Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast

Dr Afiniki Akanet sits down with us and names the thing many people feel but rarely say out loud: you can treat the body and still feel empty. From the first minutes, we dig into a whole-person view of mental health, where spirit, soul, and body interact, and where medication and therapy can be lifesaving without answering the deeper questions of meaning, hope, and purpose. If you have ever wondered how faith fits alongside a mental health diagnosis, this conversation brings clarity without shame or shortcuts.We talk about the difference between mental illness and mental well-being, and why that distinction gives people room to breathe. Dr Afiniki Akanet shares how spirituality can support mental well-being through community, practices that steady us, and a source of strength when life feels unbearable. She also describes what it looks like to bring faith into a real UK medical consultation with sensitivity, asking the right questions at the right time, and honouring patients who believe differently.Then the story widens. Dr Afiniki Akanet opens up about moving from Nigeria to the UK at 16, the reality of persecution in northern Nigeria, and the long path to becoming a doctor through financial setbacks, extra degrees, and starting over. We connect those experiences to resilience, to her “Happiness Over Stress” message rooted in boundaries and intentional living, and to her new book on Joseph, family dynamics, and perseverance. We close with a practical, faith-filled encouragement for anyone struggling: God is sovereign, healing is possible, and your hard season can still hold purpose.If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with the one line that stayed with you. What part of the conversation did you need most right now?If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Pain shows up whether we invite it or not and trying to outrun it usually makes it louder. I sit down with Dr. Joshua Nabb, a clinical psychologist and professor, to talk about what happens when suffering shatters your assumptions and forces bigger questions about faith, healing, and hope. Joshua shares his own story of early trauma, depression, and anxiety, plus the surprising role Christian therapy played in helping him name what hurt and start putting the pieces back together.We dig into a deeply biblical view of emotions that many churches still struggle to hold. Sadness, fear, and anxiety are not automatically spiritual failures. They can be signals that reveal what we value, what we have lost, and what we think is at risk. We talk about lament as a Christian mental health practice, including Psalm 88 and the honesty of the Psalms where the darkness does not neatly resolve. That honesty can be the start of freedom because it trains us to bring the whole truth into God’s presence.Then we get practical with Christian meditation and contemplative prayer that stay anchored to Scripture and the Christian tradition rather than borrowed spirituality. Joshua explains how to train attention with short Bible promises, how to work with intrusive thoughts without getting into a losing fight, and why the Jesus Prayer can feel like real time “soothing” instead of magical problem removal. We also address the “Is meditation New Age?” concern head on and point to the rich heritage of biblical meditation across Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant history.We close with what Joshua is researching next, including a Holy Spirit focused alternative to loving-kindness meditation built around the fruit of the Spirit, plus where to find his free guided practices and resources. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend who is struggling, and leave a review so more people can find hope and tools that actually work.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In Part 2, the conversation goes deeper.Sarah Wiseman opens up about anxiety, depression, motherhood, and the reality of navigating mental health while trying to follow Jesus. From panic attacks to hormonal struggles like PMDD, this is the stuff most people don’t talk about — especially in church.We also talk about raising kids while you’re struggling, dealing with criticism, and why your weakness doesn’t disqualify you from being used by God.This is real faith — not filtered, not perfect.In this episode: Anxiety and depression in everyday life  Mental health during pregnancy and motherhood  PMDD and the hormonal side of mental illness  Raising kids while you’re struggling  Owning your mistakes and repairing relationships  Why weakness doesn’t disqualify you  Living with faith even when healing isn’t instant A standout moment in this episode is the honesty around mental health — not hiding it, but bringing it into the light where God actually meets people CONNECT Listen to more episodes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/sunburnt-souls-a-christian-mental-health-podcast/id1728936182Follow Sarah Wiseman: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.a.wiseman/Listen to “Sit Down With Sarah”: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LGxpsG9HXCtVjb5A0P1mRIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

She expected shame and found love instead. Sarah Wiseman joins us to talk about the kind of faith that doesn’t wait for you to get polished, cleaned up, or “qualified” before God shows up. We trace her story from being the responsible church kid to hitting a wall of heartbreak, addiction, and the party lifestyle, then walking back into church and realizing grace meets you while you’re still messy. If you’ve ever thought, “Once I fix this, then I’ll come back to God,” this conversation offers a different path.We also dig into the hard, modern reality of doing ministry while managing mental health. Sarah opens up about anxiety and depression, the sting of online criticism, and the exhausting pressure some Christians feel to sound perfect theologically. We talk about why weakness is not disqualifying, why one harsh comment can drown out a thousand kind ones, and why character matters more than influence. For anyone searching for a Christian mental health podcast that actually feels human, we keep it honest without turning it into despair.Then the discussion gets intensely practical: panic attacks in public, telling your kids “I’m anxious” instead of barking orders, and the complicated world of pregnancy mental health. Sarah shares her experience with prenatal anxiety and depression, PMDD, progesterone intolerance, and medication decisions while pregnant, plus the guilt and identity loss that can come with those seasons. We also talk about Scripture as a real support in the fight, while still making room for the seasons where you don’t have the strength to fight at all.If this helped you feel less alone, subscribe to Sunburn Souls, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find faith and mental health conversations like this.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

If you have ever sat in a church service thinking, “Why can’t I just hold it together,” this conversation is for you. We get honest about neurodiversity and mental health in real life, where good intentions are not enough and belonging has to be built on purpose. Rayleigh Kemp joins us again to talk about raising her son Zane with autism and ADHD, and what churches can do to become sensory friendly without making families feel like a problem to manage. We dig into practical inclusion: a quiet space with softer lighting, earplugs at the door, permission to worship from the foyer, and ministry teams who come to a person instead of forcing a high pressure walk to the front. Along the way we challenge the silent rules that label regulation as “disrespect,” especially when headphones or an iPad are the very tools that help a dysregulated nervous system settle. We also zoom out to school pressure, burnout, and the power of diagnosis. Rayleigh explains hypervigilance, masking, anxiety, and why “lazy” can actually be overwhelm and ADHD. We talk about how accommodations and self knowledge can restore hope, and why discipling kids does not have to be heavy: reading Scripture together, letting questions come when they come, and keeping prayer normal in everyday moments. If this helps you, share it with a parent, a pastor, or a friend who needs more grace than advice, and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review so more people can find these conversations.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Church can be a place of healing, and it can also be the loudest, most demanding room a neurodivergent kid walks into all week. Raeleigh Kemp joins me to talk about faith and mental wellbeing in a way that gets painfully practical: what happens when your child loves God but struggles with sensory overload, separation anxiety, and the pressure to “fit in” on Sunday.Raeleigh shares her story of growing up in a Jesus-loving family, sensing there was more of the Holy Spirit, and becoming the person people naturally trust with hard truths. From there we move into parenting and neurodivergence, including an ADHD diagnosis, ongoing anxiety, and later an autism diagnosis. We talk honestly about autistic burnout, why medication can be a life-giving support, and how quickly school can become unsafe when systems prioritize compliance over understanding.We also dig into inclusive church and what real belonging requires. What would it take for kids ministry and church leadership to be educated in neurodivergence and inclusive practice? How do we connect kids who cannot tolerate a crowded room, or who cannot handle kids church, without making them feel like problems to manage? Raeleigh offers grounded ideas, from flexible spaces to simple alternatives like kicking a ball outside while talking about Jesus, and we come back to a core Christian question: who do we make room for, and why?If you care about Christian mental health, parenting neurodivergent children, autism and ADHD support, or building a church that welcomes the whole family, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.Books a session with Raeleigh todayIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

