Host: Dave Quak

Overview: In this solo episode of Sunburnt Souls, Dave Quak explores the role of AI chatbots, like Wysa, in supporting mental wellbeing, particularly from a Christian perspective. He examines their benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations, drawing on Christian thinkers to provide a balanced view on integrating AI into faith and mental health practices.

Key Points:

1. Introduction to AI Chatbots:
   • AI chatbots mimic conversations with therapists or friends, using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques.
   • In Australia, long waitlists for mental health services (months for psychologists, up to 8 months for psychiatrists) make AI a potential stopgap for immediate support.
2. Testing Wysa:
   • Dave tests Wysa, an anonymous chatbot, with hypothetical scenarios (e.g., feeling angry after a fight).
   • Wysa responds empathetically, asking reflective questions like, “What triggered this anger?” or “How could you communicate better?”
   • It handles absurd inputs (e.g., “I have skiddies and I’m embarrassed”) without judgment but flags harmful statements appropriately.
3. Pros of AI Chatbots:
   • 24/7 Support: Accessible anytime, ideal for late-night struggles.
   • Judgment-Free: Safe space to share without fear of personal criticism.
   • CBT-Based: Offers evidence-based tools for anxiety, depression, and stress.
   • Privacy: Anonymous and convenient, fostering emotional awareness.
4. Limitations:
   • No Spiritual Depth: Lacks Christian revelation or Holy Spirit guidance.
   • No Human Empathy: Mimics but doesn’t feel emotions.
   • Risk of Over-Reliance: Could become a crutch, diverting users from seeking God.
5. Christian Perspectives on AI:
   • Akos Balogh (The Gospel Coalition): Advocates cautious engagement; AI is useful but ethically risky, reflecting human biases. Avoid outsourcing moral or spiritual decisions.
   • Dustin Ryan (Christ Over All): Sees AI as a tool for the Great Commission, aiding Bible translation and evangelism, but warns of biased outputs.
   • Kate Lucky: Notes AI’s formative influence, shaping thinking and expectations of instant spiritual growth. Stay anchored in Christ-centered practices.
   • Biblical View:

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In this episode of Sunburnt Souls, host Dave Quak and his wife, Jess, dive into the vital topic of how individuals with mental health challenges can still be a source of support for their families. Focusing on faith, collaboration, and practical contributions, they explore five key areas—spiritual leadership, household help, financial management, practical support, and personal growth—where those with mental health struggles can foster family growth and bring light and joy.

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🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

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✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

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📝 Podcast Show Notes

Episode Summary:
In this powerful episode, we follow one woman’s raw and redemptive journey through decades of mental illness, childhood trauma, sexual abuse, postpartum depression, stage 3 brain cancer, epilepsy, and a massive stroke. From the depths of despair to the heights of hope, she shares how Jesus carried her through the darkest valleys—and how a 75-mile bike ride became a lifeline of purpose and faith.

What You’ll Hear:

• Growing up in a chaotic, abusive home as the youngest of nine
• Battling depression as a child and teenager
• Finding hope through church, community, and movement
• Postpartum depression and the overwhelming pressure of motherhood
• A shocking brain cancer diagnosis and the mental spiral that followed
• How a charity bike ride gave her a reason to live
• Seizures, brain surgery, stroke—and the brutal road to recovery
• The healing power of adaptive sports, community, and worship
• A transparent look at PTSD, bipolar depression, and psychiatric care
• Why she still believes in God’s redemption after everything

Why This Story Matters:
This isn’t a neat Christian testimony. It’s messy, real, and full of both breakdowns and breakthroughs. If you’ve battled mental illness, faced overwhelming circumstances, or doubted God in your suffering—this episode is for you.

CONNECT

Follow Sunburnt Souls for raw stories of faith, mental health, and hope:
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BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
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This week on Sunburnt Souls, Dave Quak is back with another raw, real, and at times ridiculous episode—recorded while on family holiday, but packed with depth. He reflects on how short radio soundbites have unexpectedly spread across 14+ stations in Australia, sharing stories that connect faith and mental health in bite-sized doses.

