Resilient Souls

Stewart Bogle

Through real stories of everyday people, Resilient Souls explores the insights that help us face life’s challenges, find comfort and hope, and build resilient souls. For more resources and weekly reflections, visit resilientsouls.com.au

  1. #43 Don’t Give Up: Avriel Barnett on Choosing a Hard Road and Finding the Strength to Keep Going

    6h ago

    #43 Don’t Give Up: Avriel Barnett on Choosing a Hard Road and Finding the Strength to Keep Going

    When Avriel Barnett met a handsome young man as an 18-year-old trainee nurse in 1968, his life had already been changed forever. As a teenager, Glenn had suffered a high-level spinal injury that left him with permanent paralysis. What began as an unexpected love story became a long but rich journey of marriage, ministry, caregiving, disappointment, faith, quiet sacrifice and resilience. But this is not just Glenn’s story. It’s Avriel’s too. In this honest and quietly powerful conversation, Avriel reflects on the choice to walk a road she knew would not be easy, even if she could not have understood at the time just how much it would ask of her. She talks honestly about marrying Glenn, supporting him through decades of ministry and the daily realities of his physical challenges, facing the painful rejection of their hopes to adopt, carrying responsibilities most people never saw, and wrestling with God when life felt unfair. She also shares the moments of grace that sustained her. The faith that grew in the middle of hardship. The strength she found when God didn’t remove the difficulty, but changed something in her. The friendships, carers and community who walked with them, created memories, and brought unexpected joy along the way. And the new freedom and purpose she continues to find in serving, sharing her faith, volunteering, travelling and expressing more of her own gifts in this next chapter of life. This is a conversation about resilience that doesn’t look polished or dramatic. Because sometimes resilience looks like taking the rubbish bin out all on your own, again and again. Sometimes it looks like pulling weeds from gardens you’ve planted. Sometimes it looks like accepting help after years of trying to carry too much on your own. And sometimes it looks like choosing to keep trusting God, even when the road remains long and hard. For anyone who feels forgotten by God, disappointed by life, unsure how to keep going, or simply wants to be inspired by an unassuming life that has been faithfully and beautifully lived, Avriel’s story is honest, humble and deeply powerful. She shares her story not to draw attention to her own life, but to encourage you in yours. And that encouragement can be summed up in the simple words she offers near the end of the conversation: Don’t give up. In this episode, you’ll discover: How to keep going when the life you’re living is not the life you imaginedWhy resilience often begins with a change in attitude, not just a change in circumstancesHow faith can grow in the middle of hardship, even when prayers are not answered the way we hopedWhy carrying everything alone can feel necessary, but accepting help can become a giftHow small rhythms, honest prayer, trusted community and purposeful service can help sustain us through long seasonsWhat it can look like to keep choosing joy, trust and faithfulness when the road remains hard… and much more. Explore More from Resilient Souls: Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠⁠ or search ‘Resilient Souls’ wherever you get your podcasts Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠Blog on Substack⁠⁠ ⁠ Stewart’s ⁠Book⁠⁠⁠ Follow Resilient Souls on: ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Instagram /⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Get Involved or Reach Out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Join the Community⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Book Stewart to Speak⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Support the Work⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Contact Us⁠⁠⁠ Need Help? In ⁠Australia⁠⁠⁠ or for ⁠⁠⁠Overseas⁠⁠

