Pretending to be People

397
Improv #42

Pretending to be People is a mystery/horror role-playing podcast. Join Zach, Thomas, Luke, and Joe as they navigate a terrifying campaign filled with twists, turns, and laughs - all decided on a roll of the dice. Can the officers of the Contention Police Department unravel the mysteries suddenly plaguing their sleepy town? Will they die – or worse – in the attempt? This is an actual play utilizing the game systems of Delta Green and Pulp Cthulhu. This is Pretending to be People.

Recent Episodes
  • S1E1 - Blunt Force Trauma
    Nov 19, 2018 – 01:10:23
  • S1E2 - Into the Dog
    Dec 2, 2018 – 00:47:30
  • S1E3 - Old Turkey Neck
    Dec 2, 2018 – 00:37:28
  • S1E4 - Heading for Contention
    Dec 10, 2018 – 00:38:22
  • S1E5 - Call the President
    Dec 17, 2018 – 01:01:48
  • S1E6 - A Seriously Blown Opportunity
    Dec 24, 2018 – 00:33:45
  • S1E7 - Three Pillows
    Dec 31, 2018 – 00:32:16
  • S1E8 - Witness Contention
    Jan 7, 2019 – 00:46:28
  • S1E9 - Sucking Up Something
    Jan 14, 2019 – 00:48:57
  • S1E10 - Honorary Police Officer
    Jan 21, 2019 – 00:42:06
  • S1E11 - Not the Tooth Fairy
    Jan 28, 2019 – 00:41:59
  • S1E12 - Off the Deep End
    Feb 4, 2019 – 00:47:24
  • S1E13 - CopNet
    Feb 11, 2019 – 00:35:59
  • S1E14 - Bishop's Big Bean Breakfast
    Feb 18, 2019 – 00:56:34
  • S1E15 - Sweater Vest, Sweater-Vest, Sweatervest
    Feb 25, 2019 – 00:54:58
  • S1E16 - Like Father, Like Surrogate Son
    Mar 4, 2019 – 00:53:31
  • S1E17 - When the Time is Right
    Mar 11, 2019 – 00:40:25
  • S1E18 - Body Work
    Mar 18, 2019 – 00:57:28
  • S1E19 - Time for Procedure
    Mar 25, 2019 – 01:09:45
  • S1E20 - Armed Combat
    Apr 1, 2019 – 00:45:30
  • S1E21 - Hurting and Tired and Mad
    Apr 8, 2019 – 00:39:42
  • S1E22 - My Smokeys
    Apr 15, 2019 – 00:48:55
  • S1E23 - Edward Was His Brother
    Apr 22, 2019 – 00:53:47
  • S1E24 - So I Called the Mob
    Apr 29, 2019 – 00:51:17
  • S1E25 - It's Bean a While
    May 6, 2019 – 01:11:30
  • S1E26 - Strap It On, Big Boy
    May 13, 2019 – 01:01:09
  • S1E27 - Kevin Can Wait
    May 20, 2019 – 00:47:22
  • S1E28 - TableCop Gaming
    May 27, 2019 – 01:28:40
  • S1E29 - Denizens of the Den of Sin
    Jun 4, 2019 – 00:58:14
  • S1E30 - Chai Frappes
    Jun 10, 2019 – 00:52:38
  • S1E31 - Cashew Chicken Sunday
    Jun 17, 2019 – 01:01:11
  • S1E32 - Follow Your Nose
    Jun 24, 2019 – 00:48:39
  • S1E33 - Dead as Bob Hope
    Jul 1, 2019 – 00:59:03
  • S1E34 - To Prevent Calamity
    Jul 8, 2019 – 00:41:06
  • S1E35 - Tell Me Rye
    Jul 15, 2019 – 00:39:30
  • S1E36 - Zach is on Vacation; Balls
    Jul 22, 2019 – 00:04:28
  • S1E37 - Marvin on My Mind
    Jul 29, 2019 – 00:50:15
  • S1E38 - Keith-Shaped Hole
    Aug 5, 2019 – 00:48:52
  • S1E39 - Noodle Him, Keith
    Aug 12, 2019 – 00:50:18
  • S1E40 - Off the Hook
    Aug 19, 2019 – 01:04:01
  • S1E41 - Ooh Ooh Fhtagn
    Aug 26, 2019 – 00:28:43
  • S1E42 - John Lee Pettimore Is Dead
    Sep 2, 2019 – 00:51:44
  • S1E43 - I Don't Have a Heart and I'm Dandy
    Sep 9, 2019 – 00:50:44
  • S1E44 - Balls? How Many?
