Taking a Breath: Dave and Jess on Rest, Renewal, and Reconnection

After 89 episodes, Dave and Jess Quak open up about taking a short, intentional break from producing the Sunburnt Souls podcast. This conversation dives deep into the rhythms of rest, spiritual renewal, and what it means to step back without stepping away. They share honestly about attending to their inner life, protecting their marriage, finding God in the quiet, and letting go of performance and pressure. This is a heartfelt conversation about being human, listening to God, and trusting that pause doesn’t mean stop — it means prepare. Episode Highlights 00:00 – 00:20 — Dave announces a surprise break for Sunburnt Souls 00:55 – 01:56 — Attending to the inner life and intimacy with God 02:41 – 03:08 — Dave’s plan: focus on God, marriage, and self-care 03:50 – 04:45 — Craving silence after seasons of constant noise 05:28 – 06:05 — Cultivating rhythms of quiet and presence 07:20 – 07:57 — Letting go of analytics and redefining success 08:41 – 09:34 — Working on marriage before problems arise 10:53 – 11:30 — Balancing ministry, work, and family demands 12:55 – 13:10 — Catching a giant Spanish mackerel (and having fun!) 14:22 – 15:33 — Encouragement for listeners heading into Christmas 16:34 – 17:48 — Giving and receiving love this Christmas 18:32 – 19:54 — The free course: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health 21:44 – 22:51 — Jess closes in prayer for rest, renewal, and blessing Reflection This episode is a reminder that even in ministry and creativity, our souls need rest. Dave and Jess model how to pause without guilt, to listen for God’s voice again, and to protect what matters most — their relationship with God, each other, and their own wellbeing. Maybe this episode is your invitation to take a breath too. Sunburnt Souls Unhinged is here! Join Dave for a fun night of comedy, stories, raw conversations and much more. Come connect, laugh, and experience life, faith and mental health in a whole new way. For more info and tickets, click here 🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. 🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health A 28-day, FREE journey to help you: Embrace your identity in Jesus Build life-giving spiritual rhythms Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace 👉 Start your 28-day journey today 📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter ⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey. Listen and Rate on ...