Australian True Crime

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. 

Robyn Lewis’s life was, frankly, hectic and destructive for 37 years. Multiple addictions, trauma from a brutal childhood, crime…she was just trying to survive. Robyn had tried and tried to change her life and then something happened. Now she’s sharing her story with her community and now, with us, to show that change is possible.

And a note before listening - Our guests share their experience. Each person has their own way they deal with life. So if there’s something you hear that prompts questions for you whether it’s about mental health, medication, ways of dealing with certain situations, make sure you speak to someone you trust like your doctor, counsellor, specialist.

More info:

Robyn talks on WIN News about her ice addiction (Video, 31 August 2017)

Robyn addresses Griffith Community Drug Action Team (Video, 8 Novmber 2017)

Robyn Lewis knows a bit about drug addiction in regional NSW (Sydney Morning Herald)

There’s a number of services and programs for addiction. Robyn mentioned SMART Recovery. For more information on other options and services go to Turning Point Australia’s national addiction treatment, training and research centre.

For Support: 

Lifeline  on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

Blue Knot Foundation - National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma

Sexual assault and family violence services in your State

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here 

Guests:  Robyn Lewis

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. 

Is it that bad if people believe in conspiracy theories? According to our guests for this episode, at first it’s funny, irritating (we all had someone we know who was sharing things that seemed a bit off beam over the past three years) and seemingly ridiculous…until it’s not.

SOS and Sandee are two women who live in outer suburban Melbourne and have day jobs and families but they have also been deep diving into the world of places and spaces where people who believe in conspiracy theories and have such a distrust in Governments that they don’t acknowledge the laws that we all have to adhere to…like having a driver's licence, paying council rates and there’s more.

SOS and Sandee go to the protests, they watch endless videos and livestreams and are among a network of others who are doing important work to get people to understand this world and the people who have positioned themselves as leaders, or ‘gurus’, in many cases who are making lots of money from followers. Some also have disturbing political motives for what they are doing.

More info:

You can find SOS and Sandee on Twitter - @SOS149 and @sunnysandeel

Tinfoil Tales is on the feed of The Conditional Release Podcast

Background on Chase Allan - Chase Allan: 5 fast facts you need to know

What is the Sovereign Citizens movement in USA?

Pseudo-law Adherents in Australia - an interview with someone who clawed his way out

Some more people to check out to learn more about what we discussed in this episode:

Tom Tanuki (Independent Australia) 

The White Rose Society - anti-fascist researchers in Australia

Celery Sorbet on Twitter

Vaxatious Litigant on Twitter

Southern Poverty Law Centre (US)

Hope Not Hate (UK)

Lifeline  on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it that bad if people believe in conspiracy theories? According to our guests for this episode, at first it’s funny, irritating (we all had someone we know who was sharing things that seemed a bit off beam over the past three years) and seemingly ridiculous…until it’s not.

SOS and Sandee are two women who live in outer suburban Melbourne and have day jobs and families but they have also been deep diving into the world of places and spaces where people who believe in conspiracy theories and have such a distrust in Governments that they don’t acknowledge the laws that we all have to adhere to…like having a driver's licence, paying council rates and there’s more.

SOS and Sandee go to the protests, they watch endless videos and livestreams and are among a network of others who are doing important work to get people to understand this world and the people who have positioned themselves as leaders, or ‘gurus’, in many cases who are making lots of money from followers. Some also have disturbing political motives for what they are doing.

More info:

You can find SOS and Sandee on Twitter - @SOS149 and @sunnysandeel

Tinfoil Tales is on the feed of The Conditional Release Podcast

Background on Chase Allan - Chase Allan: 5 fast facts you need to know

Some more people to check out to learn more about what we discussed in this episode:

Tom Tanuki (Independent Australia) 

The White Rose Society - anti-fascist researchers in Australia

Celery Sorbet on Twitter

Vaxatious Litigant on Twitter

Southern Poverty Law Centre (US)

Hope Not Hate (UK)

Lifeline  on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The night of February 2nd 1986 was when 26 year old Sydney nurse Anita Cobby was savagely murdered by a group of strangers. It has since been marked a turning point for Australian culture.

Today's conversation is with Anita's sister, Kathryn Szyszka. It's all about legacy - Anita's legacy, and the legacy of their parents, Grace and Garry Lynch.

A new facility has finally opened in Sydney to provide healing and restoration for children affected by violent crime.

It's called Grace's Place, and has been made in honour of Grace Lynch. Kathryn is now the carrier of the flame for her family who've created an amazing legacy in Anita's name.

More information on Grace's Place can be found here: https://gracesplace.org.au/

Further reading material:

Someone Else's Daughter: www.booktopia.com.au/someone-else-s-daughter-julia-sheppard/book/9780732909161.html

Remembering Anita Cobby: www.booktopia.com.au/remembering-anita-cobby-mark-morri/book/9780143784647.html

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrime

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram  

Guests: Kathryn Szyszka.

Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

Recorded at Stupid Old Studios

 GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

 Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

 Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest for this episode is Dr Ahona Guha, a Melbourne-based Forensic and clinical psychologist. She works with survivors of abuse and those who live with trauma. Ahona also works with perpetrators of harmful behaviours including sex offenders, stalkers and bullies. 

Ahona has written her first book RECLAIM: Understanding complex trauma and those who abuse.

Dr Ahona Guha’s views are her own.

MORE INFO:

Former Victorian prosecutor awarded $435,000 over exposure to sexual abuse material

What is moral injury?

Vicarious Trauma

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrime

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram  

Guests: Dr Ahona Guha You can find her on Instagram

Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

Recorded at Stupid Old Studios

 GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

 Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

 Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've mentioned the Australian Federal Police (AFP) many times on Australian True Crime, but do any of us really know what they do?

Our guest today, David Savage AM, who reached the very top of the tree in that organisation, may change the way you think about the role of the AFP.

For one thing, his brilliant career was brought to a grinding halt when he was supposed to be protected by a bunch of Americans on a dusty road in Afghanistan.

David is now the President of the Australian Federal Police Former Members Association, and he's particularly passionate about securing better mental health support, both for serving and retired members.

You can learn more about the AFP Veterans Association and donate here: https://afpva.org.au/

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here 

Guests:  David Savage

Executive Producer: Matthew Tankard

Editor: Matthew Tankard & Meshel Laurie

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Father of two, Filmmaker and director of The Children in The Pictures, Akhim Dev joins us for this episode.

He was granted unprecedented access to TASKFORCE ARGOS, a Queensland Police team who are world leaders in rescuing children from online sexual abuse and catching the perpetrators like Shannon McCoole, a South Australian child protection worker revealed to be a child-sex offender and the administrator of a paedophile chat board with 45,000 members.

This intense and relentless and vicarious trauma is real for the officers who do this work, and also Dev.

But their goal is saving children and Task Force Argos has rescued thousands of children from their abusers.

More info:

The Children in the Pictures Documentary and Podcast

To report information to police contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000​​ or Task Force Argos, State Crime Command on 3364 4142.

Think U Know - Preventing online child sexual exploitation education program led by the Australian Federal Police.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner - independent statutory office 

National Office for Child Safety 

Parents Protect - UK child sexual abuse awareness and prevention resources

Interpol - Crimes against children investigations and prevention

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here 

Guests:  Akhim Dev

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline  on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

Blue Knot Helpline on 1300 657 380

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trevor Tascas was 27 years old when he suspiciously disappeared in October 2005 from an address in Whittington, a suburb of the regional Victorian city Geelong. 

His mum Pamela and sister Kirsty join us for this episode.

Trevor’s life was up and down and at the time of his disappearance - he was using and dealing drugs but still in sporadic contact with his family.  

Investigators believe Trevor had been involved in a dispute with Lawrence Butler, the man he was sharing a house with prior to his disappearance. 

In 2009 Lawrence Butler was sentenced to 23 years in jail for Trevor’s murder before his conviction was quashed on appeal.  

It’s not the end though for Trevor’s heartbroken family.  

Missing Persons Squad detectives are continuing to investigate Trevor Tascas’s disappearance and there’s a $1M reward for information in relation to the person or people responsible for Trevor’s death.

Anyone with any information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or file a report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au

More info:

Victoria Police appeal for info on Trevor’s murder Cold case: Trevor Tascas | Victoria Police

Coroners’ findings into the death of Trevor John Tascas

More on Lawyer Anthony Strik can be found here: https://strik.com.au/

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram 

Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here 

Guests:  Pamela and Kirsty Tascas. 

Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline  on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

GET IN TOUCH:

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mishel Karen was a participant on season 7 of Married at First Sight Australia. 

Mishel didn’t find the love she was looking for on the show, and a quick google will tell you a lot about Mishel’s life since the show ended. She’s now an only fans star and so far, she’s still single. 

Mishel Karen became the victim of a sophisticated scam from Everrise Brokers, through which she lost a large amount of her own money and friends and relatives of hers lost money to after taking her advice to trust her scammers.  

Sadly, many people are too embarrassed to report these crimes, but as you’re about to find out, even though Mishel now realises what’s happened to her and is speaking out about it, that doesn’t mean anyone has swung into action to shut the scam down and protect the rest of us. 

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrime

CREDITS:

Host: Meshel Laurie

Co Host: Emily Webb

Guests: Mishel Karen

Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

Recorded at a Hub Australia Media Studio. Find the workspace that's right for you at https://www.hubaustralia.com/

GET IN TOUCH:

Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC

Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/

Email the show at [email protected]

Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the summer break, we played some beauty chat segments at the end of our episodes with Joanna Fleming from Adore Beauty.

We thought for everyone's convenience, we would collate them all together into this one episode. It's seriously a great refresher on all things skincare and makeup.

For a limited time only, use the code "truecrime15" for 15 dollars off orders over $75 at www.adorebeauty.com.au exclusions do apply.

You can also listen to lots more beauty content on Joanna's own podcast Beauty IQ Uncensored, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.