
Australian True Crime
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, victims, investigators and perpetrators, she probes the underbelly of our towns and suburbs, and uncovers the darkness at the heart of Australian life.We choose to stay @ Ovolo HotelsJoin our ATC EMAIL LIST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Dec 17, 2023 • 15min
Shortcut: The ex-bikie enforcer who turned to mental health advocacy
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. Brent Simpson is a former sergeant-at-arms for the Bandidos Motorcycle Club.Considering his childhood was marked by poverty, physical and sexual abuse, it's almost easy to imagine how he found community and connection within the bikie gang.What is hard to imagine, however, is how someone could leave that club and commit their life to mental health advocacy - a path Brent has not only embarked on but continues to do so. Be sure to tune in to Australian True Crime later this week for an episode that delves into Brent's childhood story.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 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Brent SimpsonExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 17, 2023 • 49min
The ex-bikie enforcer who turned to mental health advocacy
Brent Simpson is a former sergeant-at-arms for the Bandidos Motorcycle Club.Considering his childhood was marked by poverty, physical and sexual abuse, it's almost easy to imagine how he found community and connection within the bikie gang.What is hard to imagine, however, is how someone could leave that club and commit their life to mental health advocacy - a path Brent has not only embarked on but continues to do so. Be sure to tune in to Australian True Crime later this week for an episode that delves into Brent's childhood story.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 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Brent SimpsonExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 13, 2023 • 16min
Shortcut: My father the underworld crime figure
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. Frank La Rosa and his wife Kim were murdered at a Welshpool (WA) factory on June 13, 2008.Along with being a convicted heroin importer and notorious underworld figure in Western Australia, Frank La Rosa was also a father to three children.Lisa Mahoney is one of those children. She joins us on this episode of Australian True Crime to discuss the collateral damage her father's actions have had on her own life and the lives of many others.Lisa has written a memoir about her life and her father's life as seen through her eyes, titled 'Collateral Damage'. You can purchase it by clicking here.You can also keep up to date with Lisa by following her Facebook page here.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 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Lisa MahoneyExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 13, 2023 • 43min
My father the underworld crime figure
Frank La Rosa and his wife Kim were murdered at a Welshpool (WA) factory on June 13, 2008.Along with being a convicted heroin importer and notorious underworld figure in Western Australia, Frank La Rosa was also a father to three children.Lisa Mahoney is one of those children. She joins us on this episode of Australian True Crime to discuss the collateral damage her father's actions have had on her own life and the lives of many others.Lisa has written a memoir about her life and her father's life as seen through her eyes, titled 'Collateral Damage'. You can purchase it by clicking here.You can also keep up to date with Lisa by following her Facebook page here.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 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Lisa MahoneyExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 10, 2023 • 16min
Shortcut: The international cult that has a presence in Australia
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. Founded in 1972, "The 12 Tribes" presents itself as a welcoming religious sect. However, the accounts from those who have managed to escape tell a very different story.The group maintains global locations and communities, including two communities in NSW: Katoomba and Picton.Our guest for this episode is Tim Elliiott. Tim is Walkley nominated journalist who has been investigating and reporting on their activities since 2007. His podcast on The 12 Tribes "Inside The Tribe" won Best True Crime Podcast at the 2023 Australian Podcast Awards, and can be streamed wherever you get your podcasts.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 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Tim ElliottExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardThis episode contains an audio grab from A Current Affair GET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 10, 2023 • 41min
The international cult that has a presence in Australia
Founded in 1972, "The 12 Tribes" presents itself as a welcoming religious sect. However, the accounts from those who have managed to escape tell a very different story.The group maintains global locations and communities, including two communities in NSW: Katoomba and Picton.Our guest for this episode is Tim Elliiott. Tim is Walkley nominated journalist who has been investigating and reporting on their activities since 2007.His podcast on The 12 Tribes "Inside The Tribe" won Best True Crime Podcast at the 2023 Australian Podcast Awards, and can be streamed wherever you get your podcasts.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 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Tim ElliottExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardThis episode contains an audio grab from A Current Affair GET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 6, 2023 • 16min
Shortcut: The young law student who began robbing TABs - Part 2
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. This is the second part of a two part series with our guest, Arthur Bolkas.In his late teens and early twenties, Arthur was pulling double duty as a promising young law student and an armed robber.We discovered at the end of part one that Arthur was eventually captured after a very dramatic car chase through the streets of a busy inner Melbourne suburb.We now pick up our conversation with Arthurs memories and reflections from his sentencing, incarceration and life after prison.Arthur has now worked for many years as a Criminologist, activist and public speaker. He can best be contacted here on his Facebook page.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 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Arthur BolkasExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 6, 2023 • 47min
The young law student who began robbing TABs - Part 2
This is the second part of a two part series with our guest, Arthur Bolkas.In his late teens and early twenties, Arthur was pulling double duty as a promising young law student and an armed robber.We discovered at the end of part one that Arthur was eventually captured after a very dramatic car chase through the streets of a busy inner Melbourne suburb.We now pick up our conversation with Arthurs memories and reflections from his sentencing, incarceration and life after prison.Arthur has now worked for many years as a Criminologist, activist and public speaker. He can best be contacted here on his Facebook page.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 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Arthur BolkasExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 3, 2023 • 16min
Shortcut: The young law student who began robbing TABs - Part 1
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. We're going back to the "stick ups" this week with Arthur Bolkas.He's a Criminologist, actor, public speaker and proud father of two.However, before he was all of these things, he was a very promising young law student, and a flamboyant armed robber.Part two of this two part series will be released later on this week.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 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Arthur BolkasExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 3, 2023 • 41min
The young law student who began robbing TABs - Part 1
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. We're going back to the "stick ups" this week with Arthur Bolkas.He's a Criminologist, actor, public speaker and proud father of two.However, before he was all of these things, he was a very promising young law student, and a flamboyant armed robber.Part two of this two part series will be released later on this week.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 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Arthur BolkasExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.auBuild your pro podcast with The Audio College Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.