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Motive & Method

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

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 weeklyEpisodes100Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
True Crime

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Artwork for Motive & Method

Latest Episodes

What if the full story behind Australia's most notorious serial killer Ivan Milat has never been told? And what if more recent cases point to a copycat killer - or worse?

In this special series of Motive&Method, forensic scientist Dr Xanthe Weston an... more

Mysterious disappearances, unsolved deaths & terrifying stories - Is a killer stalking Byron Bay? And could there be more than one?

In 2019, 18-year-old Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez vanished after a night out in Byron Bay and was never seen again. S... more

A mother & two young boys killed allegedly at the hands of their father - This tradegy has once again left an entire country asking how this keeps happening.

The alleged murders in Campbelltown, Sydney have been described as among the most confronti... more

Crimes for clicks, shares and online status - In this episode, Tim and Xanthe unpack the dangerous new phenomenon “crimefluencing”. Australia’s top cop recently highlighted this “new and disturbing front in traditional gender-based violence” - with ... more

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Recent Guests

Graeme Crowley
Former police officer turned private investigator
Private investigator, former Queensland Police
Episode: The Wrong Man? Who Killed Leanne Holland
Mark Jones
Brother of Tony Jones, a missing person since 1982
Family of Tony Jones
Episode: Bonus: Mark Jones [Extended Interview]
John Twaddle
Brother of Gordon Twaddle and friend of Tim Thompson
Family of victims
Episode: Bonus: John Twaddle [Extended Interview]
David Cunningham
Elder brother of Anita Cunningham, missing/presumed murdered in the Sensible Creek area near Pentland
Episode: Bonus: David Cunningham [Extended Interview]
Amelia Oberhardt
Investigative journalist
Episode: Introducing: Outback Murder Highway
Ken Gamble
Private investigator involved in tracking Peter Foster; conducted investigations into Sports Trading Club and related cases
Independent Private Investigator
Episode: Catching Peter Foster & Finding A Missing Baby: Ken Gamble (Part 2)
Erin Ramsay
Investigative journalist
A Current Affair
Episode: The Killer Babysitter: Living Free & Babysitting Again
Dr. Annie Cossens
Former professor of law and criminology at the University of New South Wales and author of The Baby Farmers
University of New South Wales
Episode: Sydney’s Baby Farming Murders
Margie Thomas
Aunt of Eloise Worledge, involved in her ongoing case
Episode: Taken In The Night: The Eloise Worledge Mystery

Hosts

Dr Xanthe Mallett & Tim Watson-Munro & Amelia Oberhardt
Core hosts and frequent guests, combining forensic criminology, criminal psychology, and investigative journalism.
Xanthé Weston
Co-host with forensic criminology background, frequently contributing criminology and forensic analysis.
Tim Watson-Munro
Criminal psychologist and host, providing psychological analysis of offenders and motives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 613 ratings
  • Stop interrupting

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

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    katetee123
    Australia22 days ago
  • 5/5!!

    Love this podcast. Have been listening to Tim for years and he’s the best in the business. Keep it up Tim and Dr Xanthe - what a team!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jemma Ibbotson-Hansen
    United Kingdom24 days ago
  • Why & How

    I’ve just recently come across this podcast and have enjoyed it thus far, however - given the name of the podcast and the professional expertise of the presenters I’d have hoped for them to delve more into the why and how of the cases rather than just summarising them. Why did the suspect do what they did? What drives someone like this? What needs are they meeting? How were these crimes committed? For instance with Lucy Letby how exactly do they say she compromised these babies to the point of c... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    JenJenB79
    Australiaa month ago
  • Robert Maudsley

    Robert Maudsley needs to be pardoned and free. He’s done the world a favour. The people he killed were a stain on society and they got exactly what they deserved.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    christaMDT
    Australiaa month ago
  • Great

    New listener after hearing about it on True Crime Convos. As for Tim’s voice - I bet he’s seen enough in his career and knows enough so I respect his knowledge and input without him needing to put on a Disney voice lol.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ozcandyoz
    Australia2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are well-chosen and bring credible expertise to complex cases.
Listeners appreciate the balance of psychology and criminology with practical investigative insight.
Strong dynamic between hosts with thoughtful, respectful discussion.
Sound quality is variable; production sometimes distracts from content.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#38
Australia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#186
Australia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#32
Australia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#76
New Zealand/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#131
Hong Kong/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#163
Japan/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Wrong Man? Who Killed Leanne Holland
Q: Can you tell us how you first got involved in the Leanne Holland case and what kept drawing you back to it?
I became involved through a private investigation after leaving the police, and my work was deeply personal due to longstanding concerns and the Stafford family's belief that the wrong person was convicted, which kept driving further examination of the case.
Breakthrough: Body Found In Search for Jayden Penno-Tompsett
Q: What were the key factors that led to Jayden's disappearance according to the timeline?
The combination of a long road trip, sleep deprivation, and MDMA use created a situation where plans went awry, leading to conflict in Charters Towers and a lack of immediate reporting or search, which complicated the investigation for years.
Bonus: Mark Jones [Extended Interview]
Q: Can you tell us the story of the mysterious letter?
A hoax letter claimed Tony's body was buried in the Fullerton River and set off a search that refused to find Tony or the letter's source, while also highlighting how fragile corroboration can be in cold cases.
Bonus: Mark Jones [Extended Interview]
Q: Before Tony went travelling, what was he like as a teenager, as a young adult before he set off?
Tony was described as a character who could spin years' worth of stories from a weekend away, entertaining friends with colourful narratives and surrounding himself with people who loved life and laughter.
Bonus: David Cunningham [Extended Interview]
Q: What led you to investigate the case for decades, and who helped you?
David recounts the turning point when Mick Gurne, a veteran detective, started uncovering facts, prompting family involvement and a long FOI campaign to access police files.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Motive & Method

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

A rigorous, expert-led exploration of the minds and methods behind notable crimes, blending criminology, psychology, and investigative insight. Hosts dissect motive, opportunity, and behavior while unpacking high-profile cases and current headlines with a focus on evidence, forensic context, and systemic questions. Guests typically include investigators, journalists, and academics who add first-hand perspectives and analytical depth, making complex cases approachable for listeners who want to understand why crimes happen as much as how they were solved. A standout trait is the synthesis of scholarly criminology with practical investigative experience, offering a distinctive lens for aspiring guests and sponsors seeking thoughtful true-crime... 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. True Crime Conversations
3. I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin
4. Australian True Crime
5. The Case Of

How many episodes of Motive & Method are there?

Motive & Method launched 3 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. Graeme Crowley
2. Mark Jones
3. John Twaddle
4. David Cunningham
5. Amelia Oberhardt
6. Ken Gamble
7. Erin Ramsay
8. Dr. Annie Cossens

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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