Secrets We Keep
LiSTNR
Each season, Secrets We Keep investigates a different Australian secret.
Secrets We Keep: Uncovered (Season 9): 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, Uncovered pulls back the curtain on the stories powerful people hoped would stay buried, by speaking directly to those who lived and breathed them.
Jailbreak (Season 8): Journalist Tim Elliott details the extraordinary story of Darko Desic, a fugitive who lived for 30 years on the Northern Beaches of Sydney.
Lone Actor (Season 7): Joey Watson traces the radicalisation trajectory of the Christchurch terrorist, asking the question - did he really act alone?
By Any Means (Season 6): An investigation into the modern fertility landscape, confronting complex questions about consent, identity and human rights.
Should I Spit? (Season 5): The origin story of the multibillion dollar consumer DNA industry. From police hoping to solve cold murder cases, to one of the most powerful churches in the world, everyone seems to want a piece of what makes you, you.
Pray Harder (Season 4): investigative journalist Richard Baker uncovers the unbelievable and compelling true story of Australia’s oldest and most hard line Pentecostal Church, the Geelong Revival Centre.
Baghdad Nights (Season 3): Richard Baker takes you inside Australia's biggest corruption scandal, finding out how Australia funded a dictator in the lead up to the Iraq War.
Nest of Traitors (Season 2): Joey Watson is pulled into the world of espionage, attempting to track down an Australian spy who turned to work for the enemy during the Cold War.
Shame Lies & Family (Season 1): A mystery photo of Amelia Oberhardt’s mum exposes the practice of shotgun marriages, forced adoption, and quiet abortions carried out in Australia until the 1980s.
Secrets We Keep: Uncovered (Season 9): 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, Uncovered pulls back the curtain on the stories powerful people hoped would stay buried, by speaking directly to those who lived and breathed them.
Jailbreak (Season 8): Journalist Tim Elliott details the extraordinary story of Darko Desic, a fugitive who lived for 30 years on the Northern Beaches of Sydney.
Lone Actor (Season 7): Joey Watson traces the radicalisation trajectory of the Christchurch terrorist, asking the question - did he really act alone?
By Any Means (Season 6): An investigation into the modern fertility landscape, confronting complex questions about consent, identity and human rights.
Should I Spit? (Season 5): The origin story of the multibillion dollar consumer DNA industry. From police hoping to solve cold murder cases, to one of the most powerful churches in the world, everyone seems to want a piece of what makes you, you.
Pray Harder (Season 4): investigative journalist Richard Baker uncovers the unbelievable and compelling true story of Australia’s oldest and most hard line Pentecostal Church, the Geelong Revival Centre.
Baghdad Nights (Season 3): Richard Baker takes you inside Australia's biggest corruption scandal, finding out how Australia funded a dictator in the lead up to the Iraq War.
Nest of Traitors (Season 2): Joey Watson is pulled into the world of espionage, attempting to track down an Australian spy who turned to work for the enemy during the Cold War.
Shame Lies & Family (Season 1): A mystery photo of Amelia Oberhardt’s mum exposes the practice of shotgun marriages, forced adoption, and quiet abortions carried out in Australia until the 1980s.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 8, 2025 • 34min
Jailbreak - Episode 3 - Busted
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.
Sep 1, 2025 • 29min
Jailbreak - Episode 2 - It Was a Boom
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.
Sep 1, 2025 • 30min
Jailbreak - Episode 1 - You’ve Been Looking for Me
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.
Aug 29, 2025 • 55min
Bonus - The 13 year old Australian charged as a terrorist
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.
Aug 25, 2025 • 4min
Introducing Jailbreak
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.
Aug 20, 2025 • 27min
Bonus - Joey answers your questions
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.
Aug 13, 2025 • 27min
Bonus - Antoinette Lattouf interviews Joey Watson
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 secretswekeep@sca.com.au. You can hear more from Antointette every Saturday on the Weekend Briefing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 6, 2025 • 39min
Lone Actor - Episode 6 - Skull Mask Network
Joey dives into the chilling world of online radicalization, uncovering the roots of a shadowy neo-Nazi terror network. The disturbing connections between social media and extremist ideologies come to light, with personal insights from former members of these groups. There's a gripping exploration of irony in online culture, showcasing how humor can obscure dangerous beliefs. The complexities of a terrorist's journey from isolation to violence reveal the intricate web of influences at play. It's a deep look into the dark corners of digital extremism.
Jul 30, 2025 • 33min
Lone Actor - Episode 5 - The defence of Europe
In a deep dive into the rise of far-right extremism, the discussion unveils the complex ties between a notorious extremist and a recent terrorist attack in Austria. The narrative explores the chilling 'Great Replacement' conspiracy and the controversial rebranding of former neo-Nazis. Listeners are introduced to the disturbing concept of stochastic terrorism, showcasing how radical ideologies can incite violence unpredictably. The episode also questions the integrity of political connections and the responsibility of ideological leaders in the aftermath of such acts.
Jul 23, 2025 • 39min
Lone Actor - Episode 4 - The Balkans
The podcast dives into the chilling mindset of a terrorist influenced by Balkan nationalism. It explores historical ties and cultural implications behind extremist ideologies in the region. Through vivid imagery of Belgrade's beauty, it reveals the murky past of radicalization. The discussion extends to the peculiar life of a war criminal trying to manipulate his image in Australia. Additionally, it examines the unsettling connections between personal histories and modern terrorism, emphasizing the rise of far-right extremism and its global networks.
