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Parents' Guide to

Scamanda

By Alina Barrera, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Lies, manipulation and deceit in shocking true crime pod.

Podcast News Lionsgate Sound Average run time: 45 minutes
Split picture of woman smiling with white letters and light blue background

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this podcast.

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What’s It About?

SCAMANDA is a true crime podcast, not about murder, but about an unassuming scam that baffled an entire community. Amanda is a charming and bubbly young woman who seems to have it all -- a home in California, a beautiful family, a loving husband, a caring community through her church -- until she's diagnosed with cancer. What starts off as a touching story of a woman's journey as she documents her battle with cancer through her blog, spirals into something shockingly sinister. When investigative producer gets an anonymous tip that Amanda's story may not be all that it seems, she takes us on her long and relentless mission to uncover the truth. Each episode is filled with mystery and suspense, leaving listeners on a cliff hanger until the very last one.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

A heart wrenching journey of a woman battling cancer takes a twisted turn, in this addictive true crime pod. Scamanda starts off slow, but hits the ground running a few episodes in. The compelling interviews, brilliant investigative journalism and superb audio production combine to make this a podcast worth binging. Though it's not necessarily a podcast for kids, it could be a fun podcast for teens to listen to with their family, especially since it's not violent or gory like so many other true crime podcasts.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the negative behavior masked by Amanda's seemingly sweet and bubbly personality in Scamanda. What about Amanda's actions are negative? What can we take away from this story?

  • Why do you think so many people believed Amanda? How were her lies different than a white lie someone might tell from time to time? Is it okay to lie any time?

  • How does lying about being sick, injured or disabled hurt others who are actually in those positions?

Podcast Details

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