Upside Down People

Caleb Gray
  • 4.9 (7)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Every week on Upside Down People Podcast we’ll have authentic conversations with Jesus-loving people diving into some aspect of faith, life, history, culture, politics & more and, with curiosity, our hope is to discover the truth of a living a life marked by the love of Jesus. We would love to hear from you!! If you have a guest/topic suggestion or want to find out how you can support the show email us at www.upsidedownpeople.org/contact-us

  1. Why Grace Meets Us in Our Biggest Messes | Duncan Robinson

    FEB 4

    Why Grace Meets Us in Our Biggest Messes | Duncan Robinson

    Why do we fear failure so much in our faith journeys? Australian pastor, former breakfast radio host and author Duncan Robinson reveals how grace at the speed of Jesus transforms our messiest moments into powerful redemption stories! Duncan Robinson is the lead pastor of Northgate Church, former Sydney breakfast radio host, and author of the new book 'Full Phoenix Rising: Real Time Grace at the Speed of Jesus'. In this episode we talk about how grace at the speed of Jesus transforms our messiest moments into powerful redemption stories! We unpack:◼️The wild Vietnam story that birthed 'Full Phoenix Rising' and why catastrophe creates space for rebirth◼️Why Jesus leads slowly, humbly, through messiness – not with shock and awe marketing◼️How retroactive grace blinds us to real-time redemption in the moment◼️The dangerous shift from polished performance to presence in post-COVID church◼️Why belonging must come before behaving – and how grace meets us in our worst seasons To find out more about Duncan Robinson - https://www.duncanrobinson.net/

    1h 7m
  2. An Evangelist & Pastor Share Why Modern Evangelism Is Failing | Glen Scrivener and Rory Shiner

    JAN 27

    An Evangelist & Pastor Share Why Modern Evangelism Is Failing | Glen Scrivener and Rory Shiner

    Why does evangelism feel stuck in today's culture? Cultural thinkers and pastors Glen Scrivener and Rory Shiner reveal how the gospel truly breaks through in a post-Christian world obsessed with progress, identity, and anti-woke backlash! Rory Shiner, pastor of Providence Church, Perth, and Glen Scrivener of Speak Life bring decades of frontline evangelism, cultural apologetics, and gospel proclamation. They unpack how to herald "Jesus is Lord" amid secular assumptions, mental health crises, and shifting political vibes. We explore:◼️ Why "Jesus is Lord" is the bullseye of every gospel conversation (not just a personal lifestyle tip)◼️ The "yes but no but yes" approach to engage both progressive human rights ideals and conservative responsibility calls◼️ How the anti-Hitler moral story quietly replaced the pro-Jesus vision—and what that means now◼️ Why the church itself needs constant evangelising with the rich, compelling reality of union with Christ◼️ The surprising cultural moment where people are drawn back to Christianity's infrastructure—and how to point them to Jesus Himself Chapters: 02:29 Understanding the Role of Evangelism 05:23 The Importance of the Gospel in the Church 08:27 Defining Evangelism in Today's Culture 14:17 Cultural Narratives and Their Impact on Evangelism 20:39 The Progress Narrative and Its Challenges 31:21 Engaging with Cultural Narratives in Evangelism 39:39 The Intersection of Masculinity and Faith 41:44 Shifting Narratives in University Evangelism 43:43 Understanding Misconceptions of Christianity 45:18 Public vs. Private: The Western Perspective on Faith 49:00 The Role of Secularism in Modern Christianity 50:10 Public Displays of Religiosity in Contemporary Culture 52:49 Christian Nationalism: A Comparative Analysis 56:43 The Evolution of Gospel Presentation 59:45 Contextualizing the Gospel for Today's World 01:04:04 The Shift in Evangelism: Understanding Modern Faith Conversations 01:07:24 Jesus as the Center: The True Meaning of Abundance 01:09:27 The Role of Debate in Evangelism: A Double-Edged Sword 01:17:46 Navigating Social Media: The Missionary Approach 01:28:56 Excitement in Ministry: Future Projects and Personal Reflections Find out more about Glen and his work with Speak Life: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakLifeMedia Find out more about Rory and his work with Providence City Church: https://providencechurch.org.au/city/

    1h 35m
  3. The Best Christmas Throwback | Mark & Nasia Tapping

    12/21/2025

    The Best Christmas Throwback | Mark & Nasia Tapping

    Christmas is both the most wonderful time of the year and arguably for many, the most isolating and anxiety inducing time of the year.  But how can we, as Christians, both engage in and enjoy this season in a way that celebrates Jesus and loves others? With many looking forward to spending time feasting with family and celebrating it’s helpful to try reframe how we look at this season through a gospel lens, as it is only through this lens that we see how all things can be redeemed. Mark and Nas are the perfect people to have this conversation with - they bring their authenticity, intentionality, joyful hearts, love for Jesus and love for others in how they approach celebrating Christmas. Through the conversation we have fun in discovering how Christmas can be the most wonderful time of the year. *This episode was originally recorded and published back in December 2023 when Santa's sleigh still ran off reindeer power

    57 min
  4. Bondi Beach's Brutal Antisemitic Assault & How The Gospel Offers Hope | Chris Cipollone