    47 min
  2. #42 A Safe Place For Your Thoughts

    Jun 3

    #42 A Safe Place For Your Thoughts

    This episode is a little different from the usual Resilient Souls format. Over the years, I've discovered that journalling has been one of the most helpful practices in my own life, especially during seasons when my mind felt crowded with questions, worries, grief, uncertainty, or simply the pressure of everyday life. What I've found is that getting those thoughts out of my head and onto paper often helps me make sense of what's happening internally. It gives those thoughts somewhere safe to go. That made me curious. Was this just something that worked for me, or had other people found journalling helpful too? So I invited four friends with very different personalities, life experiences, and approaches to journalling to join me for an honest conversation. None of us are experts. We're simply people who have discovered that reflection, writing, drawing, prayer, or putting thoughts on paper can sometimes help us process life a little more clearly. What emerged was a refreshing reminder that there is no single "right way" to journal. For some, it's a daily discipline. For others, it's something they turn to only in difficult seasons. Some write pages. Some write a sentence. Some draw pictures. Some pray. But underneath all those differences was a common theme: Finding a safe place for your thoughts can be incrediblyhelpful. Whether you're navigating a difficult season, wrestling with questions, processing emotions, or simply looking for a little more space to reflect, I hope this conversation gives you some In this episode, you’ll discover: Why journalling is about reflection and processing, not just writingHow different personalities approach journalling in completely different waysThe surprising role journalling can play during grief, stress, uncertainty, and difficult seasonsWhy getting thoughts out of your head and onto paper can reduce their powerHow gratitude, reflection, drawing, prayer, and simple note taking can all be forms of journalling Why there is no "right way" to journal and how to find a style that suits youPractical ideas for getting started without pressure or perfectionHow journalling can help you better understand yourself, your life...and much more! Guest on Today's Podcast: Lynne Kooij, Hannah Kallady, Nate Vawser, Graham Humphris Links mentioned in the episode: Pray as You Go Lectio 365 The Artist’s Way Yookl Journals Stewart’s blog on how he found journalling a useful practice The broader Collective Wisdom Resource on Substack Explore More from Resilient Souls: Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠⁠ or search ‘Resilient Souls’ wherever you get your podcasts Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠on Substack⁠⁠ Stewart’s ⁠Book⁠⁠⁠ Follow Resilient Souls on: ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Instagram /⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Get Involved or Reach Out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Join the Community⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Book Stewart to Speak⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Support the Work⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Contact Us⁠⁠⁠ Need Help? In ⁠Australia⁠⁠⁠ or for ⁠⁠⁠Overseas⁠⁠

    50 min
  3. #41 What Actually Helps in Crisis (Part 2): Erik Ellefsen on Showing Up, Supporting Others, and Leading Well

    May 6

    #41 What Actually Helps in Crisis (Part 2): Erik Ellefsen on Showing Up, Supporting Others, and Leading Well

    In Part 1, Erik Ellefsen shared the deeply personal reality of living with long-term illness. In this second part, we turn outward. What does it actually look like to support someone incrisis? Not in theory - but in real life. Drawing from his 17-year journey with serious illness, Erik reflects on the people who showed up, the ones who didn’t, and the lessons that have stayed with him over time. We explore the tension many people feel, wanting to help, but not knowing how. We talk about the overlooked role of the caregiver, the importance of simple presence, and why small, thoughtful actions often matter more than big gestures. This conversation also has important implications for leaders, particularly in schools, churches, and communities. Why are we often unprepared when crisis hits? What does meaningful leadership look like in those moments And how can we create environments where people feel seen, supported, and not alone? There’s no perfect script. But there are better ways to show up and this episode will help you think differently about what that looks like. In this episode, you’ll discover: What support really looks like in the early stages of crisis and how it changes over time Why people often step back, even when they care deeply The tension between “just tell me what you need” and not having the energy to respondWhy caring for the caregiver is often just as important as caring for the person who is unwell How simple presence can matter more than having the right words or answers What leaders in schools, churches, and communities can do to better prepare for crisis How looking outward and serving others can bring life, even in the middle of your own struggleAbout our Guest: Erik Ellefsen is an educator, leadership consultant, and trusted voice in Christian education across the United States Currently serving as Director of Networks and Improvement at Baylor University Host of the ⁠Digical Education⁠ podcast Explore More from Resilient Souls: Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ or search ‘Resilient Souls’ wherever you get your podcasts Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog on Substack⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Stewart’s ⁠⁠Book⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Resilient Souls on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram /⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get Involved or Reach Out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join the Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Book Stewart to Speak⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the Work⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Us⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need Help? In ⁠⁠Australia⁠⁠⁠⁠ or for ⁠⁠⁠⁠Overseas⁠⁠

