Podcast
Motive & Method
Hosted by Tapt Podcasts · EN
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 also hear from victim survivors, investigators and advocates for change analysing motive, and method.
49episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Julian Ingram: Wanted For Murder
Feb 1000:23:11Tap to summarizeAt the time this episode is released, Julian Ingram is one of the most wanted men in Australia. A major manhunt was launched in regional NSW after Ingram allegedly shot and killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend, her new partner and her aunt before fleeing the scene. As revelations emerge of his criminal history and recent release on bail, serious questions are being asked about risk assessment, firearm access and systemic failures. We break down what is known so far - and why this case is resonating far beyond one small community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Sydney’s Baby Farming Murders
Feb 300:42:01Tap to summarizeWhen the remains of an infant were uncovered in a Sydney backyard, it was just the start of a dark and twisted scandal that shocked colonial Australia. As police uncovered over a dozen more infant remains, the secret world of Sarah and John Makin’s baby-farming operation came into view. In this episode we’re joined by author of ‘The Baby Farmers’, Dr Annie Cossens, to dissect what really happened and how baby farming thrived in an era when young women and unmarried mothers had nowhere to turn - and society looked the other way. Find more information on Dr Annie Cossins' books at the links below:The Baby FarmersFemale Criminality: Infanticide, Moral Panics and the Female Body See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →The Most Isolated Prisoner In The World
Jan 2700:39:41Tap to summarizeRobert Maudsley has spent more than 40 years in near solitary confinement, caged in a bespoke glass cell. Also branded ‘Britain’s Most Dangerous Criminal’ and labelled ‘Hannibal The Cannibal’, his story has been shaped as much by myth as by fact. In this episode, we unpack Maudsley’s troubled upbringing, his violent criminal history and the extraordinary lengths taken to isolate and contain him. It’s a case that raises countless legal and ethical questions around how far a society can go in the name of safety… and what that means for human dignity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Taken In The Night: The Eloise Worledge Mystery
Jan 2000:35:46Tap to summarizeFifty years after eight-year-old Eloise Worledge vanished from her bedroom, the case is back in the spotlight with a $1 million reward announced for answers. In this episode, we speak with Eloise’s aunt, Margie Thomas, who has spent decades refusing to let her niece be forgotten. She takes us inside the night Eloise disappeared, the investigation that stalled and the toll of living with unanswered questions. If someone knows the truth, this conversation is a reminder that it’s never too late to come forward. Anyone with information about the disappearance of Eloise Worledge is urged to contact crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Files Unsealed: The Last Woman Executed in Australia
Jan 1300:31:26Tap to summarizeIn 1951, Jean Lee was the last woman executed in Australia. 75 years after her execution, the case has been thrust back into the spotlight with the release of never-before-seen court documents. Lee was convicted of murder alongside two men - despite ongoing debate about her true role in the crime. In this episode, Tim & Xanthe unpack the crime, the controversial police investigation and the legal twists that sealed her fate. It’s a case that forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about justice, gender and whether the right person paid the ultimate price.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Cold Cases Cracked Open In 2025
Jan 600:25:54Tap to summarizeAs we step into the new year, this episode turns the spotlight to some of the meaningful progress made in major Australian cold cases in 2025. After decades of unanswered questions, several long-standing cases saw significant breakthroughs, new evidence and even arrests. Tim & Xanthe revisit just some of the many cases that were cracked back open last year, offering long-awaited progress for families who have been waiting years for answers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Year in Crime: Cases That Defined 2025
Dec 3100:47:49Tap to summarizeIn this special end-of-year episode, Xanthe and Tim look back on Australia’s biggest and most unsettling cases of 2025. From the trial that gripped the nation, to some of the lesser publicised but equally disturbing cases, they unpack the investigations that shaped public conversation and debate. Plus, the cases we should keep watching as we head into 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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REPLAY: 2025 Fan Favourite - Inside Snowtown with Gordon Drage
Dec 2800:45:46Tap to summarizeCatch up on one of our most-listened episodes in 2025. Forensic investigator Gordon Drage lifted the lid on Australia’s most horrific serial killings - the infamous Snowtown ‘bodies in the barrels' case. 26 years on, he still remembers every detail of the day they made the gruesome discovery in that bank vault. Now retired, Drage is a passionate advocate for mental health support within emergency services, sharing his powerful insights on the profound impact such cases have on those who serve.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Bizarre, Brazen & Baffling Cases of 2025
Dec 2300:31:09Tap to summarizeIn this special holiday episode, Tim & Xanthe step away from the dark and disturbing and turn to some of the more unusual crime stories of the year - the bizarre, brazen and baffling! They’re putting each other to the test, in a series of games, to examine the stranger side of human behaviour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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