Broken Fathers Podcast

Send us Fan Mail
Episode 35
Guest - Pete Dane
This is a touching story of a man, by the name of Peter Dane, who has really seen it all - literally from both sides of the fence, and I mean both sides! 
By all accounts, Peter was an upstanding law-abiding citizen, having spent 19 years working within the NSW law enforcement and criminal justice system, to then being managed by it! 
He was hard-working, a loving, and devoted father, a genuine, straight-shooter, and all round good bloke, that so many people easily got along with! 
Unfortunately, after having separated from his now ex-wife back in late 2016, after having spent 18.5 years together, things turned sour quite quickly! Having three (3) children from this union, his ex-wife began to make things very difficult for him in seeing his children (constantly withholding the children from him and playing mind games etc), whereby he was forced to commence family court proceedings in order to gain fair access. Such family court proceedings went back and forth through the family court system for about five (5) years or so, costing him hundreds and thousands of dollars along the way, and at the end, very little was gained!
Shortly after his separation from his ex-wife, his ex-wife began to bring their personal marital/relationship issues into his workplace (via her attending the house of, and speaking to one of Peter's female work colleagues at the time), coupled with her making multiple fabricated, vexatious, and malicious allegations against him, which in turn caused Peter enormous and irreparable damage to his work environment and relationships with his then work colleagues. This was all in part to his ex-wife "rebelling" and her "resentment" against the separation, as she made a comment to Peter just prior to him leaving the family home, saying words to the effect of "The moment you walk out this door, I'm going to make your life a fuckin living hell, make no mistake about that, you hear me"! By all accounts his ex-wife was a very "scorned", "spiteful", and "resentful" woman! 
In late 2017, about 12 months or so after his marriage separation, Peter (with reservations at the time) began a new relationship with a woman he met and fonded a strong relationship with through work. What appeared to start out great, soon turned out to be a living nightmare! Peter describes how his new partner (now ex-partner who he was in a romantic relationship with for about two (2) years), was fixated (on his ex-wife), and would constantly bring up matters involving his ex-wife and her toxic and hostile behaviour. His ex-partner would constantly (on a near daily basis) engage in heavy alcohol use (to the point of intoxication), whereby she would become extremely aggressive, abusive, threatening, throwing objects at him, and constantly looking for and wanting to engage in heated arguments and confrontations, namely over matters his ex-wife had and was continually causing etc! She would also make up things to start an argument, that simply weren't there or true! 
Peter describes how once his ex-wife became aware of his new relationship, things with his ex-wife deteriorated rapidly, and spiralled out of control, whereby she took things to another level! Peter describes how he was subjected to countless violent threats, abuse, hostilities etc from his ex-wife and some of her family members; he was subjected to physical assaults by his ex-wife, including attempts by his ex-wife to run him over in her motor vehicle while their three (3) children where inside, his ex-wife turning up to his house uninvited and creating a scene at the house (yelling, screaming, making verbal threats etc), including kicking the front door, amongst many other incidents. 
Peter explains he made about 11 reports to police about these various incidents, seeking an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) be taken out against his ex-wife, but it was to no avail. It was only after his 12th police report being lodged, and his car being damaged by his ex-wife, that police finally took out a ADVO. Despite such, Peter advises that his ex-wife not only breached such ADVO once, but twice, and in turn was only given a "verbal warning" from the Courts regarding such breaches. 
Given the significant toxic and hostile issues Peter was experiencing, namely involving his ex-wife, and ex-partner, coupled with the access limitations he was having in being able to see his three (3) children at the time; Peter's mental health had deteriorated rapidly, to the point whereby he sadly made numerous suicide attempts, resulting in him having to spend many weeks in and out of the ICU, hospitals, and psychiatric units. By all accounts, Peter should have been dead by his poor chosen actions at the time, but by some absolute miracle, he is thankfully still alive and here with us which is amazing!
Sadly, in late 2019, things between him, his ex-partner, and his ex-wife continued to rapidly deteriorate, coupled with the fact his three (3) children were being withheld from him by his ex-wife, which had tipped him over the edge. Very sadly, and unfortunately, as a result of Peter reacting, acting out, and engaging in some very poor choices and poor behaviour on a particular night, he found himself in some serious trouble with the law, whereby he was charged by police with several DV related offences, to which he plead guilty to, and was subsequently incarcerated for! 
It takes a real man to own up to his mistakes, and Peter fully and openly acknowledges, accepts, and takes full responsibility for all his wrongdoings, his poor choices, and his unacceptable behaviour (without minimising), regarding the events of what happened on that horrendous night! 
This is definitely a life-changing story on so many fronts, which is not to be missed!!
Support the show

