Kaitlyn Braun spun an elaborate web of lies, convincing over 50 doulas she was pregnant after a traumatic assault. Her deception confused and shattered trust in the doula community, leaving many unsure if they could continue their work.

Journalist Sarah Treleaven spent over eighteen months investigating Kaitlyn’s unusual story and the motives behind it. She brought these stories to life in her podcast, The Con: Kaitlyn’s Baby, where she details speaking to the doulas who were tricked, lied to and left disturbed by Kaitlyn's actions. 

The question remains: why did Kaitlyn do it — and is her deception finally over?

Listen to The Con: Kaitlyn’s Baby here.

Warning. This story and this opening scene feature descriptions of pregnancy loss and stillbirth. 

CREDITS 

Guest: Sarah Treleaven

Host: Gemma Bath

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

Follow us on TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show, then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. You can also leave a comment for us on Spotify. 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 20 years in prison, Kathleen Folbig, once labelled Australia’s worst female serial killer, was released in just 56 minutes. New genetic evidence cleared her of killing her four children, flipping one of the country’s most infamous cases on its head. 

Kathleen’s story is one of loss and a justice system that got it badly wrong. But her fight isn't over.

In this episode, investigative journalist Quentin McDermott, author of Meadow’s Law, joins us to unpack how a flawed theory about SIDS helped send Kathleen to prison—and the science, advocacy, and determination that finally set her free.

You can find Quentin's book here. 

CREDITS 

Guest: Quentin McDermott

Host: Claire Murphy

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

Follow us on TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show, then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. You can also leave a comment for us on Spotify. 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was young, poor, and alone in a harsh, unforgiving Icelandic landscape — and then she was sentenced to die. In 1830, Agnes Magnúsdóttir became the last person executed in Iceland, beheaded by axe for the murder of a powerful man.

Nearly 200 years later, her story still lingers. Was she a cold-blooded killer, or a woman trapped by circumstance?

In this episode, we speak to author Hannah Kent, whose bestselling novel Burial Rites reimagines Agnes’s final days. We explore how one woman’s life — and death — became legend, and why capital punishment remains a reality for half the world’s population today.

You can read Burial Rites here. You can also find Always Home, Always Homesick here. 

CREDITS 

Guest: Hannah Kent

Host: Claire Murphy

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

Follow us on TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show, then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. You can also leave a comment for us on Spotify. 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was three years old, dressed in a Spider-Man suit, playing in his foster grandmother’s yard — and then he was gone. Nearly a decade later, the disappearance of William Tyrrell remains one of Australia’s most haunting mysteries.

For years, this case has been clouded in secrecy. With a high number of registered sex offenders living in the area where William vanished, investigators have long questioned whether he was deliberately targeted — and if so, by whom?

Now, nearly 11 years later, the team behind the podcast Witness: William Tyrrell believes they’ve uncovered crucial answers. Host Dan Box joins us to discuss their latest findings in a case that continues to captivate the nation.

You can find the Witness podcast here.

CREDITS 

Guest: Dan Box

Host: Claire Murphy

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

Follow us on TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show, then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. You can also leave a comment for us on Spotify. 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kat Torres had it all—famous friends, a jet-setting modelling career and a social media feed that painted the picture of a woman who had truly made it. 

But behind the flawless photos and inspirational captions lurked a far darker reality. Torres wasn’t just living the influencer dream; she was building something far more dangerous. What began as a pursuit of fame spiralled into a cult-like following, where influence became control, and admiration, exploitation.

So, how does someone with a face as angelic as Kat Torres become a cult leader and accused sex trafficker? 

Journalist and Don’t Cross Kat podcast host Chico Felitti joins us to uncover the disturbing truth behind the rise—and fall—of Kat Torres.

Find the podcast here: https://wondery.com/shows/guru/season/2/

CREDITS 

Guest: Chico Felitti

Host: Claire Murphy

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

Follow us on TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show, then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. You can also leave a comment for us on Spotify. 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At just 18 months old, Ben Shenton was handed over to a woman who claimed she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.

That woman was Anne Hamilton-Byrne, the leader of a secretive doomsday cult called The Family. For 14 years, Ben lived cut off from the outside world—beaten, starved, drugged, and taught to stay “unseen, unheard, unknown.” The cult twisted Christianity into a tool of fear and control.

Ben was finally rescued at age 15 during a police raid. Today, he’s an advocate for survivors and a pastor who still follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, just not the version the cult tried to force on him.

You can find Ben’s website, Rescue the Family, here, and his book Life Behind the Wire here.

CREDITS 

Guest: Ben Shenton 

Host: Claire Murphy

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show, then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. You can also leave a comment for us on Spotify. 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the trial of Erin Patterson enters its second week, The Quicky news podcast examines the latest developments in the mushroom murder case that shocked a small Victorian town. 

Stay tuned! True Crime Conversations will be covering the full case and trial very shortly...

Listen to Mushroom Case Daily here

THE END BITS
Check out The Quicky Instagram here

GET IN TOUCH
Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice note.

CREDITS

Hosts: Taylah Strano & Claire Murphy

Guests: 

Stephen Stockwell, Producer of ABC's Mushroom Case Daily podcast

Executive Producer: Taylah Strano

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Dirty John" Meehan, a serial con artist and violent criminal, was Terra Newell's stepfather. He had married her mother and spent years manipulating and abusing her until she finally left him. Enraged by her departure, he sought revenge.

One day, after finishing her shift at work, Terra was walking to her car when John suddenly grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arm around her waist and trying to abduct her.

In a desperate attempt to escape, she bit him. But his response was brutal—he began stabbing her repeatedly with a large knife.

With every ounce of strength she had, Terra fought for her life. In a fierce struggle, she managed to knock the knife from his hand. Realising the only way to survive was to stop him for good, she knew she had to act fast.

This is the story of Dirty John’s demise, told by the woman who lived through it.

CREDITS 

Guest: Terra Newell

Host: Gemma Bath

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note to give us feedback or suggest a case for the podcast.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. You can also leave a comment for us on Spotify. 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heston Russell has lived a life most of us couldn’t imagine. A former special forces commander, he’s been shot at, dropped out of helicopters, and led troops through the chaos of Afghanistan and Iraq.

But it wasn’t until he came home that he faced his toughest fight yet — not against an enemy overseas, but against his own country. Heston and his men were accused of war crimes, and suddenly, he was battling to defend their names against the weight of national headlines and public judgment.

In this episode, we dive into Heston’s intense defamation case against the ABC, but we go deeper, too, into what it’s like to be a soldier at war and what you do when you’re wrongly accused of a crime you didn’t commit.

You can listen to The ABC’s of Heston Russell podcast here.

CREDITS 

Guest: Heston Russell

Host: Claire Murphy

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note to give us feedback or suggest a case for the podcast.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. You can also leave a comment for us on Spotify. 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laura McConnell grew up in a fundamentalist sect with no name.

Along with no official title, the group also claims to have no registration around the world, no formal hierarchy, and no official places of worship.

According to Laura, it's this secrecy and denial that has allowed abuse to flourish within the community. She joins us today to expose what she witnessed and experienced inside the group she calls The Truth.

CREDITS

Guest: Laura McConnell

Host: Gemma Bath

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

GET IN TOUCH:

Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note to give us feedback or suggest a case for the podcast.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. You can also leave a comment for us on Spotify. 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.