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Motive & Method

Tapt Podcasts
Mental Health
Australia
Domestic Violence
True Crime
Criminal Justice System
Erin Patterson
Social Media
Murder
Stalking
New South Wales
Criminal Justice
Ivan Milat
Terrorism
Bondi Westfield
Sexsomnia
Sovereign Citizen Movement
Queensland
Lone Actors
Victoria
Melbourne

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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes100Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
True Crime

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Artwork for Motive & Method

Latest Episodes

Australia is seeing a disturbing trend of teenagers engaging in extremely dangerous, and potentially fatal, sexual acts.After a 16-year-old girl reportedly died during a suspected sexual strangulation act, experts are warning how mainstream these pra... more

After 25 years, could forensic experts uncover new leads from the final clue in this case?

In December 2001, Janine Vaughan was seen on CCTV getting into a red car outside a Bathurst nightclub - then she vanished.

In this episode, her brother Adam ... more

Did Ivan Milat really act alone? And could lost documents link him to unsolved murders?

The Crown prosecutor who put Ivan Milat behind bars believes the notorious serial killer may have had help with some of the murders.

This episode, Tim and Xanthe... more

She killed her three children. But was she in control of what she was doing?

The Lindsay Clancy case has gripped the world - a mother accused of killing her three young children, and a trial that ended in a dramatic hung jury after weeks of conflicti... more

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Recent Guests

Mark Tedeschi
Lead Crown Prosecutor who prosecuted Milat in 1996
Prosecution (Australia)
Episode: 11. Ivan Milat's Accomplice & Questions Of Lost Files
Dr Josh McConkey
Esteemed emergency physician
United States (emergency medicine)
Episode: Lindsay Clancy: A Hung Jury In The Case That Gripped The World
Jo Townsend
News.com.au investigative reporter who spent two years unraveling the case
News.com.au
Episode: Forgery & Foul Play: Who Killed Les Ball?
Duncan McNab
Author who wrote the book on Mr Rent-A-Kill
Author, book on Mr Rent-A-Kill
Episode: Mr Rent-A-Kill: The Underworld Hitman Who Disappeared
Kim Marshall
Kim Marshall, Bronwyn Winfield's half-sister
Bronwyn Winfield case
Episode: 10. Painful Patterns: Inside The Grafton Hearing with Tim & Xanthe
Karen Robertson
Karen Robertson, Kylee-Ann Schaffer's sister
Kylee-Ann Schaffer case
Episode: 10. Painful Patterns: Inside The Grafton Hearing with Tim & Xanthe
Joanne Greensill
Andrew Inglis's former girlfriend and a key witness in the inquiry
Friend and longtime associate of Andrew Inglis
Episode: 9. Andrew Inglis: The First Love Who Never Came Home
Karen Cox
Older sister of Narelle Cox and a key participant in the inquiry
Family of missing person, advocate
Episode: 8. Narelle Cox: If Not Milat, Then Who?
Joni Condos
Part-time social worker, part citizen sleuth, private researcher with deep Marion Barter case insight
Private researcher / Marion Barter case investigator
Episode: 7. Marion Barter Pt. 2 - The Citizen Sleuth Who Found What Police Missed

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 679 ratings
  • Interesting topics but often not motive relative

    I enjoy the range of cases covered on Motive & Method, and the discussions around victim impact, police investigations, and the broader context of each crime are engaging. The hosts clearly care about the stories they’re telling, and the conversations are thoughtful and respectful.

