Ben Thatcher: Resilience Rising | Sharing Stories Changing Lives
In this compelling episode, we delve into the remarkable journey of Ben Thatcher, an Aria nominated Children’s Artist.
Dive Deeper: The Full Conversation with Ben Thatcher
The Core Story
Ben is a resilient individual facing the daunting challenge of a life-threatening, rare auto-immune disease called PSC, which causes liver failure. Despite the diagnosis, Ben refuses to let it define him, choosing instead to embrace life with unwavering optimism and determination.
Join us as Ben candidly shares his experiences, from the moment of diagnosis to navigating the complexities of treatment and its impact on his family. Through his inspiring story, we explore themes of resilience, hope, and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.
But the conversation doesn't end there. For an exclusive peek behind the scenes, join Karen and Ben in the private member area as they delve deeper into Ben's journey, offering even more insight and inspiration for listeners.
Time-Stamped Breakthrough Moments
[00:08:45] – The Resignation: Why Ben walked away from a "partner-track" accounting career to work in a preschool.
[00:15:20] – The Collision of Worlds: How writing ten songs for a pilot in Singapore launched the "Benny Time" era.
[00:22:10] – The Diagnosis: Ben recounts the terrifying moment he was told his "50% chance of survival" was an annual statistic.
[00:30:45] – Pre-Grieving: A raw discussion on how Ben and his wife, Jo, navigated the emotional "war zone" of a terminal diagnosis.
[00:38:30] – Letting Emotions "Be": Ben’s philosophy on telling his children when he's frustrated and why "sadness makes joy deeper."
[00:45:00] – The ARIA Refusal: How illness forced Ben to stop compromising and finally make the music he always dreamed of.
Full Episode Transcript
I would like to acknowledge the Guringai people and pay my respects to the Elders, both past and present. The Guringai people are the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today.
Karen:
Ben Thatcher embodies resilience and hope in the face of adversity. He’s an ARIA-nominated children's artist and the driving force behind Major Minor Music Australia. He champions music for families with unwavering passion. Navigating chronic illness with strength and determination, his journey is a testament to the human spirit.
Welcome to Sharing Stories, Changing Lives. I’m your host, Karen Sander, and I have the privilege of interviewing individuals from all walks of life, each with their own powerful stories. To learn more, visit www.storyroomglobal.com and explore our private membership area, The Backstage Pass.
Ben, you’re a family man and a musician, and it would be fabulous to learn more about your life and career.
Ben:
OK, I’ll give you the reasonably watered-down version — only because I’ve just turned 50 and I’ve never really had much of a plan! So you tend to meander quite a lot.
I grew up in Sydney, down in the Shire. Pretty normal upbringing. Nothing dramatic. It was all lovely. My parents separated, but in hindsight it was the best thing for them both. No regrets.
Quite early on — around 12 — I fell in love with music. Right around that hormone-fuelled stage where you’re trying to figure out who you are. Music gave me a voice. I was trying to get through school at the same time, but those two worlds never really intersected.
When I was about 18 or 19, I left the Shire and moved into central Sydney. Around that time I somehow landed a job with a massive accounting firm — KPMG Peat Marwick. They even offered me an internship and a pathway to become a manager… maybe partner. Completely insane. I spent half my time running around with my shoes off, so I’m really not sure what they were thinking.
They told me to go home and think about it. I went home and wrote my resignation letter. Accounting just wasn’t me.
The very next day, a friend called and said, “Do you want to work in a childcare centre for a day?” And that — as they say — is history.
That one day turned into 25 years in early childhood: long daycare, preschool, before/after school care. I taught in China, I taught in London. Being a male in early childhood makes you an anomaly, so people really wanted you there. And weirdly, running around with your shoes off is perfect for early childhood.
Parallel to all that, I always kept one foot in the arts — co-op theatre, short films, music.
Then about 15 years ago, my partner (now wife) Jo was working for producer David Elphick. David said, “Hey, Benny’s a musician who works with kids — we’re doing a pilot. Can he write a few songs?”
So I did. And we all kind of went… oh, these are actually good. Next thing, I’m in Singapore filming 10 episodes with a group of children. That led to my first album. That’s where the two worlds collided — early childhood and children’s entertainment. And I’ve basically been in that world ever since.
Karen:
It all sounds quite serendipitous — almost like life carried you where you needed to go.
Ben:
Yeah, I think that’s true. Looking back, emotionally life has felt tricky at times, but I’ve been incredibly fortunate. I’ve done exciting things — often on a shoestring and a whim. I just hoist the sail and let the wind take me.