Send us Fan Mail
Episode 34
Guest - Adrian Perez
In one of our most confronting and emotionally powerful episodes, Adrian Perez shares the unimaginable reality of being separated from his daughters through parental alienation. With remarkable honesty and vulnerability, he recounts the events that led to losing contact with his children and the profound grief that comes from missing years of their lives.
Adrian speaks openly about the emotional rollercoaster of navigating the family court system, the financial and psychological toll it has taken on him, and the heartbreaking moments of watching precious milestones pass by from a distance. He reflects on the feelings of helplessness, isolation, and despair that so many parents experience when they are denied meaningful contact with their children, while also discussing the importance of maintaining hope in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Throughout our conversation, Adrian highlights the long-term consequences that parental alienation and high-conflict family disputes can have—not only on parents but, more importantly, on children. He shares the coping strategies that have helped him continue moving forward, the lessons he has learned through his journey, and why he believes awareness, reform, and open conversations are essential to protecting families.
This episode isn't simply about one father's heartbreaking story. It's a conversation about resilience, unconditional love, mental health, and the enduring bond between a parent and child. Adrian's courage in sharing his experience sheds light on an issue that often remains hidden behind closed doors and offers hope to others who may be walking a similar path.
Whether you're a parent, grandparent, legal professional, mental health practitioner, or someone wanting to better understand the human impact of family separation, this episode is both thought-provoking and deeply moving. It serves as a powerful reminder that every family has a story, and every child deserves the opportunity to have healthy, loving relationships with the important people in their lives whenever it is safe to do so.
In this episode, we discuss:
Adrian's journey through parental alienation and family separation.
The emotional, financial, and psychological impact of prolonged court proceedings.
The devastating effects of losing contact with his daughters.
The importance of resilience, mental health, and finding purpose through adversity.
Why greater awareness and meaningful conversations around parental alienation matter.
Adrian's message of hope for parents facing similar challenges.
Support the show

Send us Fan Mail
Episode 33
Guest - Benson Tan & Collette Farron
For years, Benson stayed silent.

Not because he had nothing to say, but because he was silenced.

Now, after years of court battles, separation from his daughters, false allegations, legal proceedings, and a relentless fight to remain part of their lives, he is sharing his story publicly for the very first time.

From being best friends since the mid-90s, to creating two beautiful daughters together through IVF, life took a path no one could have imagined.

What started as an amicable co-parenting relationship after his wife had multiple affairs eventually turned into a nightmare. Following an incident where his ex-wife assaulted his partner, a DVO was put in place on him, communication was cut off, and a father was suddenly unable to see or speak to his children.

After years of fighting, consent orders were finally reached, offering hope that a meaningful relationship with his daughters could be rebuilt. But the battle didn’t end there. Constant allegations, ongoing court appearances, and repeated attempts to stop contact took their toll.

After years of emotional, financial, and legal exhaustion, he reached a point where he simply couldn’t keep fighting.

This is the story of a father who never wanted to walk away but was worn down by a system and a process that seemed determined to keep him away.

When the legal battles ended, the emotional impact remained.

This episode isn’t just about one father. It’s about the cost of family breakdown, the challenges of navigating complex legal systems, and the resilience it takes to keep showing up when every door seems closed.

After years of staying silent, he’s ready to share his experience.

This is his story.
Support the show

Send us Fan Mail
Episode 31
Guest - Len Jessop & his partner Angela 
On this episode I am joined by author of A Lethal Phobia, Len Jessop, and his partner Angela — who wrote the foreword to the book.
Len is a father who has not seen his children in nearly three years. His love for them has never waned, his door remains open to them forever, and he is so proud of them both.
Shaped by a stoic father and a mother with a heart of gold, Len's personal story is one of sacrifice, resilience, and defiant endurance. We also find time to talk about rugby league.
In this conversation we cover the domestic violence industry and the uncomfortable truth that deaths are rising despite record funding. We discuss a peculiar and largely unknown Queensland law that Len believes represents a genuine risk to anyone accused under it.
We talk about how compliance, self preservation, and institutional preservation consistently appear to take precedence over uncomfortable facts — and why those who challenge the accepted narrative so rarely find institutional support for doing so.
We talk about the designed machine — Len's argument that the system is not broken but functioning exactly as intended. His criticism is directed at systems and institutions rather than individuals — and that distinction matters.
We discuss perception versus reality — and the framework Len developed for getting closer to truth. Base Reality plus Context plus Cui Bono.
He talks about choosing life when the darkness was at its deepest and why he believes nobody should throw away their ticket.
This is an honest, evidence based, and at times confronting conversation about a system that affects far more families than most Australians realise.
His book — A Lethal Phobia — is available now at alethophobia.com.
Support the show

Send us Fan Mail
Episode 31
Guest - Leana Carter
In this week's episode, I speak with Leana Carter (a pseudonym used to protect her identity), who worked for DV Connect for over five years. With her voice altered for safety, Leana reveals the internal operations of the organization and discusses what she describes as a significant gender bias.
While DV Connect’s mission is to provide safety, transport, and crisis support for Queenslanders, Leana highlights several concerns regarding equality and workplace culture:
* Operational Discrepancies: The women’s crisis line operates 24/7, while the men’s line is only available from 9:00 AM to midnight.
* Training and Gender Lens: Leana discusses the employee training manual, which she claims focuses exclusively on a female-centric "gender lens." She explains that staff are trained from recognizing men as victims and that challenging this perspective can lead to termination.
* Internal Culture: The episode covers allegations of a "man-hating" culture, illegal "perp checks" on personal acquaintances, and high employee turnover.
* Funding and KPIs: We discuss how the organization meets specific quotas to maintain funding requirements.
* Triage and Procedures: Leana explains the three-tier system—from the initial 10-minute screening call to phone-based intake and finally shelter placement—and the challenges involving male children over the age of 12.
* System Manipulation and Misconduct: The conversation touches on how the system is exploited for payouts through Victims Assist QLD (VAQ), as well as allegations of a serious drug culture within the office. She references one case where one woman got paid $100,000 on year.
* Dug Culture: Leana talks about the bad Drug culture that happens in the office. There is a serious cocaine problem not only being used but also being dealt.
This episode offers a candid look at the government narrative that only women can be victims and the reality behind the scenes of the so called "Equality" of DV.
Support the show