Motive & Method
Motive & Method is an expert-led Australian true crime podcast. Join Dr Xanthe Mallett and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro as they unpack what really makes the offenders behind some of history’s most notorious cases tick, and also react and unpack crimes as they hit the headlines. You will also hear from victim survivors, investigators and advocates for change analysing motive, and method.
Episodes
The University of Idaho Murders
When four young university students were found brutally stabbed to death in Idaho, with no clear motive and scarce leads, the case became one of the most talked about crimes in America and online. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe unpack the …
MUSHROOM MURDER UPDATE: Erin Patterson’s Police Interview
“Lies, deception and an extreme lack of remorse”. In this special bonus episode, Xanthe and Tim dissect Erin Patterson’s newly released police interview for the ‘The Mushroom Trial: Say Grace’ podcast. They share their expert insights with …
Ashlea Hansen: Cracking Open A Cold Case Murder
The 2001 murder case of Rachelle Childs has been cracked back open in the new investigative podcast ‘ Dear Rachelle’. Host and journalist Ashlea Hansen joins Tim and Xanthe on this week’s episode to take us inside her 18-month long investig…
Kerry Tucker: Finding Purpose in Prison
From forging cheques to finding purpose, this week’s guest shares her incredible story of redemption. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe sit down with Kerry Tucker, a woman once jailed for a serious fraud of millions of dollars. Kerry opens u…
Inside Snowtown: The Cop Who Found The Bodies in the Barrels
He’s the cop who lifted the lid on Australia’s most horrific serial killings. In this episode, retired forensic investigator, Gordon Drage, takes us behind the scenes of the infamous Snowtown ‘bodies in the barrels' case. 26 years on, he st…
Love Behind Bars: Pen Pals to Prison Romance
They say you can't help who you fall for... So is it truly possible to fall head over heels in love with a criminal? From the infamous courtroom "groupies" of serial killers like Ted Bundy and Richard Ramirez, to women who become pen pals w…
Life Undercover with Keith Banks
What if the most dangerous criminal you ever hunted was… you? In this episode, Tim and Xanthe pull back the curtain on the astonishing double life of Keith Banks, an undercover operative who didn't just infiltrate criminal organizations – h…
BONUS EPISODE: Mushroom Murder Motive with Gary Jubelin
In this bonus episode, the host of I Catch Killers, Gary Jubelin and Dr. Xanthe Mallett unpack the trial which has kept everyone talking. From the mismatched plates and crocodile tears to the myriad of lies and months of planning, these ex…
GUILTY: Unpacking The Erin Patterson Verdict
She's been dubbed the 'Mushroom Cook' by many, but now, Erin Patterson is a convicted triple murderer. The 50-year-old has been found guilty by the jury of murdering three relatives, and attempting to murder another, at a family lunch in 20…
Kids Who Kill
Australia’s youngest convicted murderer was just 13 years old. In this chilling episode, Xanthe and Tim delve into the disturbing reality of children who kill, exploring cases of offenders as young as eight years old. The discussion grapple…
Cassie Sainsbury: Groomed or Guilty?
Xanthe and Tim unpack the twisted tale of Cassie Sainsbury aka “Cocaine Cassie” and her claims of coercion and grooming by organised crime. Was she a naive pawn, or a willing player in an international drug smuggling ring? This episode chal…
Dr. Nathan Brooks: Inside the Mind of a Stalker
Tim and Xanthe are joined by forensic psychologist Dr. Nathan Brooks to delve into the psychology of stalking - a crime fueled by obsession, control, and dangerous delusion. Together, they break down the distinct types of stalkers and the t…
Female Serial Killers: From Poisoners to Predators
They’re rare, often overlooked, and shrouded in myth - but female serial killers are as deadly as they are complex. In this episode, Xanthe and Tim unravel the motives and methods of these women who kill, exploring what sets them apart from…
Shooting Victim Confronts His Killer: An Artificial Intelligence World First
In a world first, Stacey Wales used AI to bring her brother back to life so he could face his killer and deliver his own victim impact statement from beyond the grave. In this powerful episode, Stacey shares the emotional journey behind tha…
His Brother Vanished 50 Years Ago - Can The Case Be Solved Now?
In this gripping and emotional episode, we sit down with Daryl Floyd, whose brother Terry went missing 50 years ago. His relentless search for the truth has uncovered new evidence and promising leads. As the case is thrust back into the spo…
Who is ‘The Playboy Swindler’? Inside the Psyche of a Serial Scammer
This week on Motive and Method, we dissect the mind of David Prince-Popovich, aka ‘The Playboy Swindler’. From bogus bank transfers to private jets, even duping a former Premier, his scams were as elaborate as they were audacious. Sydney Mo…
SPECIAL GUEST: Why Innocent People Confess
Why would someone admit to a crime they didn’t commit? In this gripping episode, Xanthe and Tim are joined, from the US, by renowned false confessions expert Professor Alan Hirsch to dissect the psychological tactics and high-pressure inter…
Is Lucy Letby Innocent?
Tim and Xanthe are join by Professor Neena Modi, who was part of the international panel who looked at the case of Lucy Letby, to discuss the trial, the review and where it goes from here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Dark Side of Public Registers: Protection or Peril?