    Sep 16, 2019 – 00:47:55
  • S1E45 - Cursed by Death Magic
    Sep 23, 2019 – 00:59:07
  • S1E46 - The Trip From Akron Was Worth It
    Sep 30, 2019 – 00:51:12
  • S1E47 - We Just Thieve and Stealth
    Oct 7, 2019 – 00:55:23
  • S1E48 - Love, Live, or Die
    Oct 14, 2019 – 00:56:11
  • S1E49 - My Li'l Smokies
    Oct 21, 2019 – 00:56:41
  • S1E50 - Li'l Winkies
    Oct 28, 2019 – 01:11:01
Recent Reviews
  • Drift43
    Blown away by the love and dedication from a few silly humans
    Found you guys because of ain’t slayed nobody and let me tell you I binged through season one in like a week then went back for more. The creativity and sometimes chaotic nature of the plot, the niche humor and love for the game and craft muah chefs kiss you guys are the shizz and wolf I tried to summon you the other to help with out podcast edge of madness pod but I just got a dial tone maybe not enough garbage juice….. furiously goes back to drawing board
  • cvjkmkkbfrrc
    Could not recommend enough.
    If you’re into hilariously immature but weirdly mature humor, this is it. Truly the only podcast that has made me laugh as if I’m in the room with these goofs.
  • iimNoodyy
    I’ve been missing out.
    Just started listening recently and wish I knew of this podcast from beginning but I’ve got so much content In front of since I’m only on ep 34. This group is so funny and even though I don’t play games like this I feel like I’d easily be friends with them. Thanks for making this mailman laugh while walking his route.
  • E-Dot The Shooter
    Peak
    These people are my new absolute favorite. This series needs more recognition and everyone on this show deserves a major bag. Get them a major bag
  • autrakis
    Great story but players are lazy
    Love the story and there is some really good humor but the players sometimes ruin it. Sometimes you can’t tell if some of the player are lazy of mind or slow or more focused on always trying to be funny. There are some great sections that will have you laughing but those are followed by the players lacking some basic skills in thinking and reasoning things out. You can tell the storyteller gets exasperated as the players continuously can’t figure some basic things out. It like they get basic information, like 1+1 but they get negative 3. It still kept me listening as the story is fun and good If the players would be more invoked in the game than trying to say the funniest thing every 30 seconds this could be a great story.
  • agiledissociate
    A beautiful intro to horror
    Haven’t experienced horror much as an audio medium, this has been an absolutely wonderful and terrifying podcast to dip my toes into!
  • goosepuncher99
    Love love love!
    I just binged the first season and absolutely loved it! The whole crew is awesome, and you can definitely tell all the love and effort they put into it. They hit such a great balance between being huge goofballs one minute and then navigating bone rattling terror the next. The whole thing had me enthralled, and I’m very excited to keep following the breadcrumbs into their dark, twisted, and silly stories.
  • OhPeaches
    5 Stars!
    Just started but really liking it so far. Great vibe and a great mystery! Fun to just listen to these guys and feel like part of the group.
  • Chris Lamke
    Excellent horror comedy podcast
    I generally like actual play D&D podcasts, but the players and DM make this podcast fun and exciting. I'm 20 episodes into season one and loving it.
  • nathano235
    Hilarious, enthralling, and horrifying
    Pretending To Be People is the perfect storm of a horror focused Actual Play podcast, with a team of PCs and a handler that have an incredible quick wit and ability to make any situation hilarious, while simultaneously drawing you in with mysterious intrigue that keeps you motivated to keep listening to make sense of everything, sprinkled with moments of absolutely bone chilling horror. An absolute masterpiece.
  • timshelkid
    One of My New Favorite Podcasts
    I listen on Spotify, but downloaded apple podcasts to leave a review. I’m on S1EP89 and I just can’t get enough. I’ve been neglecting my other podcasts that I normally keep up with just to catch up to where the boys are in S2. I can’t wait to finish and see what Zach has been planning for so long finally come to fruition. If you’re looking for a new Actual Play podcast and you like genuinely scary settings/story telling with great (albeit pretty millennial) humor, this is a really great one to start on.
