Motive & Method

Xanthe and Tim examine the jury secrecy principle with barrister and academic Jason Donnelly. 

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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 responsibility, and the rise of vigilantism as some communities take matters into their own hands.

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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 and  was sentenced to four years in Silverwater jail.

In this episode, Tim and Xanthe sit down with Simon as he candidly confesses to the mistakes which cost him so dearly and how he’s turned his life around.  

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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 asleep, arguing they acted involuntarily and without awareness.

In this episode, Tim and Xanthe are joined by USYD sociolegal scholar and lecturer Christopher Rudge to discuss the parasomnia defense. Does it hold weight? Can people who kill in their sleep be considered murderers? 

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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 app and cookbook became global bestsellers. But there was just one problem… It was all a lie. For years, Belle Gibson convinced the world she was a cancer survivor.

In this episode, Tim and Xanthe unpack the story of Belle Gibson... How she got away with lying for so long, and how it eventually all caught up with her.

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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-NSW police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, 29, was charged with their premeditated killings. Authorities allege he used his police-issued gun after stalking Baird, his ex, for months, with Davies an alleged collateral victim. 

In this episode, Tim and Xanthe reflect on the case, from the early days of the investigation to the current case being examined by police. 

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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 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 uncovers the dark reality of modern slavery and what we can do to fight it.

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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 investigation ahead of the impending court date and attempt to answer the public's burning questions about the case...

Is her mobile phone the missing piece?

Are Victorian Police doing all they possibly can?

Where is Samantha's body?  

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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 16 years... Until police on the case enlisted the help of a genealogist, who found the killer by identifying genetic relatives and building family trees.

In today's episode, Xanthe sits down with CeCe Moore, aka. The DNA Detective, to discuss how Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) is changing the way criminals are being caught out... and why they need to start watching their backs.  

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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 Deakin University who’s spent an enormous part of his career covering these issues. 

What constitutes a hate crime? Is there a difference between hate crimes, extremism and terrorism? Can people be de-radicalised? 

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