Introducing...The Lab Detective
Kathleen Folbigg experienced unimaginable loss. All four of her infant children died suddenly, over a 10-year period. Their deaths were unexplained. Until a police detective turned up at her door, and arrested Kathleen on suspicion of murder.
She was labelled ‘Australia's worst female serial killer’, convicted, and was destined to spend most of the rest of her life in jail.
Until a different type of detective entered her life. A scientist working in a lab who uncovered the truth behind the deaths.
This is the story of a shocking miscarriage of justice, but as journalist Rachel Sylvester starts to investigate how this happened, she learns that Kathleen is not alone – other mothers have endured the same fate, and may also be in prison.
The Lab Detective is a story about the power of science, and the determination of those searching for the truth.
The full series is available to listen now.
Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights.
You can watch a short documentary on the genomics team behind Kathleen Folbigg's case filmed at the Crick.
Reporters: Rachel Sylvester
Producer: Gary Marshall
Executive editor: Basia Cummings
Music supervisor: Karla Patella
Sound design: Rowan Bishop
Artwork: Lola Williams
Fact checking: Ada Barume and Madeline Parr
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
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Introducing...The Lab Detective
Kathleen Folbigg experienced unimaginable loss. All four of her infant children died suddenly, over a 10-year period. Their deaths were unexplained. Until a police detective turned up at her door, and arrested Kathleen on suspicion of murder.
She was labelled ‘Australia's worst female serial killer’, convicted, and was destined to spend most of the rest of her life in jail.
Until a different type of detective entered her life. A scientist working in a lab who uncovered the truth behind the deaths.
This is the story of a shocking miscarriage of justice, but as journalist Rachel Sylvester starts to investigate how this happened, she learns that Kathleen is not alone – other mothers have endured the same fate, and may also be in prison.
The Lab Detective is a story about the power of science, and the determination of those searching for the truth.
The full series is available to listen now.
Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights.
You can watch a short documentary on the genomics team behind Kathleen Folbigg's case filmed at the Crick.
Reporters: Rachel Sylvester
Producer: Gary Marshall
Executive editor: Basia Cummings
Music supervisor: Karla Patella
Sound design: Rowan Bishop
Artwork: Lola Williams
Fact checking: Ada Barume and Madeline Parr
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rachel Sylvester travels to Greece to investigate whether genetic science could change the story in the case of Roula Pispirigou – a mother who was convicted of killing her three young children just last year.
Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights.
Reporter: Rachel Sylvester
Producer: Gary Marshall
Music supervisor: Karla Patella
Sound design: Rowan Bishop
Podcast artwork: Lola Williams
Executive producer: Basia Cummings
This episode is sponsored by The Life of Chuck. Join us across the UK for a preview screening on Wednesday 13 August, before it hits cinemas nationwide on 20 August. Find the locations and book now at SEEITFIRST.COM and enter the code CHUCK.
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Scientist Carola Vinuesa and her team test their extraordinary genetic discovery in a court of law.
Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights.
Reporter: Rachel Sylvester
Producer: Gary Marshall
Music supervisor: Karla Patella
Sound design: Rowan Bishop
Podcast artwork: Lola Williams
Executive producer: Basia Cummings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kathleen Folbigg is just trying to survive. She’s a grieving mother, sentenced to life in jail for killing her four infant children. That is, until a small group of people start to question whether she might be the victim of a terrible miscarriage of justice.
Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights.
Reporter: Rachel Sylvester
Producer: Gary Marshall
Music supervisor: Karla Patella
Sound design: Rowan Bishop
Podcast artwork: Lola Williams
Executive producer: Basia Cummings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Journalist Rachel Sylvester investigates the case of 'Australia's worst serial killer'. And discovers, in a story about mothers who have been accused of murdering their own children, there is one man who connects them all: a doctor called Roy Meadow.
Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights.