You can be the person everyone counts on and still feel like you’re barely holding it together. Sitting down with Susie Holt, we get honest about the gap between what people see and what’s really happening inside, especially when you’re a public voice, a mum, a leader, or the “strong one” in your community.We talk through Susie’s faith journey and the moment she realised church attendance isn’t the same as a relationship with Jesus. From there, the conversation turns practical and personal: growing up with a mum diagnosed with bipolar disorder, what healthy treatment and consistency can look like in a family, and how those early experiences shape the way we cope as adults. We also name the stuff that often stays hidden in Christian spaces: anxiety, depression, stress, and the pressure to mask so nobody worries.Susie shares what it’s like navigating ADHD in marriage, including hyperfocus, time blindness, and the communication changes that help when emotions run high. We dig into people pleasing, identity, fear, and the work of parenting with humility so healing can actually happen, not just get avoided. We close with a prayer for peace, purpose, and the courage to become more grounded in who God created you to be.If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s been carrying a lot, and leave a review. What part of the conversation hit closest to home for you?If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Church can be the last place people admit they’re struggling. I share a new live session from a Brisbane church where we talk honestly about faith and mental health, from the quiet pain adults carry to the rising pressure crushing many teens. Along the way I tell a story about meeting a man with Tourette syndrome and what his experience reveals about loneliness, stigma, and how quickly a community can pull away when life gets messy.I also open up about living with bipolar disorder and why we have to stop treating mental illness like a discipleship defect. We wouldn’t tell someone their diabetes proves they lack faith, yet anxiety and depression often get that treatment. We work through a simple, practical theology of suffering and then get specific about what churches can change: reducing social pressure, creating spaces to step out and breathe, and training people to check in with care instead of judgment.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

The questions people ask about mental health and Christianity are usually the ones we're all thinking about anyway. So I’m answering them plainly, with zero filter or desire to be eloquent. We start with why Sunburnt Souls exists and why I believe the church still has a few stigmas to stomp on. Mental ill health isn’t proof you’re evil or being punished by God. It’s an ailment, and the right response is love, kindness, and encouragement. I also share where I’m at with bipolar right now, why “mostly recovered” isn’t the goal, and why the way forward can feel unbelievably boring. Sleep on time. Eat well. Move your body. Stick with your doctor’s advice. The flywheel matters, and it builds momentum over time.I also talk about pushback, family boundaries, and the guests who have impacted me most, including stories that reveal how pressure can warp what relief feels like. Then we get into the heavy stuff: what I do when someone reaches out with a confronting situation like suicidal ideation, why I always point people to a GP or emergency care, and why debriefing tough conversations is part of staying healthy. I finish with some behind-the-scenes honesty about publishing decisions, finances, and why word of mouth is how this podcast grows.If this helped, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find faith-based mental health support.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

What if the habit that takes the edge off is the very thing fraying your mind, your marriage, and your mornings? I open up about how “just a couple of wines” became a quiet loop of mediocrity that amplified bipolar swings, dulled my medication, and bled into the people I love most. Together we unpack the messy intersection of faith, freedom, and stewardship. I talk through the moment I drew a line with alcohol, how Australian drinking culture made that choice harder, and why love sometimes means choosing limits. We get practical about mood stabilisers, antipsychotics, and the very real risks of mixing meds with alcohol. Then we widen the lens: caffeine overload, sugar spikes, and refined carbs that masquerade as comfort yet push a vulnerable brain toward anxiety, depression, or rebound mania.If you’ve ever bargained with “just one,” this conversation offers a different bargain: trade the temporary hush for a brain you can trust tomorrow. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a review with one habit you’re retiring this month. Let’s build lives that our future selves—and our families—can count on.Check out some amazing resources by Julie Fast 🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

What if your brain isn’t the problem—your code is? We sit down with Dr. Ash Morland to unpack the eye-opening difference between brain and mind, and why that single shift can break the ceiling on therapy, productivity, and peace. Starting with something as simple as coffee, we trace how predictability creates safety signals for the nervous system, then step into a live somatic exercise that turns theory into felt experience. You’ll hear how a single thought can tense a body, how love can melt that tension in seconds, and why those sensations are not defects to crush but messages to decode.Check our Dr Ash here Ash takes us deeper into the “fear files” that run beneath chronic anxiety—rejection, not-enoughness, judgment, failure—and shows how they quietly script survival behaviors: picking fights to create distance, hiding in busyness, or shrinking to stay acceptable. We talk dopamine, oxytocin, and neuroplasticity in plain language, then challenge a common habit in self-help: trying to heal relational wounds in isolation. Ash explains why groups often rewire faster than solo work, and when targeted one-on-one can resolve single-event trauma quickly. It’s science with a soul, grounded in lived stories and practical steps.Follow re-MIND hereFaith threads through everything we explore. Ash shares how she ditched a flawless keynote after hearing “burn it down,” letting go of performance to partner with God. That surrender reframed anxiety as an invitation back to identity and alignment. If you’ve felt stuck at the limits of talk therapy, worn out by perfection, or unsure how to “rewire,” this conversation offers a clear map: learn your body’s signals, change the inputs your mind feeds your brain, practice co-regulation in safe community, and begin the brave work of unbecoming who you had to be so you can become who you are.Book a freeIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Sometimes the relapse is sudden and loud—the kind of week where anxiety returns out of nowhere and dysphoric mania lights every fuse. I share the mess honestly: the regret of words that cut, the weight of hurting someone I love, and the hard road to repair that doesn’t hide behind “it wasn’t me.” If you’ve ever lashed out while unwell—or been cut by someone who was—this conversation lays out a practical, compassionate path through responsibility, forgiveness, and rebuilding safety.We start with ownership without defensiveness, because trust can’t grow on excuses. Then we map a four-part apology you can actually use: acknowledge the impact, take responsibility, present concrete changes, and invite boundaries the other person controls. From scheduling a med review to journaling before reacting, from time-outs to quieter rooms, we focus on actions that lower threat and prove you’re serious. We talk about asking for forgiveness as a request, not a demand—never weaponizing faith—and why patience in the waiting shapes you into a safer person.Repair doesn’t come from grand gestures but from steady rhythms. I walk through short-term and long-term practices that rebuild predictability: calm tone, no sarcasm, no swearing, fewer hot-button topics, better sleep, and simple check-ins. Consistency over intensity becomes the rule. And for the ones carrying pain without an apology, we explore the brave work of forgiving those who “do not know what they do,” while holding firm lines around safety and seeking help from counselors, psychologists, and pastors when needed.Underneath it all is a clear framework: mental illness can distort perception, but it does not erase responsibility. That truth doesn’t shame; it guides. If your goal is real reconciliation—with others, with yourself, and with God—these steps create space for healing without denying the storm you’re walking through. Listen, reflect, and then tell us: which step will you practice this week? Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find hope in the hard places.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Ever felt called and crushed at the same time? We dig into the life of Moses to explore how real leadership stretches the soul, from a childhood of unlikely rescue to the desert where calling and capacity collide. We talk about what happens when influence grows faster than your systems, why “what you’re doing is not good” can be the most freeing feedback you’ll ever receive, and how honest prayer becomes a lifeline when the crowd starts grumbling.Together we trace Moses’ formation: a man torn between palace privilege and a wounded people, learning identity in the wilderness before being sent back into the fire. We unpack the paradox all leaders face—impact that inspires and pressure that frays your mind—and we name the moments that bruise the deepest: public criticism, private betrayal, and even family turning against you. From Jethro’s practical wisdom to the seventy elders sharing the weight, we show how sustainable leadership is built on limits, team, and trust. We also call out the quiet saboteur in many of us: accumulated anger. Moses’ missteps warn us that resentment leaks into choices unless we process pain with God and set clear boundaries.You’ll leave with five grounded practices for your mental health as a leader: accept your limits, say hard things to God, watch for accumulated anger, share the weight, and keep leading after disappointment. Moses never stepped into the promised land, yet he blessed the people and raised Joshua. That kind of legacy reframes success away from applause and toward alignment with God’s voice. If you’re a pastor, teacher, manager, or parent carrying others through hard terrain, this conversation offers language for your struggle and courage for your next step.If this encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a leader who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What practice will you try this week?If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