    42 min
  4. #40 When Life Doesn’t Go to Plan (Part 1): Erik Ellefsen on Faith, Identity and Long-Term Illness

    Apr 1

    #40 When Life Doesn’t Go to Plan (Part 1): Erik Ellefsen on Faith, Identity and Long-Term Illness

    When Erik Ellefsen was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at just 33, he was told he may only have a couple of years to live. Seventeen years later, he’s still here. But this isn’t a story about everything working out neatly. It’s a story about learning to live in the tension between hope and uncertainty… between deep pain and unexpected purpose. In this first part of our two-part conversation, Erik takes us back to the moment everything changed. The diagnosis, what followed, and the long journey of treatment that has impacted every part of his life. We talk about what it’s like to live with ongoing illness that others can’t always see. The impact it’s had on his identity, his energy, his marriage, and the future they once imagined. More than that, we explore how Erik has wrestled with faith in the middle of it all. Not in a polished or formulaic way, but in a deeply honest and lived way. This is a conversation about resilience, faith, and learning to reimagine life when it doesn’t go the way you thought it would. In Part 2, we shift the focus outward. We explore what truly helps when someone is walking through crisis, and how we can better support them. But before we head there, this is a very personal story worth sitting with. In this episode, you’ll discover: What it’s really like to receive a life-altering diagnosis and the shock that followsHow long-term illness impacts identity, energy, and everyday lifeThe hidden tension of 'looking fine' on the outside while struggling internallyThe grief of lost expectations, including career, family, and future plansHow Erik has navigated anger, disappointment, and uncertainty over timeA deeply honest perspective on faith, suffering, and the goodness of GodWhat it means to reimagine life when your original plans are no longer possible..... and much more About our Guest: Erik Ellefsen is an educator, leadership consultant, and trusted voice in Christian education across the United States Currently serving as Director of Networks and Improvement at Baylor University Host of the Digical Education podcast Explore More from Resilient Souls: Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠⁠ or search ‘Resilient Souls’ wherever you get your podcasts Resilient Souls ⁠⁠⁠Blog on Substack⁠⁠ ⁠ Stewart’s ⁠Book⁠⁠⁠ Follow Resilient Souls on: ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Instagram /⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Get Involved or Reach Out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Join the Community⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Book Stewart to Speak⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Support the Work⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Contact Us⁠⁠⁠ Need Help? In ⁠Australia⁠⁠⁠ or for ⁠⁠⁠Overseas⁠⁠

    35 min
  5. About the ‘Collective Wisdom’ series

    Mar 27

    About the ‘Collective Wisdom’ series

    This episode is a little different from our usual conversations. It marks the beginning of a parallel series within the Resilient Souls podcast. In this series, we step back from individual stories to reflect on the shared wisdom that has been emerging through them. Through the podcast, I’ve had the opportunity to sit with many people who have walked through grief, trauma, illness, loss, and other deeply challenging seasons of life. Over time, something important became clear. People were offering honest reflections and practical insights shaped in the middle of their storms. Not neat answers. Not theories. Real wisdom formed through lived experience. In this short episode, I share the heart behind the new Collective Wisdom series. This work is about gathering principles from real people who have faced difficult seasons and turning those insights into practical starting points that may help others keep moving forward. It’s not about scripts or perfect responses. It’s about learning from one another and finding ways to make the journey you are on just that little bit more manageable. These reflections have grown from conversations across families, schools, churches, workplaces, and communities. They continue to shape how this series may support people in very real situations. In this brief episode, you’ll discover What the Collective Wisdom series is and why it has begunHow lived experience can become practical guidance for othersWhy many people feel unprepared when life suddenly becomes difficultHow shared insight can help individuals, families, and communities respond with greater understandingWho these resources are designed to supportWhy this is a series that will continue to grow over timeExplore the Collective Wisdom Series If this introduction connects with you, you can explore more written reflections and resources through the Resilient Souls Substack You may also find it helpful to listen to individual podcast conversations where much of this wisdom first emerged. Visit: resilientsouls.com.au Or search ‘Resilient Souls’ wherever you listen to podcasts

