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This week on Motive and Method, we dissect the mind of David Prince-Popovich, aka ‘The Playboy Swindler’. From bogus bank transfers to private jets, even duping a former Premier, his scams were as elaborate as they were audacious. 
Sydney Morning Herald crime reporter Clare Sibthorpe joins Xanthe and Tim to explore how one man built a life of lies - and why so many believed him.

Read the Sydney Morning Herald Article

Watch the A Current Affair story

This week on Motive and Method, we dissect the mind of David Prince-Popovich, aka &lsquo;The Playboy Swindler&rsquo;. From bogus bank transfers to private jets, even duping a former Premier, his scams were as elaborate as they were audacious.&nbsp; Sydney Morning Herald crime reporter Clare Sibthorpe joins Xanthe and Tim to explore how one man built a life of lies - and why so many believed him.
<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/a-con-artist-made-these-chilling-confessions-then-a-criminologist-dissected-every-word-20250514-p5lz2u.html">Read the Sydney Morning Herald Article</a>
<a href="https://www.9now.com.au/a-current-affair">Watch the A Current Affair story</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

Motive & Method is an expert-led Australian true crime podcast. Join Dr Xanthe Weston 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 Weston and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro as they unpack what really makes the offenders behind some of history&rsquo;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.

Who is ‘The Playboy Swindler’? Inside the Psyche of a Serial Scammer

Former High Court Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG is one of Australia’s most influential legal minds. During his 13 years on the High Court he stood at the centre of some of the nation’s most significant human rights battles.

In the first part of this very special interview with Tim & Xanthe, Justice Kirby shares how his family, schooling and experience as a gay man shaped his understanding of justice, equality and human rights. 

He reflects on his involvement in several major Australian wrongful conviction cases -  Kathleen Folbigg case and  Andrew Mallard - and explains why Australia desperately needs an independent criminal case review.

Known as the Great Dissenter, Justice Kirby’s career was defined by his willingness to stand alone. This is a remarkable conversation about challenging authority, standing by your convictions and recognising that even the highest courts can get things wrong. 

Former High Court Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG is one of Australia&rsquo;s most influential legal minds. During his 13 years on the High Court he stood at the centre of some of the nation&rsquo;s most significant human rights battles.
In the first part of this very special interview with Tim &amp; Xanthe, Justice Kirby shares how his family, schooling and experience as a gay man shaped his understanding of justice, equality and human rights.&nbsp;
He reflects on his involvement in several major Australian wrongful conviction cases -&nbsp; Kathleen Folbigg case and&nbsp; Andrew Mallard - and explains why Australia desperately needs an independent criminal case review.
Known as the Great Dissenter, Justice Kirby&rsquo;s career was defined by his willingness to stand alone. This is a remarkable conversation about challenging authority, standing by your convictions and recognising that even the highest courts can get things wrong.&nbsp;

VIP EPISODE: The Honorable Justice Michael Kirby 

A hostile former top cop, stonewalled families and an explosive revelation about Ivan Milat’s crimes.

In this series finale for 2026, Xanthe and Tim sit down with NSW MP Jeremy Buckingham fresh off the fiery climax of the parliamentary inquiry into unsolved homicides and missing persons.

Buckingham pulls no punches as he addresses heated clashes with a former NSW Police Assistant Commissioner who dismissed the hearings. The conversation dives into the inquiry’s most shocking revelation: Police linked a 1962 shooting of a taxi driver to serial killer Ivan Milat - yet never charged him.

Buckingham also takes aim at systemic double standards in missing persons searches highlighted by recent cases like Yvonne Weir. He also confronts the inquiry’s glaring omission: the painful lack of First Nations family testimony and the lasting trauma of the Bowraville murders. 
Looking ahead to next year's interim report, Buckingham explains why this fight is far from over and his push to reinstate legal powers to compel key witnesses, top brass, and convicted killers to answer under oath.