In this episode, Dave takes us on a journey that includes:

• Singing the Home and Away theme in Thailand—and what it taught him about embarrassment and boldness
• Bipolar mania and making dumb financial decisions (again)
• Learning to recover quickly after stuffing up—why guilt is not godly, but grace is
• A fresh take on Charles Spurgeon’s cigars, melancholia, and unapologetic ministry
• A biblical look at Elijah’s mental crash after a mountaintop miracle
• And yes… why bacon proves that beauty often follows the stinkiest seasons

This one’s a blend of humour, honesty, and healing. If you’ve ever felt disqualified by your struggles, this is your reminder that God uses broken people—on purpose.

🎧 Also featuring: a never-before-aired soundbite on bacon and mental health that might just become your new favourite analogy.

CONNECT

Follow Sunburnt Souls for raw stories of faith, mental health, and hope:
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BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls

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Dave Quak shares five real-life stories pulled from our one-minute soundbites airing on 14 Christian radio stations around Australia. From impulsively buying a house during a manic episode to watching a pelican steal a puppy, these moments are strange, hilarious, painful, and deeply human.

Topics we cover:

• 🏠 Mental illness & impulse control (bipolar mania and regret)
• 🐭 Carrying invisible burdens (the mouse on Mum’s shoulder)
• 🧠 Responding to criticism and trolls with God’s truth
• 🐦 Coping with grief and unexpected loss (yes, the pelican is real)
• 🧘‍♂️ Learning to be still in a noisy world

Plus, Dave and his family are broadcasting from Bali — honouring a dear friend, Tony, who recently went to be with Jesus, and finding space to rest, dive, and reflect.

💡 Be encouraged that you’re not alone in your mess. There’s grace. There’s healing. And there’s hope.

CONNECT

Follow Sunburnt Souls for raw stories of faith, mental health, and hope:
🔗 Facebook | 🔗 YouTube 🔗 Instagram

BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls

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What happens when postpartum joy collides with deep-seated fear? Lydia Farbach opens up about her raw and powerful journey through postpartum psychosis, growing up with a mum diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and the fear that she might follow the same path. From sleepless nights and spiritual confusion to calling out to God in the back of an ambulance, Lydia shares what it’s like to lose grip on reality—while holding onto Jesus.

This conversation is honest, intense, and full of grace. Whether you're a parent, pastor, or just someone who wants to understand the chaos of mental illness a little better, this episode is for you.

Topics Covered:

• The trauma of growing up with a parent with schizoaffective disorder
• Lydia’s experience of postpartum psychosis
• The overlap of anxiety, mania, and psychosis
• Faith in the midst of mental breakdown
• What the church can do better
• How to support someone in crisis
• The beauty of community, parenting, and God's faithfulness in the dark

CONNECT

Follow Sunburnt Souls for raw stories of faith, mental health, and hope:
🔗 Facebook | 🔗 YouTube 🔗 Instagram

BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls

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PARTNERS

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Dave Quak sits down with Christian sexologist Monica Cook for a raw and refreshing conversation about faith, sex, and the sacred wisdom of the Song of Songs. They unpack how theology and sexology can work together, challenge the silence around Christian intimacy, and explore how God’s design for desire is both holy and healing.

Whether you’re married, single, or somewhere in between, this episode brings grace, wisdom, and real talk to the table.

Contact Monica for more info or a consultation

Check out her Facebook

CONNECT

Follow Sunburnt Souls for raw stories of faith, mental health, and hope:
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BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls

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This week Dave Quak sits down with Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, the woman at the centre of one of Australia’s most infamous miscarriages of justice. Wrongfully convicted of her baby daughter’s murder, Lindy endured prison, public hatred, and unimaginable grief—but never let go of her faith.

Hear her powerful reflections on:

– Trusting God through pain and injustice
– Finding peace in prison
– The choice to forgive
– Rebuilding life after devastation

🎧 A story of faith under fire you’ll never forget.

CONNECT

Follow Sunburnt Souls for raw stories of faith, mental health, and hope:
🔗 Facebook | 🔗 YouTube 🔗 Instagram

BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE!
🧠✨ Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

28 days. $28. A practical, hope-filled course to help you:
✅ Embrace your identity in Jesus
✅ Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
✅ Navigate mental health with honesty and faith
👉 Start your 28-day journey today

💌 Join Our Community

Get weekly encouragement, bonus content, and resources in your inbox:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙌 Support the Mission

Help us keep creating free, faith-filled mental health content:
👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls

⭐️ Leave a Review

Love this episode? A quick rating or review helps more people find hope.
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PARTNERS

🎙️ Sunburnt Souls is proudly produced by ...