Reporter: Rachel Sylvester
Producer: Gary Marshall
Music supervisor: Karla Patella
Sound design: Rowan Bishop
Podcast artwork: Lola Williams
Executive producer: Basia Cummings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Introducing...The Lab Detective
Kathleen Folbigg experienced unimaginable loss. All four of her infant children died suddenly, over a 10-year period. Their deaths were unexplained. Until a police detective turned up at her door, and arrested Kathleen on suspicion of murder.
She was labelled ‘Australia's worst female serial killer’, convicted, and was destined to spend most of the rest of her life in jail.
Until a different type of detective entered her life. A scientist working in a lab who uncovered the truth behind the deaths.
This is the story of a shocking miscarriage of justice, but as journalist Rachel Sylvester starts to investigate how this happened, she learns that Kathleen is not alone – other mothers have endured the same fate, and may also be in prison.
The Lab Detective is a story about the power of science, and the determination of those searching for the truth.
Episodes 1 and 2 will be available to listen on 22nd July.
To listen to the full series on 22nd July, subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify or download the Tortoise app.
Reporters: Rachel Sylvester
Producer: Gary Marshall
Executive editor: Basia Cummings
Music supervisor: Karla Patella
Sound design: Rowan Bishop
Artwork: Lola Williams
Fact checking: Ada Barume and Madeline Parr
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When Lucky Boy launched back in March, there was an important detail that didn't make it into the podcast, for legal reasons: the team had discovered that they weren’t the only people who had been investigating the allegations made by Gareth - the Metropolitan Police had been too.
Now, reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou has an update.
To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
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Sally Anne Bowen doesn’t want to speak about her relationship with Gareth, but it turns out there is a way of hearing her version of events. And after months of searching, Chloe gets a message from another ‘lucky boy’.
You can find out more about Tortoise:
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Reported and produced by: Chloe Hadjimatheou and Gary Marshall
Sound design: Hannah Varrall
Podcast artwork: Lola Williams
Executive producer: Basia Cummings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chloe hears from a former teacher who seems to support what Gareth believes - that there was a cover-up. And it’s still going on today.
You can find out more about Tortoise:
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Reported and produced by: Chloe Hadjimatheou and Gary Marshall
Sound design: Hannah Varrall
Podcast artwork: Lola Williams
Executive producer: Basia Cummings
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Gareth is convinced that his memories are true and that there are plenty of witnesses who can corroborate his story, so why will no one help him?
You can find out more about Tortoise:
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Reported and produced by: Chloe Hadjimatheou and Gary Marshall
Sound design: Hannah Varrall
Podcast artwork: Lola Williams
Executive producer: Basia Cummings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Gareth spent years believing he was a lucky boy. He was the 14-year-old who got the attention of the attractive young science teacher. Now, decades later, he wants the truth to come out about the damage it’s caused him. But his story is not straight forward.
You can find out more about Tortoise:
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Reported and produced by: Chloe Hadjimatheou and Gary Marshall
Sound design: Hannah Varrall
Podcast artwork: Lola Williams
Executive producer: Basia Cummings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Gareth’s whole life has been defined by a relationship he had 35 years ago when, as a 14-year-old schoolboy, he fell in love with an attractive young teacher at his school. He spent most afternoons in her bedroom and thought he was the luckiest boy in the world. But when she walked out of his life everything started to unravel.
Lucky Boy is a new four-part series in which Chloe Hadjimatheou asks who gets to be a perpetrator and a victim.
You can find out more about Tortoise:
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If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
Reported and produced by: Chloe Hadjimatheou and Gary Marshall
Sound design: Hannah Varrall
Podcast artwork: Lola Williams
Executive producer: Basia Cummings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When Donald Trump declared victory in the US presidential election, he told an adoring crowd that "a star is born". He was referring to Elon Musk.
After months of reporting on the billionaire's use of private investigators, Alexi asks whether the insights he gained from that investigation reveal how Musk will operate in his new political era, and what that means for everything in his orbit.
