Secrets We Keep

The Christchurch terrorist has returned to court, seeking to overturn his guilty plea for the 2019 mosque attacks that killed 51 people. He argues that the extreme isolation of a “prison within a prison” inside New Zealand’s most secure facility left him psychologically incapable of making rational decisions when he pleaded guilty. How likely is a judge to grant his request? And what would reopening this case mean for survivors and the families of the victims? Secrets We Keep: Lone Actor host Joey Watson joins The Briefing's Sacha Barbour Gatt for a deep dive into the real motivations that lie behind the terrorist's legal battle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are new developments in the case of the Christchurch terrorist — the Australian man who murdered 51 people at two mosques in New Zealand in 2019 — who is now seeking to overturn his guilty plea and appeal his sentence. The Christchurch massacre remains the deadliest act of extremist violence committed by an Australian. In Secrets We Keep: Lone Actor, journalist Joey Watson retraces the terrorist’s trajectory in the years leading up to the attack, revealing the networks, influences, and failures that shaped one of the most devastating crimes in our region. Joey speaks with survivors, researchers, and those who crossed the attacker’s path, as he begins to uncover a far more complex story. What, or who, led him to violence? Lone Actor | Ep 2 | Shitposting Lone Actor | Ep 3 | In the scene Lone Actor | Ep 4 | The Balkans Lone Actor | Ep 5 | The defence of Europe Lone Actor | Ep 6 | Skull Mask Network Got any tips? Email us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To bring down a violent neo-Nazi group, former FBI undercover agent Scott Payne had to become someone else. It was a mission that demanded more than surveillance. He infiltrated a neo-Nazi hate camp and, to prove loyalty, he had to partake into strange rituals, even sacrificing a goat. In this interview, Payne takes us inside the mechanics of extremist recruitment, the psychology of hate, and the perils of going deep cover. Got any tips? Email us at [email protected].  Credits:  Reporter/Host: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco Fact Check: Holly Mitchell Sound Design: Matt Nikolic Head of Factual: Clair Weaver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you think crime, justice, and police or journalistic investigations, what really goes into unravelling evidence? What skills do professionals need to put the pieces together? In this sponsored episode, Joey Watson sits down with Dr Hayley Cullen, a cognitive and forensic psychology expert, to explore what skills university students in psychology, forensic science, criminal investigation, and related fields learn, and how they apply those skills in real-world investigations. This episode was sponsored by Open Universities Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Australia geared up to join the United States in the Iraq War, then intelligence analyst Andrew Wilkie faced an ethical crossroads: the government’s claims to justify the war were untrue.   In this interview, the now independent MP speaks candidly about whistleblowing against the official narrative and what it means to challenge power in the lead-up to war. Got any tips? Email us at [email protected].  Credits:  Reporter/Host: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco Fact Check: Holly Mitchell Sound Design: Matt Nikolic Head of Factual: Clair Weaver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every investigation forces a choice. What to reveal. What to protect. What to live with. What happens when the truth comes at a cost? Secrets We Keep returns for 2026 on Tuesday 27 January, with new investigations into power, silence, and the stories people would rather keep buried.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over summer, the Secrets we Keep feed brings you Killer Charm, a LiSTNR award-winning series from investigative journalist Tara Cassidy. When a Queensland man was found dead after falling into a woodchipper in 2017 It looked like a tragic industrial accident. In reality it was planned – a murder orchestrated by his ex-partner, a grandmother from suburban Queensland.  In this episode, Sharon Graham's murder trial finally gets underway, but it's not long before it faces multiple setbacks. Tara Cassidy shares key evidence and witness testimony from Sharon’s trial, as well as the aftermath of her verdict. Tara also speaks with some of those closest to this case on the lasting impacts of their experiences years on. All people convicted of murder related to this case have lodged to appeal the outcomes. The appeals are expected to be heard and handed down in 2026. The Secrets we Keep feed will bring you new investigations and stories in January 2026. In the meantime, if you have any story tips, please email [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over summer, the Secrets we Keep feed brings you Killer Charm, a LiSTNR award-winning series from investigative journalist Tara Cassidy. When a Queensland man was found dead after falling into a woodchipper in 2017 It looked like a tragic industrial accident. In reality it was planned – a murder orchestrated by his ex-partner, a grandmother from suburban Queensland.  