

Australian True Crime
Bravecasting
Think nothing ever happens in your town? Australia's suburbs are home to some of the most mysterious and disturbing true crime cases in the world. Meshel Laurie is a true crime obsessive, and with the help of expert interviews with writers, victim/survivors, investigators and perpetrators, she probes the underbelly of our towns and suburbs, and uncovers the darkness at the heart of Australian life.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 24, 2025 • 18min
Shortcut: Viola Kline’s Son Keeps His Promise
This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Ashton Kline was just 15 when his father murdered his mother, Viola Margaret Kline, in an arson attack in regional Victoria. He shares how a promise to his mum to care for his younger brother, Grant, has shaped their lives ever since. Now a nursing educator, Ashton joins us to reflects on resilience, grief, and finding purpose after unimaginable loss. Ashton is also an ambassador for the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, which you can visit here. Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: Ashton Kline Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com

Aug 24, 2025 • 58min
Viola Kline’s Son Keeps His Promise
Ashton Kline was just 15 when his father murdered his mother, Viola Margaret Kline, in an arson attack in regional Victoria. He shares how a promise to his mum to care for his younger brother, Grant, has shaped their lives ever since. Now a nursing educator, Ashton joins us to reflects on resilience, grief, and finding purpose after unimaginable loss.Ashton is also an ambassador for the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, which you can visit here.Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes. Join our Facebook Group here.Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel LaurieGuest: Ashton KlineExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here.Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 18, 2025 • 18min
Shortcut: Victoria's gun system failed Marilyn Burdon
This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Marilyn Burdon was a 70-year-old mother and grandmother who, in 2017, was killed in her Kew home by her former partner, Charles Bisucci, who then took his own life. Despite being banned from owning firearms for over a decade, Bisucci was able to access multiple guns, a failure later examined at a coronial inquest that led to recommendations for change. One of Marilyn’s three children, Rebecca Burdon, joins us to speak about her mother’s life, the circumstances of her death, and why the system still hasn’t fixed the gaps that allowed it to happen. Links: www.burdonlegal.com.au A child’s right to be heard | Pursuit by the University of Melbourne Losing a parent to domestic homicide – and everything that’s wrong with this headline | Pursuit by the University of Melbourne A child’s right to be heard | Pursuit by the University of Melbourne OPEN Event Reflection: You Should Ask That – Continuing the conversation with the children of women killed by men. Children and young people bereaved by domestic homicide: A focus on Australia. Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: Rebecca Burdon Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard

Aug 17, 2025 • 53min
Victoria's gun system failed Marilyn Burdon
Marilyn Burdon was a 70-year-old mother and grandmother who, in 2017, was killed in her Kew home by her former partner, Charles Bisucci, who then took his own life. Despite being banned from owning firearms for over a decade, Bisucci was able to access multiple guns, a failure later examined at a coronial inquest that led to recommendations for change. One of Marilyn’s three children, Rebecca Burdon, joins us to speak about her mother’s life, the circumstances of her death, and why the system still hasn’t fixed the gaps that allowed it to happen. Links: www.burdonlegal.com.au A child’s right to be heard | Pursuit by the University of Melbourne Losing a parent to domestic homicide – and everything that’s wrong with this headline | Pursuit by the University of Melbourne A child’s right to be heard | Pursuit by the University of Melbourne OPEN Event Reflection: You Should Ask That – Continuing the conversation with the children of women killed by men. Children and young people bereaved by domestic homicide: A focus on Australia. Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: Rebecca Burdon Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard GET IN TOUCH: Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com

Aug 14, 2025 • 16min
ATC Plus *Preview*: What happened to 3-year-old Lachie Jones?
This is a preview of a full-lenth bonus episode for Australian True Crime Plus subscribers. To listen to all of our bonus episodes, plus early and ad-free access to every episode of the podcast, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts. In 2019, three-year-old New Zealand boy Lachie Jones was found dead in an oxygenation pond near his home, with police ruling it an accidental drowning. His father, unconvinced by the official finding, sought the help of investigative journalists Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner, hosts of Delve: The Boy in the Water. In this subscriber-only episode of Australian True Crime, they share insights from the long-awaited inquest inside the Coroners Court. You can listen Delve: The Boy in the Water, wherever you get your podcasts. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. Join our Facebook Group here. For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie Guests: Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard This episode contains extra content from Newsroom NZ, Stuff and The Platform NZ GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com

Aug 10, 2025 • 15min
Shortcut: The Wollongong Murders
This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. In 1998 Wollongong was the scene of two brutal murders, former lord mayor Frank Arkell and much-loved shopkeeper David O’Hearn, committed by 18-year-old Mark Valera. The violence continued when Valera’s sister, Belinda van Krevel, arranged the killing of their father. Journalist and author John Suter Linton, who chronicled the events in Bound by Blood (2004), joins us to discuss the case. You can purchase your copy of Bound by Blood here. Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: John Suter Linton Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard This episode contains extra content from The ABC, Seven Network and Nine Entertainment Co. GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com

Aug 10, 2025 • 41min
The Wollongong Murders
In 1998 Wollongong was the scene of two brutal murders, former lord mayor Frank Arkell and much-loved shopkeeper David O’Hearn, committed by 18-year-old Mark Valera. The violence continued when Valera’s sister, Belinda van Krevel, arranged the killing of their father. Journalist and author John Suter Linton, who chronicled the events in Bound by Blood (2004), joins us to discuss the case. You can purchase your copy of Bound by Blood here. Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: John Suter Linton Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard This episode contains extra content from The ABC, Seven Network and Nine Entertainment Co. GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com

Aug 7, 2025 • 52min
Meadow’s Law: How Kathleen Folbigg Was Wrongfully Convicted
In 2003, Kathleen Folbigg was wrongfully convicted of killing her four children - Caleb, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura, and was eventually sentenced to 30 years in prison. Investigative journalist Quentin McDermott joins us to discuss his new book Meadow’s Law and the extraordinary scientific breakthroughs that helped overturn her conviction. Quentin is joined by our guest host and Criminologist Dr. Xanthé Mallett, to explore what went wrong in the investigation, and how the case reshaped the conversation around justice, motherhood, and medical evidence. You can purchase your copy of Meadow's Law here. Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 CREDITS: Guest Host: Dr. Xanthé Mallett Guest: Quentin McDermott Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard This episode contains extra content from NINE Entertainment and The ABC. GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com

Aug 3, 2025 • 17min
Shortcut: Has Australia Become a Conspiracy Nation?
This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Conspiracy theories are reshaping Australian society, with some having devastating real-world consequences. Drawing on years of investigative reporting, Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson explore how online extremism takes hold, the uniquely Australian anxieties that fuel it, and how it's weaponised by powerful figures. You can purchase your copy of Conspiracy Nation here. Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com

Aug 3, 2025 • 44min
Has Australia Become a Conspiracy Nation?
Conspiracy theories are reshaping Australian society, with some having devastating real-world consequences. Drawing on years of investigative reporting, Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson explore how online extremism takes hold, the uniquely Australian anxieties that fuel it, and how it's weaponised by powerful figures. You can purchase your copy of Conspiracy Nation here. Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes. Join our Facebook Group here. Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000. For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 14 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 CREDITS: Host: Meshel Laurie Guest: Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard GET IN TOUCH: https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/ Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here. Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com