    6 min
  6. #39 Life Is Messy (Part 2): Mike Potter on What It Takes to Build a Safe & Skilled Community

    Mar 3

    #39 Life Is Messy (Part 2): Mike Potter on What It Takes to Build a Safe & Skilled Community

    In Part 1 of this important conversation, Mike Potter shared the deeply personal story behind his book Life Is Messy: Hope in Dark Places. In this second conversation, we widen the lens. How does personal suffering reshape the way we build communities? What does it look like to create environments where people don’t have to pretend to be ok okay? How do we move from good intentions to wise, practical support? Drawing from decades in education leadership, Mike reflects on how his own difficult experiences in life changed the way he leads - and how schools, churches, and communities in general can become places that are not only safe, but skilled. We talk about noticing the person behind the behaviour. We explore systems that support families in crisis. We examine what it means for leaders to say, “I’m not okay,” and how that vulnerability can help shape the culture of a community. Yes, life can be messy. But communities can learn to walk into the uncomfortable spaces, rather than avoid them. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why personal suffering can deepen compassion, if we allow it toHow a policy of 'notice and then act' can change a child’s trajectory and provide much needed supportWhat makes a community not just kind, but genuinely safe and skilledWhy behaviour is often a signal of something deeperHow multidisciplinary support can help families carrying traumaThe importance of leaders modelling vulnerabilityPractical ways teachers, leaders, and community members can create safer spaces..... and much more About the Guest: Mike Potter is a long-time educator and school leader based in Adelaide, South Australia. He is the author of Life Is Messy: Hope in Dark Places, a compassionate and honest exploration of faith, suffering, and resilience. In Part 1, Mike shared his personal breaking point. In Part 2, he reflects on how those experiences reshaped the way he leads and builds community. Mike's book, Life Is Messy: Hope in Dark Places is available from Open Book Howden and Amazon (Kindle) Explore More from Resilient Souls: Resilient Souls ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ Resilient Souls ⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠ or search ‘Resilient Souls’ wherever you get your podcasts Resilient Souls ⁠⁠Blog on Substack⁠⁠ Stewart’s Book⁠⁠ Follow Resilient Souls on: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Instagram /⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Get Involved or Reach Out: ⁠⁠⁠ Join the Community⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Book Stewart to Speak⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Support the Work⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Contact Us⁠⁠ Need Help? In Australia⁠⁠ or for ⁠⁠Overseas⁠⁠

    39 min
  7. #38 Life Is Messy (Part 1): Mike Potter on Faith, Suffering, and Hope in Dark Places

    Feb 4

    #38 Life Is Messy (Part 1): Mike Potter on Faith, Suffering, and Hope in Dark Places

