Podcast · True Crime

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 al

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 30 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 32 minNew

You Asked, We Answered: Serial Killers, Psychopaths & Bizarre Murder Methods

In our first ever Q & A episode Tim and Xanthe are answering your questions about the inside world of true crime, forensics and criminal psychology. From the top personality traits of psychopaths, to why most serial killers are men, to the psychology behind mothers who murder. In this very special episode learn more about your favourite true crime hosts and the cases that have stuck with them. GOT A QUESTION FOR US? Drop your questions in the comments below or message us on Instagram for a chance to have them answered on our next Q&A episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…

Play episodeWhatsApp Download

Earlier episodes 29 most recent

6 Oct 2026 · 55 min
How To Rob A Bank: The Thief & The Agent Who Caught Him
They were on opposite sides of the law - one robbing banks, the other hunting him. In this extraordinary interview, bank robber Steven Meyers and former FBI agent Shawn Johnson sit down with Tim & Xanthe to share their side of the case and the chase. In 1990s Seattle, Meyers was part of a crew that pulled off 19 bank heists alongside the elusive mastermind known as “Hollywood”. Johnson spent four years tracking them, analysing their every move and eventually setting a trap that would bring the crime spree to a violent end. This episode, the two men reveal the inside story of the…
29 Sep 2026 · 31 min
Did An Innocent Man Hang? The Execution Australia Tried to Stop
Was an innocent man sent to the gallows in Australia’s most infamous - and final - execution? On February 3, 1967, Ronald Ryan was hanged for the murder of a prison guard during a chaotic escape from Melbourne’s Pentridge Prison - an execution that shocked the nation and would ultimately help bring an end to capital punishment across Australia. Just over a year earlier, Ryan had escaped Pentridge, triggering a 19-day manhunt. After his capture, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, despite conflicting evidence surrounding the fatal shooting. When the countdown to the…
22 Sep 2026 · 21 min
13. Nadine Haag: The Note That Said 'He Did It'
Her death was ruled a suicide. But was crucial evidence missed that could point to foul play? When Nadine Haag was found dead in her Sydney apartment in 2009, police immediately treated her death as suicide. But her family refused to accept it and began their own investigation, uncovering evidence they say police had missed, including the words “He did it”. Four years later, a Coroner overturned the police ruling - handing down an open finding. Now, Nadine’s sister Tasia Haag is using her experience to support other families and push for change. She joins us after giving…
17 Sep 2026 · 23 min
Fatal Sex Trend: Teens Learning From Porn & Social Media
Australia is seeing a disturbing trend of teenagers engaging in extremely dangerous, and potentially fatal, sexual acts. After a 16-year-old girl reportedly died during a suspected sexual strangulation act, experts are warning how mainstream these practices have become. Research shows more than 50% of young Australians under 35 have engaged in the dangerous sexual practice of strangulation. In this episode Tim and Xanthe investigate how social media and pornography are shaping views of risky sex among teens, and ask who is ultimately responsible for addressing misogyny, consent and youth…
16 Sep 2026 · 30 min
12. The Case of Janine Vaughan: A Red Car, CCTV Clues & The Lost Evidence
After 25 years, could forensic experts uncover new leads from the final clue in this case? In December 2001, Janine Vaughan was seen on CCTV getting into a red car outside a Bathurst nightclub - then she vanished. In this episode, her brother Adam and sister Kylie reveal how missed witnesses, unexamined evidence and the destruction of a blood-and-hair-covered knife may have cost investigators crucial answers. After speaking at the Parliamentary Inquiry into unsolved cases in NSW, they sat down with Tim & Xanthe to share what it’s been like to investigate their own sister’s…
11 Sep 2026 · 29 min
11. Ivan Milat's Accomplice & Questions Of Lost Files
Did Ivan Milat really act alone? And could lost documents link him to unsolved murders? The Crown prosecutor who put Ivan Milat behind bars believes the notorious serial killer may have had help with some of the murders. This episode, Tim and Xanthe take you inside the latest NSW parliamentary hearing into unsolved murders and missing persons where crucial questions were asked, and answered. The hearing revisited two unsolved cases - Peter Letcher and Dianne Pennacchio - with questions raised over whether a missing brief of evidence could contain a link to Milat. And the head of the…
9 Sep 2026 · 35 min
Lindsay Clancy: A Hung Jury In The Case That Gripped The World
