Radio host turned podcaster and writer Meshel Laurie this week published her latest book. CSI Told You Lies is published by Penguin Random House non-fiction division Ebury Australia, and is a look at the science of forensic crime investigation. Some of the crimes Laurie looks at include investigations by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, labelled Australia’s foremost centre for forensic medicine and science. The title is the author’s nod to how popular crime dramas have got it wrong, as she uncovers what really goes on after the worst happens.
One of the most intriguing chapters of the book covers the death of cricketer-turned-broadcaster David Hookes.
In the book’s introduction, Laurie talks about her move into true crime reporting and how she started her hugely popular podcast Australian True Crime.
“The Serial podcast emboldened me,” Laurie told Mediaweek in a podcast this week.
“I have spent so many years in radio being told that listeners don’t have an attention span for anything longer than a couple of minutes. Or for anything more in-depth than just the most basic conversation. I can understand that in certain environments and I have respect for that.
“Just a couple of days ago I was on Kyle and Jack’s show again. I was on at 9.20am and our break lasted for 15 minutes. We meandered around various topics and broke every rule in the book.
“It just shows again that entertainment works irrespective of the rules. I remember Irene Hulme once telling me, Tim and Marty one day in Sydney that we break every rule in the book and it works. We were never getting any feedback then and it was just wonderful to hear it. [Laurie hosted breakfast and then drive for Nova with Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold.]
“So with Serial, if it’s good gear people will listen, they will listen closely and they might even listen twice to make sure they didn’t miss anything.
“Prior to that, it was Richard Vidler’s Conversations that got me interested in podcasting. I used to listen to it when I was in Brisbane and when I moved back to Melbourne I realised I could still listen to it via podcasting.”
The media business Laurie and her business partner Matthew Hardy have built has been good for her financially. “After breakfast radio, which just made me too tired, I wanted to work smarter, not harder. Books and writing have become part of my income. I’m lucky in that I have never struggled to make an income from my work.
“Podcasting is lucrative enough. I don’t have massive financial expectations. I am quite happy not to make breakfast radio money. One of our goals with the production company is to do more work with not-for-profits, which makes me happy.”
Don’t expect to hear Laurie on the radio much in the future. She filled in as a breakfast guest co-host for her favourite boss ever Ryan Rathbone on one of his Grant Broadcasting stations in Wollongong recently.
“Breakfast radio full time…I could never do it again.” Not even for crazy money? “No.”
Listen to Meshel Laurie talking to Mediaweek about her new book, plus her work as a broadcaster in radio and podcasting.
See also: Meshel Laurie on her podcasting career and Australian True Crime