Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast

Dave Quak
  • 5.0 (76)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Sunburnt Souls is a Christian mental health podcast exploring faith, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and emotional resilience through honest conversations and biblical hope. Hosted by Pastor Dave Quak, an Aussie pastor living with bipolar disorder, the podcast explores what it really looks like to follow Jesus through the highs, lows, and everything in between. Each episode shares powerful stories, biblical encouragement, and practical tools for navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, and mental wellness as a follower of Christ. Whether you’re battling darkness, searching for joy, or trying to make sense of faith and mental illness, you’re not alone. Sunburnt Souls is a safe, unfiltered space for honest conversations about Christian mental health. 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. 🌐 Learn more at sunburntsouls.com

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Teen Mental Health in Church: What We’re Missing

    Church can be the last place people admit they’re struggling. I share a new live session from a Brisbane church where we talk honestly about faith and mental health, from the quiet pain adults carry to the rising pressure crushing many teens. Along the way I tell a story about meeting a man with Tourette syndrome and what his experience reveals about loneliness, stigma, and how quickly a community can pull away when life gets messy. I also open up about living with bipolar disorder and why we have to stop treating mental illness like a discipleship defect. We wouldn’t tell someone their diabetes proves they lack faith, yet anxiety and depression often get that treatment. We work through a simple, practical theology of suffering and then get specific about what churches can change: reducing social pressure, creating spaces to step out and breathe, and training people to check in with care instead of judgment. If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health. 🙏 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 🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health A 28-day, FREE journey to help you: Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate 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 Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul.

    27 min

  2. 15 MAR

    Top 10 Questions Christians Ask Me About Faith and Mental Health

    The questions people ask about mental health and Christianity are usually the ones we're all thinking about anyway. So I’m answering them plainly, with zero filter or desire to be eloquent.  We start with why Sunburnt Souls exists and why I believe the church still has a few stigmas to stomp on. Mental ill health isn’t proof you’re evil or being punished by God. It’s an ailment, and the right response is love, kindness, and encouragement. I also share where I’m at with bipolar right now, why “mostly recovered” isn’t the goal, and why the way forward can feel unbelievably boring. Sleep on time. Eat well. Move your body. Stick with your doctor’s advice. The flywheel matters, and it builds momentum over time. I also talk about pushback, family boundaries, and the guests who have impacted me most, including stories that reveal how pressure can warp what relief feels like. Then we get into the heavy stuff: what I do when someone reaches out with a confronting situation like suicidal ideation, why I always point people to a GP or emergency care, and why debriefing tough conversations is part of staying healthy. I finish with some behind-the-scenes honesty about publishing decisions, finances, and why word of mouth is how this podcast grows. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find faith-based mental health support. 🙏 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 🧠 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 Apple Podcasts Listen & Rate on Spotify Sunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul. ...

    23 min

  3. 8 MAR

    Alcohol, Bipolar and Drinking in the Dark

    What if the habit that takes the edge off is the very thing fraying your mind, your marriage, and your mornings? I open up about how “just a couple of wines” became a quiet loop of mediocrity that amplified bipolar swings, dulled my medication, and bled into the people I love most.  Together we unpack the messy intersection of faith, freedom, and stewardship. I talk through the moment I drew a line with alcohol, how Australian drinking culture made that choice harder, and why love sometimes means choosing limits. We get practical about mood stabilisers, antipsychotics, and the very real risks of mixing meds with alcohol. Then we widen the lens: caffeine overload, sugar spikes, and refined carbs that masquerade as comfort yet push a vulnerable brain toward anxiety, depression, or rebound mania. If you’ve ever bargained with “just one,” this conversation offers a different bargain: trade the temporary hush for a brain you can trust tomorrow. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a review with one habit you’re retiring this month. Let’s build lives that our future selves—and our families—can count on. Check out some amazing resources by Julie Fast  🙏 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 🧠 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 Apple Podcasts Listen & Rate on Spotify Sunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul. ...

