Mark Osborne spent decades in the background, playing rhythm guitar on the worship team, raising his kids, and going to church, while quietly living without real purpose, spiritual depth, or a genuine connection with God. A mild heart attack at 48 nudged him toward healthier habits, but it was the day he sat alone on his birthday with a bowl of Captain Crunch and asked God why he wasn't happy that something finally cracked open. What followed was a fitness journey that spiralled into ego, social media obsession, a marriage pushed to its breaking point, and ultimately, a moment on his knees that changed the direction of his life entirely.

In this honest and encouraging conversation, Mark shares how he and his wife rebuilt their relationship and their faith from the ground up, what he's learned about the difference between self-improvement and Christ-centred development, and why he now believes discipline is not a pathway to self-mastery but a fruit of the Holy Spirit. He also speaks directly to men who are drifting, and to the women who love them, offering practical wisdom and genuine hope. Mark is the host of The Valiant Forge podcast. This episode could be the beginning of taking you from a life of staying in the background to the future that God has planned for you. WEBLINKS The Valiant Forge Podcast YouTube

Dr. James Torkildson brings more than four decades of clinical experience to a conversation that covers far more than mental health. From a dramatic conversion experience in an army chapel in Germany to a career spent helping thousands of people understand the roots of their pain, James speaks with the kind of quiet authority that only comes from having lived through both the darkness and the light. He unpacks why he sees psychology and faith as complementary rather than competing, and why most of what psychology gets right can be traced directly back to scripture.

His book, Awaken! Exposing the Web of Deception, Threatening Our Faith, Family and Freedom, forms the backdrop for a wide-ranging discussion about truth, deception, the eternal perspective that changes everything, and the urgent need for the church to rediscover its true north. Whether you're grappling with emotional health, questioning what's shaping our culture, or simply looking for a conversation that takes both faith and reason seriously, this episode offers wisdom that is both deeply grounded and immediately practical.

WEBLINKS Dr. James Torkildson’s Website Awaken (book) The Dr. T Show (podcast)

John Finkelde led a Perth church through three decades of growth before handing over the reins at 58, not because he was done, but because he'd been planning well ahead. In this warm and wide-ranging conversation, John shares how a moment behind the wheel watching a sunset shifted his entire perspective on ageing, and why he's traded the word "retirement" for something far more life-giving: redesign. From taking 72 flights in his first year of consultancy to inviting pastors to sit with him for a beachside sunset, John's journey is a masterclass in pivoting with purpose and grace.

Whether you're in your 30s and haven't given your latter decades a second thought, or you're already navigating the go-slow season and wondering what's next, this episode is for you. John talks candidly about building a multi-book series on healthy church leadership, launching a YouTube channel, the unexpected gift of a serious illness, and why he believes the wisdom accumulated over a lifetime is far too valuable to be parked in a fishing chair. His faith, his humour, and his hard-won insights make this one of those conversations that stays with you long after you've finished listening.

WEBLINKS Grow a Healthy Church Die with Zero by Bill Perkins

After 25 years in pastoral ministry, spanning student ministry, worship, lead pastor, and church planting , Dustin Kleinschmidt found himself stepping into what he thought would be a redemptive season, only to discover it would become the hardest of his life. In this deeply honest conversation, Dustin walks us through the perfect storm of circumstances that led to his burnout: the relentless pressures of rebuilding a fractured church in the wake of pastoral moral failure, a global pandemic, and years of accumulated exhaustion. He shares how a chance encounter at a new church brought hidden wounds to the surface, leading him to seek counselling and face the uncomfortable truth that his identity had become inextricably tangled with his vocation, and that the unspoken deal he thought he had with God had never really existed.

Dustin's journey through what he calls his "wilderness season" has given shape to his new book, The Wilderness Way, and to his ongoing work as a companion for people who are spiritually exhausted, disillusioned, or quietly pretending they're fine. Drawing on the parallel of Israel's 40 years between slavery and the Promised Land, Dustin offers a compelling and compassionate reframe: the wilderness isn't something to escape, but a place where beauty and brokenness exist side by side, and where God is quietly, faithfully present. This episode is for anyone who has felt the gap between the faith they expected and the life they're actually living.

