REAL

On the 2nd of Match 2019, 17-year-old Yousef Makki was out with two of his friends, all were privately educated and one moment would end the life of this budding heart surgeon.

But what happens when a criminal court and an inquest come to a different conclusion, where one says he was killed in self-defence, but the other says he was unlawfully killed?

This is REAL.

If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here, thank you:

www.patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

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

When 42-year-old Natalie Bennett set her sights on 19-Year-Old Kasey Anderson, everyone who knew them both could never have imagined that they would start a romantic relationship.

But behind closed doors, their relationship was far from happy. Natalie started a campaign of abuse against her younger boyfriend. Abuse that would end up devastating a family and a whole community.

This is REAL.

If you'd like to join me on Patreon, please see here, thank you:

https://www.patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

If you know a man who need help with domestic abuse, please check out the Paul Lavelle Foundation who can offer help and support:

https://paullavellefoundation.co.uk/

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

Eimear Carroll was a primary school teacher from Ireland, she was married and had two babies in quick succession.

But nobody could have ever predicted what she was doing behind closed doors.

This is REAL.

If you'd like to support the show and get early ad-free episodes, extra content and be entered into a monthly giveaway, you can join me over on Patreon, thank you:

https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

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

Kacey Baker is a cult expert and two years ago she came across a Reddit post, citing the alleged harm that a woman in Hawaii, called Liana Shanti, had caused some of the members of her online community.

Former members alleged that she was 'inducing' memories of sexual abuse from their friends and family members, she was encouraging members to break up their family homes and even encouraging mothers to flea their home countries with their children, to stop their fathers from seeing them.

In this episode, Kacey talks us through her investigation and how this, is just the tip of the iceberg that she uncovered.

This is REAL.

NB: Please note that this information comes first hand from former members of Liana Shanti's group and they remain allegations until proven in a court of law.

To listen to 'The Instascammer', see here or search for the Cult Vault podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

https://www.cultvaultpodcast.com/

If you'd like to join us at CrimeCon, REAL listeners can get a 10% discount, just enter the code REAL10.

https://www.crimecon.co.uk/crimecon-uk-2026

If you'd like ad-free early access to REAL and REAL LIVES you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

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

When members of the homeless community start going missing in Cornwall, England, the police could never had predicted that they were about to uncover a man who was a danger to everyone he came into contact with.... and is now confirmed to be Britain's newest detected serial killer.

This is REAL

If you'd like to join me over on Patreon, please see here, thank you so much:

https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

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

In January 2023, a man witnessed another man viciously beating a woman in Ballina, Australia.

He called the police, expecting them to arrive and help this woman. But that didn't happen and what happened next would devastate a family and anger the nation.

This is REAL.

If you'd like to join me on Patreon, please see here, thank you so much:

https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

If you need help or support with domestic abuse please get in touch with the following organisations:

https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ - UK

https://mankind.org.uk/ - Support for male victims

https://safelives.org.uk/ - UK

https://www.victimsupportni.com/help-for-victims/domestic-violence/ - Northern Ireland

https://mapni.co.uk/ - Northern Ireland for men

https://sdvs.ie/ - Ireland

https://www.mensaid.ie/ - Ireland for men

https://www.lifewire.org/ - USA

https://www.thehotline.org/resources/men-can-be-victims-of-abuse-too/ - USA for men

https://www.rizeup.com.au/ - Australia

https://mensline.org.au/family-violence/ - Australia

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

When a drug dealer in Plymouth has acid thrown at him, people automatically assumed it was a drug deal gone wrong. But as the investigation progressed, the police were confronted with a sobering reality, someone, who they'd never have suspected was involved, had played a key role in this brutal murder.

This is REAL.

If you'd like to join me over on Patreon, please see here, thank you so much:

https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

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

In October 2025, Sonia Exelby got on a flight from London to Florida. But she wasn't going on holiday or to meet a friend, she was going to meet a monster.

And what happened next, started one of the most heartbreaking and disturbing investigations these seasoned officers had ever witnessed.

This is REAL

To join me on Patreon please see here, thank you:

https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

For mental health support, please see here:

https://thejordanlegacy.com/

https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support

https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK

https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans

https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia

https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland

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

In 2017, Sophie Lionnet had travelled from her home in France, to work as a Nanny for a couple in London. She thought she was starting her dream job, caring for small children. But in reality... she was walking into a real life nightmare. One that would end her life.

This is REAL:

If you'd like to join me over on Patreon, please see here, thank you:

https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

If you need help or support with domestic abuse please get in touch with the following organisations:

https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ - UK

https://mankind.org.uk/ - Support for male victims

https://safelives.org.uk/ - UK

https://www.victimsupportni.com/help-for-victims/domestic-violence/ - Northern Ireland

https://mapni.co.uk/ - Northern Ireland for men

https://sdvs.ie/ - Ireland

https://www.mensaid.ie/ - Ireland for men

https://www.lifewire.org/ - USA

https://www.thehotline.org/resources/men-can-be-victims-of-abuse-too/ - USA for men

https://www.rizeup.com.au/ - Australia

https://mensline.org.au/family-violence/ - Australia

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

When 15-year-old Jenna went missing from her home in Pontypool, Wales, the police initially thought they were dealing with a runaway.

But when a series of chilling phones calls are made to the family home, they realise they were dealing with something much sinister.

This is REAL.

If you'd like to join me over on Patreon, please see here, thank you:

https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

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