Swinburne radio graduate launches new weekly crime news podcast

A commercial radio graduate from Melbourne’s Swinburne University has launched a new weekly crime news podcast and newsletter, delivering Australia’s top crime headlines in under seven minutes to cater for a growing true crime audience.

Steve Cook, a former community radio newsreader and regional TV news producer and presenter, created the Weekly Crime Brief podcast to provide listeners with a concise snapshot of the week’s major crime stories – without the need to scroll across multiple websites and social media feeds.

Each episode features a fast-paced roundup of national crime news, alongside a dedicated ‘Spotlight Case’ segment highlighting an unsolved or lesser-known case.

The segment reflects Cook’s strong interest in true crime and in uncovering cold cases that have received limited media attention.

“There’s a strong appetite for true crime, but not everyone has time to consume hours of content,” Cook said.

“I’m particularly interested in the cases that aren’t as well known – the ones that may not have had sustained coverage but still deserve attention.”

Cook began his career in radio and television news before spending several years working in investigative roles, as well as media teams, acting as a spokesperson and training new spokespeople.

The podcast marks a return to his media roots, blending radio-style news writing with firsthand investigative experience.

“I still love the buzz of starting with an empty screen and turning something around quickly,” he said.

“It’s about producing something each week – not perfect – and continuing to develop and improve over time.”

Cook is also planning a future long-form podcast series examining media coverage of crime in Australia, exploring how major cases are reported and how narratives are shaped.

The Weekly Crime Brief podcast and accompanying newsletter are available now, with new episodes released each week. You can listen to the Weekly Crime Brief Podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio. More info here.