Some betrayals do more than take money. They shatter trust in ways that can never fully be repaired. I sat down with Charlie Webster, the host, producer and writer of the top international podcast, Scamanda, to break down the shocking deception behind the story and the emotional damage it left behind.
Amanda Riley didn’t just lie about having cancer. She built an entire identity around it. She shaved her head, posted hospital photos, and wrote heartfelt blog updates, all while collecting over $100,000 in donations. But what makes someone go to such extremes? And how does that kind of deception affect the people who believed in her?
Charlie shared what it was like to uncover Amanda’s story, exposing how someone so seemingly normal managed to fool so many for so long. We explored the psychology behind these kinds of lies—why people are drawn to them, how victims struggle to process the betrayal, and what Amanda’s case reveals about manipulation, trust, and the stories we tell ourselves.
We also talked about Amanda’s husband, Corey. Did he know? Should he have? And what does this entire saga say about the way we judge people based on the image they present?
If you’ve ever felt deceived, questioned your instincts, or wondered how far someone would go for validation, this episode will make you think twice about what we choose to believe and why.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction
05:01 The Complexity of Human Behavior in Scamanda
07:11 The Intrigue of Amanda Riley’s Story
10:47 The Emotional Impact on Victims
15:01 The Relatability and Extremity of Amanda’s Actions
18:01 The Nuances of Amanda’s Deception
23:32 Amanda Riley’s Identity and Motivation
30:43 The Function of Dysfunctional Behaviors
36:03 The Reality of Amanda’s Actions and Empathy
38:31 The Importance of Public Awareness
41:07 Why Amanda Agreed to Speak with Charlie
Links
Watch Scamanda Hulu https://www.hulu.com/series/f4ec2a4c-e234-4658-8728-1d17d1725b89
Watch Scamanda on ABC https://abc.com/show/1056ec91-9c44-4671-ae98-3c9feb3f35b3
Listen to Scamanda podcast wherever you get your podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scamanda/id1685691481
Connect with Charlie Webster:
Instagram @charliewebster
Website www.charliewebster.com
Why It’s OK to Talk About Trauma book https://amzn.to/41F5OUy
Connect with Dr. Z: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/
https://www.zgrouptherapy.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dr.z_psychologist/
https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.z_psychologist
https://www.youtube.com/@DrJaimeZuckerman
Get my FREE breathing exercise here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/newsletter
Register for my on demand virtual courses here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/workshops
Order my workbooks! *Find Your Calm / Find Good Habits* http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/books
Shop my new Mindfully Messy hoodie here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/apparel
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.