In this episode of Sunburnt Souls, 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 men
• The cost of titles, recognition, and denominational barriers
• Stories of resilience, criticism, and moments of deep discouragement
• How spiritual practices anchor Jess when leadership gets tough
• Encouragement for young women stepping into ministry today

Jess’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.

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✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

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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 to share his remarkable story. From a life-changing moment at 14 to leading one of Australia’s largest churches, and now driving humanitarian efforts worldwide, Joel offers wisdom for anyone navigating life’s big transitions.

Joel opens up about:

• How a forgotten exemption note at 14 sparked his faith journey
• The unseen emotional weight of megachurch leadership at Hillsong
• Finding harmony with his wife Julia in co-leading ministry
• Why faithfulness to Jesus trumps fame or success
• 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. 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 #ChristianPodcast

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🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

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Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
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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 reframing your identity in light of the gospel matters more than ever. The two also dive into spiritual disciplines, the theology of mental health, and how hobbies like photography can become acts of worship.

Whether you’re a pastor, a creative, or someone walking through mental health challenges, this episode offers hope, honesty, and encouragement to keep going—one rung of the ladder at a time.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Ralph’s journey with depression shaped his pastoral ministry
• Why identity in Christ changes the way we talk about mental illness
• The importance of spiritual disciplines that work with your lifestyle
• How to spot early mental health triggers and take action
• The role hobbies and creativity play in spiritual growth
• Encouragement for those feeling “stuck at the bottom of the pit”

Links & Resources:

• Ralph Mayhew Photography on YouTube
• Village Church Burleigh Heads

CONNECT

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BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
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🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
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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 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.

CONNECT

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BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
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Summary: In this episode of Sunburnt Souls, host Dave Quak sits down with Ash Morrison to discuss the complexities of parenting a child with disabilities, blending two families through faith, and navigating personal challenges like perfectionism and childhood trauma. Ash shares her journey of raising five children, including her youngest, Archer, who has tuberous sclerosis complex, and how her faith and intentional gratitude practice have transformed her perspective. The episode explores themes of resilience, surrender, and finding God’s grace in life’s hardships.

Key Takeaways:

• Ash’s experience with parenting a child with tuberous sclerosis complex and intellectual impairments highlights the importance of surrendering control and trusting God.
• Blending a family of five children required grace, intentionality, and faith, with Ash emphasizing the seamless integration of her and her husband Zach’s children.
• A year-long gratitude practice helped Ash reframe her mindset, finding peace in small moments during challenging times, such as hospital stays with Archer.
• Ash’s journey from perfectionism and self-criticism to embracing God’s provision offers practical insights for parents struggling with mental well-being.
• Archer’s unfiltered faith and joy serve as a powerful testimony, inspiring his family and others.

CONNECT

Follow Sunburnt Souls for raw stories of faith, mental health, and hope:
🔗 Facebook | 🔗 YouTube 🔗 Instagram

BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
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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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Christian Perspectives on AI:
   • Akos Balogh (The Gospel Coalition): Advocates cautious engagement; AI is useful but ethically risky, reflecting human biases. Avoid outsourcing moral or spiritual decisions.
   • Dustin Ryan (Christ Over All): Sees AI as a tool for the Great Commission, aiding Bible translation and evangelism, but warns of biased outputs.
   • Kate Lucky: Notes AI’s formative influence, shaping thinking and expectations of instant spiritual growth. Stay anchored in Christ-centered practices.
   • Biblical View: Scripture emphasizes human roles (e.g., pa

CONNECT

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🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
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Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
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In this episode of Sunburnt Souls, host Dave Quak and his wife, Jess, dive into the vital topic of how individuals with mental health challenges can still be a source of support for their families. Focusing on faith, collaboration, and practical contributions, they explore five key areas—spiritual leadership, household help, financial management, practical support, and personal growth—where those with mental health struggles can foster family growth and bring light and joy.

CONNECT

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BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
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🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
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📝 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 the youngest of nine
• Battling depression as a child and teenager
• Finding hope through church, community, and movement
• Postpartum depression and the overwhelming pressure of motherhood
• A shocking brain cancer diagnosis and the mental spiral that followed
• How a charity bike ride gave her a reason to live
• Seizures, brain surgery, stroke—and the brutal road to recovery
• The healing power of adaptive sports, community, and worship
• A transparent look at PTSD, bipolar depression, and psychiatric care
• Why she still believes in God’s redemption after everything

Why This Story Matters:
This isn’t a neat Christian testimony. It’s messy, real, and full of both breakdowns and breakthroughs. If you’ve battled mental illness, faced overwhelming circumstances, or doubted God in your suffering—this episode is for you.

CONNECT

Follow Sunburnt Souls for raw stories of faith, mental health, and hope:
🔗 Facebook | 🔗 YouTube 🔗 Instagram

BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
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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 boldness
• Bipolar mania and making dumb financial decisions (again)
• Learning to recover quickly after stuffing up—why guilt is not godly, but grace is
• A fresh take on Charles Spurgeon’s cigars, melancholia, and unapologetic ministry
• A biblical look at Elijah’s mental crash after a mountaintop miracle
• And yes… why bacon proves that beauty often follows the stinkiest seasons

This 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.

CONNECT

Follow Sunburnt Souls for raw stories of faith, mental health, and hope:
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BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
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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 world

Plus, 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.

CONNECT

Follow Sunburnt Souls for raw stories of faith, mental health, and hope:
🔗 Facebook | 🔗 YouTube 🔗 Instagram

BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
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PARTNERS

🎙️ Sunburnt Souls is proudly produced by Pretty Podcasts