Secrets We Keep

He was known to the world as Dezi Freeman, but that wasn’t the name he was born with. In this episode, 7NEWS journalist Michael Usher and Crime Editor Cassie Zervos trace Dezi Freeman’s origin story, uncovering new details about his childhood, the influences around him, and the pivotal moments that shaped his worldview — revealing the reality of the man behind the myth, and how he became radicalised. Dezi Freeman: The Hunt is a 7NEWS and LiSTNR co-production. Listen to the podcast on Secrets We Keep or watch the vodcast on 7Plus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a case as high-profile as Dezi Freeman’s, the manhunt, his sovereign citizen beliefs, and the conspiracy theories surrounding his life (and death) have often overshadowed the human toll left behind. In this episode, 7NEWS journalist Michael Usher and Crime Editor Cassie Zervos shift the focus to the two Victoria Police officers killed by Freeman: Detective Leading Senior Constable Neil Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart. They explore who these men were, the lives they lived, and the lasting impact of their deaths. Cassie also speaks with Victorian Police Association CEO Wayne Gatt about how the force coped with the grief and trauma of losing two of their own while carrying out one of the largest manhunts in Victorian history. Dezi Freeman: The Hunt is a 7NEWS and LiSTNR co-production. Listen to the podcast on Secrets We Keep or watch the vodcast on 7Plus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hunt for Dezi Freeman wasn’t just a manhunt. It was a battle on hostile ground. Police moved into a community that didn’t trust them, didn’t want them there, and in some cases, openly opposed them. As tensions rose, investigators pushed on, determined not to lose their grip on the case. In this episode, 7NEWS journalist Michael Usher and Crime Editor Cassie Zervos reveal the resilience of the officers who stayed the course, and the deeply confronting evidence they uncovered, including allegations of child sex abuse and hundreds of child exploitation files found on Freeman’s computers. Dezi Freeman: The Hunt is a 7NEWS and LiSTNR co-production. Listen to the podcast on Secrets We Keep or watch the vodcast on 7Plus. CONTENT WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS REFERENCES TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, GUN VIOLENCE AND SUICIDE. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once police received the tip-off that exposed Dezi Freeman’s hideout, they moved in — quietly. For seven days, officers hid in dense bushland, watching the remote property, waiting for the moment to strike. They knew Freeman had already evaded capture once. If he ran again, they might not get a second chance. 7NEWS journalist Michael Usher and Crime Editor Cassie Zervos take you inside the high-stakes surveillance, the planning behind the takedown, and the risks facing officers on the ground, as they closed in on one of Australia’s most wanted fugitives. Dezi Freeman: The Hunt is a 7NEWS and LiSTNR co-production. Listen to the podcast on Secrets We Keep or watch the vodcast on 7Plus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7NEWS Crime Editor Cassie Zervos was at home with her newborn when a police source gave her a scoop: Australia’s most wanted fugitive, Dezi Freeman, had been found and shot dead. She became the first journalist to break the story. Freeman, a self-described ‘sovereign citizen’, had been on the run for seven months after allegedly killing two police officers. What followed was one of the largest and most intensive manhunts in recent Australian history. 7NEWS journalist Michael Usher and Crime Editor Cassie Zervos take you inside the case from every angle — what happened, how it unfolded, Freeman’s ideology, and the impact on those left behind. Dezi Freeman: The Hunt is a 7NEWS and LiSTNR co-production. Listen to the podcast on Secrets We Keep or watch the vodcast on 7Plus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When two police officers were shot dead in regional Victoria, the man accused vanished into the bushland. What followed was one of the most extensive manhunts in Australian history. 7NEWS journalist Michael Usher and Crime Editor Cassie Zervos take you inside the case from every angle: what happened, how it unfolded, his ideology, and the impact on those left behind. Dezi Freeman: The Hunt, is a 7NEWS and LiSTNR co-production. Listen to the podcast here or watch the vodcast on 7+.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the crisis of child exploitation gripping Australia, for the next few weeks, Secrets we Keep feed brings you the LiSTNR award-winning series, Children in the Pictures, an investigative podcast about the global fight against online child exploitation, following Australian investigators as they track offenders hiding in plain sight across the internet. The series exposes the scale of abuse, the emotional toll on those working to stop it, and the disturbing ways technology is being used to harm children worldwide. In this bonus episode of The Children in the Pictures, Jon Rouse reveals he had no idea what he was getting into when he joined Taskforce Argos to set up their first internet investigation. What he found was a problem so vast and unique that he needed to petition for legislation to catch up with the crimes his team was fighting. If you'd like to hear more of Brent Sanders interviewing detectives about their careers, search "Crime Insiders" and look for episodes titled 'Detectives'. Content Warning: This series delves with sexual abuse against children. Listener discretion is advised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the crisis of child exploitation gripping Australia, for the next few weeks, Secrets we Keep feed brings you the LiSTNR award-winning series, Children in the Pictures, an investigative podcast about the global fight against online child exploitation, following Australian investigators as they track offenders hiding in plain sight across the internet. The series exposes the scale of abuse, the emotional toll on those working to stop it, and the disturbing ways technology is being used to harm children worldwide. In episode eight, The Love Zone is gone for good, but the threat remains.  