Resilient Souls

In this episode, Ken Roberts shares his journey through personal trauma and loss, revealing how he has experienced a transformation of his pain into a calling to help others without minimising what he and his family went through. Drawing from his extensive experience as a leader, author, and coach, Ken emphasizes the power of embracing your story as a tool for personal growth and healing. Stewart...

In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Stewart continues his previous conversation with his daughter, Ashley Biddick, a psychologist navigating her own firsthand experience of trauma and grief. Ashley reflects on the ongoing journey through immense loss following the death of her husband, Jake. Drawing from her personal experience and professional insights, Ashley delves into the physical...

In this powerful episode, Jon Owen, a compassionate leader dedicated to building community with those in vulnerable situations, shares from his experience and the insights and wisdom he has gained from years of serving others. Jon opens up about his own journey and offers practical guidance for anyone going through tough times or supporting others facing adversity. Through his work with the Waysid...

In this conversation, Stewart interviews Shirli Congoo about death, grief, and a cultural context of her experiences in her community. Shirli shares her personal experiences of losing loved ones, including four brothers and a nephew, and how these losses have impacted her at various ages and stages in her life. She discusses the cultural obligations and responsibilities that come with death in Fir...

Jay Hewitt, a pastor, speaker, author, and Ironman competitor, shares his remarkable journey of resilience and faith after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Rather than succumbing to despair, Jay set himself a seemingly impossible goal—to complete an Ironman triathlon while undergoing cancer treatment. He dedicated this feat to his young daughter, hoping to show her that if he could face...

Tim and Nikki Farren share their story of loss, love, and building a new family unit after heartbreak. Tim's first wife, Claire, fell seriously ill just as they were about to get married, and after the birth of their two young boys, Sam and Joe, she tragically passed away. Left to care for the children while balancing work and his own grief, Tim relied on the support of his community to create sta...

Sam and Joe Farren grew up in the UK with a father who was trying to balance caring for their mother (who had a chronic and very serious illness), working in London, and raising two young boys. After their mother passed when Sam was six and Joe was three, their father did his best to provide love, fun, and stability, supported by a “village” of friends and babysitters. A year later, the family mov...

In this episode, Stewart speaks with Christi Brown, who shares the heart-wrenching story of losing her youngest child in a drowning accident. They discuss the importance of openly expressing pain and loss, the ongoing nature of grief, and the reality that grief is often " the love that has no place to land ." Christi opens up about the initial emotions she faced, the vital support from h...

In this episode, Stewart speaks with Daniel Pampuch (CEO of Christians Schools Australia) about how communities can effectively support families during times of tragedy and trauma. Drawing from his extensive experience in schools and school associations, Daniel emphasises the importance of practical help, clear communication, and specific training for those in support roles. They explore how a wel...

In this continuation of Rick Bundschuh's story, Stewart and Rick discuss his move to Hawaii with his two young boys and his continued work with youth. Rick shares the loneliness he faced and the process of rebuilding his life after such profound personal upheaval. He offers insights into the practical acts of kindness that made a significant difference during his toughest times and reflects on the...

In this episode, Stewart speaks with Rick Bundschuh, who shares his early journey as a surfer, youth leader, husband, and father during the Jesus Movement days in California. He recounts the pivotal moment when his wife announced she was leaving him and their two young children to pursue a different lifestyle. This shocking revelation led to a challenging period of legal battles over custody, bala...

BE AWARE:  This episode discusses the topic of suicide, which may be particularly difficult for some listeners. Summary: In this conversation, Stewart speaks with Megan Lehmann about her experience of losing her husband to suicide. They discuss the challenges of facing life's storms and the importance of learning from other people’s journeys. Megan shares the moment she received the devastatin...

In this episode, Stewart Bogle reflects on the conversations he’s had throughout the first season of the podcast, identifying common issues that have emerged. One topic that’s deeply touched him is the ripple effect of loss and grief, particularly its impact on children. Stewart shares his personal journey with his children, offering glimpses into their experiences as he battled with his own emoti...

BE AWARE: This episode discusses themes of loss, grief, and death, which may be sensitive topics for some listeners. Summary: In this moving episode, Stewart interviews his daughter, Ashley, about the deep grief she has experienced in the last 12 months. Ashley shares her journey of supporting her partner through his early diagnosis of cancer, their engagement, an elopement due to COVID and the de...

Summary: In this conversation, Sono, a First Nations leader in Australia (Butchulla and Garrawa), shares with us the work she is doing with Strong Women Talking to address violence against First Nations women and children. Sono's own experiences with domestic violence personally and in her community have driven her to help break the cycle and support others. Sono shares how her faith has provided...

Summary: In this episode, we hear Graham Humphris share his journey as an experienced pastor and respected Christian leader, through two major challenges that deeply tested his resilience and faith. First, he recounts a life-threatening brain haemorrhage, and later, a professional crisis that shook his reputation and emotional well-being. While very different, both were serious tests that caused h...

Summary: In this compelling episode, Amy openly shares her story of resilience in the face of devastating loss as a child. Having lost both parents at a tender age, Amy bravely navigates life's storms with a steadfast trust in God's love and care. She underscores the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive individuals and finding comfort in God's presence. Amy's narrative serves as a po...

BE AWARE: This episode discusses the topic of suicide, which may be particularly difficult for some listeners. Summary: Host Stewart Bogle talks with Adrian Blenkinsop about "Finding Strength: Navigating Faith Through Family Tragedy". Adrian shares his deeply painful story of his daughter's illness and passing, and how it challenged his faith. He discusses the initial shock of the di...

Summary: In this first episode of the Resilient Souls podcast, Stewart Bogle introduces his own story as a starting point for him hosting conversations with others about pain and suffering and wrestling with God. This is an open and honest summary of a much deeper story that he shares in his book, Learning to Dance in the Darkness . In this episode he explains why he has chosen to share some very...

Introduction to the new Resilient Souls Podcast