Real Crime with Adam Shand

Episódios

• 
  Bali, Terrorism and the Thai Cave Rescue: Glen McEwen’s Story 18.08.2026 46min

  Former Australian Federal Police commander Glen McEwen spent 35 years confronting organised crime, terrorism and international crises. His new book, Crime, Chaos and Controversy, takes readers behind the scenes of operations including the Bali bombings and the dramatic Thai cave rescue. Glen joins Adam Shand to reveal what happens when police must make life-and-death decisions amid uncertainty—and the personal cost of leading when the world is watching.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Turning the tide? Detective inspector Graham Banks 16.08.2026 35min

  Recent arrests in Melbourne of individuals alleged to be connected to offshore organised crime bosses have raised hopes police may be turning the tide on the arson campaign that has beset Melbourne. Adam talks with Detective Inspector Graham Banks of Victoria Police’s Eclipse taskforce.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  From The Desk - Sky High Violence in the Northern Territory 13.08.2026 9min

  The Northern Territory’s homicide rate is more than five times the national rate, while communities including Alice Springs and Katherine experience extraordinary levels of assault and domestic violence. Adam Shand draws on his own experience working in Nhulunbuy more than 40 years ago to examine the role of alcohol, disadvantage and intergenerational trauma — and asks the question: after decades of interventions and promises, what has actually been proven to reduce the violence?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Waiting for Justice – Simone Patterson 11.08.2026 1h

  For 25 years, former NSW prison officer Simone Patterson lived with the consequences of sexual harassment and assault by a male colleague. Then she decided to pursue justice — and succeeded. Simone joins Adam Shand to explain why she waited, what it took to go to court, and what finally being heard meant to her.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  The Daughter of the Silver Gun Rapist 09.08.2026 39min

  In the 1970s, Peter Vaitos was one of Australia’s most notorious sexual predators, known as the “Silver Gun Rapist.” But behind the headlines, the crimes and the prison sentence was a family forced to live with what he had done. In this episode of Adam Shand, talks with Vaitos’ daughter, Stacey, about growing up with a father capable of terrible crimes, the moment she began to understand who he really was, and the impact his offending had on her life and her family. It’s a deeply personal conversation about shame, forgiveness, loyalty, anger and the difficult truth that the families of offenders can become victims too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  From the Desk: Why do victims stay silent when the offender is powerful? 06.08.2026 6min

  Using the allegations against convicted rapist Ralph Carr as a starting point, Adam Shand explores the hidden power imbalance at the heart of sexual abuse. Drawing on conversations with another alleged victim who feared Carr’s influence, this episode examines how authority, reputation and fear can silence victims for years—and why understanding that imbalance is essential if we want justice to prevail.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Paul Mallinder : His Story 04.08.2026 44min

  Paul Terrance Mallinder was found guilty of the 1985 shooting of Kay Nesbit, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. For more than four decades, he has maintained that he did not commit this crime that left an innocent woman disfigured. In this rare and confronting interview, Mallinder tells his story in his own words. He speaks about the investigation that led to his conviction, life behind bars, and why he believes the justice system got it wrong. This is not an endorsement of Mallinder’s claims. It is an opportunity to hear directly from one of Australia’s most controversial convicted criminals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  The Cost of Speaking Up | Steve Beanland Part 3 02.08.2026 1h 17min

  In Part 3 of his interview, former Victorian Armed Robbery Squad detective Steve Beanland details his battle with Victoria Police over allegations he made regarding sexual misconduct at the Police Academy.Faced with a lack of support from the police hierarchy, Beanland goes to war with his former employers and finds himself in custody facing serious criminal charges. Over several years, he struggles to clear his name and to recover from bipolar disorder and depression.        Follow Adam on Facebook here Support lifeline here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  From The Desk - Connection or Coincidence? Karmein Chan and Bung Siriboon. 30.07.2026 8min

  From the Desk, Adam examines two of Melbourne’s most haunting child disappearances: Karmein Chan and Bung Siriboon. Many believe they’re connected because both victims were young girls from Asian families. But does the evidence support that conclusion? Listen to Mr Cruel here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Australia's Missing: The Cases That Still Need Answers 28.07.2026 35min

  Nicole Morris has spent years searching for answers in Australia's most haunting missing-persons cases. In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, she discusses her book Lost, the human stories behind unexplained disappearances, and why so many families remain trapped between hope and heartbreak. Drawing on her work with the Australian Missing Persons Register, Nicole offers a rare insight into the enduring impact of not knowing and the relentless search for truth. Read the book here Find out more here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  The Prisoner Who Changed Australian Law 26.07.2026 46min

  In 1990, Victoria passed an extraordinary law to keep notorious violent offender Gary David (Webb) behind bars after his sentence had expired. Former Victorian MP Neil Cole was one of the few politicians to oppose the legislation, arguing it ignored the reality that David was suffering from severe mental illness. In this fascinating interview, Cole reflects on a decision that reshaped Australian law and asks whether preventive detention has become an increasingly accepted response to managing dangerous offenders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  From the Desk - Is Australia creating its next black market? 23.07.2026 6min