Akhim Dev hears from experts and investigators about the next frontier of child exploitation, which is leaving kids vulnerable to grooming, blackmail and extortion— and starting earlier than parents would ever suspect. Dev realises he must move from documentary observer, to messenger for children’s rights. As he is given access to global halls of power, Dev explores how we can help victim-survivors, and how parents like himself can educate their kids to keep them from harm. Content Warning: This series delves with sexual abuse against children. Listener discretion is advised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the crisis of child exploitation gripping Australia, for the next few weeks, Secrets we Keep feed brings you the LiSTNR award-winning series, Children in the Pictures, an investigative podcast about the global fight against online child exploitation, following Australian investigators as they track offenders hiding in plain sight across the internet. The series exposes the scale of abuse, the emotional toll on those working to stop it, and the disturbing ways technology is being used to harm children worldwide. In episode seven, prolific abuser K has been careful to hide his identity, but a digital slip up has led Argos to a crucial clue.  And while their investigation into The Love Zone is their most successful yet, the strain of the job is starting to take its toll. So how do you balance your work saving children’s lives, without damaging your own? The fight to bring you the story of The Love Zone leads to a surprising encounter with the former kingpin, Shannon McCoole, in an Australian court. It raises questions about how we can stop perpetrators from continuing to hurt children.  Content Warning: This series delves with sexual abuse against children. Listener discretion is advised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the crisis of child exploitation gripping Australia, for the next few weeks, Secrets we Keep feed brings you the LiSTNR award-winning series, Children in the Pictures, an investigative podcast about the global fight against online child exploitation, following Australian investigators as they track offenders hiding in plain sight across the internet. The series exposes the scale of abuse, the emotional toll on those working to stop it, and the disturbing ways technology is being used to harm children worldwide. In episode six, a glitch on The Love Zone site puts Argos’ operation in jeopardy. The Love Zone’s most obsessive moderator is beginning to suspect the site has been infiltrated by law enforcement. Argos must act quickly to throw off the scent— triggering a global police operation that spans three continents . Then, the team sets its sights on one of the most prolific abusers ever encountered— for legal reasons, we call him K.  Content Warning: This series delves with sexual abuse against children. Listener discretion is advised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the crisis of child exploitation gripping Australia, for the next few weeks, Secrets we Keep feed brings you the LiSTNR award-winning series, Children in the Pictures, an investigative podcast about the global fight against online child exploitation, following Australian investigators as they track offenders hiding in plain sight across the internet. The series exposes the scale of abuse, the emotional toll on those working to stop it, and the disturbing ways technology is being used to harm children worldwide. In episode five, the Argos team set out to impersonate the head of an online child abuse board. Although not an easy task, the team see it as the only way they can find and save vulnerable children around the world. As their hunt leads them to Europe, back in Australia, Shannon McCoole’s home town of Adelaide deals with the shockwaves of discovering the horrifying access this abuser had to kids in the community. And Akhim Dev learns how children who are victim-survivors come back from their abuse, with strength and storytelling. Content Warning: This series delves with sexual abuse against children. Listener discretion is advised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the crisis of child exploitation gripping Australia, for the next few weeks, Secrets we Keep feed brings you the LiSTNR award-winning series, Children in the Pictures, an investigative podcast about the global fight against online child exploitation, following Australian investigators as they track offenders hiding in plain sight across the internet. The series exposes the scale of abuse, the emotional toll on those working to stop it, and the disturbing ways technology is being used to harm children worldwide. In episode four, the police move in and confront Skee at his home. His real name is Shannon McCoole. Hear never-before-shared police footage of McCoole’s dramatic arrest and prison interviews that reveal the full extent of the power he wielded as head of The Love Zone.  