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. 6 days ago

    The chaplain's daughter: from psychiatric ward to finding your purpose

    ⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses depression, panic attacks, hospitalisation and a disclosed low point involving suicidal thoughts. If any of this affects you, Lifeline is available 24/7 on 13 11 14. What does faith look like from a psych ward bed?0:00 – Trigger warning0:30 – Intro: Faith. No filter.1:26 – Meet Rachel. 25-year-old musician raised in the church4:18 – Diagnosed with ADHD at age 1117:27 – A senior school rejection breaks her spirit22:13 – A panic attack derails the stage she once loved24:37 – Hospitalised in a psych ward26:44 – Coming to terms with being asexual and queer31:26 – Finding her way back to music and worshipIn this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries sit down with Rachel Humphries (Jon's own daughter) for the first of a two-part conversation. Raised as a Chaplain’s kid inside the school he worked in, Rachel grew up believing music was her calling, until a private-school culture that prized "excellence" over commitment told her otherwise. What followed were years of depression and PTSD, a panic attack that took her off a stage she'd never feared, and a night she told her mum she wasn't "good”, words that landed her in a psych ward.Together they wrestle with the harder questions: how do you hold onto faith when the place that raised you also broke you? What does healing look like when you're queer, asexual and self-sacrificing to a fault? Rachel doesn't offer easy answers: she calls herself "a terrible Christian" in the same breath she talks about leading worship every week. But she's back on stage, fronting a band, and figuring out grace one gig, one Sunday, and one honest conversation at a time.#FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #GritWithGrace #FaithNoFilter #ChaplainsKid #PsychWard #MentalHealthAndFaith #AsexualAndChristian #QueerAndChristian #WorshipLeader

    The chaplain's daughter: from psychiatric ward to finding your purpose

  2. 13 July

    Heart attack survivor: a medical miracle in the face of death

    Is it medicine, prayer, or both that healed her heart? 0:00 – Intro: Faith. No filter.  1:14 – The moment her heart stopped 2:29 – On the brink of death, alone overseas 11:03 – A stunned cardiologist finds no trace of the tear 16:00 – A new diagnosis: left bundle branch block 23:03 – The night before surgery, her daughter feels called to pray 27:51 – Pre-op ECG comes back clean 32:35 – Why do some get healed while others don't? 37:28 – The deeper healing of the heart In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries dive into a story that bridges the gap between medical trauma and inexplicable grace. Ness recounts her terrifying history with SCAD heart attacks and the paralyzing PTSD that followed, leading her to become a "frequent flyer" at the emergency room. She shares the raw reality of living with a "permanent" heart blockage and the mental toll of a body that seems to be falling apart at every turn. The conversation takes a radical turn as Ness describes a moment of miraculous faith involving her daughter, a bold prayer, and a pre-surgery medical test that left doctors in disbelief. Together, Ness and John wrestle with the heavy questions: Why do some get healed while others don't? How do we find hope when our biology fails us? This isn't a sugar coated miracle story; it’s an unflinching look at how God moves in the mess of blue toes, ICU beds, and the "holy friction" of a life lived with no filter. #FilthyHope #FaithNoFilter #HeartHealing #FaithAndAnxiety #MedicalMiracle #GritWithGrace #ChristianPodcast #SCADSurvival #PrayerWorks #MessyFaith”

    Heart attack survivor: a medical miracle in the face of death

  3. 6 July

    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

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

  4. 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

    Embracing neurodiversity: can ADHD make you a better psychologist?

  5. 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

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

  6. 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

    Church vs Faith: finding the right home for your beliefs

  7. 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

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

  8. 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

    Beyond tolerance: navigating neurodiversity in the church
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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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