In this episode, Police make arrests, but before any trials begin, the case takes a major turn. Tara Cassidy speaks to a witness who reveals damning new information about Greg Roser, and part of the truth is finally told. All people convicted of murder related to this case have lodged to appeal the outcomes. The appeals are expected to be heard and handed down in 2026. The Secrets we Keep feed will bring you new investigations and stories in January 2026. In the meantime, if you have any story tips, please email [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over summer, the Secrets we Keep feed brings you Killer Charm, a LiSTNR award-winning series from investigative journalist Tara Cassidy. When a Queensland man was found dead after falling into a woodchipper in 2017 It looked like a tragic industrial accident. In reality it was planned – a murder orchestrated by his ex-partner, a grandmother from suburban Queensland.  In this episode, the police investigation ramps up, all while Sharon Graham is trying to present herself as the mourning ex-girlfriend. Tara Cassidy speaks to those who could see through Sharon’s guise, and plays never-before-aired covert recordings that the police captured, which helped build their case.    All people convicted of murder related to this case have lodged to appeal the outcomes. The appeals are expected to be heard and handed down in 2026. The Secrets we Keep feed will bring you new investigations and stories in January 2026. In the meantime, if you have any story tips, please email [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over summer, the Secrets we Keep feed brings you Killer Charm, a LiSTNR award-winning series from investigative journalist Tara Cassidy. When a Queensland man was found dead after falling into a woodchipper in 2017 It looked like a tragic industrial accident. In reality it was planned – a murder orchestrated by his ex-partner, a grandmother from suburban Queensland.  In this episode, Sharon Graham’s movements on the night of the murder are under scrutiny, as suspicions around her grow. Tara Cassidy tracks down some of Sharon’s exes to find out what she was like as a partner, and if she’s ever shown signs of planning something sinister before.   All people convicted of murder related to this case have lodged to appeal the outcomes. The appeals are expected to be heard and handed down in 2026. The Secrets we Keep feed will bring you new investigations and stories in January 2026. In the meantime, if you have any story tips, please email [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over summer, the Secrets we Keep feed brings you Killer Charm, a LiSTNR award-winning series from investigative journalist Tara Cassidy. When a Queensland man was found dead after falling into a woodchipper in 2017 It looked like a tragic industrial accident. In reality it was planned – a murder orchestrated by his ex-partner, a grandmother from suburban Queensland.  In this episode, Tara Cassidy speaks to those closest to the grandmother, who was now one of the police’s main murder suspects. Tara unravels the different sides Sharon presented to people, and starts to see some patterns in her behaviour, especially around money and men.  All people convicted of murder related to this case have lodged to appeal the outcomes. The appeals are expected to be heard and handed down in 2026. The Secrets we Keep feed will bring you new investigations and stories in January 2026. In the meantime, if you have any story tips, please email [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over summer, the Secrets we Keep feed brings you Killer Charm, a LiSTNR award-winning series from investigative journalist Tara Cassidy. When a Queensland man was found dead after falling into a woodchipper in 2017 It looked like a tragic industrial accident   In reality it was planned – a murder orchestrated by his ex-partner, a grandmother from suburban Queensland.  All people convicted of murder related to this case have lodged to appeal the outcomes. The appeals are expected to be heard and handed down in 2026. The Secrets we Keep feed will bring you new investigations and stories in January 2026. In the meantime, if you have any story tips, please email [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this two-part exclusive, Joey Watson speaks to the parents of “Thomas Carrick” (pseudonym), a young teenager with autism radicalised by covert Australian Federal Police operatives and later charged with terrorism. His charges were dropped by a Victorian court.  For the first time, Thomas’ parents speak publicly about the systemic gaps that allowed a vulnerable boy to be drawn deeper into danger, the devastating moment they learned the state had pursued a criminal case against a child with significant cognitive vulnerabilities, and how a system meant to protect their son instead put him at greater risk.  Their account, alongside the court’s damning findings, that police conduct fell “profoundly short” of acceptable standards, raises questions about policing, oversight, and how a terrorism prevention program turned into an institutional failure.  Right of Reply:  The Secrets We Keep: Uncovered team contacted the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police for comment.    