She killed her three children. But was she in control of what she was doing? The Lindsay Clancy case has gripped the world - a mother accused of killing her three young children, and a trial that ended in a dramatic hung jury after weeks of conflicting evidence about postpartum psychosis, medication and criminal responsibility. In this episode, emergency physician and trauma expert Dr Josh McConkey takes us inside the medical evidence, examining what we know about Clancy’s mental state, the medications she was prescribed, the injuries to the children and the question of whether…
1 Sep 2026 · 32 min
The Murders Of Karlie & Khandalyce
Two unidentified bodies were found years apart and thousands of kilometres away from eachother- Then came the chilling discovery that they were a mother and her young daughter. When the remains of a young woman were discovered in the notorious Belanglo State Forest, no one knew who she was. Her identity remained a mystery for five years, until the horrific discovery of a toddler's body on the side of a highway, and the heartbreaking truth they were mother and daughter. This episode, Xanthe takes us through why Karlie Pearce-Stevenson and her daughter Khandalyce were never reported missing -…
25 Aug 2026 · 37 min
Forgery & Foul Play: Who Killed Les Ball?
Leslie Ball didn't just disappear, someone went to extraordinary lengths to erase him. But a trail of forged signatures, fraud and burnt evidence couldn't keep this 33-year-old cold case buried forever. In this episode Xanthe and Tim are joined by News.com.au investigative reporter Jo Townsend to untangle the mysterious 1993 disappearance of 71-year-old Leslie Ball. Townsend details her deep dive into her podcast Witness: Perfect Alibi , exposing how an ex-cop's web of fake documents and fabricated timelines obscured the reality of Ball's murder. Together, they explore the dark financial…
18 Aug 2026 · 39 min
Mr Rent-A-Kill: The Underworld Hitman Who Disappeared
For years, Christopher Flannery AKA 'Mr Rent-a-Kill' was the man Australian mobsters hired to make people disappear - until he became a target and vanished into thin air himself. In 1985, after becoming a volatile liability who simply knew too much about corrupt police and syndicate bosses, the feared assassin vanished without a trace. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe sit down with former detective and author Duncan McNab to unravel Flannery's violent trajectory from a troubled youth in Melbourne to the high-stakes underworld of Sydney. Together, they examine the infamous hit on police…
11 Aug 2026 · 48 min
‘Falsely Convicted’ with Neil Mercer: True Stories of Injustice in Australia
From unvetted science to coerced confessions, catastrophic failures in Australia's justice system have stolen decades from innocent people for crimes they didn't commit. In this episode Xanthe and Tim sit down with Walkley Award-winning investigative journalist Neil Mercer to discuss his new book, Falsely Convicted . Mercer details how the Australian criminal justice system has catastrophically failed innocent people through police misconduct, prosecutorial oversights and unvetted expert testimony. Their conversation highlights heartbreaking real-world cases, including a former teacher…
4 Aug 2026 · 38 min
Port Arthur: The Massacre That Changed Australia
The Port Arthur massacre remains the deadliest mass shooting in Australian history - a tragedy that shattered lives and transformed the country’s gun laws. On a quiet Sunday afternoon in April 1996, 35 people were killed and dozens more wounded when a gunman opened fire at the tourist site and continued on an hours-long deadly rampage. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe discuss how the events of that tragic day played out and the lasting legacy and impact of the massacre. They also delve into the life of the shooter, exploring his troubled upbringing, his bizarre relationship with a…
29 Jul 2026 · 36 min
Terror In The Outback: Can Peter Falconio’s Body Be Found?
On a remote highway Peter Falconio vanished forever - His murder became every outback travellers worst nightmare. 25 years after one of Australia’s most infamous murders, the case is back in the spotlight with the release of never-before-seen police footage and investigation photos. In this episode, Xanthe and Tim retrace the events of that terrifying night and discuss the forensic evidence that secured Bradley John Murdoch’s conviction without a body. Plus, the psychology behind Joanne Lees’ remarkable survival and discuss the enduring mystery of what happened to Peter…
27 Jul 2026 · 30 min
10. Painful Patterns: Inside The Grafton Hearing with Tim & Xanthe
At the second hearing of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into unsolved missing and murdered cases, Tim and Xanthe examine three more cases that expose troubling similarities in the experiences of families searching for answers. They discuss the unsolved murder of 16-year-old Lee Ellen Stace, the disappearance of Kylee-Ann Schaffer and the long-running mystery of Bronwyn Winfield, whose case has become one of Australia’s most high-profile missing persons investigations. Through the powerful evidence given by family members in Grafton, they explore recurring concerns about delayed…
21 Jul 2026 · 26 min
9. Andrew Inglis: The First Love Who Never Came Home
