Filthy Hope | Faith. No Filter.

Filthy Hope
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The Podcast that talks Faith. No Filter. Got questions about God you don’t feel like you can ask in church? Drawn to Jesus, but disconnected from the polished, clean-cut side of religion? You’re not alone, and you’re in the right place. This is Filthy Hope. A safe space for conversations about Jesus, life, and the grey areas in-between. Join Rev. Ness, Rev. Jon, and our guests as we explore tough and taboo topics, like doubt, hardship, trauma, shame, and finding hope through it all.

  1. From survivor to psychologist: how do you treat child sex offences?

    4 days ago

    From survivor to psychologist: how do you treat child sex offences?

    CONTENT WARNING: this episode discusses child sexual abuse, paedophilia and the treatment of people who commit sexual offenses. If you need support, you can contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (Australia, 24/7) or Lifeline on 13 11 14. Can we truly offer grace to the "unforgivable"? 0:00 – Intro: Faith. No Filter. 1:38 – Reverend Dr. Peter Powell returns for part three 3:42 – Child sex offenders: identity vs. the offense 7:05 – The trauma of the taboo 9:55 – The "Venus flytrap" offender vs. the true pedophile 13:23 – Treating offenders through the story of the Prodigal Son 26:25 – Peter shares his own story as a survivor 30:24 – The paralyzed man: healed, but never "cured" 32:49 – Remorse versus repentance In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev. Ness and Rev. Jon engage in a gut-wrenching conversation with Rev. Dr. Peter Powell about his 35 years of work as a psychologist with sex offenders. Peter, a child sexual abuse survivor himself, pulls back the curtain on the psychological reality of abuse, focusing on attachment disorders and the difficult path of cognitive rehabilitation. He challenges the church and society to move beyond labels while maintaining the strictest boundaries of accountability. The discussion explores the messy intersection of theology and psychology, using the parables of the Prodigal Son and the story of the Paralyzed Man to illustrate that while divine forgiveness is absolute, the earthly consequences of abuse are often permanent. Ness, Jon and Peter sit with the discomfort of the unthinkable, and unpack the difference between remorse and repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation, and what it actually costs to keep choosing grace when the filth in front of you is this real. #FilthyHope #FaithNoFilter #ChristianPodcast #ForgivenessAndFaith #TraumaRecovery #ChildSafetyAdvocate #RestorativeJustice #FaithAndPsychology

    35 min
  2. Embracing neurodiversity: can ADHD make you a better psychologist?

    29 June

    Embracing neurodiversity: can ADHD make you a better psychologist?

    Can ADHD make you a better psychologist? 0:00 – Intro: Faith. No Filter.3:54 – The impossible and ridiculous mind7:52 – A workable plan for "madness"11:57 – Lessons from a neurodiverse life15:53 – Mentoring 35 ADHD kids at once19:53 – Deconstructing the "Problem Child"23:51 – The tough love of being average27:53 – Driving yourself mad with intensity31:51 – Theology of the ordinaryIn this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries continue their conversation with Reverend Dr. Peter Powell, minister, psychologist and late-diagnosed ADHD advocate. Peter reflects on what it means to own your neurodivergence rather than apologise for it, sharing the coping mechanisms, hard-won self-awareness and dark humour that have shaped both his life and his work with others.He unpacks his four-pronged approach to supporting neurodiverse kids, makes the case that it is always the adult's responsibility to create an environment where a child can thrive, and argues that punishing difference is not just ineffective, but actively harmful. He also explores what he calls the "theology of the ordinary," the idea that being unremarkable in some areas is precisely what allows you to serve others well.#FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #ADHD #Neurodiversity #ADHDParenting #DifferentNotBroken #FaithAndMentalHealth #FixTheSystem #ADHDAwareness #FaithNoFilter