What if your strongest flaws are the very channels God uses to shape your calling? We sit down to explore the life of Simon Peter, a disciple who rushes first, speaks loudest, and still becomes a steady pillar for the early church. From campfire denial to Spirit-charged preaching, Peter’s story gives us a front-row seat to how grace matures personality into purpose.We start with the messy human side: impulse that opens doors, words that arrive before wisdom, and courage that flickers when pressure hits. Then we move to the turning point—restoration by the risen Jesus and the seismic difference the Holy Spirit makes at Pentecost. Peter doesn’t become a different person; he becomes the same person, anchored. That clarity lets him tell hard truths with a tender heart, even to the crowd that once shouted for crucifixion.This conversation also names the parts we usually skip. Peter later slips back into fear and favoritism until Paul calls him out. Instead of tarnishing his legacy, that moment teaches why leaders need accountability and why formation is ongoing. We weave in 1 Peter 4 to reframe suffering: fiery trials aren’t proof you’re off track; they’re often the forge of real joy. Along the way we unpack the transfiguration, the discipline of listening before acting, and the beauty of a church built on diverse temperaments—bold Peters, reflective Johns, and detail-strong Matthews all pulling in the same direction.If you need fresh courage to own your mistakes, receive forgiveness, and take the next faithful step, this one’s for you. Hit play, lean into the story, and let hope rise where fear used to sit. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find these conversations.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

A runaway prophet, a repenting city, and a God who refuses to be less merciful than He is—Jonah’s story hits closer to home than we like to admit. We open the book not to argue about a fish, but to wrestle with why a man who knows God’s heart would sprint in the opposite direction. The answer uncovers a tangle of anger, fear, and the ache for justice that feels righteous until grace walks in.We explore the prophetic context that made Jonah’s assignment to Nineveh so provocative, why the storm at sea mirrors his inner turmoil, and how a ship full of pagan sailors end up modeling reverence. Inside the fish, time slows into a hard reset where despair begins to thaw. Then comes the shock: a five-word sermon that topples a city’s pride. Nineveh repents; heaven relents. Instead of celebration, Jonah fumes, quoting Exodus 34 as a complaint. He knows God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love—and that is exactly what he cannot stomach for people he views as dangerous and cruel.The plant and the worm expose how narrow our compassion can be when comfort sets the boundaries. We talk candidly about mental health, mood swings, and why volatility doesn’t disqualify a person from being used by God. If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

A quiet living room in Bethany, a sealed tomb, and a Savior who stops to weep before he calls a name—this is where faith and mental wellbeing meet. We invited listeners into the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus to explore how Jesus honors different personalities, different griefs, and the same deep hope. One sister serves, one sits, and both reveal something vital about how love moves and how souls rest.We start with the tension that many of us feel: is spiritual health found in doing or being? Martha’s hospitality and Mary’s stillness become more than a rivalry; they’re a map for ordering the inner life. We talk about what happens when service runs ahead of presence, why rest often triggers guilt for doers, and how Jesus re-centers us by inviting relationship first and action from overflow. Then we step into John 11, where Lazarus’ death exposes our hardest questions—Why didn’t God? Where was he when it broke?—and watch as Jesus meets each heart differently.Martha brings bold theology and aching honesty, and Jesus answers with living truth: “I am the resurrection and the life.” Mary brings tears, and Jesus answers with his own. We sit with the shock of “Jesus wept,” a line that dismantles the myth of a distant God. From there, we trace the miracle that follows, the grave clothes unwrapped by a community, and the messy aftermath—belief rising, opposition hardening, and Lazarus facing fresh danger. Hope breaks in, but the world stays cracked, which is why we explore the “now and not yet” as a framework for resilient mental health: pray boldly, grieve honestly, and keep walking.If you’ve carried unanswered prayers, chronic struggle, or a heart tired of the pendulum between doing and being, this conversation offers grounded comfort and practical steps. We share takeaways on practicing lament, choosing presence without shame, serving without burnout, and letting trusted people help you loosen what still binds. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review to tell us: where have yoIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

What if your greatest risk isn’t suffering, but success? We dive into David’s uneven path from overlooked shepherd to celebrated king to show how formation in hidden places can hold you together when the spotlight doesn’t. This is a story about mental well-being, deep emotion, spiritual resilience, and the slow drift that happens when comfort dulls conviction.We start with David’s early years—ignored by family yet seen by God—and how solitude forged skill, courage, and a prayer life that could carry heavy feelings without collapsing. From lions and bears to Goliath, adversity sharpened him. Then we zoom into the complex season under Saul: playing the harp for a tormented king while dodging spears, learning humility and restraint even when power was within reach. Along the way we map the paradox: David excels with pressure and purpose, but stumbles when life is easy.We take an honest look at the Bathsheba fallout—how desire, access, and unchecked power produce a spiral of secrecy and harm—and why Psalm 51 remains a masterclass in repentance and restoration. Rather than sin-leveling or stone-throwing, we trace a healthier response: truth telling, lament, and a renewed heart that returns to mission. You’ll hear practical takeaways for modern life: building identity in the quiet, planning for success with guardrails and accountability, and using confession to break the cycle before shame buries you. David’s legacy is not perfection; it’s the courage to come back to God, again and again, until wisdom grows where wounds once lived.If this conversation helps you think differently about faith, feelings, and resilience, share it with a friend, hit follow, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. What guardrails will you set for your next season of success?If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