A teenager climbed into his red Datsun and drove off into the rain on Boxing Day 1985. He was never seen again . Nearly 40 years later, what happened to 18-year-old Andrew Inglis remains a mystery. In this episode, Tim and Xanthe are joined by Andrew’s then-girlfriend, Joanne Greensill, who shares the heartbreak of losing her first love. Although she doesn't believe he met with foul play, his disappearance has haunted her for decades and she believes critical opportunities to find answers were missed. After giving evidence to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into unsolved murders and…
17 Jul 2026 · 25 min
The Thailand Suitcase Murder: An Australian Charged
A 17-year-old disappeared in Thailand after meeting an Australian man. Less than a day later her body was found inside a suitcase abandoned near railway tracks. In this episode Tim and Xanthe examine the evidence authorities allege they have against Australian man Simon Peter Carman, and how they say they tracked him through an extensive network of CCTV. Carman denies intentionally killing the teenager - Thanchanok Donhomla - claiming he acted in self-defence, and could face the death penalty if convicted under Thai law. You can read the Sydney Morning Herald article about Thanchanok…
14 Jul 2026 · 28 min
8. Narelle Cox: If Not Milat, Then Who?
Could an anonymous truck driver hold the key to solving this 50-year-old cold case? In this episode Tim & Xanthe sit down with Karen Cox, the sister of Narelle Cox, who vanished in 1977 while hitchhiking from Grafton to Noosa. She was just 21 years old and left a note saying she was visiting a friend for the weekend, but she never arrived and she never came home. Karen shares the devastating impact of Narelle’s disappearance, the police decisions they believe cost valuable time and the lost leads that have haunted them for nearly 50 years. Plus, why possible links to Ivan Milat, or…
12 Jul 2026 · 35 min
7. Marion Barter Pt. 2 - The Citizen Sleuth Who Found What Police Missed
No badge, no warrant and no official powers - yet she uncovered vital evidence in the search for missing schoolteacher Marion Barter. In this episode, we speak with citizen sleuth and social worker Joni Condos, whose relentless research from her own living room uncovered crucial evidence in the mysterious disappearance of Marion Barter. Joni reveals how she traced hidden identities, unearthed forgotten records and pieced together key movements that helped reshape the coronial inquest into one of Australia’s most baffling missing persons cases. She also shares why she believes…
9 Jul 2026 · 30 min
6. The Mysterious Disappearance of Marion Barter
She secretly changed her name. Hundreds of thousands of dollars disappeared from her bank account. A convicted conman was questioned for days at a coronial inquest, yet nearly three decades later, no one knows what happened to Marion Barter. In this episode, Tim & Xanthe are joined by Marion’s daughter Sally Leydon. She reveals the extraordinary twists in her mother’s disappearance, the police failures that left the case largely uninvestigated for years and the new leads that continue to emerge. Sally also reflects on her appearance before the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into…
7 Jul 2026 · 29 min
Chopper Read: Australia’s ‘Celebrity’ Criminal
How a notorious criminal became a pop culture legend. Tim & Xanthe unpack the violent life and complicated mythology of Mark Brandon ‘Chopper’ Read - the underworld figure immortalised in film, television, and true crime folklore. From prison violence and gangland crime to media fame and the cult success of 'Chopper', we examine how a brutal criminal transformed himself into an Australian icon. But beneath the stories, one-liners and legend lies a darker question: why are societies so fascinated by violent men like Chopper Read? Watch the full video episode on Youtube at Crime…
30 Jun 2026 · 41 min
A Family Vanished: The 'Nannup Cult' Mystery
In 2007, four people vanished from a remote town in Western Australia - leaving behind an abandoned home, a cryptic note and a trail of unanswered questions. At the centre of the mystery was a self-styled spiritual leader, who had built an online doomsday cult. Over the past 20 years, as desperate family, police and coroners examined theories ranging from suicide pacts to staged disappearances, the truth behind the so-called “Nannup Four” only became more disturbing. In this episode, ABC journalist Dominique Bayens - behind the investigative podcast ‘Expanse: The Nannup…
26 Jun 2026 · 30 min
Bonus: Behind The Scenes With MP Jeremy Buckingham
In this bonus episode, Tim and Xanthe sit down with MP Jeremy Buckingham, the driving force behind the parliamentary inquiry examining some of Australia’s most notorious unsolved murders and missing persons cases. Buckingham reveals what sparked his decade-long push for answers, the systemic failures families say have left them abandoned and why he believes these cases deserve fresh scrutiny. He also explains what changes could come from the inquiry - and why families believe this may be their best chance yet at answers and accountability. More episodes of Australia's Killer Secrets…