A hostile former top cop, stonewalled families and an explosive revelation about Ivan Milat&rsquo;s crimes.
In this series finale for 2026, Xanthe and Tim sit down with NSW MP Jeremy Buckingham fresh off the fiery climax of the parliamentary inquiry into unsolved homicides and missing persons.
Buckingham pulls no punches as he addresses heated clashes with a former NSW Police Assistant Commissioner who dismissed the hearings. The conversation dives into the inquiry&rsquo;s most shocking revelation: Police linked a 1962 shooting of a taxi driver to serial killer Ivan Milat - yet never charged him.
Buckingham also takes aim at systemic double standards in missing persons searches highlighted by recent cases like Yvonne Weir. He also confronts the inquiry&rsquo;s glaring omission: the painful lack of First Nations family testimony and the lasting trauma of the Bowraville murders. Looking ahead to next year's interim report, Buckingham explains why this fight is far from over and his push to reinstate legal powers to compel key witnesses, top brass, and convicted killers to answer under oath.

16. Ivan Milat: The Taxi Shooting He Was Never Charged Over

It started with a case of mistaken identity - and led to a global search for answers. 
When media outlets falsely reported that a Married at First Sight producer had vanished near Bondi, reality TV commentator Josh Fox planned to make a quick awareness post.

Instead, he wound up unravelling a baffling real-life mystery surrounding the actual missing woman, Katie Walker. The trail plunged Josh into a chilling web of shady spiritual retreats, reports of a terrifying encounter with a stalker from Dubai and confusing witness statements and evidence.

Now, he is pushing back against official theories of suicide in the search for answers for Katie’s family.

Josh sat down with Tim and Xanthe to record this episode after meeting at theNSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Unsolved murders and long-term missing persons cases in New South Wales between 1965 and 2010.

Listen to the podcast ‘Where is Katie Walker’ here

If you,  or anyone else you know, needs support help is available.
You can reach Lifeline Australia 24/7 for free, confidential crisis support by phone, text, or online chat.
Call: 13 11 14 (24/7, anonymous)
Text: 0477 13 11 14 (24/7, confidential SMS support)
Online Chat: Start a session on the Lifeline Crisis Chat page

It started with a case of mistaken identity - and led to a global search for answers. When media outlets falsely reported that a Married at First Sight producer had vanished near Bondi, reality TV commentator Josh Fox planned to make a quick awareness post.
Instead, he wound up unravelling a baffling real-life mystery surrounding the actual missing woman, Katie Walker. The trail plunged Josh into a chilling web of shady spiritual retreats, reports of a terrifying encounter with a stalker from Dubai and confusing witness statements and evidence.
Now, he is pushing back against official theories of suicide in the search for answers for Katie&rsquo;s family.
Josh sat down with Tim and Xanthe to record this episode after meeting at the <a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/parliamentary-business/committees/inquiry-details?committeeInquiryId=3148">NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Unsolved murders and long-term missing persons cases in New South Wales between 1965 and 2010</a>.
Listen to the podcast &lsquo;<a href="https://novafm.com.au/podcast/the-disappearance-of-katie-walker/e1ec2975-0f9f-4e37-8eb9-56fc6a41fdc3">Where is Katie Walker&rsquo; here</a>
<hr>
If you,&nbsp; or anyone else you know, needs support help is available. You can reach Lifeline Australia 24/7 for free, confidential crisis support by phone, text, or online chat. Call: 13 11 14 (24/7, anonymous) Text: 0477 13 11 14 (24/7, confidential SMS support) Online Chat: Start a session on the <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/chat" data-sfc-cp="" data-sfc-root="c" data-ved="2ahUKEwi2zNynxN6XAxX-kq8BHT5DFpQQy_kOegoIAggACAAICRAJ" data-hveid="CAIIAAgACAkQCQ" data-complete="true">Lifeline Crisis Chat</a> page

Who is ‘The Playboy Swindler’? Inside the Psyche of a Serial Scammer

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