Betrayal: Weekly

Bernie Pt. 1 | Betrayal Weekly

Host: Andrea Gunning
Release Date: October 9, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts

Episode Overview

In the highly anticipated return of Betrayal Weekly, host Andrea Gunning introduces listeners to Bernie Brown and the rollercoaster relationship that upended his life. The episode centers on Bernie’s journey from a hard-working Londoner with a difficult family history to his entanglement with “Leo,” a sophisticated, secretive man he meets on Grindr who claims to be of British nobility. As their romance intensifies, Bernie becomes ensnared in Leo’s mysterious world of privilege, luxury watches, and shocking deceptions, setting the stage for themes of trust, vulnerability, and catastrophic betrayal.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bernie’s Background and Resilience

• Difficult childhood in London: Bernie describes a childhood marked by domestic violence and financial hardship, shaping his independence and determination.
  • “My childhood was very rough. My mum was extremely strong, but she was going through massive domestic violence with my dad…we’re talking like hospitalization.” —Bernie (03:37)
• Admiration for his mother’s strength and generosity: Bernie’s mother remains his role model, known for her open-door kindness.
  • “My mother—everything I do and the person that I am now is because of who she was and what she showed me.” —Bernie (04:22)
• Positive coming-out experience: Supported by family, Bernie explores London’s queer scene, forming lasting friendships.
  • “My family were lovely with it. I was very, very, very lucky. That enabled me to actually be proud and celebrate it.” —Bernie (05:05)

2. Early Romantic Aspirations & Self-Reliance

• First major relationship: Bernie has a loving (if unconventional) partnership, creating his own “wedding” before same-sex marriage is legalized in the UK.
  • “We threw a party and we legally changed our names…we kind of had our little version of a wedding.” —Bernie (06:02)
• Striving for independence: Following personal loss and years of retail work, Bernie starts his own clothing business despite financial struggles.
  • “I've never, never had money at all, but I've always worked very, very hard for the money that I do have.” —Bernie (07:55)

3. Meeting Leo: Charm, Mystery, and Red Flags

• Unexpected connection on Grindr: An unusually sophisticated and compelling message from Leo piques Bernie’s interest.
  • “There was something intriguing. It was very well written and not the usual first opening message…” —Bernie (08:33)
• First dates and Leo’s world of privilege: Leo impresses Bernie with his charm, Queen’s English, and apparent wealth—introducing Bernie to luxury cars and a private, high-end lifestyle.
  • “He was very articulate and he did speak Queen’s English. It's very smooth, but pronounces every word as intended by her Majesty the Queen.” —Bernie (10:11)
• Leo’s secretiveness about his background: Leo claims a need for privacy due to his influential family and hints at being closeted.
  • “He said, nobody knows about this caravan…for him, it’s just his little getaway to just be himself…” —Bernie (11:59)
• Odd, intimate requests: On their first date, Leo awkwardly asks Bernie to undress, citing inexperience and nerves, which Bernie overlooks as endearing vulnerability.
  • “He was like, just turn around for me. And that was it…‘I've not been with many men, so I’m a little bit nervous.’ Instantly, I was like, oh, that's so sweet.” —Bernie (13:02)

4. Escalation: Deepening Connection & Introduction to The Lie

• Leo reveals “royal status”: After several dates, Leo opens up about his aristocratic background, claiming to be Viscount Norfolk II, nephew to the Duke of Norfolk.
  • “He was like, my dad's brother is the Duke of Norfolk…the highest peerage in the UK outside of the Royal family.” —Leo (20:58)
• Display of extravagant symbols: Leo shows Bernie his family’s ornate Cartier crest, supposedly essential for royal protocols.
  • “He had this Cartier box…opened was a crest with flower spikes all around…He said, ‘We have to carry this everywhere we go.’” —Bernie (21:58)
• Bernie’s skepticism fades: Bernie is swept up by Leo’s confidence, luxury, and emotionally charged admissions, reassured by grand gestures and tender moments.
  • “I had felt the happiest, settled and loved…than I had ever felt in my life.” —Bernie (24:50)

5. Leo’s “Illness” and Emotional Manipulation

• Mysterious health decline: Leo suffers from dramatic coughing fits that escalate into a supposed terminal brain cancer diagnosis.
  • “He was suffering from brain cancer and they’ve given him a year to live…he got upset, he got angry. He was crying.” —Bernie (27:06, 27:42)
• Request for secrecy and support: Leo asks Bernie to pose as his assistant/driver due to his closeted status and family scrutiny. Bernie, fully invested emotionally, agrees without hesitation.