    12/15/2025 · BONUS

    Bondi Beach's Brutal Antisemitic Assault & How The Gospel Offers Hope | Chris Cipollone

    In the wake of the horrific anti-Semitic attacks at Sydney's Bondi Beach on the 14th December that claimed innocent lives and has left Australia in lament with the Jewish community, how should Christians respond when evil strikes close to home? Why does rage spread so quickly in moments of tragedy, and what does the gospel offer when fear, anger, and loss of innocence threaten to overwhelm us? Join us as we process this evil act with Chris Cipollone less than 24 hours after the event, exploring how faith shapes grief, justice, and human connection in dark times. We wrestle through why love is neither passivity nor vengeance, how to grieve without fueling hate, the danger of rage-baiting in a polarised age, why vengeance belongs to God alone, the power of pausing to ask “What does service look like here?”, the hope that breaks cycles of revenge, how the cross holds justice and mercy together, and much more… Chris Cipollone is a pastor, speaker, and author of Here to Love, a book recapturing the centrality of Jesus’ greatest command: to love God and love our neighbour.

    56 min
  5. Christmas, Cigarettes & The New Evangelism | Dr. Sam Chan

    12/09/2025

    Christmas, Cigarettes & The New Evangelism | Dr. Sam Chan

    Dr. Sam Chan is a medical doctor turned cultural analyst, author, and one of the sharpest evangelical minds in Australia today. In a world drowning in loneliness, performance anxiety, and the endless chase for validation, why do we still feel unseen, restless, and missing something—even at Christmas? How does the ancient story of a baby in Bethlehem speak directly into our deepest craving: the need to be truly seen, known, and delighted in? Join us for a warm and profoundly hopeful conversation with Sam Chan as we explore how the gospel reorients our frantic search for identity, frees us from the tyranny of self-improvement, and offers the peace the world keeps promising but never delivers. Discover why loneliness is the hidden epidemic killing us faster than smoking, why every human heart is scanning the crowd for a face that delights in us, how Christmas is God saying “I see you,” the freedom that comes when your identity no longer depends on titles or trophies, the power of inefficient friendship as evangelism, and much more… Grab a copy of Sam's latest book "The Missing Peace" from the here https://www.thegoodbook.com.au/the-missing-peace

    1h 3m
  6. The Cultural Narratives That Secretly Run Your Life | Michael Keller

    12/02/2025

    The Cultural Narratives That Secretly Run Your Life | Michael Keller

    What happens when the cultural stories we’ve been fed our whole lives meet the brutal reality of death and loss? How is suffering the ultimate "red pill" that reveals which story you’re really trusting In this conversation with Dr. Michael Keller we explore his coming-to-faith story, the cultural lies we all breathe in every day, the night his father, Timothy Keller, died clinging to the creeds and psalms, why the gospel is the only story that can carry both our grief and our joy without breaking and … and much more. Michael Keller is the founding and senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church–Lincoln Square and a Council member of The Gospel Coalition. He also serves as a fellow for The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics.

    1h 9m
  7. How Biblical Lament Reframes Mental Health & Suffering | Dr. John Swinton

    11/25/2025 · BONUS

    How Biblical Lament Reframes Mental Health & Suffering | Dr. John Swinton

    In a world of over-medication, social media highlights, and avoided pain, how does embracing biblical lament reframe mental health and affliction from isolation to communal healing? Why do we dismiss suffering when Scripture's Psalms invite us to shout, grieve, and find hope through honest disconnection with God Himself? John Swinton is a Scottish theologian, Professor at the University of Aberdeen, founder of the Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability, exploring the intersections of theology, mental health, and inclusive faith communities. Search "John Swinton Upside Down People" to find the full episode on Spotify. Apple PodcastYoutube

    16 min
  8. The Hidden Jesus & Why Polite Christianity Is Poison | Chad Bird

    11/18/2025

    The Hidden Jesus & Why Polite Christianity Is Poison | Chad Bird

    Why do we need raw, untamed prayers instead of polite, polished ones — and what happens when the Psalms finally give us permission to scream “How long, O Lord?” from the depths of our heart? In this conversation with Chad Bird we explore why the Psalms are the most honest prayer book the church has ever had, how Jesus has been walking through the Old Testament, the danger of turning Scripture into a rulebook, the healing power of lament in a toxic-positivity culture, and why seeing Christ in the Old Testament is the antidote to both pride and despair … and much more. Chad Bird is a theologian and author who has spent his life helping modern Christians find Christ in the first two-thirds of their Bibles. He is a Scholar in Residence at 1517 and has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. To find out more about Chad - @chadbird or grab a copy of his recent book "Untamed Prayers" - https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419268-untamed-prayers?_pos=1&_sid=9d007ab47&_ss=r

    1h 3m
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4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Every week on Upside Down People Podcast we’ll have authentic conversations with Jesus-loving people diving into some aspect of faith, life, history, culture, politics & more and, with curiosity, our hope is to discover the truth of a living a life marked by the love of Jesus. We would love to hear from you!! If you have a guest/topic suggestion or want to find out how you can support the show email us at www.upsidedownpeople.org/contact-us

Information

  • Creator
    Caleb Gray
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    131
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Caleb Gray
  • Show Website
    Upside Down People

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