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.
When Ian Coss decided to get married, every living member of his family who had ever been married had also gotten divorced: parents, grandparents, and all his aunts and uncles on both sides — some of them twice. Today, he has questions: What is the value of a lifetime commitment? Are we doomed to recycle the patterns of behaviour we get from our ancestors? Are we all just better off alone? Forever is a Long Time is a five-episode series that weaves reflection and original music through Ian’s conversations with his wife and divorced family members — a look at love with people who have made mistakes.
Get lost in someone else’s life. From a mysterious childhood spent on the run, to a courageous escape from domestic violence, each season of Personally invites you to explore the human experience in all its complexity, one story — or season — at a time. This is what it sounds like to be human.
Hear episodes early and ad-free on CBC Stories Premium on Apple Podcasts.
Season 1 | Run, Hide, Repeat: a story of a childhood spent on the run.
Season 2 | Welcome to Paradise: a courageous escape from domestic violence.
Season 3 | Short Sighted: an attempt to explain what vision loss feels like by exploring how it sounds.
Season 4 | Sorry About The Kid: an emotional, deeply personal meditation on the loss of a sibling.
Season 5 | Toy Soldier: The unbelievable story of a Jewish boy amongst Nazis.
Season 6 | Forever is a Long Time: Every living member of Ian Coss' family who has been married has gotten divorced. Can his marriage end differently?
بودكاست تحقيقي يروي في كلّ موسم قصة احتيال جديدة، ويستكشف عوالم المحتالين في رحلة استقصائية.
The Slow Newscast from The Observer takes the news slowly. We investigate, and every week we focus on stories that really matter in the UK and around the world. From wars in Ukraine and Gaza through to true crime and injustice and real life mysteries, The Slow Newscast team is devoted to narrative investigations covering some of the biggest topics of the day.
Who are the people biohacking themselves in a quest for immortality? Or the man taking on an entire nation in the high seas to protect whales? And what happened when humanity's most distant messenger fell silent? From a newsroom with a different approach to journalism these are the stories we tell.
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.
بودكاست قصصي، نوثّق فيه قصصنا العربيّة. في هذا الموسم، نبحث لغز اغتيال العالِمة السعودية «سامية ميمني» في أمريكا، ونكشف الغموض الذي يحيط بالقضية وتفاصيل تُعرض لأول مرة.
A window into our world, through in-depth storytelling from the BBC. Investigating, reporting and uncovering true stories from everywhere. Award-winning journalism, unheard voices, amazing culture and global issues.
From Trump’s new world order, to protests in Turkey, to the headphone revolution, The Documentary investigates major global stories.
We delve into social media, take you into the minds of the world’s most creative people and explore personal approaches to spirituality. Every week, we also bring together people from around the globe to discuss how news stories are affecting their lives.
A new episode most days, all year round. From our BBC World Service teams at: Assignment, Heart and Soul, In the Studio, OS Conversations, The Fifth Floor and Trending.
What happens when you confront the darkness within?
Journey with the Bear is a raw and deeply personal podcast that follows filmmaker and former police officer Ken Matheson as he embarks on a solo kayak expedition through the Great Bear Rainforest. Haunted by memories of loss, violence, and inner turmoil, Ken confronts his shadow self — the part of him shaped by trauma, grief, and fear.
In this journey, the bear becomes more than a symbol — it’s a guide. In Indigenous traditions, the bear embodies strength, introspection, and healing. Like the bear emerging from hibernation, Ken’s path is one of awakening — facing his buried pain, embracing his capacity for both great violence and profound compassion, and learning to walk forward with that duality in balance.
Through powerful storytelling, Ken weaves together his past experiences — the death of a child in his arms, the tragic aftermath of a life taken too soon, and the adrenaline-fueled clarity that once defined him. As he navigates the wild coast, he faces the challenge of embracing his inner darkness — not to suppress it, but to learn from it and find strength in the process.
Journey with the Bear explores themes of resilience, healing, and self-discovery. It’s a testament to finding balance between strength and vulnerability, rage and compassion, shadow and light.
Join Ken as he paddles into the unknown, seeking peace with his past — and himself. my very interesting podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Scams are no longer run by individuals. Instead, the bulk of scams now come from a network of high-security compounds in SE Asia, where an estimated 400,000 people live in slavery and are forced to run scams 24/7. In this multi-part video podcast, we'll dive into the terrifying world of 'scammer farms'. We'll meet people who've been trapped and escaped — and others who are desperately trying to rein in this exploding new business model.
This is a What It Was Like Special
Produced by Superreal
Hosted by Julian Morgans
Find us on TikTok, and YouTube
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
كل شيء حولك، له رابط يجمعه. في كل حلقة يأخذنا ثمود في رحلة استقصائية عن أسئلة وألغاز، جادة أو هزليّة. تبدو من بعيد متشعبة، لكن يجد لها رابطًا وإجابات تفسرها.