6. Becoming Financially Entangled

• Launching Leo’s watch restoration business: Bernie helps build "The Vintage Crown," manages the business’s branding, and lists Leo’s allegedly vast collection of luxury watches.
  • “We had quite a few business meetings on how the logo’s going to look…The company was called the Vintage Crown.” —Bernie (30:22)
• Staggering watch collection: Leo boasts about a £1.2 million Rolex and other luxury pieces, exposing Bernie to a world of wealth he’s never known.
  • “There must have been, I'd say, close to 100 watches in my lounge on this table…It came in at 1.2 million.” —Bernie (31:02, 31:38)
• Persuasion into a high-risk deal: Leo entices Bernie to invest £20,000 in a Rolex purchase for resale, promising a quick profit. Bernie liquidates his clothing business, maxes out credit cards, and takes a payday loan with predatory interest.
  • “These payday loans, the interest rate is 79% per month, and that's more than what you’ve borrowed.” —Bernie (40:39)

7. The Emotional & Financial Cliff

• Sudden shift in Leo’s demeanor: After receiving Bernie’s money, Leo becomes distant; their connection devolves from romance to anxious transactional exchange.
  • “It went from loving and just amazing conversations to all about the watch.” —Bernie (42:34)
• Isolation and heartbreak: Bernie's world narrows to his preoccupation with Leo, leading him to distance himself from friends and family.
  • “He was my world at that point… I had stopped talking to my friends, even my best friend.” —Bernie (43:07)
• Suspicion and denial: Bernie notices evidence that Leo is possibly with another man. When confronted, Leo angrily denies any wrongdoing.
  • “He was adamant and quite nasty with it that I completely made it up.” —Bernie (46:04)

8. The False Hope of Escape

• Emotional manipulation peaks: Leo claims he wants to escape his life and asks Bernie to move to Scotland with him, suggesting a fresh start. Bernie is initially swept away by the fantasy.
  • “I want to move somewhere in Scotland. Would you come with me?” —Leo (48:18)
• Ominous conclusion: Bernie hints at the imminent reveal—the truth behind Leo’s fabricated identity and the impending betrayal.
  • “But in the end, it was all a lie.” —Bernie (49:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On seeing luxury up close:
  “I’d never even been close to a Bentley…oh, my God, it goes fast. Beautiful car.” —Bernie (16:33)

• On unconditional emotional investment:
  “I am fully in depth. I am fully in love with him.” —Bernie (42:57)

• On the devastation of betrayal:
  “He was my world at that point. And there was nothing else that I was concentrated on.” —Bernie (43:07)

• The pivotal admission of fraud:
  “But in the end, it was all a lie.” —Bernie (49:35)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction to Bernie’s life and mother’s influence: 03:06 – 05:14
• Coming out and entering the queer scene: 05:14 – 06:33
• Early relationship, breakup, and loss of mother: 06:33 – 06:59
• Starting his own business and going on Grindr: 07:40 – 08:33
• Bernie meets Leo and is introduced to his “lifestyle”: 08:33 – 12:33
• Leo’s health issues and deepening relationship: 13:54 – 16:13
• Leo reveals aristocratic background and presents crest: 20:40 – 23:02
• Business partnership and watch deal setup: 30:08 – 40:30
• Emotional and financial unraveling: 42:34 – 47:54
• Leo asks Bernie to run away to Scotland: 48:18 – 49:35
• Foreshadowing the truth behind Leo: 49:35 – 50:09

Episode Tone

The episode is intimate, candid, and at times painfully vulnerable. Bernie is open about his hopes, doubts, and the growing dread as red flags accumulate. Andrea Gunning’s narration is compassionate and steady, anchoring the audience in Bernie’s perspective as the emotional and financial stakes climb.

What’s Next

Listeners are left on a cliffhanger, with Bernie foreshadowing the investigation into Leo’s true identity. The next episode promises big revelations as Bernie uncovers the depth of the deception and the fallout from his misplaced trust.

“I started doing my own research. This person, this Leo Howard—there was absolutely no trace.” —Bernie (50:13)

For Further Engagement

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Summary prepared for listeners who want a vivid, moment-by-moment account of Bernie’s story of hope, love, and the darker side of trust.