23 Jun 2026 · 29 min
5. Cheryl Grimmer: A Confession Ignored- A Child Killer Never Caught
A three-year-old disappears. A teenager confesses. Yet more than five decades later, Cheryl Grimmer’s family is still fighting for justice. Cheryl Grimmer vanished from a beach change room in 1970, and despite a detailed confession decades later, no one has ever been held accountable for her murder. In this powerful interview, Cheryl’s brothers, Paul Grimmer and Ricki Nash, share the devastating impact her disappearance has had on their family and their decades-long fight for justice. They raise troubling questions about missed investigative opportunities, a confession that was…
16 Jun 2026 · 33 min
4. Keren Rowland: Was She Ivan Milat's First Victim?
What if Ivan Milat’s first victim was killed more than two decades before the backpacker murders? Keren Rowland was 5 months pregnant when she was brutally murdered and hidden in a pine forest in 1971. In this episode, Tim & Xanthe sit down with Keren's brother Steve Rowland and former UK detective Hugh Hughes. They detail years of fighting for answers, alleging police ignored crucial leads, withheld information and failed to properly investigate Milat despite mounting evidence linking him to Keren’s murder. More than 55 years on, the family is still asking the question that…
11 Jun 2026 · 27 min
3. Kevin Docherty: 47 Years Searching For Answers
A twin brother's 47-year fight for answers, suspicious letters and a new witness who may hold the key to where Kay Docherty is buried. In this episode, Kevin Docherty shares the heartbreaking story of his sister Kay Docherty, who vanished alongside her friend Toni Cavanagh in 1979. Nearly five decades on, Kevin recalls the night they disappeared, the suspicious letters sent to their families days later, and the long fight for answers after police initially treated the case as a runaway. He also reveals new information from a recently emerged witness that may not only point to Ivan Milat, but…
11 Jun 2026 · 22 min
2. Ivan Milat's 11 Other Victims?
Families demand answers - police under scrutiny - and a revelation that could reshape the Milat case. At the first hearing into dozens of Australia’s unsolved murders and missing persons cases, police revealed a previously unheard list of potential additional victims linked to Ivan Milat. In this episode, forensic scientist and criminologist Dr Xanthe Weston and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro take you inside the landmark parliamentary inquiry in Bowral, NSW. They unpack the heartwrenching testimony from families still searching for answers, and their sharp criticism of police.…
10 Jun 2026 · 29 min
1. Australia's Killer Secrets: Milat, Murders & Missing
What if the full story behind Australia's most notorious serial killer Ivan Milat has never been told? In episode one of this special series of Motive&Method, forensic scientist Dr Xanthe Weston and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro break down the unsolved missing & murdered cases being re-examined in a landmark parliamentary inquiry. Tim & Xanthe have been working for years, alongside family members, on many of these cases. Now they're being called to give their expert submissions, highlighting the evidence and potential links in some of the investigations. In Australia's Killer…
7 Jun 2026 · 2 min
Introducing: Australia's Killer Secrets
What if the full story behind Australia's most notorious serial killer Ivan Milat has never been told? And what if more recent cases point to a copycat killer - or worse? In this special series of Motive&Method, forensic scientist Dr Xanthe Weston and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro take you inside a landmark parliamentary inquiry examining dozens of unsolved murders and disappearances. From new evidence to long-overlooked links, Australia’s Killer Secrets explores the mysteries that continue to haunt a nation. Series launches Wednesday June 10. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
2 Jun 2026 · 35 min
Is There A Byron Bay Serial Killer?
Mysterious disappearances, unsolved deaths & terrifying stories - Is a killer stalking Byron Bay? And could there be more than one? In 2019, 18-year-old Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez vanished after a night out in Byron Bay and was never seen again. Since then, the disturbing death of Jackson Stacker and the mysterious cases of Hugo Palmer and Erwan Ferrieux, among others, have become part of a chilling theory that a serial killer may be stalking northern New South Wales. As social media speculation collides with real police investigations, stories of alleged close calls and suspicious…

About Motive & Method

Motive & Method is a English true crime podcast from Tapt Media. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Tapt Media
Language: English
Category: True Crime
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 30 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1676882162
Rights: 2026 Xanthe Mallett and Tim Watson Munro

RSS feed Apple Podcasts

More English true crime

Take it with you

The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.