Podcast Review: Scamanda

Every now and then, a podcast comes along that completely pulls you in.

Scamanda was that for me.

I started listening casually and within one episode, I was hooked. Equal parts unbelievable and heartbreaking, it tells the story of Amanda Riley, a woman who built an entire online persona around having cancer, gathering sympathy, financial support, and a community around a lie that went on for years.

What makes the podcast so compelling is not just the story itself, but the way it unfolds. Every episode reveals another layer that somehow makes the situation even more shocking than the one before it.

You keep thinking, surely this can’t get worse.

And then it does.

The podcast explores more than just deception. It touches on trust, manipulation, faith, family dynamics, and the strange relationship people have with curated online lives. It also leaves you thinking about how easily people want to believe the best in others, especially when someone appears vulnerable.

The storytelling is excellent. Tight pacing, strong interviews, and just enough detail without feeling overwhelming. It’s one of those podcasts that makes you sit in the car for an extra few minutes because you need to finish the episode.

I also appreciated that it didn’t feel overly dramatic or sensationalized. The story itself was already unbelievable enough.

If you enjoy true crime, long-form storytelling, or podcasts that make you audibly say “there’s no way” every twenty minutes, this is worth listening to.

Wild from start to finish.

You can listen to it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.