Keeping It Together

In this special episode, we're giving you an insight into the live workshops that we offer. Special guest Rev. Rachel Hudson, a recently retired vicar, shares the benefits of counselling and psychotherapy and its place in spirituality.

This extra episode featuring a conversation with Rev. Matt Tarling responds to the recent revelation from the former Archbishop, Justin Welby, that he has been receiving support for his mental health from a psychotherapist. Dave and Rev. Matt respond to this revelation with encouragement that those in ministry can faithfully follow this example.

In this episode, Dave & Rachel look at the story of Gideon through a different lens. What is Gideon feeling throughout the story? How does God meet Gideon's needs? How is the victory won?

In this episode, we welcome a special guest, Anne Hutchinson, to talk about the unique challenges experienced by families with neurodiversity or SEND needs. Anne is a headteacher in a specialist school for neurodiverse children and has incredible professional experience in this area.Churches welcome people of all walks of life, but those who experience neurodiversity can find engaging with the church extremely challenging. Anne has some really practical advice for churches and is a clear voice of hope amongst the challenges that so many experience.Check out more information about Keeping It Together on Dave's website, https://daveburketraining.com/keeping-it-together/We are funded by Henry Smith through Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre, more info can be found here: https://shepherdsdene.org/

Join this conversation with Dave & Rachel as they talk through the mental state of Paul as we can understand it in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians.Check out more information about Keeping It Together on Dave's website, https://daveburketraining.com/keeping-it-together/We are funded by Henry Smith through Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre, more info can be found here: https://shepherdsdene.org/

Psalms 120 through to 134 are known as the Psalms of Ascent. Dave and Rachel kick off the new year considering the journey that is in front of each of us as we walk with God and seek to be continually transformed by Him.

There's a lot of talk about trauma, but what really is it? And how can we navigate processing it for ourselves and with others? Dr Hilary joins Rachel to ask some basic questions about trauma and how we see it in scripture too.

Dave is joined by special guest, Stewart Blythe, to discuss the desperate cry of Psalm 40.Check out more information about Keeping It Together on Dave's website, https://daveburketraining.com/keeping-it-together/We are funded by Henry Smith through Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre, more info can be found here: https://shepherdsdene.org/

From two Psalms of David, Psalm 6 and 23, Dave and Rachel discuss the highs and lows of life in leadership.Check out more information about Keeping It Together on Dave's website, https://daveburketraining.com/keeping-it-together/We are funded by Henry Smith through Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre, more info can be found here: https://shepherdsdene.org/

Dr Hilary Johnson joins Rachel to talk about the fundamentals of low mood and depression.What is it? When does a low mood become something more? What's the role of the church in supporting people experiencing depression? Dr Hilary begins to help us unpack all this and more in this conversation.Check out more information about Keeping It Together on Dave's website, https://daveburketraining.com/keeping-it-together/We are funded by Henry Smith through Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre, more info can be found here: https://shepherdsdene.org/

Rachel and Dave explore the famous scene of Jacob's wrestling with a man he later identifies as God, and just how transformative our lonely battles can be when we push in instead of pulling away.Check out more information about Keeping It Together on Dave's website, https://daveburketraining.com/keeping-it-together/We are funded by Henry Smith through Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre, more info can be found here: https://shepherdsdene.org/

Dave is joined by special guest, Mark Meynell, an ordained priest, writer, and trainer, to talk about his own experience with mental health and explore the core issue of shame. Check out more information about Keeping It Together on Dave's website, https://daveburketraining.com/keeping-it-together/We are funded by Henry Smith through Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre, more info can be found here: https://shepherdsdene.org/

Was Jesus a stoic, just toughing it out to complete the task set before Him? Or does He lean on the Father through the Spirit, embracing His emotions? Dave and Rachel discuss the damage that stoicism can have on our lives.Check out more information about Keeping It Together on Dave's website, https://daveburketraining.com/keeping-it-together/We are funded by Henry Smith through Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre, more info can be found here: https://shepherdsdene.org/

In this episode, Dave & Rachel open with the question, Would you survive a zombie apocalypse? They dive into trauma, living in survival mode, and how to manage trauma in the first instance. Check out more information about Keeping It Together on Dave's website, https://daveburketraining.com/keeping-it-together/We are funded by Henry Smith through Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre, more info can be found here: https://shepherdsdene.org/

