Sunburnt Souls | Faith, Mental Health & Mayhem

Sunburnt Souls – Where Faith and Mental Health Collide

Today, we welcome Bronwen, a woman whose life reflects the grace and kindness of Jesus through every trial and triumph. As an author, motivational speaker, charity director, social enterprise founder, mum, and professional counsellor, Bronwen’s journey is a testament to God’s faithfulness in every season.

Navigating the Wilderness with Jesus

For the past few years, Bronwen found herself in a wilderness season, marked by pain, uncertainty, and solitude. She shares how, despite feeling lost, Jesus never left her side, carrying her through the darkest moments and teaching her to trust in His presence.

Embracing the Second Bloom: A Season of Renewal

Transitioning from the wilderness to renewal, Bronwen discovered that her season of struggle was a necessary preparation for growth. Now stepping into a new chapter filled with purpose and anticipation, she reflects on how Jesus restores, renews, and leads us into our next calling.

Lessons Learned and Words of Encouragement

Bronwen shares the invaluable lessons Jesus taught her, reminding us that:

• God is always present, even in the silence.
• Wilderness seasons are not wasted—they prepare us for new beginnings.
• Healing and growth come through surrendering to Jesus' grace.

Looking Ahead with Faith

With her future deeply rooted in faith, Bronwen embraces what lies ahead, trusting that Jesus will continue to guide, provide, and open doors in His perfect timing.

Listen Now: Hope for Every Season

Bronwen’s story is a powerful reminder that Jesus walks with us through every high and low, leading us into restoration, renewal, and purpose.

• Connect with Bronwen on Instagram
• Subscribe to Sunburnt Souls for more stories of faith, resilience, and hope.
• Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.

Sunburnt Souls Unhinged is here! 

Join Dave for a fun night of comedy, stories, raw conversations and much more. Come connect, laugh, and experience life, faith and mental health in a whole new way.  For more info and tickets, click here

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, FREE journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

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Sunburnt Souls: A Christian mental health podcast is committed to tackling uncomfortable truths with faith and honesty. In this raw and real conversation, founder Dave Quak sits down with expert Karl Faase to address one of the most unsettling realities in Christian communities—spiritual abuse within faith organisations.

When Leadership Fails: Reckoning with Spiritual Abuse How do influential organizations (like Mars Hill, Hillsong, and Willow Creek) handle the fallout of leadership failure? We dive into what happens when the institutions meant to guide and uplift instead become places of abuse, manipulation, and ethical breaches. This episode offers much-needed faith-based support for survivors of spiritual abuse.

The Need for Change in Faith and Authority This episode explores the complex landscape of faith, power, and accountability, addressing:

• The root causes of spiritual abuse and authoritarian leadership.
• The societal and personal impact of failed leadership on mental well-being.
• How the Church can move forward, ensuring transparency, accountability in Christian leadership, and genuine Christlike conduct.

Hope, Healing, and a Call to Reform With Karl’s extensive experience and insight, we discuss:

• Why systemic change is necessary to restore trust in spiritual leadership.
• How individuals and churches can heal from the wounds of abuse, providing a path toward healing in Christ.
• The role of ethical leadership in preventing future failures in Christian organisations.

Sunburnt Souls Unhinged is here! 

Join Dave for a fun night of comedy, stories, raw conversations and much more. Come connect, laugh, and experience life, faith and mental health in a whole new way.  For more info and tickets, click here

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, FREE journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

• Listen and Rate on ...

Sunburnt Souls: A Christian mental health podcast tackles real-life challenges with faith and honesty. In this deeply moving episode, we explore the intersection of faith and mental health through the story of Jon Owen, a man who traded a promising career for a life dedicated to serving the broken and forgotten.

Radical Hospitality: Opening Doors and Changing Lives Jon and his wife, Lisa, made a radical decision—to open their home to those struggling with addiction, homelessness, and the aftermath of life’s hardships. Their home became a powerful example of Christian community, offering love, dignity, and a sense of belonging to those society often overlooks.

