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.
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DOCUMENTARY
Introducing… Who Trolled Amber? What comes to mind when you think of Amber Heard? Liar? Survivor? Narcissist? Millions of us watched the celebrity trial of the century, Depp v Heard, in 2022. Amber Heard lost and Johnny Depp was vindicated. But what if Amber was actually the victim of an organised trolling campaign? What if the online hate against her was manufactured? Alexi Mostrous, the reporter who brought you Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed, investigates what happened to Amber and who might have been responsible. It’s a story about how our own thoughts and opinions can be moulded without us even realising. All six episodes of Who Trolled Amber are now available to binge-listen. To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more 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 and host: Alexi Mostrous Producer and reporter: Xavier Greenwood Editor: David Taylor Narrative editor: Gary Marshall Additional reporting: Katie Riley Sound design: Karla Patella Artwork: Jon Hill & Oscar Ingham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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TRUE CRIME
The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world. 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.
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NEWS COMMENTARY
In this series we tell the shocking stories of women whose possible homicides go unrecognised, and uncounted, by police. In the UK, we’re told that two women a week are killed by a current or former partner – but these are just the killings we know about. The true toll could be much, much higher. In Hidden Homicides, investigative reporter Louise Tickle uncovers harrowing cases of killers missed, of grieving families ignored by police, of a body left to decay in a hospital morgue, and of systemic police failings. It is produced by Tortoise Studios. To learn more, go to tortoisemedia.com/hiddenhomicides. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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DOCUMENTARY
Kirat and Bobby have an unusual relationship. The circumstances of their individual lives mean it’s difficult for them to meet face to face but, despite everything, they end up falling in love. Their romance might play out online but in many ways it’s a traditional love story. Until Kirat discovers the disturbing truth. Sweet Bobby is the #1 chart-topping, award-winning series about a sophisticated ten year scam that almost destroyed one woman’s life, and the investigation into the catfisher behind it all. If you want to listen to more thought-provoking investigations, head to Tortoise Investigates - the home of all our investigative podcasts. To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free episodes. Head to our website observer.co.uk Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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DOCUMENTARY
Christopher Allen was trying to make it as a war reporter when, aged just 26, he was shot and killed on the frontline in South Sudan. But as news of his death began to spread, suspicion grew. Some claimed he was really there as a mercenary, a fighter. Others said he was a reckless freelancer, in over his head. And there was another question: was he killed on purpose, or was this another accident of war? From Tortoise and the team behind Sweet Bobby, Pig Iron is a dark adventure in war and journalism – and into what really happened to Christopher Allen. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts. If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Observer is the home of original reporting, narrative investigations and independent thinking.
If you’re new to The Observer audio, we release new podcast episodes every weekday. Our daily podcast The Sensemaker tells one story every day to make sense of the world. The Slow Newscast is our weekly investigative podcast focusing on the stories that really matter in the UK and around the world. Every Monday and Friday you can hear Observer journalists and special guests battle it out to see whose story should lead the news and why in The News Meeting. You can also listen to our award winning investigative series on Tortoise Investigates including hit podcasts Sweet Bobby, Hoaxed, Dangerous Memories and Lucky Boy.
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