  • JudgeHusky
    Amazing original horror adventures
    PTBP is the only RPG podcast worth listening to that isn’t produced by Glass Cannon
  • MegMegMonster
    Hot PTBP Summer
    This wildly entertaining and well produced podcast has kept me sane (or functionally insane?) through the writer’s strike. I started listening this spring and got all the way caught up right as the deal was getting signed… Hot strike summer? More like Hot PTBP Summer! ✊💀
  • Mint my rectom
    The gold standard of podcasts
    Pretending to Be People is what all other podcasts should strive to be. The sound quality, editing, attention to detail, storytelling ability, and collaboration are all unmatched by any other podcast I listen to. The dynamic between Justin, Thomas, Luke, Zack, and the characters they play is unreal. Each person brings personality and their energy to the story. Be warned: having listened to this podcast I literally have found all other Actual Play podcasts unlistenable.
  • Gaby ✞
    Girlfriend’s Phone
    This is my girlfriend’s phone, don’t have any iPhone. I thought that the incredible story telling deserved a five star review. Wolf the dog I hope to meet you in the dumpster one day covered in ooze - Corey
  • A2431B9627
    Great!
    Just started listening and I hope they never stop posting!
  • Maddie_lb4
    Easiest Podcast to Binge
    This podcast only showed up in my life a few weeks ago and I’m nearly through the first 100 episodes. Zach’s DMing is delightfully deranged and he has great purpose in storytelling. Even if not all points are touched across the board, the amount of energy you feel from all of those included on the show (the main boys and amazing guests), you’ll feel like you’re sitting at the table. Each player has their own unique likability and it’s incredibly easy to find yourself lost in the great town of Contention.
  • Ginger3093
    Found on a whim and can’t stop listening.
    Found this podcast on a whim on Spotify or maybe it’s the Eldritch God who spoke in my head regardless these guys really know what they are doing. The GM knows how to push the narrative and the players are so funny especially when things get tense. Keith is one of my new favorite characters I’ve ever seen played with his stupid stupid chaotic energy. Keep doing what you’re doing! Oh and also that sound under your the bed the one you think is nothing you might want to check again because its grabbing at your leg and it will take you soon…..
  • needmorebooks
    spooky podcast
    Awesome podcast if you want a little spooky mystery and want to diversify your TTRPG listening outside of D&D! It would be really great if content warnings for each episode could be included in episode descriptions for things like gore, body horror, etc.
  • TheWilyFish
    Top tier
    Spooky, funny, thank y’all for the ride!
  • blaine9er
    Bubble Gum Tree
    Do yourself a favor and listen to this fantastic pod. A friend that plays Delta Green recommended it and I jumped in, despite having no experience with RPGs. I have been sucked in to the creepy and fascinating world created here and have enjoyed every second. Keep up the great work.
  • Owassoramstudent
    Amazing!!! 10/10
    I absolutely love PTBP! Not only are they funny and keep me laughing and entertained, it’s also an amazing way for me and my partner @Auxume who I have binge listened to with on our multiple band concert trips. Can not Recommend the show enough. It’s a cut above the rest!! Thanks to all the guys for all the time and energy they have put into it! Plan to continue to listen to for years to come!!!
  • megaweapon_
    Laughs! Intrigue! Wheel of Fortune Based mythos!
    I found this podcast while looking for some good Lovecraftian horror to usher in the spooky season, and while I didn’t find a lot of specifically Lovecraftian horror here, I did find some truly excellent Weird Fiction in real-play format. This is a Delta Green experience and it is a fantastic one. PTBP is intriguing and hilarious in equal measure. The dynamic between the hosts (and their occasional guest host, the sound designer) is absolutely fantastic, as magnetic as the stories themselves. Handler Zach does an incredible job of balancing the “what-ifs” present in a tabletop game with very firmly laid-out story ideas. Players Luke, Thomas, and Joe (and Justin, in his rare and treasured appearances) rush headlong into each nightmarish scenario with both eagerness and hilarity at the ready. The variety of guests they bring on the show, from local comedians to published Call of Cthulhu writers, are in turns delightful, diabolical, and downright funny. Season 1 is an X-files-style long-haul that is well worth your time, featuring government conspiracies, strange phenomena, some genuinely incredibly satisfying cinematic moments, and one of the frankly most chilling portrayals of a classic “Man in Black” sighting I’ve seen in fiction. Season 2 is still in the works, but I’m loving it so far, and the rest of their content is not to be missed. Perhaps it is nostalgia for my first gaming table (a bunch of goofy dorks who decided to play Call of Cthulhu) speaking, but most likely it’s a healthy respect and enthusiasm for what these storytellers can do, but regardless: this podcast has what it takes. As an added bonus, their taste in music is amazing. I’ve discovered many new artists I love through their intros/outros. What’s not to love? If you’re a fan of weird fiction, the X-Files, modern Forteana, horror, real-play, and especially the fantastic Delta Green system, do yourself a favor and check this one out.