The AFP declined to answer our questions and instead referred us to previous on-the-record comments made by Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney in 2024 regarding this matter:  Senate Estimates LINK Parliamentary Joint Committee LINK  Victoria Police Response:  “Victoria Police in partnership with community groups and other areas of government agencies delivers dedicated therapeutic early intervention programs which directly engage with and support individuals assessed as being vulnerable to, or holding violent extremist beliefs. Programs involve case management activity which may include connecting individuals with mentors, psychological counselling, and educational or vocational opportunities.  “Victoria Police does not publicly provide specific details of the operations or programs of this nature. This is partly to ensure we maintain the confidentiality needs of all of those involved. The community can be reassured that we remain committed to working with the community and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies to divert those vulnerable to radicalising towards violent extremism to a different path, assist those who are already holding violent extremist beliefs to disengage, and ensure the safety and security of the Victorian public.”  Victoria Police also claimed that to their knowledge, the Imam assigned to the family through their CVE program did not record without the family’s knowledge or consent.  Credits:  Reporter/Producer/Host: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco Fact Check: Holly Mitchell Sound Design: Matt Nikolic Head of Factual: Clair Weaver  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this two-part exclusive, Joey Watson speaks to the parents of “Thomas Carrick” (pseudonym), a young teenager with autism radicalised by covert Australian Federal Police operatives and later charged with terrorism. His charges were dropped by a Victorian court. For the first time, Thomas’ parents speak publicly about the systemic gaps that allowed a vulnerable boy to be drawn deeper into danger, the devastating moment they learned the state had pursued a criminal case against a child with significant cognitive vulnerabilities, and how a system meant to protect their son instead put him at greater risk. Their account, alongside the court’s damning findings, that police conduct fell “profoundly short” of acceptable standards, raises questions about policing, oversight, and how a terrorism prevention program turned into an institutional failure. Right of Reply: The Secrets We Keep: Uncovered team contacted the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police for comment.   The AFP declined to answer our questions and instead referred us to previous on-the-record comments made by Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney in 2024 regarding this matter: Senate Estimates LINK Parliamentary Joint Committee LINK Victoria Police Response: “Victoria Police in partnership with community groups and other areas of government agencies delivers dedicated therapeutic early intervention programs which directly engage with and support individuals assessed as being vulnerable to, or holding violent extremist beliefs. Programs involve case management activity which may include connecting individuals with mentors, psychological counselling, and educational or vocational opportunities. “Victoria Police does not publicly provide specific details of the operations or programs of this nature. This is partly to ensure we maintain the confidentiality needs of all of those involved. The community can be reassured that we remain committed to working with the community and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies to divert those vulnerable to radicalising towards violent extremism to a different path, assist those who are already holding violent extremist beliefs to disengage, and ensure the safety and security of the Victorian public.” Victoria Police also claimed that to their knowledge, the Imam assigned to the family through their CVE program did not record without the family’s knowledge or consent. Credits: Reporter/Producer/Host: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco Fact Check: Holly Mitchell Sound Design: Matt Nikolic Head of Factual: Clair Weaver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hailing from a bikie family to becoming a celebrated cop, former NSW police officer and whistleblower Deb Locke revealed the hidden truth behind Roger Rogerson—once praised as a star detective, but ultimately unmasked as one of Australia’s most corrupt and violent police officers. Deb shares powerful firsthand insights into the culture of intimidation and cover-ups within the NSW Police Force of the 1980s, her own battle to speak out against corruption, the courage required to confront the powerful, and how her evidence helped dismantle a system built on fear, complicity, and silence. Credits: Host/Producer: Joey Watson Producer: Holly Mitchell Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco  Sound Design: Matt Nikolic   Fact Check and Archive Research: Lee Chan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An undercover sting on the Spanish party island of Ibiza involving a far-right political leader, a fake Russian oligarch, cocaine and corruption. This is the inside story of the Ibiza Affair, and how private investigator Julian Hessenthaler made the secret recordings that brought down a government. Credits: Host/Producer: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco  Sound Design: Matt Nikolic   Fact Check: Holly Mitchell Listen to Secrets we Keep: Lone Actor - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-we-keep/id1699106866?i=1000716518474See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Lorraine Long began logging complaints from patients who claimed to be mistreated by doctors, she uncovered one of Australia’s most shocking medical scandals. Her warnings were ignored, her reputation attacked, but her persistence exposed “the Butcher of Bega,” disgraced gynaecologist and obstetrician Graeme Reeves, who was accused of mutilating and assaulting patients. In this episode, Lorraine reflects on how she blew the whistle, the personal cost of speaking out, and what her story reveals about a medical system that struggled to protect women. Content Warning: this episode contains descriptions of botched medical procedures and indecent assault. Guest Host: Tara Cassidy  Producer: Claudianna Blanco  Sound Design: Matt Nikolic   Fact Check: Holly MitchellSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a world-famous prankster journalist decides to put all the TikToks, podcasts, and online masterclasses promising overnight riches to the test?  British filmmaker Oobah Butler spills the methods behind his latest documentary, “How I Made £1 Million In 90 Days”, a wild ride through the art of turning hype and hot air into cash, faking his way to wealth to expose the reality behind “hustle culture”.  Host: Joey Watson  Producer: Claudianna Blanco  Sound Design: Matt Nikolic  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it became known that a shadowy facial recognition company called Clearview AI had created a massive database, capable of identifying almost anyone, anywhere, reporters around the globe picked up the trail — working to uncover how this start-up could reshape privacy and policing internationally.  Here in Australia, tech reporter Cam Wilson dug into the Australian Federal Police’s documents for years — revealing disturbing details.  Read Cam Wilson's Investigations here: ‘World’s most controversial company’ Clearview AI still being used to solve Australian police cases Clearview AI is still collecting photos of Australians for its facial recognition database See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Go inside the courtroom as the Special Investigations Unit fights to deliver justice to three alleged Nazi collaborators living in Australia — men accused of participating in atrocities during World War II. Prosecutor Graham Blewitt takes us behind the scenes of the long, complex battle for accountability, marked by High Court challenges, fading memories, and the failing health of the accused This is Part 2 of Hunting Australia’s Nazi War Criminals. You can listen to Part 1 here. Lifeline: 13 11 14 Further links:  Graham Blewitt's book Nazis in Australia  Credits: Presenter/Producer: Joey Watson Senior Producer: Claudianna Blanco Sound designer: Kyle Hopkins Executive Producer: Ellen Leabeater See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the mid 1980s, Australia had to reckon with an uncomfortable truth: that hundreds of suspected Nazi war criminals had made this country their home. They had slipped in after World War II and had been living quietly in the suburbs.  Leading the effort to expose them was the Special Investigations Unit. Prosecutor Graham Blewitt was part of the team whose task was to find the men who thought they’d escaped justice.  This is Part 1 of Hunting Australia’s Nazi War Criminals. Part 2 out next Tuesday.  Lifeline: 13 11 14 Further links:  Graham Blewitt's book Nazis in Australia  Listen to Secrets We Keep: Lone Actor  Credits: Presenter/Producer: Joey Watson Senior Producer: Claudianna Blanco Sound designer: Kyle Hopkins Executive Producer: Ellen Leabeater See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From next week, join Joey Watson as he takes you inside some of the most important investigations of our time. Each week, you'll hear stories powerful people hoped would stay buried, by speaking directly to those who lived and breathed them.   Subscribe and follow Secrets We Keep, to be the first to hear Uncovered on October 14. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Elliott has done what few could - persuading one of Australia's most elusive prison escapees to break his silence. The journalist and author has always been drawn to the hidden corners of people's lives, shaped in part by his own story of privilege and pain, shadowed by hardship and the loss of his father. In Secrets We Keep: Jailbreak, Tim enters the mind of Darko (aka ‘Dougie') Desic, a wildly successful weed grower who staged a bold prison escape and remained on the run for decades. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Tim reveals why eccentric and sometimes ‘dodgy' characters confide in him and reflects on how his family dealt with his father's mental illness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Darko is free but trapped in the life of a fugitive. He falls in love but can’t reveal his true identity and breaks it off. Life is hard: Darko’s living outside the system now. With no ID or healthcare, he can’t openly travel or seek medical attention. He depends on local support and cash jobs. Once COVID hits, Darko becomes homeless, and decides to hand himself in. Behind bars once again, locals rally for clemency. Will he be set free? As his fate hangs in the balance, he examines his choices and comes to a startling understanding of his remarkable life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brought to you by LiSTNR’s team of award-winning journalists, Secrets We Keep: Uncovered takes you inside some of the most important investigations of our time, with our expanding network of journalists and sources from around Australia and beyond.  