McCoole’s arrest presents Argos with a rare opportunity to hunt down TLZ’s most depraved operators, one by one. Content Warning: This series delves with sexual abuse against children. Listener discretion is advised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the crisis of child exploitation gripping Australia, for the next few weeks, the Secrets we Keep feed brings you the LiSTNR award-winning series, Children in the Pictures, an investigative podcast about the global fight against online child exploitation, following Australian investigators as they track offenders hiding in plain sight across the internet. The series exposes the scale of abuse, the emotional toll on those working to stop it, and the disturbing ways technology is being used to harm children worldwide. In episode three, Argos are closing in on The Love Zone’s head administrator Skee. Documentary maker Akhim Dev travels internationally to speak to experts who work directly with abusers, in order to find out why they’re so hard to stop.  Back in Queensland, Taskforce Argos try a new tactic in their search for Skee, with unexpected results. They’re going in… Content Warning: This series delves with sexual abuse against children. Listener discretion is advised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the crisis of child exploitation gripping Australia, for the next few weeks, Secrets we Keep feed brings you the LiSTNR award-winning series, Children in the Pictures, an investigative podcast about the global fight against online child exploitation, following Australian investigators as they track offenders hiding in plain sight across the internet. The series exposes the scale of abuse, the emotional toll on those working to stop it, and the disturbing ways technology is being used to harm children worldwide. In episode two, Taskforce Argos has VIP access to one of the most restricted online child abuse boards on the dark net – The Love Zone. Police begin their hunt for the kingpin of the network: head administrator Skee.  Content Warning: This series delves with sexual abuse against children. Listener discretion is advised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the crisis of child exploitation gripping Australia, for the next few weeks, Secrets we Keep feed brings you the LiSTNR award-winning series, Children in the Pictures, an investigative podcast about the global fight against online child exploitation, following Australian investigators as they track offenders hiding in plain sight across the internet. The series exposes the scale of abuse, the emotional toll on those working to stop it, and the disturbing ways technology is being used to harm children worldwide.  In Episode One, Australian documentary-maker and father of two Akhim Dev takes an unexpected tour of the dark web and discovers an epidemic hidden in plain sight: online child exploitation material.  Content Warning: This series delves with sexual abuse against children. Listener discretion is advised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A CIA-backed coup. A hidden Australian connection. And a suburban nanny with a secret past. In Part Two of Unmasking the Alleged Torturer Turned Bondi Nanny, Uruguayan-Australian journalist Florencia Melgar takes us inside her extraordinary interview with Adriana Rivas — a former member of Augusto Pinochet’s secret police, accused of some of the dictatorship’s most brutal crimes. While living in Sydney’s Bondi, working as a nanny, Rivas was wanted in Chile for crimes against humanity. In a rare and revealing conversation, she describes how she fled Chile while on bail — paying smugglers to escape through the Andes before returning to Australia, where she had lived since the late 1970s. In this episode, we hear how Rivas justifies torture, glorifies a brutal regime, and reflects on the power she once held. More on this story: The Other 9/11 ABC Foreign Correspondent, Facing the Past More on Australia’s involvement in Chile: 'Last thing he wanted was to embarrass the CIA': Inside Whitlam's 'agonising' decision to shut Australian spy operation in Chile   Got any tips? Email us at [email protected]. Credits:  Host: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco Sound Design: Matt Nikolic Head of Factual: Clair Weaver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A CIA-backed coup. A hidden Australian connection. And a suburban nanny with a secret past.  In Part 1 of Unmasking the alleged torturer turned Bondi nanny, Uruguayan-Australian journalist Florencia Melgar takes us inside her groundbreaking investigation, The Other 9/11, and how she uncovered the secret role Australian spies played in the Pinochet coup in Chile in 1973.  What began as a deep dive into Cold War espionage led somewhere unexpected: to Bondi, and to a woman accused of being part of Chile’s machinery of torture.  More on this story: The Other 9/11 ABC Foreign Correspondent, Facing the Past More on Australia’s involvement in Chile: 'Last thing he wanted was to embarrass the CIA': Inside Whitlam's 'agonising' decision to shut Australian spy operation in Chile   Got any tips? Email us at [email protected]. Credits:  Host: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco Sound Design: Matt Nikolic Head of Factual: Clair Weaver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Secrets We Keep: Uncovered, filmmaker Kristo Langker takes us inside the long-running conflict between Indonesia and West Papuans.  Embedded with fighters from the West Papua Liberation Army, a small armed independence movement that has been battling Indonesian security forces for decades, Kristo travelled to a remote mountain village where the Indonesian military was allegedly bombing indigenous communities with high-tech explosives and drones.  He gathered evidence of these extreme measures right on Australia’s doorstep and smuggled it back to confront a multi-billion-dollar weapons manufacturer about its role in the bloodshed.  