Finding Hope

Warning: This episode contains mentions of addiction, and also contains strong language which has been censored. Listener discretion is advised. 

Ten years ago, Danny Shannon’s life was bleak. From homelessness, heroin addiction, to time in prison – he was wandering in the darkness, hoping for a way back into the light. Today, Danny is a counselling graduate and entrepreneur of a brand new mental health and recovery app called Encapsulator. 

For more of Danny Shannon: 

• App - Encapsulator
• Website - dannyshannon.com.au
• Facebook - Danny Shannon
• Instagram - Danny Shannon

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If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warning: This episode contains mentions of abuse. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, in Australia - call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. That information is in the show notes. 

Jessica Clancy was born into a world of brokenness. From a young age, she was physically, sexually and spiritually abused by her parents. Despite this, Jessica's faith and determination to find her own family has led her to a successful and happy life, where she now works as a registered dietician, and is happily married with children.

Her debut book, The Quest For Family takes readers through her life journey from a place of brokenness to a place of spiritual renewal and enlightenment. 

For more of Jessica Clancy: 

• Book/Website - jessicaclancyperseveres.com
• Facebook - Jessica Clancy
• Instagram - Jessica Clancy
• YouTube Channel - Jessica Clancy Perseveres - YouTube

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If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sean is an Australian economist but has spent much of his career in Myanmar. Most recently, he was the economic advisor to Aung Sun Suu Kyi, the former leader of Myanmar. In 2021, following a military coup which overthrew Suu Kyi and the democratically elected government, Sean was arrested and illegally imprisoned by the junta. He wouldn’t see freedom for another 650 days. Sean has recently released a book about his plight called An Unlikely Prisoner.

If you haven’t listened to Part 1, I encourage you to go and listen to the previous episode first. 

Resources: 

• Book - An Unlikely Prisoner

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If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first episode of 2024, I am honoured to be speaking to Sean Turnell. Sean is an Australian economist but has spent much of his career in Myanmar. Most recently, he was the economic advisor to Aung Sun Suu Kyi, the former leader of Myanmar. In 2021, following a military coup which overthrew Suu Kyi and the democratically elected government, Sean was arrested and illegally imprisoned by the junta. He wouldn’t see freedom for another 650 days.

Resources: 

• Book - An Unlikely Prisoner

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If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the final episode of 2023, we’re doing something a little different. Throughout the last 62 episodes, we have heard some of the most incredible, heartbreaking, hopeful stories from people all over the world. How they have suffered, how they have found hope – and how God worked through it all.

Today, I’m talking to Dr Katherine Thompson - researcher, mental health social worker and author. Katherine's new book The Discipline of Suffering is an amalgamation of her personal and professional journeys with suffering and shares some ways to use our pain for good. 

Resources: 

• Book - The Discipline of Suffering
• Website - drkatherine.com.au

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If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Box is a Walkley Award-winning journalist and bestselling author. Dan’s most recent book The Man Who Wasn’t There tells the story of Zak Grieve – an Indigenous man who was sentenced to life in prison for a murder he wasn’t even there for. As Dan set out to prove Zak’s innocence, the resulting friendship and connection between Zak and Dan had a profound effect on them both.

Resources: 

• Book - The Man Who Wasn't There – Ultimo Press
• Updates on Zak Grieve's case: ABC News

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If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rev. Kiran Skariah, better known as PastorSKAR is an ordained pastor, who spent almost a decade on staff at his church in Sydney – running the youth ministry. Now, he’s taken that youth ministry global. Today, Pastor Skar spends his days online gaming, with a twist. He uses his platform to tell hundreds of thousands of teens and young adults from all over the world – about Jesus.  

Resources: 

• PastorSKAR - Twitch 
• PastorSKAR - Website
• PastorSKAR - YouTube
• PastorSKAR - Facebook
• PastorSKAR - Instagram

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If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chee Seng Fah is the senior pastor of Clayton Church of Christ in Melbourne. He was born in Malaysia and his family migrated to Australia in 1988 – and he has remained in the one church for the past 35 years. Incredible. Chee’s life has not been without pain and turmoil. He’s been through a stage 4 cancer diagnosis and more recently, the sudden death of his wife Wei Lyn from a brain hemorrhage.

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If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Susannah McFarlane is an award winning author, creator, publisher of over 80 books. She’s behind some of Australia’s most successful children’s series including Zac Power, Go Girls and EJ12 Girl Hero. Susannah is also the Head of Publishing at Bible Society Australia – and her own story of how she met Jesus, is a quite remarkable one, stemming from a reunion with her birth mother in adulthood.

Resources: 

• Susannah's website - susannahmcfarlane.com
• The Year I Met My Other Mother (Booktopia) - booktopia.com.au
• The Year I Met My Other Mother (Amazon) - amazon.com.au

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If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Safina Stewart is a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – a Wuthithi and Mabuiag Island woman. She also has profound Christian faith.  

As the Relationships and Storytelling Coordinator for Common Grace, Safina is passionate about justice, education and faith – and joined the podcast ahead of the Voice to Parliament referendum to share her experiences of being an Aboriginal Christian in modern Australia.

Resources: 

• Safina's art - artbysafina.com.au
• Common Grace Website - commongrace.org.au

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If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.