    37 min
  3. Failing forward: ADHD, school trauma & the persistence of faith

    22 June

    Failing forward: ADHD, school trauma & the persistence of faith

    How does a kid who was expelled from kindergarten go on to complete a PHD? 0:00 – Intro: Faith. No Filter. 1:23 – Introducing Reverend Dr. Peter Powell 4:47 – Beaten with a lead hose in school 7:49 – ADHD medication: the lights on moment 10:48 –Amygdala & ADHD 13:52 – The power of the right mentor 16:42 – Failing every grade but finding a calling 21:46 – Followed a girl, found God 25:53 – Coma as a religious experience 29:44 – Why I suspended myself from communion In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries sit down with the legender Reverend Dr. Peter Powell, to discuss the brutal "grit" of a life spent navigating undiagnosed neurodiversity. Peter shares his harrowing experiences of physical abuse in the 1940s school system, becoming a violent child in response, before a long and winding road led him to multiple degrees, ordained ministry and a career in psychology. Peter reflects on what it meant to finally receive an ADHD diagnosis in his 40s, describing the moment medication began to work as "the lights went on." He speaks candidly about the role his wife Brenda played in mentoring him through life’s challenges, and the transformative power of one person who believes in you when the system has already written you off. #FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #ADHD #Neurodiversity #LateADHDDiagnosis #FaithAndMentalHealth #SchoolTrauma #Mentorship #UncleCharlieEffect #FaithNoFilter

    32 min
  4. Church vs Faith: finding the right home for your beliefs

    15 June

    Church vs Faith: finding the right home for your beliefs

    What happens when the church you love starts squashing your faith? 0:00 – Intro: Faith. No Filter. 4:20 – The badge of brokenness 8:40 – Burden of the listener 13:00 – Reading the forbidden book 17:20 – Rejecting an unkind God 21:40 – Why history points to Jesus 26:00 – Nuns, missionaries, and reality 30:20 – From pastoral carer to deacon 34:40 – A quiet calling 37:40 – A sneaking suspicion of hope In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries continue their deep dive with Sara, a woman with a "universe-sized brain" and a heart for the hurting. Sarah opens up about her "invisible badge", a natural gift for pastoral care that draws out the rawest stories from strangers everywhere she goes, from chemists and museums. They explore the tension of living with an intellectual faith while navigating a mental health journey that derailed her academic career. The conversation turns radically honest as Sara describes her decision to walk away from a church whose teachings clashed with her beliefs, including predestination, the exclusion of women from leadership and the church's stance on same-sex marriage. From rejecting a God who "only chooses some" to embracing an inclusive call to the diaconate, Sara reflects on what it means to choose faith not from certainty but from something more honest: the decision to keep believing even when the questions don't go away. #FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #ChurchHurt #PastoralCare #FaithDeconstruction #FaithAndDoubt #WomenInMinistry #SameSexMarriage #UnitingChurch #CalledToMinistry #FaithNoFilter

    41 min
  5. Mental health & faith: living with bipolar, OCD & hope

    8 June

    Mental health & faith: living with bipolar, OCD & hope

    CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of mental illness, OCD, bipolar disorder, suicidal ideation and hospitalisation. Listener discretion is advised. If you need support, Lifeline is available in Australia 24/7 on 13 11 14, or reach out to Uniting Heart and Soul for counselling support. What do you hold onto when your own mind is the hardest place to live? 0:00 – Intro: Faith. No Filter. 3:56 – Broken pieces and divine glue 7:08 – Growing up with mental illness 10:19 – Beyond the "neatness" OCD myth 14:55 – TW: self-harm & suicidal ideation 17:40 – A "grippy sock" vacation 20:57 – Bipolar & the dangerous charm of mania 23:38 – Relearning the definition of joy 25:43 – Bible-bashing myself 31:41 – The God who doesn't change In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries sit down with Sara Wienand, a museum educator, pastoral ministry leader and ancient languages scholar,  to explore the complex intersection of mental health and faith. Sarah shares her journey, from growing up with OCD, eventually leading to a psychiatric ward stay and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. She speaks candidly about the reality of suicidal ideation, self-harm, and the essential role of medication in her spiritual and daily life. With honesty and warmth, Sara describes what it is like to live inside a mind that never fully quiets: the exhausting logic of OCD, the seductive pull of hypomanic highs, and the devastating weight of depressive lows. And through it all, a God she describes as the glue holding her broken pieces together. #FilthyHope #MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #OCD #FaithAndMentalHealth #ChristianPodcast #MedicationAndFaith #GritWithGrace #HopeInTheDark #FaithNoFilter

