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Artwork for Motive & Method

Motive & Method

Tapt Media
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
Melbourne
Queensland
Lone Actors
Victoria

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

It started with a case of mistaken identity - and led to a global search for answers.

When media outlets falsely reported that a Married at First Sight producer had vanished near Bondi, reality TV commentator Josh Fox planned to make a quick awarene... more

Could dark secrets at a games arcade in 1980’s Cronulla hold the key to solving this cold case?

This episode, journalist Kate Kachor joins Tim and Xanthe to discuss her investigation into the 1980 disappearances of Sydney teenagers Elaine Johnson a... more

What happens behind the scenes when someone disappears?

In this episode, Tim and Xanthe sit down with AFP Commander Joanne Cameron to discuss how Australia tackles some 49,000 missing persons reports every year.

The conversation dives deep into ... more

It’s been 46 years since 16-year-old Elaine Johnson vanished alongside her friend Kerry-Ann Joel.

But Elaine’s little sister, Helen Cooper, refuses to let her become a forgotten statistic.

Her relentless search for answers has taken her to local ... more

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Recent Guests

Joanne Cameron
Australian Federal Police commander overseeing national missing-person coordination
Australian Federal Police
Episode: 49,000 Reports| Who Is Looking For Australia's Missing
Helen Cooper
Sister of missing teenager Elaine Johnson and advocate for answers in her disappearance
Episode: 14. Two Teenage Girls Vanished: A Sister’s 46-Year Search For Answers
Steven Meyers
Member of the crew involved in the robberies
Hollywood Bandits (crew member)
Episode: How To Rob A Bank: The Thief & The Agent Who Caught Him
Shawn Johnson
Agent/detective who worked to stop the robberies
FBI
Episode: How To Rob A Bank: The Thief & The Agent Who Caught Him
Tasia Haag
Sister of Nadine Haag, advocate for missing persons families
Centre for Missing Persons (collaborator)
Episode: 13. Nadine Haag: The Note That Said 'He Did It'
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

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 691 ratings
  • Mumbling !!

    Love the show , but Tim is tricky to listen to, when he leans away from the microphone! Mumbling.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mehidabel
    Australiaa month ago
  • 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
    Australia3 months 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
    Australia4 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
    Australia5 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 States5 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
#50
Australia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#101
Australia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#20
Australia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#46
New Zealand/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#102
Indonesia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#133
United Arab Emirates/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

14. Two Teenage Girls Vanished: A Sister’s 46-Year Search For Answers
Q: There are people out there who know what happened to your sister, Elaine or Kerry. What's your message to them?
Cooper asks anyone with information, even something that seems insignificant, to come forward and says they can do so anonymously.
14. Two Teenage Girls Vanished: A Sister’s 46-Year Search For Answers
Q: If you could just start by telling us a little bit about your sister, what she was like, and then the circumstances around her disappearance and why you've had so many questions over all these years.
Cooper describes Elaine as quiet, friendly, and unlikely to have run away. She recounts that Elaine left after an argument at home and later set off on foot with Kerry-Ann after a minor car accident.
49,000 Reports| Who Is Looking For Australia's Missing
Q: What strategies are adopted now to try and locate people?
Cameron describes the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre's website, anonymous reporting, social media and geographically targeted phone alerts, alongside conventional posters and information shared at police stations.
49,000 Reports| Who Is Looking For Australia's Missing
Q: Can you take us through some of the numbers? Do you have any statistics about how many people are reported missing each year and how many are found?
Cameron says Australian police received around 49,000 missing-person reports in 2025. Most were resolved quickly, while approximately 2,700 cases remained open after three months.
How To Rob A Bank: The Thief & The Agent Who Caught Him
Q: Steve, what was the turning point when the FBI started to actively disrupt the operation?
The turning point came with the deployment of electronic tracers and the realization that the plan needed to become proactive rather than reactive, including changes to the getaway strategy and the use of surveillance to anticipate targets.

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. The Case Of
5. Secrets We Keep

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. Joanne Cameron
2. Helen Cooper
3. Steven Meyers
4. Shawn Johnson
5. Tasia Haag
6. Mark Tedeschi
7. Dr Josh McConkey
8. Jo Townsend

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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