Anne Hamilton Byrne was a former yoga instructor who deludedly believed herself to be the reincarnation of Christ. 
Under her malevolent influence, up to 28 children were subjected to a nightmarish existence. Their hair was bleached and cropped uniformly, while they endured beatings and even were administered LSD.
The cult would be later publicly referred to as  "The Family" where many of the child victims continue to  bear lifelong psychological scars. 

But what are perplexing motivations that drive cult leaders like Anne Hamilton Byrne to exert control, manipulate, and inflict abuse upon vulnerable individuals?
What can be said about the differences between male and female cult leaders?
And is rehabilitation truly possible for the victims of cults like Byrne’s? 
That’s on today’s episode of Motive and Method.
Read Chris Johnston’s book “The Family” 
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Motive & Method is an MIK Made Production.


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Inside Australia’s Dangerous Hippie Cult | Illegal Adoptions & Forced LSD

Motive & Method is an expert-led Australian true crime podcast.
Join criminologist Xanthe Mallett and criminal psychologist Tim Watson Munro as they unpack what really makes the offenders tick behind some of history’s most notorious cases.
This show will provide insights from two minds who have worked within the legal justice system for decades. 
You will also hear from victim survivors of some of these crimes, investigators who were directly involved in cases, and advocates for change who share the warning signs on what to look out for. 
Want to get involved in the community? Follow Motive & Method @motiveandmethod on Instagram.

True crime

We have recently seen a spate of knife crimes perpetrated by young people. This has included the Sydney stabbing at the church, knife violence between young people, and a 10-year-old girl stabbed to death, allegedly by her 17-year-old sister. In this episode, we discuss the link between young people, crime, and social media.
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The Interface Between Social Media and Youth Crime

On this special episode of Motive& Method, Tim & Xanthe go into the weekend tragic events that unfolded in the Sydney suburb of Bondi Junction where Queensland man Joel Cauchi has been named as the man who killed five women and one man at the Bondi Junction shopping centre during a horrific mass stabbing on Saturday.
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Bondi Westfield Stabbings

In part 2 of the Keli Lane special we speak to Dr Michele Ruiters from the Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative at RMIT. We did record this before Keli's parole verdict was handed down, but she offers key insights into Keli's case, the thousands of hours she has applied to the case, her involvement in trying to prove Keli's innocence and Michele's work with the Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative.
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Keli Lane: Part 2, parole denied

On this weeks episode of Motive and Method Tim and Xanthe discuss the events around a whistleblowing doctor revealing allegations of secret illicit drug tests conducted to enable AFL players to avoid detection on game days, the federal MP Andrew Wilkie has told parliament.
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Revelations of Secret AFL drug testing

On this special episode of Motive & Method Tim and Xanthe revisit an interview they did with Allison Langdon and talk through the Keli Lane case. Keli Lane has today, been denied parole under 'no body, no parole' law
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Inside Australia’s Dangerous Hippie Cult | Illegal Adoptions & Forced LSD

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