    23 min

  4. 1 MAR

    Predictable Coffee, Your Mind, and Your Brain with Dr. Ash Moreland

    What if your brain isn’t the problem—your code is? We sit down with Dr. Ash Morland to unpack the eye-opening difference between brain and mind, and why that single shift can break the ceiling on therapy, productivity, and peace. Starting with something as simple as coffee, we trace how predictability creates safety signals for the nervous system, then step into a live somatic exercise that turns theory into felt experience. You’ll hear how a single thought can tense a body, how love can melt that tension in seconds, and why those sensations are not defects to crush but messages to decode. Check our Dr Ash here  Ash takes us deeper into the “fear files” that run beneath chronic anxiety—rejection, not-enoughness, judgment, failure—and shows how they quietly script survival behaviors: picking fights to create distance, hiding in busyness, or shrinking to stay acceptable. We talk dopamine, oxytocin, and neuroplasticity in plain language, then challenge a common habit in self-help: trying to heal relational wounds in isolation. Ash explains why groups often rewire faster than solo work, and when targeted one-on-one can resolve single-event trauma quickly. It’s science with a soul, grounded in lived stories and practical steps. Follow re-MIND here Faith threads through everything we explore. Ash shares how she ditched a flawless keynote after hearing “burn it down,” letting go of performance to partner with God. That surrender reframed anxiety as an invitation back to identity and alignment. If you’ve felt stuck at the limits of talk therapy, worn out by perfection, or unsure how to “rewire,” this conversation offers a clear map: learn your body’s signals, change the inputs your mind feeds your brain, practice co-regulation in safe community, and begin the brave work of unbecoming who you had to be so you can become who you are. Book a free FREE 15 Min Consult If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health. 🙏 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 🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health A 28-day, FREE journey to help you: Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate 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 Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul.

    35 min

  5. 22 FEB

    Owning The Damage: Mental Illness, Faith, And Making It Right

    Sometimes the relapse is sudden and loud—the kind of week where anxiety returns out of nowhere and dysphoric mania lights every fuse. I share the mess honestly: the regret of words that cut, the weight of hurting someone I love, and the hard road to repair that doesn’t hide behind “it wasn’t me.” If you’ve ever lashed out while unwell—or been cut by someone who was—this conversation lays out a practical, compassionate path through responsibility, forgiveness, and rebuilding safety. We start with ownership without defensiveness, because trust can’t grow on excuses. Then we map a four-part apology you can actually use: acknowledge the impact, take responsibility, present concrete changes, and invite boundaries the other person controls. From scheduling a med review to journaling before reacting, from time-outs to quieter rooms, we focus on actions that lower threat and prove you’re serious. We talk about asking for forgiveness as a request, not a demand—never weaponizing faith—and why patience in the waiting shapes you into a safer person. Repair doesn’t come from grand gestures but from steady rhythms. I walk through short-term and long-term practices that rebuild predictability: calm tone, no sarcasm, no swearing, fewer hot-button topics, better sleep, and simple check-ins. Consistency over intensity becomes the rule. And for the ones carrying pain without an apology, we explore the brave work of forgiving those who “do not know what they do,” while holding firm lines around safety and seeking help from counselors, psychologists, and pastors when needed. Underneath it all is a clear framework: mental illness can distort perception, but it does not erase responsibility. That truth doesn’t shame; it guides. If your goal is real reconciliation—with others, with yourself, and with God—these steps create space for healing without denying the storm you’re walking through. Listen, reflect, and then tell us: which step will you practice this week? Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find hope in the hard places. 🙏 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 🧠 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 Apple Podcasts Listen & Rate on Spotify Sunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul. ...

