Filthy Hope | Faith. No Filter.

Filthy Hope
  • 0.0 (0)
  • 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. When trust is abused: trauma, truth & holding your ground

    3H AGO

    When trust is abused: trauma, truth & holding your ground

    CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and grooming. Listener discretion is advised. If you need support, you can contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (Australia, 24/7), Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380, or Lifeline on 13 11 14. What does justice look like when trauma never fully leaves you? 0:00 – Intro: Faith. No filter. 0:27 – Court Case: two years leading up to trial 0:51 – Trigger warning: grooming & sexual assault 2:47 – Sexual assault and CPTSD 4:40 – Post-traumatic growth 7:03 – Assault is not just penetration 13:13 – Every detail proven in court 16:40 – The brutality of cross-examination 27:03 – The insidious process of grooming 57:13 – How trauma affected Sarah’s faith In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries continue their conversation with Sarah Rose, who shares her experience of being groomed and sexually assaulted by a trusted professional, and the long, retraumatising process of seeking justice through the courts. Sarah speaks candidly about complex post-traumatic stress disorder, the reality of cross-examination, the insidious nature of grooming, and the courage it takes to tell the truth when your memory is fragmented by trauma. This episode explores the tension between justice and healing, the importance of believing survivors, and the kind of faith that does not explain away suffering but meets us in it. It is an honest and powerful conversation about responsibility, resilience, and finding hope even after profound betrayal. #FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #SexualAssaultAwareness #GroomingAwareness #TraumaAndFaith #CPTSD #JusticeAndHealing #BelieveSurvivors #HopeInTheDark #FaithNoFilter

    49 min
  2. Philip Yancey scandal: what grace really means

    6D AGO

    Philip Yancey scandal: what grace really means

    What’s so amazing about grace when a pillar of faith falls from a great height? 0:00 – Intro: When Leaders Fall from Grace 2:10 – The Scandal of Philip Yancey 4:30 – My Personal Connection to ‘What’s So Amazing About Grace’ 6:50 – The Irony of Experiencing Shame While Reading About Grace 9:15 – Cancel Culture vs. The Need for Truth  11:40 – The Addiction Crisis in Church Leadership 14:05 – Missing the Mark: Redefining Sin as "Missing the Mark" 16:20 – Metanoia: The Radical Shift of Mind and Heart 18:45 – Facing the Truth of Our Own Greed  21:10 – Hope in the Brokenness In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries reflect on the recent scandal surrounding Christian author Philip Yancey and his eight-year affair, wrestling with what grace really means when a leader falls. Rather than offering judgment, they explore the irony of a writer known for What’s So Amazing About Grace? becoming the subject of public condemnation, and ask deeper questions about sin, repentance, accountability, and redemption. This episode examines cancel culture, the danger of power and entitlement in ministry, and the truth that we are all broken vessels in need of ongoing transformation. It is an honest conversation about failure, forgiveness, and the reminder that our hope is never in a person, but in God. #FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #GraceAndRedemption #PhilipYancey #ChurchScandal #FaithAndFailure #CancelCulture #Repentance #HopeInGod #FaithNoFilter

    30 min
  3. The power of welcome: belonging in divided times

    MAR 2

    The power of welcome: belonging in divided times

    What does real welcome look like in an increasingly tribal world? 1:00 – Intro: Faith. No filter. 1:42 – Talk about welcome and inclusion 2:53 – Tribalism in the church and corporate world 7:24 – Positive psychology and the PERMA model 8:57 – First Nations Welcome to Country 12:14 – Fear, hatred, and the loss of neighborliness 13:07 – Hostility and tribalism in sport and politics 17:24 – Disneyland: a welcome on steroids 30:25 – The three phases of welcome In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries explore the power of welcome in a world increasingly marked by fear, hostility, and tribalism. From corporate culture and positive psychology to First Nations Welcome to Country and even Disneyland, they reflect on what it means to move beyond surface-level friendliness toward genuine inclusion. This episode unpacks the difference between multicultural and cross-cultural communities, the danger of losing neighborliness, and the three phases of true welcome: being greeted warmly, being seen for who you are, and being invited to contribute. It is an honest and hopeful conversation about how the Church and society might rediscover belonging in a divided world.#FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #WelcomeAndInclusion #ChurchAndCulture #Belonging #PositivePsychology #CrossCultural #FaithInAction #HopeForSociety #FaithNoFilter

    37 min
  4. Turning pain into purpose: hope & healing after abuse

    FEB 23

    Turning pain into purpose: hope & healing after abuse

    CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of child sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised. If you need support, counselling is available at 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (Australia, 24/7) or Lifeline on 13 11 14. Can hope and healing really grow out of abuse and brokenness? 0:00 – Intro: Ness’ story 0:41 – Content warning: child abuse 1:46 – Abused at six: life shifted 2:26 – Dissociative Identity Disorder as survival 4:48 – Trauma-informed humour and brokenness 5:28 – From victim to advocate 12:30 – Coping through alcohol and distraction 17:16 – Alcohol, sex, and trauma 21:02 – Affair and rock bottom 24:10 – The firecracker moment In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries share Ness’s personal story of childhood abuse, trauma, and the long journey toward healing. Ness reflects on the ways she coped with deep brokenness, including dissociation, anxiety, alcohol, and shame, and how therapy, faith, and a powerful encounter with God began to reshape her life and identity. This episode explores what it means to move from victim to survivor to advocate, and how hope can emerge even after profound harm. It is an honest, courageous conversation about trauma, post-traumatic growth, and the calling to bring what was hidden in darkness into the light for the sake of others. #FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #ChildAbuseAwareness #TraumaAndFaith #HopeAndHealing #SurvivorStories #PostTraumaticGrowth #FaithWithoutFilter #FromVictimToAdvocate

