Six deaths, multiple states and a high-IQ cult at the centre of it all. In this episode Xanthe and Tim unravel the bizarre and deeply unsettling case of 'The Zizians', whose alleged victims include a border patrol agent and one member's own parents. So how and why did a group of highly intelligent Silicon Valley overachievers spiral into violence? It's a twisted web authorities are still trying to untangle, with seven cult members currently behind bars awaiting trial.

You can watch our full episodes now on Youtube: click here!

Six deaths, multiple states and a high-IQ cult at the centre of it all. In this episode Xanthe and Tim unravel the bizarre and deeply unsettling case of 'The Zizians', whose alleged victims include a border patrol agent and one member's own parents. So how and why did a group of highly intelligent Silicon Valley overachievers spiral into violence? It's a twisted web authorities are still trying to untangle, with seven cult members currently behind bars awaiting trial.
You can watch our full episodes now on Youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL38MvByTHwxKGmkMHyhV8Hf7oAkB8MI06">click here!</a>

Motive & Method is an expert-led Australian true crime podcast. Join Dr Xanthe Mallett and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro as they unpack what really makes the offenders behind some of history’s most notorious cases tick, and also react and unpack crimes as they hit the headlines. You will also hear from victim survivors, investigators and advocates for change analysing motive, and method.

Motive &amp; Method is an expert-led Australian true crime podcast. Join Dr Xanthe Mallett and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro as they unpack what really makes the offenders behind some of history’s most notorious cases tick, and also react and unpack crimes as they hit the headlines. You will also hear from victim survivors, investigators and advocates for change analysing motive, and method.

Motive & Method

Cult On Trial: Who Are The Zizians?

He’s helped bring down international fraud rings, recover millions for victims and hunt some of the world’s most notorious con artists - including serial swindler Peter Foster. 
In part 1 of Tim & Xanthe’s conversation with private investigator Ken Gamble, Ken talks overnight mafia stakeouts, unmasking one of the world’s first major online ticket scammers and busting ‘boiler rooms’ in the Philippines that were stealing millions from Aussie mums and dads. 

Part two is out next week - 8th April, 2026.

You can watch our full video episodes on Youtube -click here!

He&rsquo;s helped bring down international fraud rings, recover millions for victims and hunt some of the world&rsquo;s most notorious con artists - including serial swindler Peter Foster. In part 1 of Tim &amp; Xanthe&rsquo;s conversation with private investigator Ken Gamble, Ken talks overnight mafia stakeouts, unmasking one of the world&rsquo;s first major online ticket scammers and busting &lsquo;boiler rooms&rsquo; in the Philippines that were stealing millions from Aussie mums and dads.&nbsp;
Part two is out next week - 8th April, 2026.
You can watch our full video episodes on Youtube -<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL38MvByTHwxKGmkMHyhV8Hf7oAkB8MI06"> click here!</a>

Hunting Scammers with Ken Gamble (Part 1)

Marker 01

Her husband died. She wrote a book about grief. Then she was charged with his murder.
The Kouri Richins case is one of the most talked about recent criminal trials. While she was giving interviews spruiking the book she wrote to help her children cope with the loss of their father,  investigators were uncovering drug deals, secret debts, an affair and a sinister murder plot. In this episode, Tim & Xanthe discuss how a story of grief unravelled into a murder motivated by greed. 

You can watch our full video episodes on Youtube -click here!

Her husband died. She wrote a book about grief. Then she was charged with his murder. The Kouri Richins case is one of the most talked about recent criminal trials. While she was giving interviews spruiking the book she wrote to help her children cope with the loss of their father,&nbsp; investigators were uncovering drug deals, secret debts, an affair and a sinister murder plot. In this episode, Tim &amp; Xanthe discuss how a story of grief unravelled into a murder motivated by greed.&nbsp;
You can watch our full video episodes on Youtube -<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL38MvByTHwxKGmkMHyhV8Hf7oAkB8MI06"> click here!</a>

A Not So Perfect Murder: The Kouri Richins Case

He was one of Australia's most feared predators - and he was never caught. In this episode, Tim & Xanthe revisit the terrifying crimes of Mr Cruel, the masked offender who stalked Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, targeting young girls, in the late 1980s. Tim worked alongside Victoria Police at the time, profiling the serial rapist as the attacks grew more brazen, escalating from calculated home invasions and kidnappings to the murder of 13-year-old Karmein Chan. 
More than thirty years on, the mystery remains: how did one of Australia’s most methodical offenders get away with it - and could Mr Cruel still be out there?

You can watch our full video episodes on Youtube - click here!

He was one of Australia's most feared predators - and he was never caught. In this episode, Tim &amp; Xanthe revisit the terrifying crimes of Mr Cruel, the masked offender who stalked Melbourne&rsquo;s eastern suburbs, targeting young girls, in the late 1980s. Tim worked alongside Victoria Police at the time, profiling the serial rapist as the attacks grew more brazen, escalating from calculated home invasions and kidnappings to the murder of 13-year-old Karmein Chan. More than thirty years on, the mystery remains: how did one of Australia&rsquo;s most methodical offenders get away with it - and could Mr Cruel still be out there?
You can watch our full video episodes on Youtube - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL38MvByTHwxKGmkMHyhV8Hf7oAkB8MI06">click here!</a>

Cult On Trial: Who Are The Zizians?

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