    In this deeply honest conversation, Stewart sits down with Mike Potter to explore the personal journey behind his book Life Is Messy: Hope in Dark Places. Mike shares how a ‘perfect storm’ of loss, leadership pressure, illness, and unresolved questions brought him to a breaking point in 2015–16. As a long-time educator and school leader, he opens up about the cost of always being strong for others, the silence of God at times in suffering, and the unhelpful myth that faith should protect us from all pain. This episode does not offer neat answers. Instead, it makes space for the real wrestle many people carry quietly. It’s a conversation about broken hearts, resilient faith, forbidden questions, and the kind of hope that can hold us when life doesn’t make sense. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation, focusing on Mike’s personal story and inner reckoning. In Part 2, the conversation turns toward leadership, schools, and how suffering reshapes the way we live, lead and care for others. In this episode, you’ll discover: What happens when buried grief and unanswered questions resurface all at onceWhy the belief that faith guarantees protection from suffering can quietly collapse under pressureThe ‘forbidden questions’ many people carry about prayer, healing, and fairnessHow leadership expectations can make it harder to admit, “I’m not okay!”Why silence from God can feel unbearable, and what that silence revealed over timeThe danger of blaming suffering on ‘not enough faith’ and how damaging that can beWhat it meant for Mike to finally say out loud that he was not copingHow hope can still exist even when nothing is fixed or explained… and much more. Need Support Right Now If some of this conversation resonates with where you’re at right now, you don’t have to carry that alone. Help is available. In Australia Lifeline – click here or call 13 11 14Mental Health Triage Service - 13 14 65 Beyond Blue – click hereSuicide Call Back Service – click here or call 1300 659 467For overseas links Help section on the Resilient Souls website hereAbout the Guest: Mike Potter is a long-time educator, school leader, and author based in Adelaide, South Australia. He has served in education leadership for over two decades and is the author of Life Is Messy: Hope in Dark Places, a raw and compassionate exploration of faith, suffering, and resilience. Mike speaks candidly from lived experience about grief, illness, leadership pressure, and the slow work of finding hope again without denial or spiritual shortcuts. Resources & Links Mike' s Book 'Life is Messy: Hope in Dark Places' can be purchased here or find the eBook version hereComing Up Next: In Part 2 of our conversation, Mike Potter reflects on how these experiences we talked about here have reshaped his leadership, particularly in schools and communities carrying unspoken grief. We explore what leaders and communities need to understand about suffering, vulnerability, and creating cultures where people are not forced to pretend they are okay. Explore More from Resilient Souls: Resilient Souls ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠Resilient Souls ⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠ or search ‘Resilient Souls’ wherever you get your podcastsResilient Souls ⁠⁠Blog on Substack⁠⁠Stewart’s ⁠⁠Book⁠⁠Follow Resilient Souls on: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Instagram /⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Get Involved or Reach Out: ⁠⁠⁠ Join the Community⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Book Stewart to Speak⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the Work⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Us⁠⁠Need Help? In ⁠⁠Australia⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Overseas⁠⁠

    43 min
  8. #37 A Slow Goodbye

    Jan 20

    #37 A Slow Goodbye

    A Note to Listeners: This episode contains personal reflections on illness, loss, and grief. Can I encourage you to listen in a way that feels gentle and supportive for you. This episode is a little different. At the start of 2026, I’m walking through a season of grief as my mum reaches the final stages of her life. Rather than launching straight into plans and announcements for the year ahead, I wanted to pause and share honestly about where I’m at right now. In this reflective episode, I speak about what it’s like to live in the middle of a slow goodbye. I reflect on the grief of watching someone you love become fragile, the ache of unfinished stories, and the quiet lessons that emerge when life cannot be hurried or fixed. This is not an episode with answers. It’s a moment of quiet looking back. A reminder that many of us are carrying things we didn’t plan for, and that resilience is often found not in strength, but in showing up - for ourselves and for one another. In this episode, you’ll hear reflections on: What it means to grieve before you actually say goodbye.The pain of realising how much of a loved one’s story we might not have ever fully known. Watching roles shift as I need support and my children step up.How grief and gratitude often sit side by side. Why presence matters more than words when someone is hurting.What this season is teaching me about resilience, community, and hope.Why This Episode Matters Resilient Souls exists not because I’ve figured life out, but because I’m walking it too. This episode marks a threshold moment: naming where I am before sharing where the work is heading this year. If you’re carrying something heavy, I hope this reminds you that you’re not alone, and that there is a way through, even when the path isn’t clear yet. Explore More from Resilient Souls: Resilient Souls ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ Resilient Souls ⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠ or search ‘Resilient Souls’ wherever you get your podcasts Resilient Souls ⁠⁠Blog on Substack⁠⁠ Stewart’s ⁠⁠Book⁠⁠ Follow Resilient Souls on: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Instagram /⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Get Involved or Reach Out: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Join the Community⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Book Stewart to Speak⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Support the Work⁠⁠ Contact Us⁠⁠ Need Help? In ⁠⁠Australia⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Overseas⁠⁠

    13 min
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About

Through real stories of everyday people, Resilient Souls explores the insights that help us face life’s challenges, find comfort and hope, and build resilient souls. For more resources and weekly reflections, visit resilientsouls.com.au

Information

  • Creator
    Stewart Bogle
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Stewart Bogle
  • Show Website
    Resilient Souls

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