The story of Hannah opens inside a storm of rivalry, shame, and unmet longing—and yet it becomes a roadmap for hope. We unpack how a woman dismissed by culture and misread by a priest found language for her pain, courage for her vow, and a song that reframed value beyond fertility, status, or success. Along the way, we wrestle with the messier threads: a husband who minimizes real depression, a priest who projects his anxieties, and a community that confuses outcomes with worth.What surprised us most is the tenderness woven into Eli’s broken narrative. After a harsh misread, he listens, blesses, and later helps young Samuel recognize God’s voice—a quiet second chance inside consequences he can’t reverse. That tension matters for mental health and discipleship: people can wound us and still become part of our healing; grace doesn’t erase fallout but can redirect a legacy. We also talk about spiritual parenting and the power of community mentors—the craftspeople, teachers, and safe adults who bolster a child’s faith and emotional resilience when a home is stretched thin.Hannah’s song stands as the episode’s heartbeat: identity rooted in God’s character, not in what we produce or what others say we lack. We challenge formulaic faith around infertility and outcomes, insisting the text is descriptive, not prescriptive, and we center the presence of God as the anchor when everything else shakes. If you’ve ever felt unseen or mislabeled in your struggle, this conversation invites you to bring your ache to the One who hears—even when words won’t come—and to watch how blessing, community, and steadfast presence can change the story.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope today, and leave a review to help others find the conversation.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Fire falls on the altar, a nation gasps, and the prophet stands vindicated—then one threat sends him running into the wilderness. We follow Elijah through that whiplash from public triumph to private collapse and uncover a deeper story of how God meets burnout with gentleness, not guilt. If you’ve ever felt the Monday crash after a spiritual high, this conversation will feel like a mirror and a map.We walk through the showdown on Mount Carmel, the fear that flares when Jezebel vows revenge, and the raw prayer beneath a desert tree. Instead of rebuke, Elijah receives an angel with bread and water—sleep, eat, repeat—because sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is recover your body. We talk about honest rhythms that sustain real life: rest that protects your nervous system, simple nourishment, and prayer that tells the truth. We also challenge the isolating lie of I am the only one by naming the 7,000—hidden communities, faithful friends, and mentors who share the load.Along the way we tackle a stubborn myth: that mental distress proves spiritual failure. The world is broken; burdens attach without asking. Stewardship matters, shame does not. Elijah is not benched—he is met, strengthened, and sent to new assignments, including mentoring Elisha and encountering God again in a low whisper. Expect mountains, valleys, and the ordinary stretch between. Build small, repeatable practices that carry you through all three.If freedom is your word for the year, let it include unhurried recovery, grounded community, and the courage to keep going when emotions swing. Press play, share this with someone who feels alone, and tell us: which rhythm do you need to rebuild this week? Subscribe, leave a review, and join the conversation so others can find hope here too.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

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 Highlights00:00 – 00:20 — Dave announces a surprise break for Sunburnt Souls00:55 – 01:56 — Attending to the inner life and intimacy with God02:41 – 03:08 — Dave’s plan: focus on God, marriage, and self-care03:50 – 04:45 — Craving silence after seasons of constant noise05:28 – 06:05 — Cultivating rhythms of quiet and presence07:20 – 07:57 — Letting go of analytics and redefining success08:41 – 09:34 — Working on marriage before problems arise10:53 – 11:30 — Balancing ministry, work, and family demands12:55 – 13:10 — Catching a giant Spanish mackerel (and having fun!)14:22 – 15:33 — Encouragement for listeners heading into Christmas16:34 – 17:48 — Giving and receiving love this Christmas18:32 – 19:54 — The free course: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health21:44 – 22:51 — Jess closes in prayer for rest, renewal, and blessingReflectionThis 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.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

After a BMX crash left him paralysed, Nathan faced years of depression and doubt. Discover how faith, resilience, and community led to real hope.What happens when your body breaks, but your spirit refuses to? This powerful Christian mental health story follows one man’s journey from a life-changing BMX accident and paralysis to discovering faith, purpose, and healing in the middle of depression.What We CoverThe Crash and the Aftermath – A broken neck, a wheelchair, and life in ICU.Faith in the Fog – Wrestling with God when prayers for healing go unanswered.Depression and Medication – Facing major depression, inpatient stays, and the courage to ask for help.TMS and Recovery – How new treatments and faith worked together to restore hope.Calling and Purpose – Finding a new mission through chaplaincy and service.What Healing Really Means – Why faith isn’t about fixing everything but trusting through anything.ReflectionThis episode speaks to anyone battling mental illness, chronic pain, or grief — reminding us that hope is not found in perfection, but in perseverance.“Sometimes God doesn’t give us our old life back. He gives us a new one — redeemed.”If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

When silence and solitude fail, Scripture still speaks. In this heartfelt conversation, Dave Quak and Jess Quak explore how the Bible connects us to God when our minds and emotions feel heavy. From poetic laments to prophetic promises, discover how every part of God’s Word can bring peace, perspective, and presence.What We Cover1. Why Genres Matter When You’re Struggling Understanding the Bible’s genres helps you read with clarity, find the right voice for your situation, and avoid misusing verses that were never meant to weigh you down.2. Psalms (Poetry): Naming Feelings & Finding Language for Pain Psalm 42 becomes a mirror for your soul—moving from dryness to desire, from ache to worship. Poetry helps name what hurts and opens a path toward healing.3. Narrative: Solidarity with Imperfect Saints Elijah, David, Jonah, and Esther show that God’s promises are stronger than our failures. Their stories remind us we’re not alone when we feel messy or misunderstood.4. Wisdom Literature: Safeguarding Your Mind Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes teach timing, boundaries, and relational grace—how to respond with wisdom when life feels chaotic.5. Prophetic Books: God’s Call, Compassion & Comfort From Isaiah 61 to Hosea, we see God’s relentless pursuit of the brokenhearted. Prophecy invites us to pray for mercy and trust in His plan for restoration.6. The Gospels: Meeting Jesus in Real Life Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each show a different facet of the same Saviour—personal, powerful, and present. For the anxious heart, Jesus remains the centre of hope.7. Apocalyptic Texts: Hope Beyond Fear Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation—visions written to persecuted people. They’re not about panic but perseverance: the final word is still love, not fear.8. The Big Takeaway Therapy and medication matter. But Scripture is the one place you can always meet God’s voice. When your mind is hurting, His Word is still alive and waiting.Timestamps00:00 Intro: wIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Why are some people so blunt—and why does it sting? In this honest and humorous episode of Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast, Dave and Jess Quak explore why blunt people speak the way they do and how relationships can thrive when truth meets grace. From prophetic personalities and neurodivergence to marriage, faith, and communication, they unpack how clarity can coexist with kindness. Using biblical insight—including Jesus’ blunt conversation with the woman at the well—this episode helps listeners see how honesty, when fuelled by love, can heal rather than hurt.Whether you’re the blunt one or the sensitive one, you’ll find hope, laughter, and practical wisdom for living out faith in the messiness of human connection.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this solo episode of Sunburnt Souls, a Christian mental health podcast, host Dave Quak opens up about faith, mental illness, and what it means to live a life that’s “unideal” yet deeply loved by God.From a story about Tony with Tourette’s in church to reflections on his own bipolar journey, Dave explores how God meets us in our brokenness—not despite it.This episode tackles the stigma around mental health in the church, the reality of unanswered prayers, and why God’s power is often made perfect in weakness. Whether you live with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or simply feel “less than ideal,” this episode is a reminder that you are seen, loved, and called.Quote Highlights“Just because life isn’t ideal doesn’t mean it can’t be full and amazing.”“We all walked past the bucket of brokenness—something stuck to each of us.”“God didn’t give me bipolar disorder, but He’s not wasting it.”“His power is made perfect in my weakness.”“Faith and mental illness aren’t enemies—they’re often fellow travellers.”If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Sunburnt Souls is a Christian Mental Health Podcast. This week we meet 18 year old Indigo Rogers. She has already published her first book The Indigo Psalms: Volume One—a raw and beautiful collection of personal psalms written since she was 14. In this episode, Dave Quak sits down with Indigo to talk about faith, mental health, worship, and what it means to bring your whole self before God.We explore:How writing psalms became Indigo’s way of processing emotions and worshipping GodWhy lament and honesty matter just as much as joy in the Christian lifeWhat her generation is facing with anxiety, depression, and the search for hopeHow she sees teaching, worship, and writing as ways to live out her callingThe transforming presence of God in everyday struggles, from loneliness to long-term frustrationsWhether you’re a young person navigating faith, a parent wanting insight into Gen Z spirituality, or someone carrying mental health battles of your own, Indigo’s story and words will encourage you.👉 Buy The Indigo Psalms: Volume One on Amazon or through major online bookstores. If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