From Family Home to Leading Wayside Chapel Jon’s journey of serving the most vulnerable didn’t stop there. Today, he is the Pastor and CEO of Sydney’s Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross, continuing his mission to bring hope, kindness, and love to those in need. His story is a powerful reminder that small acts of kindness are essential for community mental health and transformation.

Faith in Action: A Life of Radical Hospitality Jon’s life is an example of what happens when we commit to radical Christian hospitality and say ‘yes’ to Jesus—no matter the cost. His faith has led him into messy, beautiful, and life-changing relationships, showing that true Christianity and mental health ministry is found in serving the least of these.

Listen Now: Be Inspired to Love Boldly Jon Owen’s story challenges us to live with open hands and open hearts, making space for those in need. Tune in for powerful faith-based support and a testament to radical love.

CONNECT Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — the Christian Mental Health Podcast that shares real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com. Explore our full suite of Christian mental health podcasts, devotionals, and online courses created to help you grow in faith and emotional wellbeing.

Sunburnt Souls Unhinged is here! 

Join Dave for a fun night of comedy, stories, raw conversations and much more. Come connect, laugh, and experience life, faith and mental health in a whole new way.  For more info and tickets, click here

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, FREE journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

• Listen and Rate on ...

Sunburnt Souls: A Christian mental health podcast tackles real-life challenges with faith and honesty. In this deeply personal episode, Jess Quak (wife of founder Dave Quak) shares her journey of supporting a spouse with mental illness. This pastoral guide offers a unique perspective on the challenges and victories of walking this road together, providing much-needed faith-based support for caregivers.

Getting to Know Jess: Navigating Mental Illness in Christian Marriage Jess shares her background and candid experiences, offering insight into the realities of navigating mental illness within marriage. She reflects on how her faith has been a foundation in facing both the struggles and the victories of living with a husband who has bipolar disorder.

The Bright Side: Finding Hope as a Caregiver Despite the challenges, Jess highlights the silver linings—moments of joy and abundant life. Through personal stories, she illustrates how faith has provided hope, strength, and a sense of purpose, even during difficult seasons, demonstrating Christian resilience for the supportive spouse.

The Darker Moments: Facing the Hardships Jess openly shares the struggles and emotional toll of supporting a spouse with mental illness, including the impact on her own faith and mental well-being. She speaks candidly about the exhaustion and moments of doubt that are common for Christian caregivers.

Leaning into God: Faith as a Source of Strength In times of hardship, faith became Jess’s anchor. She shares how she learned to lean into God’s presence, find comfort in Christian prayer, and surrender to His plan. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder that even in uncertainty, God is constant and faithful, offering support for those caring for the mentally ill.

Moving Forward Together: Strengthening Relationships Through Faith Jess offers practical encouragement for couples navigating mental illness. She shares insights on fostering communication, practicing empathy, and cultivating unity, ensuring that challenges don’t divide but strengthen the bond between partners. This is a must-listen for anyone seeking Christian marriage counseling resources on this topic.

Sunburnt Souls Unhinged is here! 

Join Dave for a fun night of comedy, stories, raw conversations and much more. Come connect, laugh, and experience life, faith and mental health in a whole new way.  For more info and tickets, click here

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, FREE journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

• Listen and Rate on ...

Sunburnt Souls: A Christian mental health podcast is dedicated to finding hope and providing faith-based support amidst life’s hardest challenges. In this powerful conversation, founder Dave Quak sits down with author and pastor Chris Cipollone of Down, Not Out to explore discovering hope in brokenness through a gospel identity.

Gospel Identity and Overcoming Adversity Chris introduces the concept of gospel identity and its crucial role in shaping how Christians navigate anxiety and depression. Understanding who we are in Christ provides spiritual strength and resilience, allowing us to face life’s trials with a renewed, faith-based perspective.

