Episode 9: The Cocoverse Crumbles

Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story

Dear Media

True Crime

4.4 • 989 Ratings

🗓️ 14 September 2023

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the spring and summer of 2021, Coco Berthmann seemed to be at the height of her popularity. She recorded a TEDx talk and appeared at events with Elizabeth Smart. But behind the scenes, more and more people were starting to doubt her story. Her solution? Come up with a bigger lie.

But even as Coco announced her cancer “diagnosis” on Instagram, internet sleuths were documenting her every move. And soon, Coco would find that even her most trusted friends were starting to catch on to the truth.

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Mental Health Hotline: 866-903-3787

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Transcript

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0:00.0	A note before we get started. Yes, we are still using AI generated voices in this
0:07.2	podcast and yes, we will still let you know when we do. And a warning. This episode includes mention of sexual violence
0:14.8	against children, rape, and suicide. Listen with care.
0:20.0	There is a pattern to Coco Birthman's relationships.
0:27.0	We've heard about it from almost everyone who knew her.
0:30.0	But let's use Amanda Frisbee, Coco's friend from the ice cream shop as an example.
0:35.0	Step one, establish a friendship.
0:38.0	Coco has this tendency to just like suck people in really fast.
0:43.0	She was the one who was like, no, we're best friends.
0:45.7	Step two, make it clear that loyalty is paramount
0:49.2	so that your friends don't accidentally
0:50.9	talk to your former friends.
0:52.8	She would mention stuff like that every once in a while, like,
0:55.8	yeah, I left that family that I was living with because of blah, blah, blah, we don't talk anywhere,
1:00.0	you know.
1:00.5	Step three, become really needy.
1:03.4	It was just constant.
1:05.8	Oh, can you pick this up for me?
1:07.2	Do you want to come over tonight?
1:08.2	Do you want to take the dogs on a walk?
1:09.5	I'm not feeling well.
1:10.2	Can you grab me medicine?
	...

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