Ben Shenton - Surviving Australia's Most Notorious Cult "The Family"

On this week’s episode, I’m joined by Ben Shenton. Ben is a survivor of "The Family," a notorious New Age cult led by Anne Hamilton-Byrne. At 18 months old, Ben was handed over to Hamilton-Byrne, who falsely claimed to be his mother. Within the cult, children were subjected to severe abuse, including forced conformity through identical appearances and strict discipline. In 1987, at age 15, Shenton was among several children rescued during a police raid on the cult's property. ​Ben has since become an advocate for survivors of cults and abusive environments and works now as a pastor. He authored the book Life Behind The Wire, detailing his experiences within "The Family" and his journey toward healing.

Ben's website - https://www.rescuethefamily.com/

Dark Finds Podcast IG - https://www.instagram.com/darkfindspodcast/

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/darkfindspodcast/membership

Dark Finds IG - https://www.instagram.com/dark.finds/

Dark Finds YouTube Channel for more dark long-form content - https://www.youtube.com/@DarkFindsChannel

Dark Finds book - https://amzn.eu/d/3VHPOTj

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some stories just hit different. Welcome to The Dark Finds Podcast, hosted by writer, true crime creator, and psychology enthusiast Gary Colton. Each episode takes you deep into the world of those who’ve lived through — or created — something extraordinary. From fighters, musicians, and war veterans to cult survivors, ex-cons, psychologists, and entrepreneurs, we explore the lives of people who exist on the edge of the norm. Through honest, often raw conversations, we uncover their journeys, insights, struggles, and what drives them.

At its core, Dark Finds is fueled by one obsession: understanding human behavior in all its forms.