Naked City Podcast

The Age and Sydney Morning Herald

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Naked City is an investigative true crime podcast produced by the Australian news organizations The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Hosted by veteran crime reporter John Silvester, the series examines the history and contemporary landscape of the Australian criminal underworld. Silvester, who has reported on crime for over forty years and co-authored the books that inspired the *Underbelly* television series, utilizes his extensive professional background to provide context for high-profile cases, cold cases, and systemic issues within the justice system.

The program serves as an audio companion to Silvester’s long-standing weekly column of the same name in *The Saturday Age*. Its content focuses heavily on the criminal history of Victoria and New South Wales, detailing gangland conflicts, significant police investigations, and the evolution of organized crime. Each episode typically features Silvester in conversation with key figures such as retired homicide detectives, forensic experts, legal professionals, and occasionally individuals directly involved in the criminal milieu. These interviews aim to provide a factual, behind-the-scenes perspective on how major cases were solved or why they remains open.

The editorial approach is descriptive and analytical, prioritizing chronological accounts and evidence-based reporting over dramatization. Common themes explored in the podcast include the mechanics of police work, the impact of crime on victims' families, and the intersection of politics and law enforcement. Recent episodes have covered topics ranging from historical police shootings and international burglaries to contemporary challenges like the sovereign citizen movement and its effects on roadside policing.

As of May 2026, Naked City continues to release regular episodes under the production of Nine Publishing. The series leverages the archival resources and journalistic expertise of its parent newspapers to document the shift in criminal activity from street-level violence to sophisticated modern syndicates. The show remains a primary source of archival crime reporting in the Australian audio landscape, focusing on historical accuracy and the procedural realities of the criminal justice system.

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