    19 min

  6. 15 FEB

    Moses And The Weight Of Leadership

    Ever felt called and crushed at the same time? We dig into the life of Moses to explore how real leadership stretches the soul, from a childhood of unlikely rescue to the desert where calling and capacity collide. We talk about what happens when influence grows faster than your systems, why “what you’re doing is not good” can be the most freeing feedback you’ll ever receive, and how honest prayer becomes a lifeline when the crowd starts grumbling. Together we trace Moses’ formation: a man torn between palace privilege and a wounded people, learning identity in the wilderness before being sent back into the fire. We unpack the paradox all leaders face—impact that inspires and pressure that frays your mind—and we name the moments that bruise the deepest: public criticism, private betrayal, and even family turning against you. From Jethro’s practical wisdom to the seventy elders sharing the weight, we show how sustainable leadership is built on limits, team, and trust. We also call out the quiet saboteur in many of us: accumulated anger. Moses’ missteps warn us that resentment leaks into choices unless we process pain with God and set clear boundaries. You’ll leave with five grounded practices for your mental health as a leader: accept your limits, say hard things to God, watch for accumulated anger, share the weight, and keep leading after disappointment. Moses never stepped into the promised land, yet he blessed the people and raised Joshua. That kind of legacy reframes success away from applause and toward alignment with God’s voice. If you’re a pastor, teacher, manager, or parent carrying others through hard terrain, this conversation offers language for your struggle and courage for your next step. If this encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a leader who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What practice will you try this week? If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health. 🙏 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 🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health A 28-day, FREE journey to help you: Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate 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 Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul.

    30 min

  7. 8 FEB

    Please Don’t Build A Tent, Peter

    What if your strongest flaws are the very channels God uses to shape your calling? We sit down to explore the life of Simon Peter, a disciple who rushes first, speaks loudest, and still becomes a steady pillar for the early church. From campfire denial to Spirit-charged preaching, Peter’s story gives us a front-row seat to how grace matures personality into purpose. We start with the messy human side: impulse that opens doors, words that arrive before wisdom, and courage that flickers when pressure hits. Then we move to the turning point—restoration by the risen Jesus and the seismic difference the Holy Spirit makes at Pentecost. Peter doesn’t become a different person; he becomes the same person, anchored. That clarity lets him tell hard truths with a tender heart, even to the crowd that once shouted for crucifixion. This conversation also names the parts we usually skip. Peter later slips back into fear and favoritism until Paul calls him out. Instead of tarnishing his legacy, that moment teaches why leaders need accountability and why formation is ongoing. We weave in 1 Peter 4 to reframe suffering: fiery trials aren’t proof you’re off track; they’re often the forge of real joy. Along the way we unpack the transfiguration, the discipline of listening before acting, and the beauty of a church built on diverse temperaments—bold Peters, reflective Johns, and detail-strong Matthews all pulling in the same direction. If you need fresh courage to own your mistakes, receive forgiveness, and take the next faithful step, this one’s for you. Hit play, lean into the story, and let hope rise where fear used to sit. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find these conversations. If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health. 🙏 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 🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health A 28-day, FREE journey to help you: Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate 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 Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul.

    30 min

  8. 1 FEB

    Running From God Warps Your Sense of Justice (Jonah)

    A runaway prophet, a repenting city, and a God who refuses to be less merciful than He is—Jonah’s story hits closer to home than we like to admit. We open the book not to argue about a fish, but to wrestle with why a man who knows God’s heart would sprint in the opposite direction. The answer uncovers a tangle of anger, fear, and the ache for justice that feels righteous until grace walks in. We explore the prophetic context that made Jonah’s assignment to Nineveh so provocative, why the storm at sea mirrors his inner turmoil, and how a ship full of pagan sailors end up modeling reverence. Inside the fish, time slows into a hard reset where despair begins to thaw.  Then comes the shock: a five-word sermon that topples a city’s pride. Nineveh repents; heaven relents. Instead of celebration, Jonah fumes, quoting Exodus 34 as a complaint. He knows God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love—and that is exactly what he cannot stomach for people he views as dangerous and cruel. The plant and the worm expose how narrow our compassion can be when comfort sets the boundaries. We talk candidly about mental health, mood swings, and why volatility doesn’t disqualify a person from being used by God.  If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health. 🙏 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 🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health A 28-day, FREE journey to help you: Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate 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 Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul.

    31 min
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About

Sunburnt Souls is a Christian mental health podcast exploring faith, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and emotional resilience through honest conversations and biblical hope. Hosted by Pastor Dave Quak, an Aussie pastor living with bipolar disorder, the podcast explores what it really looks like to follow Jesus through the highs, lows, and everything in between. Each episode shares powerful stories, biblical encouragement, and practical tools for navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, and mental wellness as a follower of Christ. Whether you’re battling darkness, searching for joy, or trying to make sense of faith and mental illness, you’re not alone. Sunburnt Souls is a safe, unfiltered space for honest conversations about Christian mental health. 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. 🌐 Learn more at sunburntsouls.com

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