  Australia's illicit tobacco trade has fuelled a wave of firebombings, extortion and organised crime. But is history about to repeat itself with alcohol?In this episode of From the Desk, Adam Shand examines how rising alcohol excise may be creating new opportunities for criminal syndicates. From illegal distilleries and counterfeit spirits to billion-dollar tax losses and dangerous contaminated alcohol, he explores the unintended consequences of government policy and asks whether Australia has found the right balance between protecting public health and preventing organised crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  The Fight for Bronte -Janine Haskins 21.07.2026 51min

  Janine Haskins tells Adam about her campaign to reform police investigations of suicides and the coronial process in the ACT after the 2020 death of her 23-year-old daughter Bronte. Janine believes that police need to avoid tunnel vision when approaching the suspected suicide of young people where there may be other possibilities. The ACT coroner found that Bronte had taken her own life, but her mother is not convinced and wants other families to avoid the same situation. This episode contains discussions of suicide, mental health, substance dependency, trauma, and the death of a young person. Some listeners may find this content distressing. Please listen with care. If this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available: Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 In an emergency, or if someone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Unsafe Convictions? Peter Breen on Two Infamous Australian Cases 19.07.2026 45min

  Lawyer and former NSW politician Peter Breen argues that two of Australia's most controversial murder convictions deserve fresh scrutiny. He explains why he believes the convictions of Phuong Ngo for the murder of MP John Newman and Steven Wayne "Shorty" Jamieson for the murder of Janine Balding were unsafe, raising questions about indemnified witnesses, disputed police interview techniques and evidence that, he says, points to serious miscarriages of justice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Bonus - From The Desk - Melbourne Tobacco Wars 16.07.2026 9min

  In a new Friday bonus episode, From The Desk, Adam gives his thoughts on the Melbourne tobacco wars and what's driving the unprecedented wave of arson attacks orchestrated from offshore by Kazem Hamad's crime syndicate. Despite recent successes, police can't arrest their way to success.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  The Hidden Cost - Steve Beanland - Part 2 14.07.2026 1h 16min

  For detective Steve Beanland, the investigation into the murders of Rod Miller and Gary Silk did not end with convictions. In Part Two, Steve speaks openly about the toll the case took on his mental health and on a job he had loved for 25 years. He reflects on the personal cost of policing major crime and explains why, despite the trauma, he chooses to dwell on the good times, the friendships and the sense of purpose that came with being a detective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Steve Beanland: Hunting the Killers of Silk and Miller 12.07.2026 56min

  Two police officers gunned down in cold blood—Rod Miller and Gary Silk’s murders in August 1998 stunned Australia and ignited one of Victoria’s most intense manhunts. Former Armed Robbery Squad detective Steve Beanland was on the front line. In Part One, he takes listeners inside the relentless investigation, revealing the pressure, drive, and emotional toll of chasing the killers and how the case reshaped both his life and the career he once loved. He also reflects on working with Adam to piece together his story for a book, confronting the enduring impact of the Silk and Miller murders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  If Not Milat, Then Who? 07.07.2026 27min

  David Cunningham has long believed his sister Anita and her travelling companion Robin Hoinville Bartram were victims of serial killer Ivan Milat. But new evidence suggests Milat was in New Zealand when the pair disappeared. In a deeply personal interview, David reflects on his lifelong search for answers as Adam examines fresh evidence placing Whiskey Au Go Go bomber John Andrew Stuart in the area and asks whether police have been fully transparent about one of Australia's enduring missing persons mysteries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Badge of Betrayal: How a Dead Pedophile Cop Exposed a Police Culture Crisis 05.07.2026 29min

  Investigative journalist and podcast host Jay Walkerden joins Adam to discuss Badge of Betrayal, his explosive investigation into disgraced Tasmanian police officer Paul Reynolds. The series examined decades of child sexual abuse allegations, failures of accountability, and the shocking decision to grant Reynolds a police funeral despite concerns about his conduct. Walkerden explains how the podcast helped trigger a parliamentary inquiry into Tasmania Police, exposing deeper questions about institutional culture, transparency, and the protection of vulnerable victims. It's a story of persistence, public interest journalism, and the pursuit of truth. You can listen to the show here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  The Tomb of Violence - Jika Jika 30.06.2026 43min

  In the second part of Adam's journey into super max jails within jails, former bank robber Doug Morgan takes us into Jika Jika, the high-tech successor to H Division in Pentridge Jail. The futuristic concrete and glass division allowed staff to keep inmates under surveillance at all times, but the sterile and dehumanising design took its toll, leading to extreme violence and a protest fire that caused the death of five inmates.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.