Does naming and shaming really make our kids safer, or does it just open the door to misinformation and vigilante justice? This federal election could lead to Australia's first public child sex offender register. Tim & Xanthe are joined by …
Bondi Junction stabbings one year on with Greg Barton
Distinguished academic, Professor Greg Barton, joins the podcast to reflect on the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing rampage one year on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do Citizen Sleuths Help or Hinder Investigations?
Xanthe and Tim discuss the rise of citizen sleuths and their impact on investigations, and look at specific case studies such as Gabby Petito, Ivan Milat and The Teacher's Pet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Adolescence and the Manosphere
Xanthe and Tim discuss Netflix drama Adolescence and how it's turned the world's attention to the growing influence of the manosphere and the influence it's having on teenage boys.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SPECIAL: Tony Mokbel FREED after a 'Seismic Moment in Legal History'
Tim and Xanthe are joined by criminal barrister Ruth Parker to discuss the fallout and ramifications after underworld figure Tony Mokbel was set free on bail.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A cult convicted of killing an 8-year-old girl
Xanthe and Tim unpack the shocking death of an eight-year-old girl in rural Queensland, after she was denied life-saving medication by her parents and their religious group, who call themselves 'The Saints'. They're joined by A Current Aff…
Should juries have to explain their verdicts?
Xanthe and Tim examine the jury secrecy principle with barrister and academic Jason Donnelly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Will Victoria's 'toughest ever' bail laws reduce reoffending?
Xanthe and Tim discuss bail and its role in the criminal justice system, and if Victoria's sweeping reforms will help to reduce crime rates, and the risk of letting the status quo continue. They also look at the age of criminal responsibili…
Simon Feldman: The Man Who Embezzled $16.7 Million
Simon Feldman was a successful company co-founder at the height of his career… But the higher you fly, the further you can fall. Simon hit rock bottom after being found guilty of embezzling more than $16 million from his family business an…
Can people really commit crime whilst asleep?
What happens when we sleep? Parasomnia is a sleep disorder that causes people to do strange or even dangerous things while they're asleep. In some shocking criminal cases, people have committed murders or sexually motivated crimes whilst a…
How Belle Gibson conned the world
She built an empire on hope—a wellness guru with a miraculous story of healing. Belle Gibson claimed she had cured her terminal brain cancer through natural remedies, clean eating, and holistic living. Her journey inspired millions, and her…
Remembering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies... One Year On
On February 18 2024, Sydney was shaken by the disappearance and tragic deaths of television presenter Jesse Baird, 26, and his partner, Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies, 29. Their bodies were found in surfboard bags near Goulburn, and ex…
The Unbelievable Horrors of Human Trafficking Networks
Human trafficking is a hidden crime that strips millions of their freedom every year. While many think it’s a distant issue, it’s happening closer than we realise - in neighborhoods, cities, and countries around the world, including Austral…
Where Is Samantha Murphy's Body?
It's been one year since the disappearance of 51-year-old Australian woman, Samantha Murphy. Samantha left her home in Ballarat, Victoria, for a morning run… and was never seen again. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe look at the investigatio…
How Forensic Genetic Genealogy Is Solving Serial Crime...
Netflix's latest short series, 'The Breakthrough', has captured the attention of true crime fans across the globe for it's fictional account of the infamous 2004 double homicide in Linköping, Sweden. This double homicide went unsolved for 1…
Hate Crimes & The Rise of Anti-Semitic Incidents
Australia has experienced a significant increase in anti-Semitic incidents, with reported cases quadrupling since October 7, 2023. Known more broadly as Hate Crimes, Tim and Xanthe sit down with Matteo Vergani, an Associate Professor at De…
Unpacking the Menendez case with Laura Richards
Later this month, infamous brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez will have a sentencing hearing, where a judge will determine their fate and freedom. The brothers were found guilty of murdering Jose and Kitty Menendez with shotguns in 1989 and s…
Ask The Expert | 2024
What's the most bizarre case you've ever worked on? Do lie detectors REALLY work? Do you ever suffer from Imposter Syndrome? In this episode of Motive & Method, Tim and Xanthe answer your burning questions before giving a lookahead at wh…
Watch out for crime at Christmas time...
It's the most wonderful time of the year... But also rife for crime. In this episode of Motive & Method, Tim and Xanthe detail the crimes which escalate during the holiday period, the red flags to be wary of and their top tips for how to s…
"He could attack at any time"... The woman who was stalked
In April 2024, the Netflix miniseries 'Baby Reindeer' captured the attention of millions across the world, following the story of a relentless stalker. For Di McDonald, the series hit too close to home... In this episode of Motive & Method,…
Tracy Hall... The woman who dated an international con artist
Tracy Hall thought she’d fallen head over heels with the love of her life… But instead, she’d fallen for an elaborate scam which would cost her entire life savings. In this episode of Motive & Method, Tim and Xanthe sit down with Tracy as s…
Investigative journalist Neil Mercer on Crime and Corruption
What happens when a cop crosses the line and partners with a kingpin? Renowned investigative journalist Neil Mercer joins Tim and Xanthe to unpack the criminal empire led by drug lord Terry Clark and the complicity of Detective Sergeant Rog…