    However, despite the title, there’s surprisingly little focus on the actual motive behind the crimes or the method used to commit them. Those elements often feel brushed past or not mentioned in an episode at all, wh... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    PinotAfterPonies
    Australiaa month ago
  • Fix the sound

    Interesting content but the sound is so poor quality. Tim mumbles like he’s talking under water and I turn the volume up and then the ads blast my ears. Have you listened to other Podcasts to compare their sound and production? Have you listened to Jack Laurence? He operates from a backyard studio and his voice, music and production are incredible. You need a sound engineer and Tim needs to listen to Jack for advice.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    The teacher who hates swearing
    Australia3 months ago
  • “Domestic violence”

    The term itself contains the justification for the conduct. It keeps happening because it suits the patriarchy to keep women fearful. The rot (in this case coercion) starts at the top.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Maxtopia
    Australia4 months ago
  • Top Notch

    As a podcast junkie and I mean junkie. I only have a few shows I watch on tv otherwise it’s podcasts. Headphones in when I get up and take off at night before bed. I find listening to podcasts I’m more productive. With that said, this is a an awesome podcast!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Watchathink
    United States4 months ago
  • Stop interrupting

    Xanthe stop jumping in interrupting Amelia and dial down the drama.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    katetee123
    Australia4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests receive strong praise for expertise, though pacing or interruptions can be a point of critique.
Sound quality is a frequent critique, with some episodes having production drawbacks.
Dynamic between hosts is generally appreciated for balance of psychology and criminology.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#186
Australia/Top Podcasts
Spotify
#27
Australia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#60
Australia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#17
Australia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#61
New Zealand/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#142
Ireland/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Forgery & Foul Play: Who Killed Les Ball?
Q: What is the potential motive behind the disappearance?
The motive appears financial—Les Ball owed money to David Phillips, and the money trail, including an amount around $60,000, is central to understanding why someone might have orchestrated the disappearance.
Forgery & Foul Play: Who Killed Les Ball?
Q: What makes the evidence of forgery so central to the case?
The forged train ticket, along with forged police service records, creates a pattern of deception aimed at making it look like Les Ball was alive and traveling, thereby obscuring the real timeline and motive.
Forgery & Foul Play: Who Killed Les Ball?
Q: Can you tell us how you got into this case?
Jo Townsend explains that she and her co-host discovered the case through National Missing Persons Week materials and a grip of materials from the missing man's daughter, which led them to pursue the story and question potential hoax vs. truth.
Mr Rent-A-Kill: The Underworld Hitman Who Disappeared
Q: Duncan, could you tell us a bit more about Roger Rogerson and why he features so prominently in Flannery's story?
Rogerson was a central figure in the Melbourne underworld and later involved in Sydney's crime scene; his corruption, leadership role, and association with the Flannery crew helped shape the investigations and the cover-ups around multiple murders, making him a focal point of the case.
9. Andrew Inglis: The First Love Who Never Came Home
Q: What are the main themes you've seen in the inquiry regarding early investigation and box-ticking?
She notes that early categorization often labels cases as misadventure or non-investigation, which then narrows the search and reduces investigative effort, urging a more flexible, case-by-case approach.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Motive & Method

What is Motive & Method about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Motive & Method is an expert-led Australian true crime series that unpacks what drives offenders and how cases unfold, often adding victim survivor perspectives, investigations context, and calls for policy or practice changes. Across episodes, the hosts—Dr Xanthe Mallett and Tim Watson-Munro—analyze motive, method, and the mechanics of investigations, while frequently inviting guests such as investigators, family members, journalists, and advocates to provide deeper context and lived experience. Noteworthy is the blend of psychological insight with rigorous case detail, plus a willingness to critique policing and media dynamics, making it a solid fit for listeners who want professional perspectives on crime stories and systemic issues behi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Motive & Method?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Motive & Method:

1. Life and Crimes with Andrew Rule
2. I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin
3. Australian True Crime
4. True Crime Conversations
5. The Case Of

How many episodes of Motive & Method are there?

Motive & Method launched 4 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Motive & Method?

Recent guests on Motive & Method include:

1. Mark Tedeschi
2. Dr Josh McConkey
3. Jo Townsend
4. Duncan McNab
5. Kim Marshall
6. Karen Robertson
7. Joanne Greensill
8. Karen Cox

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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