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PODCAST

Motive & Method

Xanthe Mallett and Tim Watson-Munro

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.

true crime

All Episodes

26:55

Cult On Trial: Who Are The Zizians?

Motive & Method ·

2026/03/10

Six deaths, multiple states and a high-IQ cult at the centre of it all. In this episode Xanthe and Tim unravel the bizarre and deeply unsettling case of 'The Zizians', whose alleged victims include a border patrol agent and one member's own parents. So how and why did a group of highly intelligent Silicon Valley overachievers spiral into violence? It's a twisted web authorities are still trying to untangle, with seven cult members currently behind bars awaiting trial. You can watch our full episodes

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43:24

The Killer Babysitter: Living Free & Babysitting Again

Motive & Method ·

2026/03/03

She killed three babies and tried to murder two others. How is Australia's worst female serial killer now living in anonymity within close proximity to young children?An investigation by A Current Affair reporter Erin Ramsay has thrust the case of Helen Patricia Moore, the so-called killer babysitter, back into the spotlight. Despite serving less than fourteen years for murdering babies in her care, Moore rebuilt her life under a new identity - and was babysitting again.Plus, a chilling new claim

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32:58

Lucy Letby: Is History Repeating?

Motive & Method ·

2026/02/24

Is this another case of wrongful conviction like Kathleen Folbigg?In this episode, we revisit the case of Lucy Letby,as fresh legal developments continue to reshape how the evidence is being examined. With new inquests announced and ongoing legal processes underway, questions are being raised about expert testimony, systemic failures and whether earlier conclusions still stand. Tim & Xanthe unpack what’s changed, what’s still contested and why this case remains far from settled.See

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23:59

What Happened To Gus Lamont?

Motive & Method ·

2026/02/17

The disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont has become one of the most troubling and fast-moving investigations in the country. The case that began as a desperate search in remote South Australia has since shifted into a major crime investigation. This episode, Tim & Xanthe discuss the key developments and turning points, and what detectives are saying now about their direction and their suspect. It's a case still unfolding with updates released literally as we record this episode, so by the

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23:11

Julian Ingram: Wanted For Murder

Motive & Method ·

2026/02/10

At the time this episode is released, Julian Ingram is one of the most wanted men in Australia.A major manhunt was launched in regional NSW after Ingram allegedly shot and killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend, her new partner and her aunt before fleeing the scene.As revelations emerge of his criminal history and recent release on bail, serious questions are being asked about risk assessment, firearm access and systemic failures. We break down what is known so far - and why this case is resonating far

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42:01

Sydney’s Baby Farming Murders

Motive & Method ·

2026/02/03

When the remains of an infant were uncovered in a Sydney backyard, it was just the start of a dark and twisted scandal that shocked colonial Australia. As police uncovered over a dozen more infant remains, the secret world of Sarah and John Makin’s baby-farming operation came into view. In this episode we’re joined by author of ‘The Baby Farmers’, Dr Annie Cossens, to dissect what really happened and how baby farming thrived in an era when young women and unmarried mothers

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39:41

The Most Isolated Prisoner In The World

Motive & Method ·

2026/01/27

Robert Maudsley has spent more than 40 years in near solitary confinement, caged in a bespoke glass cell. Also branded ‘Britain’s Most Dangerous Criminal’ and labelled ‘Hannibal The Cannibal’, his story has been shaped as much by myth as by fact. In this episode, we unpack Maudsley’s troubled upbringing, his violent criminal history and the extraordinary lengths taken to isolate and contain him. It’s a case that raises countless legal and ethical questions

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35:46

Taken In The Night: The Eloise Worledge Mystery

Motive & Method ·

2026/01/20

Fifty years after eight-year-old Eloise Worledge vanished from her bedroom, the case is back in the spotlight with a $1 million reward announced for answers. In this episode, we speak with Eloise’s aunt, Margie Thomas, who has spent decades refusing to let her niece be forgotten. She takes us inside the night Eloise disappeared, the investigation that stalled and the toll of living with unanswered questions. If someone knows the truth, this conversation is a reminder that it’s never too

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31:26

Files Unsealed: The Last Woman Executed in Australia

Motive & Method ·

2026/01/13

In 1951, Jean Lee was the last woman executed in Australia. 75 years after her execution, the case has been thrust back into the spotlight with the release of never-before-seen court documents. Lee was convicted of murder alongside two men - despite ongoing debate about her true role in the crime. In this episode, Tim & Xanthe unpack the crime, the controversial police investigation and the legal twists that sealed her fate. It’s a case that forces us to confront uncomfortable questions

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25:54

Cold Cases Cracked Open In 2025

Motive & Method ·

2026/01/06

As we step into the new year, this episode turns the spotlight to some of the meaningful progress made in major Australian cold cases in 2025. After decades of unanswered questions, several long-standing cases saw significant breakthroughs, new evidence and even arrests. Tim & Xanthe revisit just some of the many cases that were cracked back open last year, offering long-awaited progress for families who have been waiting years for answers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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47:49

Year in Crime: Cases That Defined 2025

Motive & Method ·

2025/12/31

In this special end-of-year episode, Xanthe and Tim look back on Australia’s biggest and most unsettling cases of 2025. From the trial that gripped the nation, to some of the lesser publicised but equally disturbing cases, they unpack the investigations that shaped public conversation and debate. Plus, the cases we should keep watching as we head into 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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45:46

REPLAY: 2025 Fan Favourite - Inside Snowtown with...

