The Deadly Obsession That Drove Jodi Arias To Murder Her Lover

The Deadly Obsession That Drove Jodi Arias To Murder Her Lover

Author: Mamamia Podcasts January 28, 2026 Duration: 1:14:39

The case of Jodi Arias, the woman who murdered her former lover, Travis Alexander, in 2008, captivated audiences around the world. When the trial began in 2013, media coverage intensified, driven by a disturbing question: what could compel a young, attractive woman to kill so violently? To shoot, stab, and nearly decapitate a man she claimed to have loved?

These are just some of the questions journalist Briana Whitney set out to explore in her True Crime Arizona documentary, Obsessed: Unravelling Jodi Arias.

Whitney has even been in direct contact with Arias herself, who continues to blog and exchange emails from inside her prison cell.

Watch Obsessed: Unravelling Jodi Arias here

CREDITS 

Guest: Briana Whitney

Host: Gemma Bath

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy

Audio Engineer: Jacob Round

GET IN TOUCH

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. 

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Gemma Bath hosts True Crime Conversations, a podcast from Mamamia Podcasts that delves into infamous criminal cases from Australia and around the world. Rather than just recounting facts, each episode is built around a direct conversation with someone who has a unique, often personal connection to the story. You might hear from a detective who worked the case, a journalist who covered the trial, a family member seeking answers, or a forensic expert who examined the evidence. This approach brings a tangible, human dimension to stories that can sometimes feel distant or sensationalised. The tone is engaging and thoughtful, focusing on the nuances and the people affected, rather than just the shock value. It’s for anyone who appreciates a deeper, more conversational entry into the true crime genre, where the emphasis is on understanding the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ from those who were actually there. Listening to this podcast feels like being part of a serious, yet accessible, discussion about some of the most compelling and complex crimes in recent history.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

True Crime Conversations
Podcast Episodes
Tracey Valesini Wasn’t Reported Missing For Four Years [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:25
In January 1993, 20-year-old Tracey Valesini appeared at the Campbelltown Courthouse in Sydney for a legal matter. She was last seen sitting inside the courtroom that day. After that moment, Tracey was never heard from a…
How Natascha Kampusch Survived Eight Years In Captivity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:52
On March 2, 1998, 10-year-old Austrian girl Natascha Kampusch disappeared on her way to school. What followed was 3,096 days in captivity, hidden inside a soundproof cellar, cut off from the outside world and shaped by f…
Joe’s Chilling Escape From The 'Forgotten' Bali Bombing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:50
On October 1, 2005, terror struck Bali when three suicide bombings ripped through crowded restaurants in Jimbaran Bay and Kuta, killing 20 people and injuring more than 100. Among those caught in the blasts was 20-year-o…
Inside The Minds Of Australia’s Worst Female Killers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:55
Katherine Knight, Sarah Makin, Caroline Grills, Catherine Birnie, Helen Moore, and Rachel Pfitzner are among the most notorious female killers in Australian history. But what compels a woman to take a life, whether it’s…
The Beauty Queen Killer's Link To Sydney's Wanda Beach Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:49
In 1984, Terry Ferguson was approached in a busy Florida mall by a charming photographer with an Australian accent. He promised her stardom; instead, she became a victim of Christopher Wilder, the notorious "Beauty Queen…
The Australian Family Cult That Vanished Overnight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:46
In 2007, a family of three and their friend vanished from their secluded home in Nannup, Western Australia, leaving only a cryptic note claiming they had moved to Brazil. They never arrived. As investigators delved into…
The Family Friend No One Suspected [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:30
Her life changed forever when her five-year-old daughter, Rose, bravely spoke up about a trusted family friend sexually assaulting her. That moment led Michelle to discover that both of her daughters had endured abuse fo…
How Jemma Lilley's Fascination With Serial Killers Turned Deadly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:10
Some women dream of launching a career before 25. Some dream of owning their first home. Jemma Lilley had a different goal: she wanted to kill someone before her 25th birthday, but she knew she couldn't do it alone. Obse…
The Husband Who Played Grieving Widower After Killing His Wife [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:42
In June 2016, Karen Ristevski vanished from her home. Her husband, Borce, told their daughter she had gone for a walk and never returned. For months, police and family searched in vain. Then, in February 2017, hikers stu…
Darryl Used To Be A Violent Man. Now He Stops Them. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:14
Darryl Gardiner grew up in a home ruled by unimaginable violence... and it almost destroyed him. Witnessing and experiencing abuse from a terrifyingly young age, he followed the same path, becoming a violent man himself.…