In this episode, Dave and Rachel dive into the latest data around mental health and ask why we're seeing such increases, from a Christian perspective.The data that we discuss can be found here:  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/26/young-people-england-common-mental-health-conditions-nhs-surveyCheck out more information about Keeping It Together on Dave's website, https://daveburketraining.com/keeping-it-together/We are funded by Henry Smith through Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre, more info can be found here: https://shepherdsdene.org/

In today's episode, we're going back to basics with Dr Hilary Johnson.Rachel and Dr Hilary spend some time unpacking the basics of anxiety. Scripture is full of instructions like "do not fear," and yet it remains such a challenge for many of us. Bringing her wealth of expertise as an experienced Clinical Psychiatrist working primarily with children, including those with intellectual disabilities, Dr Hilary talks with Rachel about anxiety and how we can consider its impact on our spiritual journey as well as our mental health.Keeping It Together began as a network of clergy and others in Christian ministry accessing quality input from professionals and supporting one another. This podcast is an extension of that ministry. The work of KIT is funded by the Henry Smith Charity through Shepherds Dene Retreat House, you can find out more at shepherdsdene.org

Have you ever wondered why some things in scripture feel like the opposite of Christianity? Rachel and Dave discuss some controversial Psalms and some personal stories too.Keeping It Together began as a network of clergy and others in Christian ministry accessing quality input from professionals and supporting one another. This podcast is an extension of that ministry. You can find more info at https://www.connectnetwork.uk/keeping-it-togetherThe work of KIT is funded by the Henry Smith Charity through Sunderland Connect.

Following an online workshop with sleep specialist Steve Smith, Dave and Rachel reflect on the content and some of the specific encouragements that he brought.Steve Smith is a qualified GP and sleep specialist, running workshops and seminars. You can access his resources at www.livefromrest.com/sleep-webinarKeeping It Together began as a network of clergy and others in Christian ministry accessing quality input from professionals and supporting one another, this podcast is an extension of that ministry. You can find more info at https://www.connectnetwork.uk/keeping-it-togetherThe work of KIT is funded by the Henry Smith Charity through Sunderland Connect.

We are joined by a special guest, Phil Conn, to talk about how the church can engage with homelessness, isolation, and trauma.Phil leads Hope Vineyard Church in Sunderland with his wife Vicky. Prior to working for the church he had a long career in the charity sector, latterly working for the Christian Homelessness organisation Oasis Community Housing. Phil has specialised in working with people who endure multiple disadvantage and overlapping challenges and has long held the belief that homelessness is most often a symptom and that to address the need we have to consider the cause. Phil is a firm advocate of trauma informed care and is passionate about the role of the local church as a solution to the problems that exist in the world around us, and crucially it's function in inviting encounter with Jesus who has come to bring us life to the full.Some resources available to you:homeless.org.uk - find out what’s already available in your areaoasiscommunityhousing.orghopeintoaction.org.uk greenpastures.org.ukKeeping It Together began as a network of clergy and others in Christian ministry accessing quality input from professionals and supporting one another, this podcast is an extension of that ministry.You can find more info at https://www.connectnetwork.uk/keeping-it-togetherThe work of KIT is funded by the Henry Smith Charity through Sunderland Connect.

During this episode Dave and Rachel consider Paul's relationship with mental health and gain some fantastic insight through his letter to the Romans.Keeping It Together began as a network of clergy and others in Christian ministry accessing quality input from professionals and supporting one another, this podcast is an extension of that ministry. You can find more info at https://www.connectnetwork.uk/keeping-it-togetherThe work of KIT is funded by the Henry Smith Charity through Sunderland Connect.

Episode 1 of the Keeping It Together Podcast has landed and Dave Burke brings some reflections on how we can identify with and access the kind of peace that Jesus offers.Keeping It Together began as a network of clergy and others in Christian ministry accessing quality input from professionals and supporting one another, this podcast is an extension of that ministry. You can find more info at https://www.connectnetwork.uk/keeping-it-togetherThe work of KIT is funded by the Henry Smith Charity through Sunderland Connect.