Theology of Mental Health and Spiritual Retreat We dive into the intersection of theology and mental health, highlighting the importance of addressing spiritual well-being alongside psychological care. Chris emphasizes how spiritual retreats and disciplines—such as Christian prayer, meditation, and mindfulness—are tools for maintaining mental wellness and finding healing in Christ during struggles.

The Crucial Role of Christian Community in Healing This episode stresses the crucial role of community in navigating difficult seasons. A strong, supportive Christian support system fosters compassion, understanding, and connection, creating safe space where those facing mental health challenges can find encouragement and hope.

Closing Thoughts: You Are Loved Chris shares the anchor message from his book: "You are loved." This truth, rooted in the gospel, reminds us that our struggles do not define us. Listen now for powerful faith-based mental health insights and be encouraged in your journey.

Sunburnt Souls Unhinged is here! 

Join Dave for a fun night of comedy, stories, raw conversations and much more. Come connect, laugh, and experience life, faith and mental health in a whole new way.  For more info and tickets, click here

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, FREE journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

• Listen and Rate on ...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions about trauma, violence, grief, and addiction, which may be distressing for some listeners. If you or someone you know needs support, please seek professional help.

Sunburnt Souls: A Christian mental health podcast is where faith and emotional well-being intersect. In this deeply moving episode, founder Dave Quak and guest Amelia Rees share a powerful conversation about faith, trauma, healing, and purpose. Amelia's journey from losing a close friend to murder to battling mental health struggles, opioid addiction, and physical pain is a testament to resilience, redemption, and finding hope in Jesus.

A Life Shattered: Dealing with Trauma and Grief Amelia recounts the tragic loss of her friend Tania, whose murder left her emotionally and psychologically shattered. She opens up about five years of internal turmoil, wrestling with grief, anger, and deep confusion, and how she eventually sought professional Christian mental health support.

Physical Pain & Addiction: Overcoming Another Battle Beyond her mental health challenges, Amelia endured multiple surgeries, leading to a profound struggle with opioid addiction that arose from prolonged pain medication use. This raw conversation highlights the unique battle of chronic pain, medication dependence, and faith.

Finding Hope in Faith: Strength in the Darkness Despite the overwhelming hardships, Amelia found comfort, strength, and healing in her faith journey. She shares how her relationship with Jesus became her anchor, guiding her through the darkest moments and providing faith-based support for her recovery.

Living a Life of Purpose: From Brokenness to Impact Today, Amelia is dedicated to helping others through various ventures, including Pretty Podcasts and her charity, Raising Dignity. Her life is a powerful reminder that no trauma is too great for healing in Christ, and no pain is beyond God’s redemption.

Sunburnt Souls Unhinged is here! 

Join Dave for a fun night of comedy, stories, raw conversations and much more. Come connect, laugh, and experience life, faith and mental health in a whole new way.  For more info and tickets, click here

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, FREE journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

• Listen and Rate on ...

Sunburnt Souls: A Christian mental health podcast tackles crippling anxiety, identity struggles, and finding healing in Christ with guest Zac Morrison.

If you’ve ever felt anxious, unworthy, or disconnected from God, Zac’s raw story is for you. He shares his battle with insecurity, the failure of anti-anxiety medication to bring peace, and the difficult journey of rebuilding his life after divorce.

Zac's profound, life-changing encounter with God's love and acceptance led him to discover a new identity in Christ. This powerful conversation proves that no one is too broken for healing, and that embracing your true identity as a beloved son of God brings freedom from self-doubt and fear.

Tune in for powerful faith-based support and a testament to the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Sunburnt Souls Unhinged is here! 

Join Dave for a fun night of comedy, stories, raw conversations and much more. Come connect, laugh, and experience life, faith and mental health in a whole new way.  For more info and tickets, click here

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, FREE journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

• Listen and Rate on ...