  • Sshinkle
    Wolf the Dog is Suspicious, right?
    I started listening to 'Pretending to be People' because I thought it was a true crime podcast about identity theft. Turns out it’s a true crime podcast about cops (who are honestly very bad at their jobs) as they investigate all the criminally supernatural goings-on in the small town of Contention. Wolf the Dog, who runs the local radio station, seems to have an unnatural knowledge of everything happening so I suspect he’s more involved than he’s leading people to believe. I think the cops should be investigating into him more… He also seems to be able to time travel (??), but perhaps I should be questioning my own sanity at this point. He’s probably totally innocent. In reality though, this actual play role playing podcast is excellent and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. The story is expansive, the world building incredible, and Zach is a beyond brilliant story-teller. I’m always on the edge of my seat and have to pick my jaw up off the floor frequently. I’m nearing the end of season 1 as I write this review and I’m already planning on listening to it again – I can’t get enough of the town of Contention.
  • minerva296
    My boifriend won’t hit play until I review
    I am not the typical audience for this type of podcast. I haven’t really roleplayed before, and while people have raved to me about Critical Role and d20, I could never really get into them as someone outside the fandom. That changed with PtbP. First, I love weird fiction like Lovecraft, so the setting and genre were an instant hit for me. The ease of the game system also drew me in, and inspired me to join a Delta Green group of my own! But most importantly, the cast is awesome. I love their sense of humor that they inject, and listening feels like hanging out with some really cool guy friend. My boifriend introduced me to this, and we’ve binged up to episode 88 in a manner of weeks. And now that I wrote the review, I’m going right back to it!
  • SockCucker666
    To Contention, from Concordia
    I live just down the the road and I’m surprised that I’m just now finding out about this podcast. Since discovering it I’ve logged at least 4 episodes a day, so while it’s not very cool of me to be so late to the party, it’s definitely groovy to be able to binge during the long work days. Being so close regionally helps make you fellas a bit more relatable. If I made a movie about you guys making a podcast, I could cast you all with people that I know personally. And if someone made a movie about me making a movie about you making a podcast, I would probably be played by Chris Hemsworth. Note: sanitize this review as it was composed during morning rituals. (That means pee and poo and blood and… well you get it)
  • Ben FYM
    Best actual play podcast ever, and
    ACAB includes Ring Doorbells
  • Matfalkner
    Horror/comedy that’s enjoyably disturbing
    I’m new to ttrpgs and also podcasts in general. But this one has been extremely entertaining. It’s really hard to stop once you start. I have to force myself to take breaks and listen to something else and very now and then. Each character (including the NPCs) satisfies a different itch. You’ve got the noble, the greedy, the apathetic, the pathetic, the too cool for school, etc. I’m really appreciating the all facets they’re covering. And the horror is truly disturbing. I’ll never think of a citrus peeler the same. Excellent job. A+++
  • Greaek_6
    Stupendous!
    Such a cool show. Funny in all the right places and terrifyingly epic! Wonderful group of guys sitting around playing a TTRPG and letting us listen in to the magic.
  • dave128956394754
    Can’t stop listening
    Listen yall, wolf or otherwise. DNDaddies got me to try this podcast and I can’t stop listening to it. Some of my podcast favorites drop a new ep today? Too bad I’ve got Tons of Pretending to be People backlog to go through today. I almost hate it. Give it a try!
  • 1qwqwqeetd
    Great show !!
    Listening to season 1 again & its great all over again (:
  • earthwormjim3
    Fantastic
    If you ever wanted to listen to an actual play podcast you would be hard pressed to do better than this
  • Magsthegamer
    RSTLNE
    The first season was great! They perfectly walked the line between terror and fun, a fantastic trick for an Eldritch Horror game. Wolf The Dog does the boys a huge service with his omniscient news updates. I can’t watch Wheel of Fortune the same way ever again, though. Oh, and you boys made a joke about people finding you through David Winters, but that’s how you got this GCN fan to listen.
