio-3.creator-spring.com/listing/caught-the-real-catch-me-if?product=46

53 min
EPISODE 7 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Real Catch Me If You Can part 7

What if I told you that Frank Abagnale wasn't the only con artist in his family? His older brother used multiple aliases, faked his career as a therapist, and was even accused of kidnapping a 7-year-old girl. This episode reveals the dark and puzzling secrets of Frank Abagnale's family history. __________ Have you followed PRETEND on TikTok and Instagram? Help me start a trending sound. Use this sound of Frank Abagnale denying writing his book, movie, and Broadway play: https://www.tiktok.com/@pretendpod/video/7145467873979338030?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1 Here are some examples: https://www.tiktok.com/@pretendpod/video/7145483295080385835?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1 https://www.tiktok.com/@pretendpod/video/7145536351801462062?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1 https://www.tiktok.com/@pretendpod/video/7145816794819841326?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

57 min
EPISODE 8 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Real Catch Me If You Can part 8

Jim Grinstead, a listener and fellow podcaster, confronted Frank Abagnale in front of a live audience at Xavier University. The conman had nowhere to hide. Plus, hear from Alan Logan, the author of the Greatest Hoax on Earth.

1h 1m

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