WEBLINKS Dustin Kleinschmidt Website The Wilderness Way (Book) Dustin’s Substack Dustin on Instagram Dustin on Facebook

Carolyn Sherrow's healing journey began not with a memory, but with a symptom. After waking in the middle of the night unable to breathe, this physician assistant of 23 years found herself on an unexpected path that led through medical specialists, a speech therapist, and eventually a Christian counsellor, one who recognised something in Carolyn that she hadn't yet seen in herself. What emerged over the following years was the gradual uncovering of childhood ritual abuse, suppressed so completely that Carolyn had no conscious awareness of it until her mid-40s. In this deeply honest conversation, she walks us through the process of piecing together a hidden past, the role of dissociation in protecting trauma survivors, and the painstaking but transformative work of healing through Theophostic Prayer Ministry.

Now an author, speaker and founder of Cords of Grace ministry, Carolyn has turned her own journey into a resource for others. Her memoir, My Personal Holocaust, includes not only her personal story but also practical appendices written for survivors, counsellors and church leaders. She speaks candidly about the estimated six and a half million Americans living with trauma-based dissociation, many of whom don't yet know it, and about the importance of helping survivors build dependence on God rather than solely on their counsellors. Whether you are a survivor yourself, someone who loves one, or a person in ministry or the helping professions, this episode offers both insight and genuine hope.

WEBLINKS Cords of Grace Carolyn on Facebook Restoration in Christ Ministries

When Allison Byxbe's oldest son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, her vibrant faith went silent. What followed was a full decade of processing grief, letting go of the life she'd imagined, and learning to embrace a new reality. In her darkest season, she discovered that journaling wasn't just a way to record her pain, it became a lifeline back to God's presence.

In this conversation, Allison shares how the simple act of putting pen to paper softened her heart, helped her to make sense of overwhelming experiences, and allowed her to hear the Holy Spirit's whisper. She explores how Scripture's metaphors, like new wineskins, gentle whispers, and living water, became bridges to understanding her journey. Whether you're walking through a storm or simply seeking deeper connection with God, Allison's story and practical guidance will inspire you to discover the transformative power of journaling as a spiritual practice.

WEBLINKS Allison Byxbe’s Website Allison Byxbe on Instagram Journalling as a Spiritual Practice

In this powerful episode, Amber Swift shares her remarkable journey through 25 years of pastoral ministry, marked by both beautiful highs and devastating lows. From planting a church with two small children, to raising five strong-willed kids whilst homeschooling and leading worship, Amber's story is one of faithful service met with unexpected trials. A health crisis at 39 forced her to confront how her worth had become tied to what she did, leading to profound lessons about pleasing God alone.

The real test came when family betrayal sparked gossip and slander that tore their church apart. Amber opens up about the crushing loneliness of watching people she'd poured her life into believe lies about her, and how she chose forgiveness daily, even when only one person out of 35 ever apologised. Through worship music, gratitude journaling, and clinging to Scripture, she discovered that none of our pain is wasted when we walk with the Lord. Now, through her practice Journey to Renewed Health, Amber helps exhausted, overwhelmed women of faith find healing body, mind, and spirit, turning her refining fire into hope for others. WEBLINKS Amber’s Renewed Health Website Journey to Renewed Health on Facebook Journey to Renewed Health on Instagram

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Zach Terry shares his journey from a secular upbringing to discovering genuine faith through a radio broadcast he initially thought was news. As a pastor, author and host of the Code Red podcast, Zach is passionate about helping believers think biblically and stand faithfully in an increasingly confusing world. He opens up about the moment he realised Christianity wasn't about what he did but about what Christ had already accomplished, and how that revelation transformed his entire approach to faith.

Zach offers practical wisdom on navigating controversial topics with grace, maintaining integrity as a platform grows, and approaching Scripture not as a rulebook but as living bread that feeds our souls. His transparency about accountability, vulnerability and the dangers of spiritual coldness, even in ministry, provides a refreshing reminder that finishing well requires intentional effort. Whether you're struggling to trust God with daily decisions or wondering how to engage culture without compromising truth, this conversation offers clarity, hope and encouragement. WEBLINKS

Zach Terry’s Website Zach on Instagram Zach on Facebook Code Red Podcast