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 Cover The Crash and the Aftermath – A broken neck, a wheelchair, and life in ICU.Fa...

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 Cover 1. 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 mi...

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—t...

In this solo episode, 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 anx...

At just 18 years old, Indigo Rogers 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 of Sunburnt Souls, host 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 ...

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 diagnos...

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), a...

In Part 2 of SUNBURNT SOULS, Jess and Dave Quak continue their discussion with Maddy Mandall on women in church leadership. They explore living out a ministry calling, navigating gender-based expectations, and the joys of pastoral work, emphasizing authentic leadership and empowering the next generation. Key Moments Introduction 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.Li...

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 Moments Introduction (00:00:...

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 he...

Unlike our usual Sunburnt Souls episodes that dive deep into mental health, this conversation takes a different turn, touching lightly on mental health while delivering an engaging and inspiring focus on faith, leadership, and purpose with Joel A’Bell’s incredible journey. What happens when you transition from leading thousands at Hillsong to championing a global mission of hope? In this heartfelt Sunburnt Souls episode, Joel A'Bell, Oceania Regional Leader for Convoy of Hope, joins Dave Quak...

In this fresh episode of Sunburnt Souls, Dave Quak sits down with pastor, photographer, and YouTube creator Ralph Mayhew to talk about the raw realities of following Jesus while navigating mental health struggles. Ralph shares his personal journey with depression, the lessons learned in both life and ministry, and how he’s found joy in Christ through it all. You’ll hear stories about marriage in the midst of mental illness, the importance of honest conversations in church leadership, and why ...

In this second part of Ash Morrison’s story on Sunburnt Souls, 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 re...

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 so...

Host: Dave Quak Overview: In this solo episode of Sunburnt Souls, 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 b...

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.Househol...

📝 Podcast Show Notes Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, we follow one woman’s raw and redemptive journey through decades of mental illness, childhood trauma, sexual abuse, postpartum depression, stage 3 brain cancer, epilepsy, and a massive stroke. From the depths of despair to the heights of hope, she shares how Jesus carried her through the darkest valleys—and how a 75-mile bike ride became a lifeline of purpose and faith. What You’ll Hear: Growing up in a chaotic, abusive home as ...

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 boldnessBipo...

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...

Postpartum Psychosis is one of the most frightening mental health crises a new mother can face. In this raw and powerful episode of Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast, Lydia Farbach opens up about her journey through postpartum psychosis and the deep-seated fear of inheriting schizoaffective disorder from her mother. Lydia shares the chaos of losing grip on reality, the spiritual confusion in the mania, and the immense power of holding onto Jesus through a mental breakdown. Thi...