    35 min
  5. Finding God in despair: a life shaped by shame & hope

    FEB 16

    Finding God in despair: a life shaped by shame & hope

    CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised. If you need support, Lifeline is available in Australia 24/7 on 13 11 14. What if the parts of your story marked by shame are not the end? 0:00 – Intro: Jon’s Story 0:44 – Unpacking the word “bastard” 1:50 – The filth and hope in being adopted 3:11 – Content warning: suicidality and the lowest point 3:50 – The lawn mower epiphany 5:49 – The premature surprise 8:35 – Any excuse to skip church 11:37 – A hint at ministry 15:40 – The gardener’s prophecy and the elder’s question 20:56 – “Why be normal?” Pushing boundaries in faith In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries turn the lens inward as Jon shares his own life story, shaped by adoption, shame, despair, and an unexpected encounter with God. Jon reflects on growing up adopted, grappling with identity and suicidality, and the quiet moment that shifted everything, discovering he could not be snatched from God’s hands. This episode explores how faith can take root in the most ordinary and painful moments, and how God can bring hope, calling, and purpose from stories marked by shame. It is a raw and honest reflection on despair, resilience, and the long journey of becoming who God is already calling you to be. #FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #FindingGod #FaithAndMentalHealth #AdoptionStory #HopeAfterShame #Testimony #MessyFaith #ChurchAndLife

    27 min
  6. Holy friction: how an "A-hole" became my ministry partner

    FEB 10

    Holy friction: how an "A-hole" became my ministry partner

    What happens when God puts you in ministry with someone you can’t stand? 0:00 – Intro: Welcome back to Filthy Hope 0:28 – Ness thought Jon was a jerk 1:00 – The hard question 2:28 – Secretly hoping for rejection 4:46 – Reunited at Ravenswood 5:33 – Learning in school chaplaincy 7:16 –  Creative approach to ministry 8:56 – The homeless man chapel service 15:30 - A series of unfortunate events 17:43 – Reframing life experience as gifts In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries reflect on the unlikely beginning of their friendship and ministry partnership. From first impressions, bruised egos, and uncomfortable questions, to shared risk-taking, creative ministry, and deep trust, they explore how God can use conflict, honesty, and “holy friction” to shape both calling and character. This episode looks at how the parts of our stories we would rather avoid, whether tension, failure, or messy humanity, can become the very ground where meaningful ministry and real friendship are formed. #FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndFriendship #MinistryLife #ChurchStories #MessyFaith #HolyFriction #HopeInTheFilth

    29 min
  7. The future of the Church: facing what’s not working

    FEB 2

    The future of the Church: facing what’s not working

    Has the Church lost its way, or is it finding a new one?0:00 – Intro: Is the church broken?0:43 – Welcome to Filthy Hope1:06 – Introducing Rev Charissa Suli1:42 – What hope is there for the church?4:37 – Progress: multiculturalism and First Nations Peoples5:49 – Hope in the priesthood of all believers9:00 – Hope in everyday people11:51 – Listening to young people15:10 – The hope of Rev Suli’s Presidency17:11 – Weaving Christ’s loveIn this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries continue their conversation with Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, to wrestle honestly with the future of the Church. Together they explore what is not working, where there is real hope, and why the Church may be doing better than we think. The conversation touches on multiculturalism, First Nations Peoples, women in leadership, the priesthood of all believers, listening to young people, and the need to cut away fear and toxicity while weaving Christ’s love across cultures and communities.This episode offers a grounded, hopeful vision of a Church shaped by people, not buildings, and invites listeners to imagine what might be possible when faith communities are brave enough to face decline honestly and nurture what is already growing.#FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #FutureOfTheChurch #FaithAndCulture #UnitingChurch #ChurchLeadership #WomenInMinistry #HopeAndFaith #ChurchReform

    24 min
  8. President of the Uniting Church: your past is your power

    JAN 20

    President of the Uniting Church: your past is your power

    What if the parts of your story you were told to hide, are the very things God wants to use? In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries are joined by Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, for an honest conversation about leadership, faith, and the power of embracing your whole story. Charissa shares her journey from becoming a teen mum to being ordained and elected as President, reflecting on shame, judgment, cultural expectations, and the moments the church fell short of its own values. Together, they explore how God can work through what feels taboo or disqualifying, and how faith, family, and calling can transform pain into purpose. This episode is a powerful reminder that your past does not disqualify you, it can become the very source of your strength. #FilthyHope #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndLeadership #UnitingChurch #TeenMum #ChurchAndCulture #ShameAndGrace #WomenInMinistry #Testimony #Hope

    33 min
See All (220)

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.

Information

You Might Also Like