In this solo episode, host Dave Quak opens up about faith, mental illness, and what it means to live a life that’s “unideal” yet deeply loved by God.

From a story about Tony with Tourette’s in church to reflections on his own bipolar journey, Dave explores how God meets us in our brokenness—not despite it.

This episode tackles the stigma around mental health in the church, the reality of unanswered prayers, and why God’s power is often made perfect in weakness.
Whether you live with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or simply feel “less than ideal,” this episode is a reminder that you are seen, loved, and called.

📘 Podcast Notes & Key Sections

00:00 – 02:00 | Introduction to Sunburnt Souls and Tony’s story of Tourette’s in church
02:00 – 04:00 | Understanding Tourette’s and how mental illness isolates people
04:00 – 06:00 | Introducing the idea of “unideal” as a better way to talk about mental illness
06:00 – 08:00 | Why everyone is “unideal” in some way—Jeff Bezos’ eye, the weird toe, and the grace of God
08:00 – 10:00 | The “bucket of brokenness” metaphor—how life’s brokenness affects us all
10:00 – 12:00 | Seeing mental illness as part of living in a fallen world, not a lack of faith
12:00 – 14:00 | God doesn’t give mental illness, but He redeems it for good
14:00 – 17:00 | Why not everyone gets healed—Jesus at the Pool of Bethesda
17:00 – 20:00 | Living faithfully even when healing doesn’t come
20:00 – 22:00 | Is talking about mental health “dwelling on it”? Dave’s honest answer
22:00 – 24:00 | Inviting God into your mess—anger, anxiety, parenting, and grace
24:00 – 27:00 | Twofold solution: peace with God and healthy relationships
27:00 – 29:00 | Encouragement and prayer for listeners walking with mental illness
29:00 – 30:00 | Call to share, pray, and help Sunburnt Souls reach more people

Quote Highlights

• “Just because life isn’t ideal doesn’t mean it can’t be full and amazing.”
• “We all walked past the bucket of brokenness—something stuck to each of us.”
• “God didn’t give me bipolar disorder, but He’s not wasting it.”
• “His power is made perfect in my weakness.”
• “Faith and mental illness aren’t enemies—they’re often fellow travellers.”

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.
👉 Rate us on Apple Podcasts | 👉 Rate on Spotify

PARTNERS

🎙️ Sunburnt Souls is proudly produced by Pretty Podcasts

At just 18 years old, Indigo Rogers has already published her first book The Indigo Psalms: Volume One—a raw and beautiful collection of personal psalms written since she was 14. In this episode of Sunburnt Souls, host Dave Quak sits down with Indigo to talk about faith, mental health, worship, and what it means to bring your whole self before God.

We explore:

• How writing psalms became Indigo’s way of processing emotions and worshipping God
• Why lament and honesty matter just as much as joy in the Christian life
• What her generation is facing with anxiety, depression, and the search for hope
• How she sees teaching, worship, and writing as ways to live out her calling
• The transforming presence of God in everyday struggles, from loneliness to long-term frustrations

Whether you’re a young person navigating faith, a parent wanting insight into Gen Z spirituality, or someone carrying mental health battles of your own, Indigo’s story and words will encourage you.

👉 Buy The Indigo Psalms: Volume One on Amazon
or through major online bookstores.

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.
👉 Rate us on Apple Podcasts | 👉 Rate on Spotify

PARTNERS

🎙️ Sunburnt Souls is proudly produced by Pretty Podcasts

In this Sunburnt Souls episode, Dave Quak welcomes back Tomas Heligr-Pyke — a man of God living with schizophrenia who’s also a software engineer, consultant, and startup founder. Tom gets real about navigating hallucinations at work, recognising what’s real, and how prayer and gratitude ground his mental health and faith.

We unpack why films like Shutter Island and A Beautiful Mind resonate, how to handle paranoia and “hypothetical catastrophes,” the rhythm of running a business while carrying a serious mental illness, and the choice to stay open about diagnoses despite stigma. Tom shares practical faith habits that actually help in anxious moments, plus the gratitude list that keeps him steady. We close with a simple, hopeful prayer.

If you or someone you love is walking with schizophrenia, bipolar, anxiety or depression — this conversation offers empathy, practical handles, and Christ-centred hope.

Listen, share, and leave a review to help more Aussies find faith-informed mental health support.

Host: Dave Quak
Guest: Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Show: Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast

If this helped you, share it with a mate and leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps more people find 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

⭐️ Leave a Review

Love this episode? A quick rating or review helps more people find hope.
👉 Rate us on Apple Podcasts | 👉 Rate on Spotify

PARTNERS

🎙️ Sunburnt Souls is proudly produced by Pretty Podcasts