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.
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Delta Green // Operation: JOHNNY B. GOODE // Part One (with Juicy Garland)
It's time to meet The Country Fair Five.
This episode features Juicy Garland.
Here's the link to the Scenario Contest 2026 Submissions.
Support the show on Patreon.
Sep 12 1 h 05 min
Delta Green // Operation: Zoonotic // Part Three (with Caleb Stokes)
Will our intrepid heroes unravel the awful avian enigma before they're all exsanguinated? Find out NOW in this thrilling conclusion to Operation: Zoonotic!
This episode
Sep 2 1 h 05 min
Delta Green // Operation: Zoonotic // Part Two (with Caleb Stokes)
I see miracles all around me
Stop and look around, it's all astounding
Water, fire, air, and dirt
Fucking magnets, how do they work?
This episode features Caleb Stok
Aug 23 1 h 02 min
Delta Green // Operation: Zoonotic // Part One (with Caleb Stokes)
A police officer named Gilbert Mackey. A conservation agent named Lem McLamb. A former exotic animal trainer/dealer named Billy Ray Weaver. And Billy Ray Weaver's parole
Aug 14 1 h 13 min
Pulp Delta Green // Mission: Unnatural // Part Three (with Ross Bryant)
Ike S. Lovell, Cyrus Zuto-James, Simon Hopper, and Dr. Osiris Pelops are jammed between duty and morality. Will they help April Technologies recover the mysterious canist
Jul 30 1 h 01 min
Pulp Delta Green // Mission: Unnatural // Part Two (with Ross Bryant)
Ike S. Lovell, Cyrus Zuto-James, and Dr. Osiris Pelops entered a warehouse in St. Louis, Missouri to retrieve the requested cannister while Simon Hopper kept an eye on th
Jul 18 1 h 03 min
Pulp Delta Green // Mission: Unnatural // Part One (with Ross Bryant)
This is a homebrewed Pulp Delta Green scenario in the style of Mission: Impossible.
This episode features Ross Bryant from Push the Roll with Ross Bryant.
Come to our
Jul 3 1 h 09 min
Delta Green // Operation: $PAWN (with Beth May)
This is a homebrewed Delta Green oneshot set in one of the best places on Earth to bleed out before you die.
This episode features Beth May from Dungeons and Daddies.
Jun 27 1 h 40 min
Delta Green // Operation: STOP REPO // Part Three (with Jared Logan)
This is the end of the line for some of Jasper Saffir's team.
This episode features Jared Logan from Glass Cannon Network and LPN Bloodbath.
"I don't love the seducti
Jun 6 1 h 26 min
Delta Green // Operation: STOP REPO // Part Two (with Jared Logan)
Jasper Saffir's cell of cowboys run into a few more unnatural vectors from previous operas at Cowboy Watkins' car auction before needing to leave.
This episode features
May 23 1 h 04 min
FIRST LIVE SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT
It's finally happening. We're performing LIVE in PERSON in REAL LIFE.
CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE EVENT.
CLICK HERE FOR GEN CON BADGE INFO.
Event registration open
May 16 2 min
Delta Green // Operation: STOP REPO // Part One (with Jared Logan)
The Prince of Denver is revealed at a mentor's funeral.
This episode features Jared Logan from Glass Cannon Network and LPN Bloodbath.
We are playing Operation: STOP
May 9 1 h 12 min
S2E97 - Q&A: Part Two // All You Want Is More
This is the second Q&A episode (of two) to end Season Two.
Support the show on Patreon.
Buy some merch at the Contention General Store.
Follow along on Bluesky.
F
Apr 26 56 min
S2E96 - Q&A: Part One // Mister Ssippi
This is the first Q&A episode (of two) to end Season Two.
Support the show on Patreon.
Buy some merch at the Contention General Store.
Follow along on Bluesky.
Fi
Apr 19 1 h 13 min
S2E95 - It's Showtime, Kiddo (Final Finale)
This is the finale of Season Two.
Support the show on Patreon.
Buy some merch at the Contention General Store.
Follow along on Bluesky.
Find other listeners on Di
Mar 31 1 h 58 min
S2E94 - The News Brothers (Finale: Part One)
The actual penultimate episode of Season Two is here. It's Part One of a Two-Part Finale! Definitely the next episode is the last one, I don't know why you're looking at
Mar 13 1 h 25 min
S2E93 - I Know What I Have To Do
The penultimate episode of Season Two finds Algernon, Beck, and Cal scattered, covered, and smothered.
Support the show on Patreon.
Buy some merch at the Contention G
Feb 27 1 h 04 min
S2E92 - God Has Left This World, But the Devil Hasn't (with Scott Dorward)
Some fight. Some flee. Some freeze. So get ready to fawn.
Alternate titles include:
Strong Sartorial Opinions
Probably Pretty Cool and Brutal Footage
Our Beck (Who A
Feb 14 1 h 12 min
S2E91 - The Absence of The Lord (with Scott Dorward)
Welcome back.
Alternate titles include:
As Last Words Go
You're In the South Now
Look At Me, I'm a Raincloud
Cal-mulonimbus
The Ol' Mom Spit
A Horrible, Little Ma
Jan 31 1 h 03 min
S2E90 - I Think This Is All Just Your Bad Dream (with Scott Dorward and Ellinor DiLorenzo)
Did you get got? 833, 834, 835...
This episode features Scott Dorward from The Good Friends of Jackson Elias and Ellinor DiLorenzo from The Lost Mountain Saga and The G
Jan 17 1 h 08 min
Chart trend
Position in the Improv chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#46#90JunJulAugSep
#39
all-time peak
27
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where Pretending to be People ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 17, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
It’s like a soap opera if “soap opera” meant comedy-horror-rpg-improv. It’s very funny, sometimes disturbing, and always squamous, if “squamous” actually meant “friend group with great chemistry,” rather than “scaly.”
I am glad we get to listen in on their game. And to the dulcet tones of Wolf the Dog, of course.
RatsAteMyRainbow · Mar 2026
The PTBP guys are quite frankly riveting, whiplashing between silly humor and chilly dread, with fantastic characterization, RP, and a Keeper who knows how to drag your ears straight into his demented mind. I’ve already had a “howlin’ with wolf” opportunity, so this is just a bonus review. :)
ethanthej · Dec 2025
I’ve been listening to this show for years, and it is well past time to tell the world how all-consuming this podcast is. I started listening because I wanted to supplement my diet of more traditional actual play podcasts with something a little spookier, and I got HOOKED not just by Zack’s immersive storytelling but also by the friendship shared by all these wonderful boys. You wouldn’t think that you would find too many laughs in a spooky actual play, but every time these boys crack themselves up, an angel (or other Eldritch creature of your choice) gets its wings.
LehmanSarahM · Nov 2025
Warm fuzzy chaos and absurdity. This has become my favorite podcast. Kudos to the whole crew for this gem of hilarity and weirdness.
With this podcast you can:
-Laugh
-Hear the word squamous a lot.
-Celebrate the legendary Cal Colorado, possibly the greatest character in any medium.
-Get a dose of off kilter storytelling.
Give it a shot ! It’s awesome.
wearabletomato · Aug 2025
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Pretending to be People, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