    33 min
  6. Beyond tolerance: navigating neurodiversity in the church

    1 June

    Beyond tolerance: navigating neurodiversity in the church

    What happens when the "perfect student" is actually drowning?  0:00 – Trailer 0:42 – Intro: Faith. No Filter. 4:20 – Secret signs of ADHD in kids 8:36 – Beyond the bell curve: defining "normal" 12:44 – School “discipline” and neurodiversity 17:43 – Meds & masking: why girls fall under the radar 21:33 – Are churches safe for neurodiversity? 25:36 – Traditions of misjudgement 28:52 – Who is responsible for inclusion? 33:56 – “I see you” and the culture of true belonging 36:13 – Closing thoughts on hope and radical kindness In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries continue their conversation with Lynda Humphries, this time diving into neurodiversity: what it actually means, why ADHD has been so misunderstood, and what genuine inclusion looks like in schools, workplaces, and faith communities. Lynda shares her family’s personal journey with ADHD, unpacking why girls so often go undiagnosed, what educators can do differently, and why the church needs to move well beyond tolerance. They argue that the burden of adjustment shouldn't fall on those who are already struggling, but on those in the "easier space" to create a culture where everyone can truly belong.#FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #Neurodiversity #ADHD #InclusionMatters #ChurchAndNeurodiversity #ChurchCulture #FaithAndMentalHealth #BeyondTolerance #FaithNoFilter

    38 min
  7. Called to education: bullying, empathy & raising better humans

    25 May

    Called to education: bullying, empathy & raising better humans

    Can the kid who was bullied become the educator who changes the system? 0:00 – Trailer 0:42 – Intro: Faith. No Filter. 3:45 – Growing up resisting the call to teach 6:46 – The reality of Year 6 bullying 9:50 – Bullying, meanness, and fitting in 12:53 – Investigating the "why" of kids’ behavior 15:56 – Understanding the amygdala hijack 18:58 – Restorative discipline in the classroom 22:00 – Does faith fix everything? 25:02 – Not just a job, but a calling 28:04 – Masking depression and finding truth In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries sit down with Lynda Humphrey, an educator with over 30 years of experience and a Master's in wellbeing and leadership. Lynda opens up about being severely bullied in Year 6, an experience that made her view leadership as dangerous and caused her to avoid it for years, and how she eventually reclaimed her voice to lead with empathy. With warmth and candour, Lynda shares her philosophy on education: that discipline without understanding misses the point, that empathy is a skill that must be taught, and that the "why" behind a child's behaviour almost always tells a more important story than the behaviour itself. She also reflects on her own battle with clinical depression, and how faith, therapy, and practical tools helped her find her way through. #FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #Education #Bullying #EmpathyInEducation #FaithAndLeadership #MentalHealthAwareness #RestorativeJustice #TeacherLife #OvercomingBullying #FaithNoFilter

    28 min
  8. Future of the Church: action needed to prepare for tomorrow

    18 May

    Future of the Church: action needed to prepare for tomorrow

    What does the church need to let go of to survive the future? 0:00 – Trailer 0:42 – Intro: Faith. No Filter. 5:40 – The “gift” of declining numbers 9:26 – Dying to resurrect: a new church 12:54 – The danger of predictable faith 15:11 – The loudest noise is an empty church 19:30 – Honouring legacy without repeating it 22:54 – Building community outside the building 23:43 – Housing crisis: activating church assets 29:28 – Practical justice: more than just prayers 34:11 – The punk ethos: planting future churches In this episode of Filthy Hope, Ness and John sit down with Moderator-elect Reverend Pablo Nunez to discuss the radical shifts needed in the Uniting Church. Pablo argues that Australia is moving into a "pre-Christian" era, where traditional church structures no longer make sense to a generation with no memory of Sunday school. He challenges the church to move away from political entanglements and predictable comfort to become a prophetic voice once again. From turning empty church houses into youth rental communities to moving beyond religious platitudes when meeting physical needs, this conversation is an unflinching look at institutional survival vs. missional purpose. Pablo calls for a "punk ethos" that values authenticity and action over perfect notes and empty pews, urging the church to "go out swinging" in its pursuit of hope. #FilthyHope #FaithNoFilter #ChristianPodcast #UnitingChurch #ChurchGrowth #Justice #PropheticVoice #ModernFaith #HousingCrisis

    36 min
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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The Podcast that talks Faith. No Filter. Got questions about God you don’t feel like you can ask in church? Drawn to Jesus, but disconnected from the polished, clean-cut side of religion? You’re not alone, and you’re in the right place. This is Filthy Hope. A safe space for conversations about Jesus, life, and the grey areas in-between. Join Rev. Ness, Rev. Jon, and our guests as we explore tough and taboo topics, like doubt, hardship, trauma, shame, and finding hope through it all.

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