I learn a lot about myself. I think we all do
She describes herself as a Buddhist (albeit “a very bad one”), has 10-year-old twins, hates going out and is best known to most of us from her time as a comedian, breakfast radio host and a panelist on The Project. It’s not the background you’d expect for a co-host of one of Australia’s most successful and listened-to true crime podcasts.
But in talking to Meshel Laurie it is not hard to see why her Australian True Crime podcast, which she co-hosts with Emily Webb, now has over 1.4 million listeners a month, and is about to go “on the road” with an exclusive live-streamed version of the podcast this May.
Streaming online at 8pm AEST on Saturday 16 May, it’s set to be an emotional night, featuring exclusive content and never-before-heard accounts with guests Ron Iddles aka The Good Cop and veteran investigator Narelle Fraser.
“It’s about people and their stories,” says Meshel of the hit podcast. “Ordinary people who suddenly find themselves in extraordinary situations. Crazy, terrible situations and it’s amazing to hear them talk about how they coped. How they get through.
“When you talk to families who have been pushed to the limit it really does expose them. I learn a lot about myself. I think we all do. What would I do?” says Meshel.
It’s no doubt one of the reasons fans have flocked to the Australian True Crime podcast.
According to Meshel we’ve all grown up constantly hearing words of caution that have built an expectation of fear in most of us that one day we may be the victims of crime. What to wear, where to walk, who to hang out with, who to trust and how to behave? “It’s only natural that we want to hear about when these things have actually happened to people” says Meshel.
And that’s where Australian True Crime is different. Its focus is on the victims.
It’s not about the Underbelly-type rogues and perpetrators that are sometimes glorified across our TV screens, but about real everyday people who want to tell their stories of the terrible ordeals they’ve endured. Says Meshel: “These days most of our guests contact us.”
Guests have many motivations, such as bringing attention to a foundation, a charity, or shining a spotlight on a case that’s being neglected. “But also, sometimes what we’ve found is that people want to keep talking about it and it’s really hard to find someone to listen.”
For the special live-streamed virtual event, Meshel and co-host Emily Webb will be joined by two fan-favourites. Ron Iddles aka The Good Cop is widely renowned as Australia’s greatest detective, with a career spanning 320 murder investigations and a remarkable 99% conviction rate. Narelle Fraser has a reputation as a meticulous and passionate investigator, serving 27 years with Victoria Police, with 15 of those years in the Rape and Homicide Squads and Missing Persons Unit.
Meshel says the determination, compassion and understanding of the investigators themselves is another critical part of our growing fascination with true crime. “I love investigators. How they bought someone to justice, and how they spoke for a victim. And made sure that the victim didn’t go unknown. I love that. I love that so much,” she says.
“Great detectives, they’re such good people, caring people, and they really are so fixed on victims still” says Meshel. “They’re retired. And they still talk to victims’ families once a month”.
The event itself will be live streamed from a theatre in Melbourne. Says Brad Drummond, of promoters TEG Dainty: “We have worked hard developing a different approach to live-streaming; an approach that combines high production value and unique interactive experiences.”
Australian True Crime: Live explores the dark underbelly of Australian life that we’re rarely exposed to yet surrounded by every day. But expect plenty of laughs too. “But you know what’s weird, we have laughs. People don’t expect that but it’s probably my natural way of communicating, but also the people we have as guests. People like Ron and Narelle, they are funny. They’ve got dark humour,” says Michelle.
Australian True Crime: Live – In Conversation with Narelle Fraser and Ron Iddles will stream online at 8pm AEST on Saturday 16 May. Early beard tickets start at $14.90 and go on sale to the general public on Wednesday 6 Mat at 12 Noon AEST from www.tegdainty.com