Every week, we pull back the curtain on the stories powerful people hoped would stay buried, by speaking directly to those who lived and breathed them.   The whistleblower who risked everything. The victim who refused to stay silent. The journalist who just wouldn’t let it go.  Stories of power, secrecy, and the people who dared challenge both.   Secrets We Keep: Uncovered is an original LiSTNR podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Darko methodically prepares an escape plan, taking months to prepare. As Darko readies himself physically, mentally and logistically, he collects the tools he needs to breakout: bolt cutters, a hack saw blade and new running shoes. After his daring escape, the cops give chase, but Darko miraculously evades them at every turn. Darko returns to Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where he assumes a new identity: “Dougie”, the easy-going handyman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Darko’s sent to some of Australia’s most notorious prisons, where he acquaints himself with several underworld figures. Darko’s making the most of his time behind bars when he’s told that once his sentence is complete, he will be deported back to Yugoslavia, then in the midst of a brutal civil war. Going back would’ve meant having to fight in the conflict, so Darko decides to escape and starts to devise a plan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Darko’s killing it. He uses the proceeds of a successful marijuana crop to buy a new bike, gold, opals and blue-chip shares. A single, fateful mistake gets him discovered by the police, but Darko manages a near escape. Now a fugitive, Darko picks up work on a banana plantation in Coffs Harbour, where his workmates realise there’s more to Darko than meets the eye. After a few months undetected, Darko’s luck runs out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After visiting Australia in the 1980s, Darko returns home to Yugoslavia but senses trouble coming. He sees the rise of nationalism and early signs of conflict looming. Darko heads back to the safety of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Enamoured by the laid-back lifestyle, Darko learns to grow and sell weed. He plans to buy his dream house in Palm Beach but gets greedy. This fit, young, former communist commissar, with a taste for Russian literature decides to stay in Australia any way he can.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon in 2021, when Darko Desic arrives, unannounced, at a police station, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. He claims to have escaped from prison 30 years before and now wants to hand himself in. The police are confused. There’s no record of him on their files. The officers eventually arrest him. When news emerges of Darko’s 30 years on the run, the world is amazed, and baffled. How did he escape? How did he evade capture for so long, living under the noses of the police? And who the hell is Darko Desic? Journalist Tim Elliott tracks Darko down and sits down with him for a tell-all interview.   Credits: Writer and Host - Tim Elliott Senior Producer - Claudianna Blanco Executive Producer - Greg Muller  Sound Design - Kyle Hopkins Fact Checking - Holly Mitchell See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At just 13 years old, Thomas Carrick was placed under covert surveillance by the Australian Federal Police. Believing he was speaking to ISIS operatives online, Thomas was in fact engaging with undercover officers, conversations that would eventually see him charged with terrorism offences. The AFP knew Thomas lived with autism and an intellectual disability. Still, they pursued him in a way a judge later described as ‘grooming’ him for terrorism. So, was Thomas ever a real threat? Or just a vulnerable boy pulled into a fantasy world by those meant to protect him? In this episode, counter-terrorism expert Peta Lowe - who also features in Secrets We Keep: Lone Actor - unpacks the Carrick case and what it reveals about the growing risk of youth radicalisation in Australia. To hear more content like this, listen to Crime Insiders wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Jailbreak, we hear the extraordinary story of a fugitive who lived for 30 years on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia. The reclusive Darko Desic (prolific weed grower, prison escapee and martial arts expert) tells his story for the first time; a story of resilience and discipline.   In following Darko’s remarkable journey, Jailbreak explores eternal truths about free will and fate, crime and punishment, and the search for meaning.  Jailbreak is an original podcast from LiSTNR.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why did Joey decide to use the terrorist's name? Where are far-right extremist communities gathering now?  