Got any tips? Email us at [email protected]. Credits:  Reporter/Host: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco Sound Design: Matt Curry and Matt Nikolic Fact check: Madeline Larsen  Head of Factual: Clair Weaver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, flatmates Wendy and Ellie trusted James. He joined Wendy’s animal rights advocacy group, quickly becoming one of her closest friends — and Ellie’s boyfriend. But James wasn’t who they thought. He was an undercover cop, deployed to spy on them. Part of a secretive UK operation now known as Spy Cops, James was one of many officers who infiltrated activist and protest groups, forming intimate and sexual relationships with their targets -sometimes for years- leaving a trail of betrayal and heartbreak behind. In this two-part tell-all interview, Wendy and Ellie take us through a 17-year-long deception so cruel that it's almost impossible to comprehend. Got any tips? Email us at [email protected].  If this episode raises issues for you, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1322 46 36. Credits:  Host: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco Sound Design: Matt Curry Head of Factual: Clair Weaver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, flatmates Wendy and Ellie trusted James. He joined Wendy’s animal rights advocacy group, quickly becoming one of her closest friends — and Ellie’s boyfriend. But James wasn’t who they thought. He was an undercover cop, deployed to spy on them. Part of a secretive UK operation now known as Spy Cops, James was one of many officers who infiltrated activist and protest groups, forming intimate and sexual relationships with their targets -sometimes for years- leaving a trail of betrayal and heartbreak behind. In this two-part tell-all interview, Wendy and Ellie take us through a 17-year-long deception so cruel that it's almost impossible to comprehend. Got any tips? Email us at [email protected].  If this episode raises issues for you, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1322 46 36. Credits:  Host: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco Sound Design: Matt Curry Head of Factual: Clair Weaver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 After a 16-year-old extremist attempted to stab a Bishop at a church in Western Sydney, ABC investigative journalist Sean Rubinsztein‑Dunlop was approached by a man with an extraordinary claim: he was a former undercover ASIO spy who had infiltrated extremist networks in Sydney linked to Islamic State. In this episode of Uncovered, Sean tells the story of ‘Marcus’, the ex-spy who, while undercover, met Naveed Akram and his father, the men allegedly later responsible for the Bondi Beach terror attack. Marcus gathered intelligence, faced life-threatening risks, and witnessed individuals on a path to violence. He says he warned ASIO of Naveed being a potential threat, but authorities disagreed with his assessment. Through Sean’s reporting, we go inside Australia’s hidden world of counterterrorism and see how Marcus’s actions intersected with one of Sydney’s most serious domestic terror plots, offering a rare insight into national security, radicalisation, and the human cost of undercover work. Got any tips? Email us at [email protected]. Four Corners episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHnaHHC8Q9c  ASIO's statement in response to the ABC's Four Corners: https://www.asio.gov.au/asio-statement-four-corners  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 BBC's Newsnight journalist Emily Maitlis interviewed Prince Andrew, Buckingham Palace was hoping for redemption. Instead, what they got was disastrous interview that shook the British monarchy, spelled the downfall of Prince Andrew and catapulted a global scandal that still reverberates today.  In this episode of Uncovered, Emily Maitlis takes us behind the scenes, through the negotiations, careful strategy, and extraordinary moments, as she confronted the now former prince over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the allegations of trafficked victim Virginia Giuffre.  What was meant to be a controlled PR exercise instead became a global reckoning, exposing the limits of truth, power and privilege; triggering a call for accountability. Emily Maitlis is appearing at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center in an event hosted by the Wheeler Center on the 5th of March. She'll also be speaking at the All About Women Festival in Sydney on the 8th of March. Got any tips? Email us at [email protected].  Check out The Weekend Briefing's interview with Emily Maitlis here: https://play.listnr.com/podcast/the-briefing/episode/meet-the-journalist-who-brought-down-prince-andrew Credits:  Host: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco Fact Check: Madeline Larsen Sound Design: Matt Nikolic Head of Factual: Clair Weaver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a surgeon celebrated as a “hero” leaves some patients to suffer devastating consequences? From maggot-infested wounds to systemic failures that left some paraplegic patients and amputees in worse shape than when they first sought help. In this interview, investigative journalist Charlotte Grieve tells the story of how she uncovered the hidden side behind the halo of a doctor protected by glowing media reports, and how she fought in court to defend the truth.  Dr Munjed Al Muderis is scheduled to appeal the court's findings in mid 2026. Got any tips? Email us at [email protected].  Credits:  Reporter/Host: Joey Watson Supervising Producer: Claudianna Blanco Fact Check and Production Support: Holly Mitchell Sound Design: Matt Nikolic See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.