  • Auxome
    Best Radio Show Ever
    694.2 PTBP is the ONLY station worth listening to! Wolf the Dog always has up to date, unbiased news and premieres the HOTTEST new tracks out there! If you aren’t tuning in to 694.2 PTBP, you must be squamous!
  • FeralBLs
    Beth May
    Y’all ain’t posted in a while. Beth May got me into this podcast. I don’t know her. But I heard that she’s playing on this podcast. I love y’all and your creation. Eating trash just for the People.
  • Stobert87
    Bubblegum Tree
    This is exactly how you do a Delta Green / Cthulhu AP podcast. You can go as far as you want on the horror/bizarre side as long as you match it with equal amounts of silliness and fun. Give them a listen.
  • Majdo2020
    Fantastic
    A good podcast with good friends.
  • Allthenonsense
    I need everyone to rate this at 5 ⭐️
    I listen on Spotify and Patreon and had to download Apple podcasts to write a review and here’s why: 1. It’s a perfect podcast 2. The characters, the writing, the pure friendship of the people, the horrific atrocities - I love it. 3. I need everyone to rate this well because I need these guys to quit their day jobs and make more episodes so my day job is bearable. Sincerely, Your AirPods are at Low Battery
  • savvy addie
    This is the best podcast I have ever listen to
    I have been listing to this and I have slowly fallin in love with all of the characters
  • Groverine
    Superb
    Wolf the Dog doing his intro alone is worth listening to this podcast. These guys are a riot. The tension the build followed immediately by ridiculous comedic breaks is amazing. Great show, hands down.
  • Slwt86
    Haven’t listened yet
    Excellent actual play of some Contention cops pretending to be people from Missouri. Interesting concept. Consider Hot Ones mash-up where there’s a hot sauce element. If hot sauce doesn’t appear eventually, I will quit.
  • KeyJ Fallachead
    My Favorite Podcast
    The title speaks for itself! As of right now I’ve spent 70 hours listening to this show and its given me countless gut wrenching laughs alongside its thought-provoking & unique horror/sci-fi storytelling. Absolutely worth a listen if you like groups of exceptionally funny dudes makin stupid jokes, engaging roleplaying with an expansive cast of wacky characters, and/or things of occult nature…check it out!
  • I don't like it here
    Crit Success
    The boys of Contention aren’t good cops, but damnit are they entertaining. Give them a chance to get cozied up in your ear holes - I promise you won’t regret it. Ps. Shout out to Wolf the Dog for being the dopest mfer on this side of Bean’s pond. Love you, Wolfie baby.
  • Haunted Handler
    Funny
    Pretending to be People is a hilarious podcast playing a modified version of Delta Green, a Cthulian horror RPG. Their narrative-first style and comedic timing make for a great listen. Their later story-arches also include great guests including David Winters and Ellinor Dilorenzo, adding to an already great cast.
  • The Great Glass Alavator
    One of the best, funniest, spookiest, *nastiest* actual plays out there
    I don’t remember how I stumbled across this show but so glad I did. Production quality, story, and general vibe all 10/10. A wild and weird ride and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
  • Jzabel4
    One of the best Table top RPG podcasts!
    If you want something other than dnd and has more of a modern horror/ pulp vibe this podcast is for. They have good sound and quality across the board which is rare in this space. Plus the voice acting, improv and story are all top notch. So if you want something new and love a good story look no further.
  • kingscribegt
    Best of its class
    A hilarious and horrifying story that never fails to entertain.
  • GeneralMoose
    Great time and spooky crazy stuff
    Great world building and funny dudes. Wolf the dog, keep on howling & getting down on that good old greasy garbage.
  • S.T.Evans
    Best show I know
    These people manage to balance eerie unsettling thriller with comedy in a way that, even when I am laughing uncontrollably, never seems to take the tension away from the scene. It is like they flip a switch for a comedy break, but once they go back to the story, I'm all in again. No other show I know has players that can really get in their characters' heads as well as these guys do. Thanks for the great show. Also, Wolf the dog is the best DJ this side of the ivory endlessness.
  • shayleemb
    12/10
    my bf and i just found this podcast 4 days ago and we really enjoy it! its fun, mysterious, funny and keeps us both desperate to get to the next episode
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