This is Sunburnt Souls, the Christian Mental Health Podcast. Host Dave Quak welcomes back Tomas Heligr-Pyke...Tom gets real about navigating hallucinations at work, recognising what’s real, and how prayer and gratitude ground his mental health and faith.We unpack why films like Shutter Island and A Beautiful Mind resonate, how to handle paranoia and “hypothetical catastrophes,” the rhythm of running a business while carrying a serious mental illness, and the choice to stay open about diagnoses despite stigma. Tom shares practical faith habits that actually help in anxious moments, plus the gratitude list that keeps him steady. We close with a simple, hopeful prayer.If you or someone you love is walking with schizophrenia, bipolar, anxiety or depression — this conversation offers empathy, practical handles, and Christ-centred hope.Listen, share, and leave a review to help more Aussies find faith-informed mental health support.CreditsHost: Dave QuakGuest: Tomas Heligr-PykeShow: Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcastCall-to-actionIf this helped you, share it with a mate and leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps more people find hope.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Sunburnt Souls is a Christian Mental Health Podcast. Today, we find out what’s it really like to navigate Christian singleness in your 20s and 30s—while guarding your mental health and staying true to your faith? In this candid conversation, Dom and Sara join Dave to talk dating with purpose, resisting the pressure to “settle,” building real community, and cultivating what Dom calls “mental stamina” for the waiting seasons.They unpack awkward church moments, red flags on dating apps, the temptation to fix things in your own strength (hello, Abraham and Hagar), and the freedom and Kingdom opportunity that often come with singleness. The episode closes with a short prayer for listeners who feel alone, discouraged, or stuck.Perfect for: single Christians, pastors and leaders who want to serve singles better, and anyone curious about the intersection of faith, relationships, and wellbeing.What We CoverThe reality of being single, professional women of faith in today’s churches“Dating with purpose” vs ticking a Christian box on appsThe pull to compromise and why it doesn’t satisfy long-termCultivating “mental stamina” and guarding your inner dialogueFreedom, availability, and Kingdom opportunity in singleness (1 Cor 7)When church culture gets awkward—and how to keep things low-pressureFriendship, community, and multi-generational church as a refugeTrusting God without forcing outcomes (Genesis 16)If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

