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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

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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22:03

The Toolbox Murders

Motive & Method ·

2025/11/18

It was a crime so merciless it shook even the most seasoned detectives and it all started with one photo. In January 2016, Cory Breton and Iuliana Triscaru were lured to a unit in south-east Queensland where they were tortured, locked inside a metal toolbox and dumped into a lagoon. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe unpack the motivations behind the so-called 'Toolbox Murders' and how justice finally caught up nearly a decade later.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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31:54

A Perth Serial Killer & The Innocent Men Jailed For...

Motive & Method ·

2025/11/11

It took one determined journalist to uncover the shocking truth behind this Australian serial killer. In the 1960s, Perth was gripped by fear as a string of random murders and attacks left police and the public baffled - until the arrest of Eric Edgar Cooke, a seemingly ordinary family man hiding a violent double life. But even after Cooke’s capture, two innocent men remained behind bars for his crimes.In this episode, we’re joined by Walkley Award-winning journalist and author Estelle

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28:09

Ed Gein: The Making Of A Monster

Motive & Method ·

2025/11/04

The world's attention has been gripped by the story of Ed Gein thanks to a confronting and disturbing new Netflix series. When police entered his Wisconsin farmhouse in 1957, they uncovered a scene so grotesque it redefined horror itself. Gein's crimes inspired cinema's darkest characters, from Psycho's Norman Bates to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's 'Leatherface'. This episode delves into the mind behind the madness and the real monster who changed horror forever.See omnystudio.com/listener for

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31:04

'The Giggling Granny' Serial Killer

Motive & Method ·

2025/10/28

Nanny Doss looked like a sweet and kind grandmother - but behind her smile hid a serial killer. For nearly three decades, Nannie Doss left a trail of death through small-town America. Among her 11 victims - four husbands and her own children and grandchildren. This episode, Tim and Xanthe take us back in time to unravel the twisted life and crimes of Nannie Doss, whose disturbing confessions earned herself the chilling nickname ‘The Giggling Granny’.See omnystudio.com/listener for

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32:58

Career Criminal & Master Conman: The Extraordinary...

Motive & Method ·

2025/10/21

From child thief to infamous bank robber to master conman, Carl Synnerdahl’s life became a Hollywood script. Carl's story is one of deception, charm and sheer audacity - pulling one of the most brazen ruses Australia has seen, fooling doctors, guards and the courts into thinking he was blind. Tim got to know Carl while working as a psychologist inside Parramatta jail. This episode he shares his unique insight into the mind of a man who build his life on lies. See omnystudio.com/listener for

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41:55

Manipulated Into Murder: The Woodchipper Killers

Motive & Method ·

2025/10/14

It looked like a tragic accident until detectives unravelled the truth of a gruesome plot - a murder by woodchipper. Three arrests were made, but the mastermind behind Bruce Saunders' death wasn’t even there. Sharon Graham had charmed and manipulated the men around her to kill for her.In this episode journalist Tara Cassidy - host of the award-winning podcast ‘Crime in Focus: Killer Charm’ - takes us inside this twisted case and the love quadrangle that turned deadly.And we ask the

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34:24

The Hoddle Street Massacre: Inside The Mind Of Julian...

Motive & Method ·

2025/10/07

In 1987, Tim Watson-Munro was called in to assess one of Australia’s most notorious mass murderers - Julian Knight. He’d just opened fire in the middle of Melbourne's Hoddle Street, killing seven people and injuring 19 more. In this episode, Tim shares his rare and intimate insight into this case. Plus, the surprising message Knight gave Tim during a prison visit years later.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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20:20

The Highschool Catfish

Motive & Method ·

2025/09/30

This episode, Tim and Xanthe dive into the world of 'cafishing' and explore a truly shocking catfish saga in the United States that’s been unravelled in a new Netflix documentary. When a teenage couple were viciously and relentlessly cyberbullied and tormented, suspicion spread through their school and chaos engulfed the small town. The FBI joined the hunt for the catfish, eventually uncovering the disturbing truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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25:08

NZ Fugitive Father: The Hunt For Tom Phillips & His Kids

Motive & Method ·

2025/09/23

The case of Tom Phillips gripped New Zealand and made headlines worldwide - after nearly four years hiding in the remote wilderness with his three children, his time on the run ended in a deadly shoot-out with police. How did he manage to stay hidden for so long, and what drove him to vanish from society in the first place?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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51:07

Mushroom Murders: A Life Sentence for Erin Patterson

Motive & Method ·

2025/09/16

A stunning conclusion of one of Australia’s most notorious trials - Erin Patterson has been sentenced to 33 years non-parole. The sentencing itself was brief but packed with impact, leaving many shocked. Joining us are Penelope and Erin, hosts of the 'The Mushroom Trial: Say Grace' podcast, to unpack Justice Beale’s words, the courtroom reactions and what this sentence means for Patterson’s future. Follow ‘The Mushroom Trial: Say Grace’ podcast here Watch Revealed:

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34:15

The Rise of Lone Actors with Dr Nathan Brooks

Motive & Method ·

2025/09/09

What drives lone actors to carry out mass casualty attacks? And could understanding them be the key to preventing the next tragedy?This week, Forensic Psychologist Dr Nathan Brooks joins Tim & Xanthe to unpack the research in his new book - ‘Mass Casualty: The Rise of Lone Actors’ - exposing surprising truths behind their motives and methods. From hidden warning signs to chilling case studies, he dissects what really sets these individuals apart.See omnystudio.com/listener for

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33:50

The Porepunkah Police Shootings

Motive & Method ·

2025/09/02

On the day this episode is released, the hunt is continuing for self-described sovereign citizen, Dezi Freeman, wanted over the shooting deaths of two police officers in Porepunkah. Tim and Xanthe are joined by one of the country's leading experts on radicalism and extremism - Dr Josh Roose - to unpack the rise of the sovereign citizen movement and the threat it poses in Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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25:44

AI Clones: The Future of ‘Artificial’ Evidence

Motive & Method ·

2025/08/26

Just months after a world-first AI clone gave a victim impact statement in court, another victim of crime has been re-created to answer questions from beyond the grave. With the use of artificial intelligence on the rise in our justice system, our courtrooms are entering unchartered territory. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe discuss how criminal and legal experts around the world are adapting to these changes. They ask; what is real, what is reliable and what is just?See omnystudio.com/listener for

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41:33

The University of Idaho Murders

Motive & Method ·

2025/08/19

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 shocking University of Idaho murders, the history and motivations of the killer and the dangerous role social media played as the investigation unfolded.Nearly three years on, the killer has been sentenced and family and friends are speaking for the first time in

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45:33

MUSHROOM MURDER UPDATE: Erin Patterson’s Police...

Motive & Method ·

2025/08/14

“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 Nine Reporter Penelope Liersch and The Age Crime & Justice Reporter Erin Pearson. Follow ‘The Mushroom Trial: Say Grace’ podcast hereWatch the full police interview on 9 News hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

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26:53

Ashlea Hansen: Cracking Open A Cold Case Murder

Motive & Method ·

2025/08/12

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 investigation. Ashlea reveals the unexpected twists and turns of the podcast, including new leads and heartbreaking revelations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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44:54

Kerry Tucker: Finding Purpose in Prison

Motive & Method ·

2025/08/05

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 up about her time in prison, revealing how her sentence became the turning point of her life. She is now an author and playwright, a leading advocate for prison reform and a powerful voice for second chances.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

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45:02

Inside Snowtown: The Cop Who Found The Bodies in the...

Motive & Method ·

2025/07/29

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 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

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147 results

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