Motive & Method ·

2025/12/28

Catch up on one of our most-listened episodes in 2025. Forensic investigator Gordon Drage lifted the lid on Australia’s most horrific serial killings - the infamous Snowtown ‘bodies in the barrels' case. 26 years on, he still remembers every detail of the day they made the gruesome discovery in that bank vault. Now retired, Drage is a passionate advocate for mental health support within emergency services, sharing his powerful insights on the profound impact such cases have on those who

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31:09

HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Bizarre, Brazen & Baffling Cases of...

Motive & Method ·

2025/12/23

In this special holiday episode, Tim & Xanthe step away from the dark and disturbing and turn to some of the more unusual crime stories of the year - the bizarre, brazen and baffling! They’re putting each other to the test, in a series of games, to examine the stranger side of human behaviour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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34:46

REPLAY: Xanthe's 2025 Top Episode - The Horrors of...

Motive & Method ·

2025/12/21

If you're a new listener or haven't heard this episode, this is Xanthe's 2025 "must listen" episode from February.While many think human trafficking it’s a distant issue, it’s happening closer than we realise - in neighborhoods, cities, and countries around the world, including Australia.In this episode, Tim and Xanthe speak to Matt Friedman - a leading, internationally renowned global expert on modern slavery and human trafficking. From forced labor to exploitation and coercion, Matt

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4:49

Terror At Bondi: Stories from 2GB & 9News

Motive & Method ·

2025/12/18

On December 14, 2025, Bondi Beach became the site of the deadliest terror attack on Australian soil - 15 innocent people killed when two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration. Built from eyewitness testimony and deeply personal stories gathered in the immediate aftermath, this series documents how a peaceful Sunday evening gathering became one of the darkest days in Australia’s history. Through interviews recorded by reporters across the 2GB and Nine News teams, hear raw, unfiltered

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27:51

BONDI TERROR ATTACK: A Forensic Perspective with Dr...

Motive & Method ·

2025/12/17

In the wake of the deadly Bondi terror attack, Tim and Xanthe are joined by Forensic Psychologist Dr Nathan Brooks - a leading expert in ‘lone actor’ violence and mass casualty attacks. Together, they explore what we know so far and why grounding public understanding in verified facts matter. Dr Brooks cuts through speculation and shares his expertise around offenders, methods and warning signs that can be missed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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52:34

Toyah Cordingley & The International Manhunt To Catch...

Motive & Method ·

2025/12/16

A young woman murdered, a suspect who vanished overseas and a seven-year pursuit of justice that spanned continents. This episode revisits the killing of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley - murdered on a quiet Queensland beach in 2018 - and the extraordinary international effort to track down her killer. Tim & Xanthe are joined by Nine News reporter Lily Greer, who followed the case from Cairns to India. Together, they unpack the international manhunt that culminated in Rajwinder Singh’s recent

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33:19

A Poisonous Legacy: One Family, Two Killers

Motive & Method ·

2025/12/09

In 1920 Alexander Newland Lee murdered his wife and three of his children. His method? Poison. It would later be uncovered he was the nephew of infamous serial killer Martha Needle - AKA ‘The Richmond Poisoner’.Author Dr Samantha Battams - who has written on both cases - sits down with Tim & Xanthe to share her insight into the disturbing threads linking these two generations of killers and the chilling parallels of their crimes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

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27:24

Murderous Medics: When Caretakers Become Killers

Motive & Method ·

2025/12/02

Around the world disturbing cases have emerged from behind the walls of hospitals and aged care homes of nurses and healthcare workers using their caregiving role as a cover for murder. This episode explores how these killers manipulate trust, vulnerability and medical authority to hide their crimes in plain sight. Tim and Xanthe delve into the darkest side of professions built on compassion, and analyses the disturbing psychology that turns caregivers into killers.See omnystudio.com/listener for

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37:19

Diagnosis On Trial: Are Innocent Parents Being Jailed?

Motive & Method ·

2025/11/25

Have innocent mums and dads been jailed for a crime they never committed? That’s the question at the crux of a major new investigation into Shaken Baby Syndrome. In this episode, investigative journalist and host of the podcast ‘Diagnosing Murder’, Michael Bachelard joins us to dissect the science, flaws and potential miscarriages of justice he’s uncovered. Listen to Diagnosing Murder hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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