This is Sunburnt Souls, the Christian Mental Health Podcast. In Part 2, Jess and Dave Quak continue their discussion... They explore living out a ministry calling, navigating gender-based expectations, and the joys of pastoral work, emphasising authentic leadership and empowering the next generation.Key MomentsIntroduction and Recap (00:00:00 - 00:01:47): Dave recaps Part 1, focusing on women’s callings and mental health, and asks what it’s like to live out one’s calling post-hurdles.Living Out the Calling (00:01:47 - 00:04:36): Maddy is grateful to minister as dreamed, despite some churches excluding her due to gender. Jess appreciates not justifying her presence but struggles with tokenism.Navigating Tokenism (00:04:36 - 00:09:08): Jess addresses being invited for her gender, not qualifications, and fights cynicism. Maddy advocates for broader inclusion to ensure women’s voices are valued.Empowering the Next Generation (00:14:42 - 00:18:45): Maddy notes Project 11’s young leaders respect her, and hopes for more women to lead authentically, despite few solo female senior pastors.Authentic Leadership Styles (00:18:45 - 00:23:56): Maddy’s collaborative style, shaped by early challenges, fosters team ownership. Jess values freedom to lead authentically, serving unique communities.Women in the Church (00:23:56 - 00:28:30): Maddy cites historical female-majority church attendance, with shifts among Gen Z males. Dave and Jess push for creative, diverse church structures.Joys of Pastoral Ministry (00:28:30 - 00:33:17): Maddy loves empowering young women and seeing community transformation. Jess finds joy in people’s moments of revelation.Closing Prayer (00:33:17 - 00:35:17): Maddy prays for diverse callings, grace in tough questions, and alignment with God’s purpose.Key InsightsGratitude Amid Challenges: Fulfilling a calling is joyful, but gender-based barriers like tokenism persist.Authentic Leadership: Women should lead as GodIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In the first of a two-part series on SUNBURNT SOULS, Jess and Dave Quak are joined by Maddy Mandall to discuss the unique challenges and rewards of women in church leadership. Following last week's episode on women in leadership, Maddy shares her journey as a female pastor, her experiences with burnout, and her role in mentoring emerging leaders. The conversation explores the intersection of faith, mental health, and navigating structural barriers in ministry.Key MomentsIntroduction (00:00:00 - 00:00:36): Jess introduces the show and the two-part series, noting the positive response to last week's discussion. Dave welcomes Maddy Mandell, praising her insights from the previous episode.Maddy’s Kay Warren Interview (00:00:36 - 00:02:44): Maddy recounts her impromptu interview with Kay Warren at the Baptist World Congress in Brisbane, highlighting Kay’s humility and Dave’s lighthearted jealousy.Maddy’s Role (00:02:44 - 00:03:26): Maddy works with Queensland State Baptists in leadership development, supporting pastors and emerging leaders across the state.Women in Ministry Challenges (00:03:26 - 00:11:19): Maddy shares her calling to ministry as a young woman and the "not yet" resistance she faced, contrasted with opportunities given to male peers. Jess and Maddy discuss the emotional toll of theological debates about women in leadership and mentoring young women facing similar issues.Project 11 and Mental Health (00:11:19 - 00:14:52): Maddy describes her work with Project 11, a leadership program with a balanced gender ratio, and the mental health challenges young women face, including theological scrutiny and power dynamics.Structural Barriers (00:14:52 - 00:19:58): Jess and Maddy reflect on overcoming imposter syndrome and biases as young women in ministry, emphasizing the importance of grounding their identity in faith.Burnout and Recovery (00:19:58 - 00:24:37): Maddy opens up about her burnout experience, driven by If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this episode of Sunburnt Souls, the Christian mental health podcast founded by pastor Dave Quak (who lives with bipolar disorder), Dave sits down with his wife Pastor Jess Quak, to talk candidly about the realities of being a woman in church leadership — and the unique mental health challenges that come with it.From their early ministry years juggling Bible college, youth ministry, and financial strain, to navigating decades of denominational debates over women in ministry, Jess shares her story with honesty and grace. She unpacks how she has faced pressure, criticism, and double standards while also finding joy, calling, and resilience in God’s faithfulness.Together, Dave and Jess explore:Why women in ministry often face different mental health challenges than menThe cost of titles, recognition, and denominational barriersStories of resilience, criticism, and moments of deep discouragementHow spiritual practices anchor Jess when leadership gets toughEncouragement for young women stepping into ministry todayJess’s wisdom, humility, and humour remind us that leadership is not about building our own kingdom but being faithful to the one who called us.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this episode of Sunburnt Souls, the Christian mental health podcast founded by pastor Dave Quak (who lives with bipolar disorder), Dave welcomes Joel A'Bell, former Hillsong Global Director and current Oceania Regional Leader for Convoy of Hope. They dive into the mental and emotional toll of high-capacity Christian leadership and how to maintain integrity and spiritual wellbeing through major life and ministry transitions. What happens when you transition from leading thousands at Hillsong to championing a global mission of hope? Joel shares his remarkable story, focusing on the often-unseen emotional weight of ministry and the importance of spiritual intimacy to prevent burnout.Together, Dave and Joel explore: How a forgotten exemption note at 14 sparked his faith journey; the unseen emotional weight of megachurch leadership at Hillsong; the key to avoiding ministry burnout and keeping Jesus at the center; finding harmony with his wife Julia in co-leading ministry; and his current work with Convoy of Hope, empowering communities through disaster relief and children’s feeding programs. Whether you’re leading a church, a business, or your family, Joel’s story offers practical insights and encouragement to keep Jesus at the center and stay faithful through every season. This conversation will strengthen your faith and emotional wellbeing! Listen now and find hope for your leadership journey!Whether you’re leading a church, a business, or your family, Joel’s story offers practical insights and encouragement to keep Jesus at the center and stay faithful through every season. Perfect for anyone seeking purpose with integrity!Listen now and be inspired!🌍 Support Convoy of Hope: convoyofhope.org📧 Connect with us: sunburntsouls.com💬 Share your thoughts: What’s one lesson from Joel’s journey that hit home for you?#SunburntSouls #JoelABell #ConvoyOfHope #Hillsong #Faith #Leadership #Humanitarian #ChristianPodcIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this vital episode of Sunburnt Souls, a Christian mental health podcast, founder Dave Quak (pastor living with bipolar disorder) sits down with pastor, church planter, and creative Ralph Mayhew to explore the raw realities of depression, anxiety, and ministry burnout in the Christian world. Ralph shares his deeply personal journey—struggling with mental health while attending Bible college and serving as a lead pastor—and how he found true joy and identity in Jesus through it all.You'll hear honest, practical discussion on:The challenge of preaching God's truth when your life doesn't feel congruent with what you proclaim.Why reframing your identity in Christ is the key to overcoming the stigma of anxiety and depression.The role of medication, self-care, and Sabbath in a pastor's life (and why it's not a lack of faith).How to build spiritual disciplines (like Lectio 365) that work with the messiness of life.Finding strength to keep going, one rung of the ladder at a time, and redefining what a "win" looks like.This conversation is essential for anyone in Christian leadership, anyone struggling with depression, or those seeking faith-based, practical hope for their mental wellbeing.Links & Resources:Ralph Mayhew Photography on YouTubeVillage Church Burleigh HeadsIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

 In this second part of Ash Morrison’s story on Sunburnt Souls- A Christian Mental Health Podcast, host Dave Quak explores Ash’s journey of rebuilding her life as a Christian woman after divorce. Ash shares the challenges of navigating divorce, parenting three young children (including one with disabilities), and unexpectedly meeting and marrying Zac, a non-Christian at the time. She discusses wrestling with guilt, biblical interpretations of divorce, and the transformative power of God’s grace in her unconventional path to remarriage. The episode highlights the importance of seeking God’s guidance, the messiness of life, and finding blessings in brokenness.Key Takeaways:Ash planned to stay single for years post-divorce to focus on healing and parenting, but God had other plans, leading her to meet Zac just three months after her separation.Wrestling with biblical teachings on divorce and remarriage, Ash initially felt labeled as an “adulteress” but learned God’s grace covers brokenness.Ash and Zac prioritised their children’s needs in blending their families, allowing the kids to guide the pace of their relationship.Despite unconventional choices (like moving in together before marriage), Ash and Zac made deliberate decisions to honor their faith, such as abstaining from intimacy until marriage.Ash’s story underscores that God can bless and redeem even imperfect choices, offering hope to those navigating divorce and remarriage.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this powerful episode of the Sunburnt Souls Christian Mental Health Podcast, host Pastor Dave Quak sits down with Monica Cook, a Sydney-based Christian sexologist from Life to the Full, to talk about faith, intimacy, and healing in a world still bound by stigma and silence.Together they explore how Christian mental health and sexuality intertwine—why guilt, anxiety, and depression so often hide in the shadows of church life—and how God calls every believer to wholeness in both body and soul.Monica shares how her work helps people untangle trauma, shame, and disconnection, guiding them toward faith-based resources and practical healing. From the poetry of Song of Songs to the theology of being known and loved, this conversation reminds us that sex and spirituality were never meant to be enemies.“God created sex—it’s good, it’s sacred, and it’s worth doing well.” — Monica CookIf you’ve ever wrestled with guilt, confusion, or silence around sex and faith, this episode will help you see God’s design for intimacy through a lens of grace and renewal.Episode ThemesBreaking the stigma around sex and mental health in the ChurchUnderstanding the links between anxiety, depression, and intimacyHow theology and psychology meet in Christian sexologyThe redemptive message of Song of SongsHealing shame and finding God’s presence in painIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Host: Dave QuakIn this solo episode of Sunburnt Souls, a Christian Mental Health Podcast, Dave Quak explores the role of AI chatbots, like Wysa, in supporting mental wellbeing, particularly from a Christian perspective. He examines their benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations, drawing on Christian thinkers to provide a balanced view on integrating AI into faith and mental health practices.Key Points:Introduction to AI Chatbots:AI chatbots mimic conversations with therapists or friends, using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques.In Australia, long waitlists for mental health services (months for psychologists, up to 8 months for psychiatrists) make AI a potential stopgap for immediate support.Testing Wysa:Dave tests Wysa, an anonymous chatbot, with hypothetical scenarios (e.g., feeling angry after a fight).Wysa responds empathetically, asking reflective questions like, “What triggered this anger?” or “How could you communicate better?”It handles absurd inputs (e.g., “I have skiddies and I’m embarrassed”) without judgment but flags harmful statements appropriately.Pros of AI Chatbots:24/7 Support: Accessible anytime, ideal for late-night struggles.Judgment-Free: Safe space to share without fear of personal criticism.CBT-Based: Offers evidence-based tools for anxiety, depression, and stress.Privacy: Anonymous and convenient, fostering emotional awareness.Limitations:No Spiritual Depth: Lacks Christian revelation or Holy Spirit guidance.No Human Empathy: Mimics but doesn’t feel emotions.Risk of Over-Reliance: Could become a crutch, diverting users from seeking God.Christian Perspectives on AI:Akos Balogh (The Gospel Coalition): Advocates cautious engagement; AI is useful but ethically risky, reflecting humanIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

