Two of Nine’s most powerful investigative podcasts from A Current Affair, 60 Minutes & TaptMedia (formerly 9Podcasts), have been recognised at the internationally renowned New York Festival Radio Awards overnight.
The Saints and Alva Beach: Death At The Door, were awarded Bronze and Silver statues respectively in the ‘narrative/documentary podcast’ category. Alva Beach: Death At The Door was also awarded Bronze in the ‘serialised podcast’ category.
Presented by 60 Minutes journalist Adam Hegarty, with producer Jess Lodge and sound design & editing by Matty White, Alva Beach: Death At The Door pulls back the curtain on the fatal events of a single night in the quiet North Queensland town Alva Beach.
Through exclusive interviews and extensive evidence, Hegarty delves into the stabbing deaths of two men: 37-year-old father of three Corey Christensen and 27-year-old Tom Davy, dissecting an inexcusable failure by first responders; troves of contradicting testimony; why lawyers stormed out of the inquest; and speaking with families feeling let down by what they consider a flawed investigation.
Adam Hegarty said: “This is a story that’s stuck with me for a very long time, so I could not be prouder of the work Jess, Matty and I have done, and am incredibly grateful for the recognition.
“My thoughts and admiration are also with the Davy and Christensen families. It takes serious courage to share your heartbreak, and your important grievances, when you know doing so will be met with criticism.
“I hope – at the very least – people finally feel heard.”
Presented by A Current Affair’s Pippa Bradshaw, with producer Jess Lodge and sound design & editing by Hannah Sterling, The Saints exposes one of Australia’s most shocking cases of religious extremism which resulted in the tragic death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs in Toowoomba, Queensland.
The podcast not only exposes the dark underbelly of cult psychology and religious extremism thriving in Australia’s regional towns but also raises urgent questions about potential failures in the justice and child protection systems.
Pippa Bradshaw said: “I’m deeply honoured to have The Saints and Elizabeth’s story recognised on a global stage, one that highlights the real dangers of extreme belief, and the importance of accountability.”
The Saints has also been recognised among the best in Australian podcasting, shortlisted for ‘best crime podcast’ at the upcoming 2026 Australian Audio Awards in Sydney.
With more than a million combined downloads, both of these projects showcase the power of podcasting in investigative journalism, placing two regional Queensland cases in the global spotlight & earning recognition among the best in the world.
Friday 22 May, 2026