Sunburnt Souls: A Christian mental health podcast tackles heroin addiction, substance abuse, and the powerful journey to redemption with guest Anthony Top.

Anthony shares his raw, 13-year testimony of crime and addiction—a powerful story that shatters the stigma around substance abuse in the church. This conversation offers undeniable hope and a clear path for Christian recovery, reminding us that no one is too far gone for God's transforming love.

Discover Anthony's life-altering encounter with Jesus and the crucial role that residential rehab and Christian recovery played in his long-term healing. We discuss the painful reality of finding a false identity in harmful behaviors and the necessity of combining the power of the Holy Spirit with community for true mental health recovery.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, searching for a fresh start, or looking for faith-based support resources, this episode is essential listening.

Sunburnt Souls Unhinged is here! 

Join Dave for a fun night of comedy, stories, raw conversations and much more. Come connect, laugh, and experience life, faith and mental health in a whole new way.  For more info and tickets, click here

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, FREE journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

• Listen and Rate on ...

Sunburnt Souls: A Christian mental health podcast tackles ministry burnout and finding grace in this powerful episode with special guest Wes Jessop (Minister and former Christian Surfers Leader).

If you’ve ever struggled with spiritual exhaustion, high expectations, or mental health battles in ministry, this conversation is for you. Wes opens up about the hidden struggles of pastoral life, the weight of leadership, and his journey through the depths of burnout—even wrestling with resentment toward God after years of relentless service.

Wes’s story is a testament to the freedom found in surrender and the powerful revelation that redefined his identity in Christ. Tune in for a powerful reminder that you don't have to carry the burden of faith struggles and mental health alone. Sunburnt Souls provides faith-based support and honest conversations to help you embrace God’s restoring grace.

Sunburnt Souls Unhinged is here! 

Join Dave for a fun night of comedy, stories, raw conversations and much more. Come connect, laugh, and experience life, faith and mental health in a whole new way.  For more info and tickets, click here

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, FREE journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

• Listen and Rate on ...

Pastor with Bipolar Disorder: Dave Quak's Journey Through Faith and Mental Health

In this powerful episode of Sunburnt Souls, founder and pastor Dave Quak shares his personal journey living with bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety while leading a church. This is a rare, honest conversation about faith and mental health that most churches avoid.

Dave discusses:
- His bipolar type 2 diagnosis and what that means for his life and ministry
- The spiritual wrestling with faith and medication
- A two-year season of burnout and depression
- How his family navigated his mental health journey
- The breakthrough moment that changed everything
- Why he started Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast

As a pastor, husband, and father, Dave's story is one of resilience, vulnerability, and learning to embrace both faith and mental health as part of his calling. He challenges the stigma that mental illness disqualifies you from ministry or faith.

If you're searching for:
- Christian podcasts about mental health
- Best podcasts for pastoral burnout
- Faith-based conversations about bipolar disorder
- Christian mental health resources
- Honest Christian podcasts about depression and anxiety

This episode is for you.

Sunburnt Souls bridges the gap between faith and mental health, providing hope, wisdom, and practical support for Christians navigating mental illness. Join Dave as he shares his story of darkness, breakthrough, and discovering that God doesn't just love you—He likes you.

Listen to this episode if you're struggling with mental health and faith, or if you want to understand how to support someone who is.

Resources mentioned:
- Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast
- Stories and resources: https://www.sunburntsouls.com/stories
- Support Sunburnt Souls: https://www.sunburntsouls.com/donate

#ChristianMentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #PastoralBurnout #FaithAndMentalHealth #ChristianPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #DepressionAndAnxiety #ChristianLeadership

Sunburnt Souls Unhinged is here! 

Join Dave for a fun night of comedy, stories, raw conversations and much more. Come connect, laugh, and experience life, faith and mental health in a whole new way.  For more info and tickets, click here

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, FREE journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

• Listen and Rate on ...