You can find out more about Tortoise:
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Reported and produced by: Alexi Mostrous, Gary Marshall, Matt Russell & Patricia Clarke
Sound design: Bart Warshaw
Original Music: Tom Kinsella
Podcast artwork: Jon Hill
Executive producer: Basia Cummings
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To his surprise, Alexi finds himself speaking to a local reporter at the Gold Coast Bulletin in Australia. It’s not where he thought the story would take him but it reveals a new case involving Elon and his spies.
You can find out more about Tortoise:
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Reporter: Alexi Mostrous
Producer: Gary Marshall
Original Music & Sound design: Tom Kinsella
Podcast artwork: Jon Hill
Executive producer: Ceri Thomas
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When Martin Tripp worked at Tesla, he took the advice of his boss Elon Musk - if you discover a problem, tell me about it. But when Martin shares his concerns, his world begins to spiral out of control.
You can find out more about Tortoise:
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Reporter: Alexi Mostrous
Producer: Gary Marshall
Original Music & Sound design: Tom Kinsella
Podcast artwork: Jon Hill
Executive producer: Ceri Thomas
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In 2018, Vernon Unsworth is at the centre of a global news story. He plays a crucial role in rescuing a young football team who became trapped in a flooded cave system. Overnight, he is a hero. But there’s a darker side of his story that’s less well known. That’s where Elon Musk and his private investigators come in.
You can find out more about Tortoise:
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Reporter: Alexi Mostrous
Producer: Gary Marshall
Original Music & Sound design: Tom Kinsella
Podcast artwork: Jon Hill
Executive producer: Ceri Thomas
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Elon Musk is one of the most powerful men in the world. He's a billionaire, the founder of SpaceX, Tesla and more. To his followers, he's a hero; to his critics, a far-right rabble rouser.
But for someone so public, there’s one part of his life that’s less well known.
Elon’s Spies investigates how this free-speech champion uses private investigators and surveillance to target everyone from whistleblowers at his companies, to online critics and people in his own life.
Episode 1 is available on Tuesday 8th October, with episodes releasing weekly. To get ad-free access and binge listen to all 3 episodes on Tuesday 8th October, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or by becoming a Tortoise member.
You can find out more about Tortoise:
Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists
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If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com
Reporter: Alexi Mostrous
Producer: Gary Marshall
Original Music & Sound design: Tom Kinsella
Podcast artwork: Jon Hill
Executive producer: Ceri Thomas
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Neil Gaiman faces a lawsuit in the United States. The first woman to come forward and accuse the best-selling author of sexual assault has filed a complaint against him and his estranged wife, Amanda Palmer. In this episode she explains why she’s taking action. Neil Gaiman denies the allegations and says he has ‘never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.’
Reporter: Rachel Johnson
Producer: Katie Gunning
Sound Design: Dominic Delargy
Artwork: Lola Williams
Editor: Jasper Corbett
Published: 18/02/2025
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A fifth woman comes forward with allegations against the author Neil Gaiman.
Reporter: Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel Johnson
Producer: Matt Russell
Additional reporting: Jess Swinburne
Original music and sound design: Tom Kinsella
Series editor: Matt Russell
Editor: Jasper Corbett
To find out more about Tortoise:
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Almost a month since the investigation where two women came forward with allegations that the author Neil Gaiman sexually assaulted them - allegations he strenuously denied - more women have come forward. Including another woman made to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Reporter: Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel Johnson
Producer: Katie Gunning and Matt Russell
Additional reporting: Jess Swinburne
Original music and sound design: Tom Kinsella
Series editor: Matt Russell
Editor: Jasper Corbett
To find out more about Tortoise:
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The second woman to allege Neil Gaiman sexually assaulted her first met him as an 18-year-old fan. They began a consensual sexual relationship two years later. She alleges he was abusive and once penetrated her without her consent. He strenuously denies any unlawful behaviour and maintains all their sex was consensual.
Reporter: Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel Johnson
Producer: Katie Gunning
Additional reporting: Jess Swinburne
Original music and sound design: Tom Kinsella
Series editor: Matt Russell
Editor: Jasper Corbett
To find out more about Tortoise:
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