It's a powerful lie: that a mental health diagnosis means you can only receive support. On Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast, Dave and Jess Quak flip the script! They share honest, real-life insights into how individuals, including those with depression or anxiety, can actively contribute to their family's healing and well-being.Tune in as they unpack five key areas of reciprocal support:Spiritual Leadership: Showing up authentically, regardless of your mental state.Household Help: Breaking the cycle of self-focus with practical tasks.Financial Management: Building transparency and stability (especially with challenges like bipolar disorder).Practical Support: Dividing tasks based on capacity and strengths.Personal Growth: The most profound gift you can give your loved ones.Stop carrying the guilt and learn to practice collaboration rooted in faith. Your struggle doesn't disqualify your purpose—it deepens it!If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

This week on Sunburnt Souls, Dave Quak is back with another raw, real, and at times ridiculous episode—recorded while on family holiday, but packed with depth. He reflects on how short radio soundbites have unexpectedly spread across 14+ stations in Australia, sharing stories that connect faith and mental health in bite-sized doses.In this episode, Dave takes us on a journey that includes:Singing the Home and Away theme in Thailand—and what it taught him about embarrassment and boldnessBipolar mania and making dumb financial decisions (again)Learning to recover quickly after stuffing up—why guilt is not godly, but grace isA fresh take on Charles Spurgeon’s cigars, melancholia, and unapologetic ministryA biblical look at Elijah’s mental crash after a mountaintop miracleAnd yes… why bacon proves that beauty often follows the stinkiest seasonsThis one’s a blend of humour, honesty, and healing. If you’ve ever felt disqualified by your struggles, this is your reminder that God uses broken people—on purpose.🎧 Also featuring: a never-before-aired soundbite on bacon and mental health that might just become your new favourite analogy.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Dave Quak shares five real-life stories pulled from our one-minute soundbites airing on 14 Christian radio stations around Australia. From impulsively buying a house during a manic episode to watching a pelican steal a puppy, these moments are strange, hilarious, painful, and deeply human.Topics we cover:🏠 Mental illness & impulse control (bipolar mania and regret)🐭 Carrying invisible burdens (the mouse on Mum’s shoulder)🧠 Responding to criticism and trolls with God’s truth🐦 Coping with grief and unexpected loss (yes, the pelican is real)🧘‍♂️ Learning to be still in a noisy worldPlus, Dave and his family are broadcasting from Bali — honouring a dear friend, Tony, who recently went to be with Jesus, and finding space to rest, dive, and reflect.💡 Be encouraged that you’re not alone in your mess. There’s grace. There’s healing. And there’s hope.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

On Sunburnt Souls, a Christian mental health podcast, host Dave Quak speaks with Lydia Farbach in Postpartum Psychosis: Faith, Fear, and Finding Jesus in the Breakdown — a raw, faith-filled conversation about one of the most terrifying mental health crises a new mother can face.Lydia courageously opens up about her battle with postpartum psychosis and the haunting fear of inheriting her mother’s schizoaffective disorder. From the chaos of losing touch with reality to crying out to God from the back of an ambulance, Lydia shares how grace broke through the confusion, grounding her faith in the middle of madness.Together, they explore what the Church can do better to support parents in crisis and how Jesus meets us when the mind unravels. This episode is a lifeline for anyone touched by psychosis, severe anxiety, or mania, offering both practical understanding and spiritual hope.You’ll hear:What inherited mental illness looks like within families of faithLydia’s real experience of psychosis and recoveryHow to find God’s presence in fear, confusion, and shameSimple, compassionate ways churches can support mental health crisesIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this raw and refreshing episode of Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast, Pastor Dave Quak sits down with Christian Sexologist Monica Cook for a candid conversation about faith, sex, and intimacy through the lens of the sacred wisdom found in the Song of Songs.Monica and Dave unpack the crucial topic of how theology and sexology can and should work together. They directly challenge the pervasive silence and shame surrounding Christian intimacy and explore how God’s original design for desire is intended to be both holy and healing.Honest Talk on Faith, Desire, and HealingThis episode provides grace, wisdom, and real talk for all believers by exploring:How a healthy theology of sex contributes to overall mental and relational well-being.Practical ways to challenge Christian silence and foster open communication about intimacy.The biblical truth that God-given desire is meant for pleasure and connection, not shame.Whether you’re married, single, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers grace and wisdom to navigate the intersection of your faith and sexuality.Contact Monica for more info or a consultation Check out her Facebook If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

On Sunburnt Souls, a Christian mental health podcast, host Dave Quak sits down with Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, the woman at the centre of one of Australia’s most shocking miscarriages of justice. Wrongfully convicted of her baby daughter’s murder, Lindy endured years of imprisonment, grief, and public scrutiny — yet never abandoned her faith in God.In this deeply moving conversation, Lindy reflects on trusting God through unimaginable pain, forgiving those who wronged her, and discovering peace that can’t be taken away. Her story of grace, resilience, and faith under fire is a testament to God’s sustaining presence in the darkest places.You’ll hear:What it means to hold onto faith when everything falls apartHow forgiveness brings freedom after injusticeThe role of hope and Scripture during years in prisonWhat healing looks like after public shame and traumaA story of courage and redemption you’ll never forget — and a reminder that even in the depths of suffering, God’s faithfulness never fails.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this powerful and redemptive episode of Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast, Pastor Dave Quak sits down with Pastor Noriko Reid, one of the senior leaders at Hope Church, Gold Coast, to share her raw and honest journey through intense anxiety, depression, and into freedom through Jesus Christ.Noriko’s story is a living testament to God’s faithfulness and the power of the Christian community. She transparently shares how:God’s Word and the Holy Spirit were instrumental in her healing process.The support of a faith-filled community provided the stability and love she needed to overcome isolation.She experienced deliverance that led to full restoration and the repurposing of her past pain.Today, Pastor Noriko leads with deep compassion, offering relentless hope to others still in the fight. Her testimony is not just about survival—it’s a powerful beacon demonstrating God’s power to redeem, restore, and use your pain for His purpose.This episode is more than an interview—it’s a lifeline. Whether you’re currently in the valley or walking alongside someone who is, Noriko Reid’s testimony will bring encouragement, faith, and practical hope.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