In this bonus Q&A episode, Joey answers your questions about making the Lone Actor podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist and host of the Weekend Briefing Antointette Lattouf sits down with Joey Watson to go beyond the investigation. Find out how Joey came to the story, and how his family history influences his work.  Have a question for Joey? Email [email protected]. You can hear more from Antointette every Saturday on the Weekend Briefing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having spent years tracing the terrorist, Joey is still left with unanswered questions.  Parts of the manifesto don’t match the online worlds Joey has investigated — references to revolution, societal collapse, and a call for chaos.  Joey’s search leads to a shadowy neo-Nazi terror network that emerged in the years before the attack. Could this be the missing link in the terrorist’s radicalisation to violence?  If you have a question for Joey, email [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the attack, authorities in Austria learnt that the terrorist had been linked to a high-profile extremist in their country – Martin Sellner.   The terrorist had given Sellner a sizeable donation, and had visited Austria four months before the attack. So, the question was asked – did Sellner and the terrorist have contact?  However, the Austrian investigation into the links between the pair was compromised. Joey travels to Vienna to find out what happened. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two trips to the Balkans, in South-Eastern Europe might hold the key to the terrorist's mindset in the years before the attack. This is a region steeped in nationalist history and revered by the far-right, and the details of his time here are murky.  Joey follows the terrorist to the other side of the world, searching for more clues about his radicalisation, trying to find out if anyone in Europe knew what was coming. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the afternoon of the attack, a member of a private Facebook group for Australian extremists comments that the terrorist had been “in the scene for a while”.  Digging through an archive of Facebook posts, Joey Watson uncovers just how deep those connections ran.  Joey finds the terrorist had been in contact with Australian extremists for years – including signalling the violence that he would go on to commit.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The terrorist posted a manifesto and a live stream link on an obscure image board just minutes before the attack, urging users to “do their part by spreading my message.”  Journalist Joey Watson investigates the online community of 4chan, and finds how a once-creative part of the internet was taken over by far-right extremists, desensitizing each other towards violence.    Joey sifts through newly unearthed posts made anonymously by the terrorist, finding a crucial shift in his radicalisation journey.  Every episode of Lone Actor is available exclusively for free on the LiSTNR app. You can download the app and listen to Episode 3 now. Further reading: The Role of Ideology in Motivating Lone Actor Terrorism: An Analysis of the Online Record of the Christchurch Terrorist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2019, a 28-year-old Australian terrorist live-streamed himself murdering 51 people at two mosques in Christchurch New Zealand, sending shockwaves around the world. It was the deadliest act of right-wing extremist violence committed by an Australian.   As journalist Joey Watson speaks with survivors and researchers, he begins to uncover a more complex story. What, or who, led the terrorist to violence?  In Secrets We Keep: Lone Actor, Joey sets out to retrace the terrorist's trajectory in the years leading up to the attack.  Every episode of Lone Actor is available exclusively to binge now on the LiSTNR app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On March 15 2019 a gunman opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch, killing 51 people. Officially, he acted alone. But what if that wasn’t the full story? In Secrets We Keep: Lone Actor, journalist Joey Watson digs into the digital underworld that shaped Brenton Tarrant — a 28-year-old Australian radicalised online and armed with a global ideology. Joey retraces the steps of the terrorist and asks: Was he really acting alone? The series journeys from the darkest corners of the internet to the other side of the world, exposing the murky forces behind the deadliest terror attack ever committed by an Australian. Binge the full series of Lone Actor exclusively on the LiSTNR app, download the app for free. New episodes released weekly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is international commercial surrogacy being sold to foreign intended parents?  Amelia sends Senior Producer Claudianna Blanco to Colombia to find out. Claudianna talks to experts, industry insiders and surrogates to uncover the international daisy chain of brokers and middlemen.   All episodes of By Any Means are available exclusively on the LiSTNR app. If you want to get in touch, email [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Surrogacy is the pointy end of the fertility industry – the last resort for conceiving babies that are genetically linked to their parents. In Australia, the only legal option for surrogacy is via someone offering to carry a baby altruistically.   