Secrets We Keep
LiSTNR
Each season, Secrets We Keep investigates a different Australian secret.
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.
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
Mar 12, 2025 • 37min
Should I Spit? - Episode 4 - This is the Place
Claire attends RootsTech, the world’s largest family history conference to learn why genealogy is such a popular hobby. There, Claire learns how the LDS Church and Ancestry have amassed billions of records worldwide and turned the mapping of family trees into a multi-billion dollar industry. Meanwhile, Michael continues to investigate how he’s been caught up in the Angie Dodge investigation, so he travels to Idaho Falls to meet Angie’s mother, Carol. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 26, 2025 • 4min
Introducing Should I Spit?
DNA is the blueprint for life. While police call it the ‘gold standard’ for forensic identification, transnational corporations see dollar signs. Investigative journalist Claire Aird brings the untold story of how your DNA data can land you in a murder investigation, and how this same data is amassed for power and profit. Should I Spit? is 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 3, 2025 • 45min
Should I Spit? - Episode 3 - Eternal Families
In this episode of Should I spit?, Claire discovers how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is inextricably linked with the history of genetics and genealogy, through the church’s doctrines and rituals. Michael is shocked to learn that he was identified through a blood sample his father donated at his local church. Michael’s DNA doesn’t match and is cleared by police, however, he is shaken and wants answers. He can’t understand how the police linked him and his family to Angie’s murder. Michael is approached by a journalist who discovers the Idaho Falls Police had quietly been using a new forensic identification technique called Familial Searching. Using this method, police found Michael based on DNA information stored in a publicly-available genealogy database owned by Ancestry.com. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 3, 2025 • 34min
Should I Spit? - Episode 2 - The Warrant
Claire travels to Salt Lake City to meet Michael Usry, a Mississippi man who was implicated in the brutal murder of Idaho Falls teen Angie Dodge years earlier. The police suspect Michael because his name, appearance and age match the confession of a man in jail, believed to be his accomplice. Michael is also a horror filmmaker whose dark film features similarities to Angie’s murder. In episode two of Should I Spit?, The police interrogate Michael and force him to give his DNA under a court order. The police tell Michael they also have DNA evidence which links him to the crime. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 3, 2025 • 37min
Should I Spit? - Episode 1 - The Beacon
While working on a cybersecurity podcast, journalist Claire Aird reads a startling statistic: Ninety per cent of people with European ancestry in the US are identifiable because of DNA data their relatives have uploaded to a family history database. Claire’s curiosity soon becomes an investigation into how our DNA is being used for power and profit. In this episode of Should I Spit?, Claire finds out that the DNA data on genealogy sites is never fully anonymous, so she starts to interrogate how police really use these sites to hunt for criminals, overseas and in Australia. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 19, 2024 • 34min
Pray Harder - Bonus - An update
Richard gives an update on Todd Hubers plea hearing and shares two more important stories from women who grew up in the Revival Church movement. Do you know more? Get in touch secretswekeep@sca.com.au Lifeline 13 11 14; 1800 Respect 1800 737 732 Looking for what to listen to next? Try Crime In Focus: Killer Charm, the story of how a grandmother from suburban Queensland orchestrated the murder of her ex-partner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 14, 2024 • 47min
Pray Harder – Episode 9 - Love and Reckoning
Someone Richard wasn’t sure would ever talk to him is ready to speak. The church is rocked by the news of Pastor Noel’s death, and questions remain about whether new leadership will create change, or continue with the status quo. Richard returns to ex-members of the GRC, who have found support in each other and their families after the isolation of leaving the church. They’ve discovered the antidote to the GRC’s abuse of power and violence. It’s love. The interviews in this series were recorded during Pastor Noel Hollins leadership of the Geelong Revival Centre. During production, Pastor Noel died. The experiences and allegations raised do not relate to the current leadership of the GRC Do you know more? Get in touch secretswekeep@sca.com.au Lifeline 13 11 14; 1800 Respect 1800 737 732See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 14, 2024 • 40min
Pray Harder – Episode 8 - Rebellion
Rumours abound of how Pastor Noel Hollins has used his finances to erase controversies in his church. Richard Baker’s investigation into how the Geelong Revival Centre maintains a tax-free charity status and where it uses its funds takes him to war-torn Sierra Leone. And former GRC Pastor Steve Mills finally goes head to head with Noel Hollins when he tries to protect members of the church. The interviews in this series were recorded during Pastor Noel Hollins leadership of the Geelong Revival Centre. During production, Pastor Noel died. The experiences and allegations raised do not relate to the current leadership of the GRC Do you know more? Get in touch secretswekeep@sca.com.au Lifeline 13 11 14See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 14, 2024 • 41min
Pray Harder – Episode 7 - Good Soldiers
In the Geelong Revival Centre, men are responsible for the entire family’s salvation. If the father does something wrong, his wife and children are at risk of going to hell. We hear from men who have defied the church’s expectations, despite the threat of physical punishment in this life,and eternal punishment in the next. But those who comply also pay a terrible price for their obedience. And Richard is one step closer to understanding Pastor Noel Hollins, when he sees a missed call on his phone. Richard calls the Pastor back, and this time he answers. Please note this episode contains adult themes including descriptions of violence and homophobia, as well as discussions regarding suicide, and harmful drug and alcohol use. Listener discretion is advised. The interviews in this series were recorded during Pastor Noel Hollins leadership of the Geelong Revival Centre. During production, Pastor Noel died. The experiences and allegations raised do not relate to the current leadership of the GRC Do you know more? Get in touch secretswekeep@sca.com.au Lifeline 13 11 14 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 7, 2024 • 40min
Pray Harder – Episode 6 - A Spiritual Problem
As a pastor in the church, Steve Mills watched on horrified as church members shunned or delayed medical care because of Pastor Noel Hollins relentless attacks on science and medicine. When someone is diagnosed with an illness, they are told it is only through prayer—not conventional medicine—that they will be saved. And when people die of treatable illnesses, those left grieving are told they should've “prayed harder”. From the pulpit Pastor Noel’s teachings empower men in the church to interfere in the private health affairs of others— with sometimes tragic results. Steve Mills realises he must challenge Pastor Noel directly. The interviews in this series were recorded during Pastor Noel Hollins leadership of the Geelong Revival Centre. During production, Pastor Noel died. The experiences and allegations raised do not relate to the current leadership of the GRC Do you know more? Get in touch secretswekeep@sca.com.au Lifeline 13 11 14See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