I’ve also been surrounded by people who’ve held the boat steady — my dad especially. He’s the first to ask, “How much do you need to bankroll that?” And Jo… well, Jo just gets me. She knows I need to create. She doesn’t blink when I say I need to spend a whole day making a clip.
I think people around me have seen things in me that I’ve never seen in myself.
Karen:
Not too long ago, you were diagnosed with an illness called PSC. Can you say the full name?
Ben:
PSC stands for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Essentially, my immune system has decided that the biliary system in my liver is foreign — and it’s trying to kill it off. As it attacks, it creates damage throughout my body.
For the first couple of years, I refused to let it affect me. But after a long stretch of tests and symptoms, things escalated. I ended up in hospital with a blood clot in the portal vein — massive artery. That’s when they upgraded my diagnosis to PSC.
The brutal thing about PSC is that it comes with a shortened lifespan. They told me I had a 50% chance of dying within the year. Later, I learned — oh no, that’s every year. When it hits, it hits fast.
The only ultimate treatment is transplant. Medication helps, but it doesn’t cure.
And emotionally… nothing prepares you for being told your child is starting high school next year and you may not be here to see her finish. That hits like nothing else.
Karen:
Did you ever just want to sit on the couch and feel sorry for yourself?
Ben:
Oh yeah. Still do sometimes.
When it first hit, Jo and I went through something we later learned is called pre-grieving. You grieve something that hasn’t happened yet but feels inevitable. Like sending a child to war knowing they likely won’t return.
We had built a really beautiful family — my kids adore each other, Jo and I are close — it’s rare and precious. Facing the idea that it may fall apart was brutal.
Some days, even things like buying a new jumper felt pointless. “What’s the point?” That kind of thing.
But you just have to go through the process.
Karen:
How do you manage family relationships and social activities now?
Ben:
It’s two things — physical and emotional.
Physically, in the last three or four months I’ve had a really marked decline. Some days my brain simply shuts down. Yesterday, I stared at a cupboard for half an hour unable to work out what was for dinner. I had to text Jo: “Are you close? You may need to run red lights.”
Emotionally… you learn to pull the brake when you need to. I say no to a lot. I had a close friend visit recently, and I couldn’t meet him for four days. Finally I said, “If you want to see me, come sit at the foot of my bed.”
Chronic illness is invisible until you meet someone else who has it — and then you just cry together because they get it.
Karen:
You seem to have a remarkable ability to talk openly about your emotions. What lessons have you learned about yourself?
Ben:
One of the biggest — and I’m proud of this — is the ability to let emotions simply… be.
If I’m angry, I’ll tell Jo: “I’m feeling really frustrated. I’m going to watch a film and let it out.”
If I’m sad, I sit in it.
If I’m overwhelmed, I tell my kids in the car: “Hey, Dad’s getting frustrated. Not at you — just need some quiet.”
We’re so afraid of negative emotions. But sadness makes joy deeper. Weakness makes strength more profound.
Letting emotions move freely has made everything richer.
Karen:
What happens next medically? What’s the plan?
Ben:
PSC causes the bile ducts to form “beads” — imagine a snake that keeps swallowing whole apples: skinny snake, big apple bump, skinny snake, big apple bump.
Those inflamed sections can either turn cancerous or block the system entirely. Meanwhile, the damage causes cirrhosis, which then causes blockages to veins, the spleen, gallbladder… it's all connected.
Ultimately, a liver transplant is part of treatment — but not a cure. PSC can return in the new liver.
People ask, “If you know you’ll need a transplant, why not do it now?”
But there’s a 10% mortality rate in the first year. So they only transplant when your chance of dying without it is greater than your chance of dying with it.
My biggest fear is wondering: how sick do I have to get before they act?
It’s the question I go to sleep with every night.
Karen:
How has music helped you through all this?
Ben:
It’s funny — it’s not what music did for me, it’s what the illness did for my music.
The ARIA-nominated album — Benny and Friends — was the first time I refused to compromise. Not on sound, not on collaborators, not on ideas. I didn’t want to leave anything undone.
Being unwell makes you stop deferring your dreams.
And the album ended up huge — people from New York, New Zealand, guest artists all over it. There’s a song about a little grey cloud being told by the big clouds that it’s OK to cry. That one’s a direct reference to my illness… and to the necessity of emotion.
The new album — Benny’s Garden — comes out in a few months.
If people want to listen, they can find me as Benny Time on Spotify or at bennytimemusic.com.
Karen:
Ben, you are an amazing man. I only met you recently, and I adored our conversation. Thank you for giving me this time.
Ben:
I love you more than time! Thank you. Now… do we go back behind this curtain? Is that how we get to the backstage chat?
Karen:
Yes! We’re heading backstage for our extended conversation — available inside The Backstage Pass.
Outro
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