Who are these women who are happy to carry a baby for a stranger? Amelia sends Senior Producer Claudianna Blanco to Tasmania for the Surrogacy Sisterhood retreat – a first for any Australian journalist.   Then, we meet a couple risking it all to undertake commercial international surrogacy in Latin America. And ask the question – how can you trust a clinic is doing the right thing abroad?   If you would like to get in touch email [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve heard the mistakes the fertility industry has made – so it’s no surprise some people are offering another option.  In this episode, Amelia Oberhardt dives into the ‘known donor’ movement, of men offering their sperm on Facebook.   Is it better than using sperm sourced through a fertility clinic? And is an unregulated environment of sperm donation really the best solution?   If you can't wait to listen to the next episode, you can find all episodes of By Any Means for free on the LiSTNR app. Listen to Episode 5 now. If you want to get in touch, email [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Systemic secrecy and loose record-keeping in the early days of IVF is coming to light, and it's clear that some sperm donors were abusing the system.  In this episode, Amelia hears from adult donor-conceived people whose lives have been altered because of secrecy and negligence. From people finding out they have an unknown large number of siblings, to inherited health conditions, and the anguish of not knowing your medical history. If you don't want to wait for the next episode, all episodes of By Any Means are available for free on the LiSTNR app. Listen to Episode 4 now.  If you know more, or want to share your story, email [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early 2000s, the advent of DNA test kits opens the Pandora’s Box of conception secrets. As the identities of many previously anonymous sperm donors are suddenly revealed, their biological children’s lives are upended upon learning the truth about how they’d been conceived.  Amelia speaks to Darren, a medical student who’d donated his sperm anonymously in the 1980s, and Guy, a man who found out in adulthood he had been conceived with anonymous donor sperm, following Victoria’s decision to become the first state in Australia to establish a registry for donor-conceived children.  Every episode of By Any Means is available exclusively on the LiSTNR app. You can listen to Episode 3 now.  If you want to get in touch email [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An intriguing email propels journalist Amelia Oberhardt to investigate the fertility industry in Australia, its history and methods, and the outcomes for the children born during the early days of IVF – when secrecy around conception and anonymous sperm donation was the norm.   Amelia’s starting point is her best friend’s mother – one of the first women to go through infertility treatment in Queensland and successfully give birth to one of the state’s first ‘test tube babies’.    Amelia speaks to the doctors who pioneered IVF in Australia, to understand the thinking behind the fertility industry’s early choice of persuading their patients to keep the truth of conception secret from the children born from anonymous sperm donations.   You can listen to all episodes of By Any Means now on the LiSTNR app.  If you want to get in touch, email [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Egg donation, sperm donation and surrogacy – assisted reproduction technologies have made it easier than ever to have a baby but created an ethical and identity minefield. From finding sperm on Facebook, to finding out you might have 700 siblings, Secrets We Keep: By Any Means examines the multibillion-dollar fertility industry that fills wombs. Journalist Amelia Oberhardt speaks with parents, adult children and clinicians about the ‘wild west’ of the modern fertility landscape, confronting complex questions about consent, identity and human rights.  Only available on LiSTNR. Download the app and listen for free: https://play.listnr.com/podcast/secrets-we-keepSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claire discovers how the Australian Federal Police are embracing FIGG, but with no regulation to safeguard against the privacy concerns which come with increased genetic surveillance. And in the final episode of Should I Spit?, the true market value of DNA databases is revealed and we find out how the personal information amassed by companies like Ancestry is being facilitated by Australia’s National Archives. The Angie Dodge murder is finally solved but a final tragic twist shocks everyone involved. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claire meets the scientist responsible for the original DNA family history project Michael’s father donated to. He’s a well-known archaeo-geneticist who was attempting to build a DNA family tree of the whole world, with the hope it would bring world peace. This ambitious plan was funded by a Mormon billionaire. A celebrity genetic detective takes on the Angie Dodge case and finds that a distant relative of Michael’s was responsible for the murder. Claire discovers in this episode of ShouldI Spit? exactly how science and intelligence combine in the powerful new investigative technique of Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.