Today, we sits down with Elle McBride— a leading voice in trauma recovery and one of the first 150 globally trained Certified Havening Techniques Practitioners and Trainers. Elle introduces us to Neuro Self-Care — a practical, neuroscience-based approach that helps people manage stress, regulate emotions, and build resilience by tapping into the brain’s natural healing abilities. Blending Havening, cutting-edge techniques, and a faith-filled, laid-back coaching style, Elle offers “therapy without the therapy.” No endless digging into the past — just powerful, spirit-led transformation. Whether you're ready for quick change or simply curious about new ways to care for your mental well-being, this episode offers a fresh and hope-filled path forward.Check out Elle's Website Instagram or facebookIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this episode of Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast, Pastor Dave Quak sits down with Esther Thomas, Clinical Naturopath and owner of Olea Health, to explore the powerful, holistic connection between gut health and mental well-being.With her extensive background in natural and holistic healthcare, Esther dives into the science of how imbalances in digestive health can directly contribute to common mental health struggles like stress, anxiety, poor sleep, and fatigue. She shares practical, evidence-based insights on how addressing these physical imbalances is a vital and often overlooked step in supporting mental wellness.Nurturing Your Gut for Mental ClarityPassionate about natural healing, Esther highlights effective, natural methods to improve gut function that can have profound, measurable effects on your mental health.Tune in for a deeper understanding of how nurturing your gut is a key part of your overall well-being, transforming both your body and mind in a way that allows you to more fully live out your faith.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this powerful episode, Dave Quak sits down with Scott Cunningham, a self-proclaimed late bloomer who met Jesus at the age of 60. Scott shares his raw, redemptive journey through addiction, brokenness, recovery, and the relentless love of God.💥 The Turning Point at 60Scott opens up about:His early years of pain, self-sabotage, and addictionThe turning point that led him to cry out to JesusWhy healing doesn’t always come quickly — but it comes deeply💬 Real Talk on Faith, Recovery, and GraceWhat it's like to come to faith later in lifeThe battle between shame and surrenderHow grace chased him down — and changed everything🎧 Who This Episode Is ForAnyone who feels “too far gone” for faithPeople walking with loved ones in addiction or late-stage recoveryListeners who love honest, hope-filled stories of redemptionIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this inspiring episode of Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast, Pastor Dave Quak sits down with Andrew ‘Robbo’ Robinson—the beloved Christian radio host and long-time voice of the Rise & Shine breakfast show on Vision Christian Radio. For over 17 years, Robbo has brought joy, encouragement, and truth to the airwaves, all while openly navigating life on the Autism Spectrum (ASD).Robbo opens up about the unique challenges and surprising strengths that come with being neurodivergent in a highly visible public ministry role. From overcoming early struggles with ASD and ADHD to embracing his God-given design, Robbo shares how faith, resilience, and purpose have fueled his journey.Neurodiversity, Calling, and Christian HopeYou'll hear personal insights on:How Robbo discovered his calling in Christian radio despite the social challenges of neurodiversity.The real impact of autism on his mental health, ministry communication, and daily life.Why he believes God uses every voice—especially those that feel unexpected or different—to share Christian hope.The power of finding strength in weakness through the lens of faith.This episode is a powerful celebration of calling, courage, and Christian mental health through the lens of neurodiversity.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this second part of the conversation, Dr Ashleigh unpacks how true transformation isn’t just about changing thoughts, but about healing the nervous system, renewing the mind, and living in alignment with who God created us to be.If you're a leader, a parent, or simply someone longing to live from a place of peace rather than pressure—this episode is packed with wisdom you won't want to miss.🔗 Connect with Ash and Re-MIND: www.re-mind.institute 📩 Email: [email protected] 📱 Instagram: @re.mind.institute 👤 Follow Ashleigh: @dr.ashleighmorelandIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In this episode, Dave sits down with Dr Ashleigh Moreland to explore the intersection of science, spirit, and the renewing of the mind. If you’ve ever felt stuck in survival mode or like you’re just getting through the day, this conversation is for you.Ash brings both personal insight and professional expertise to the table, helping us understand how the brain, body, and spirit all work together—and how transformation begins when we align our thinking with God’s truth.This is part one of a two-part conversation, so be sure to catch the next episode for more tools and wisdom from Ashleigh.🔗 Connect with Ash and Re-MIND: www.re-mind.institute 📩 Email: [email protected] 📱 Instagram: @re.mind.institute https://www.instagram.com/dr.ashleighmoreland/ If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

This week on Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast, Pastor Dave Quak sits down with Rev Dr Tania Harris—pastor, theologian, and founder of God Conversations—to explore the crucial skill of recognizing and responding to God’s voice when your thoughts feel chaotic.This conversation provides essential clarity for anyone who has ever asked, “Was that really you, Lord?” or wrestled with doubt. We tackle the core issues of discerning God's voice while managing mental health challenges:Why God still speaks today—and the various ways He communicates.The practical difference between hearing God and just hearing your own intrusive or anxious thoughts.How to test what you're hearing (without spiraling into crippling self-doubt).The vital role mental health plays in the conversation, and why having a condition like anxiety or bipolar disorder does not disqualify you from hearing God.Is it still safe to say "God told me..."?This episode will help you grow in confidence, clarity, and trust in your relationship with God, even when your mind feels messy.🎧 Resources from Rev Dr Tania HarrisTheologian | Pastor | Founder of God ConversationsIf you loved the episode and want to dig deeper into hearing God’s voice, check out these trusted resources from Rev Dr Tania Harris.🌐 Official Websitewww.godconversations.com This is the hub for all things Tania Harris — teachings, courses, blogs, and updates on where she’s speaking next.📘 BooksGod Conversations: Stories of How God Speaks and What Happens When He Does A powerful read that unpacks real-life stories of people hearing from God — and the impact it made. 👉 Buy it here🎓 Courses & TrainingHearinIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...

In Part 2 of our Walk for a Bloke special, Dave, Zac, Jared, and Brad go deeper. If Part 1 was about the event, Part 2 is about the men behind it — their stories, their struggles, and the hope they’re clinging to.We talk about what it’s like to feel completely lost as a man, how faith intersects with mental illness, and why these chat might be uncomfortable… but they’re also vital.If you’ve ever thought “I’m not okay,” or you’ve watched a mate fall apart and not known what to say — this is the episode to lean into.In this episode: ☑️ Real testimonies from the boys ☑️ Faith when it feels distant ☑️ Why blokes need brotherhood ☑️ Encouragement for those walking through the valley ☑️ What we’re praying for as we walk to Cooly📞 Crisis Support (24/7)💙 Beyond Blue For mental health support, counselling, and resources. Call: 1300 22 4636 Visit: www.beyondblue.org.au Chat Online: Available 24/7💛 Lifeline Australia If you're in crisis, feeling overwhelmed or thinking about suicide. Call: 13 11 14 Visit: www.lifeline.org.au Text or chat online also available.🧡 Suicide Call Back Service Phone and online counselling for people affected by suicide. Call: 1300 659 467 Visit: www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au🧍‍♂️ Men-Specific HelpSpoke to a Bloke Support, events, and awareness for men’s mental health. Visit: www.spoketoabloke.orgMensLine Australia For men dealing with family, mental health, or relationship issues. Call: 1300 78 99 78 Visit: www.mensline.org.au🙏 Faith-Based SupportIf Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp 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 HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...