Rumors of Doing Good

In this episode, Rob Schellert is joined by  Saša Jacobea for a conversation about gathering the spiritually curious together. Saša shares her journey as a church pioneer and the story behind Nekostei — a monthly experimental church whose name translates roughly as "non-church" or "no church." We talk about how Nekostei creates a space for people who might not feel at home in traditional church st...

On this episode of Rumors of Doing Good , Rob sits down with Jitendra Nayak from Odisha, India, who has chosen to live life alongside the Dalit community. Rather than observing from a distance, Jitendra enters into their daily realities—sharing in their struggles, celebrating their resilience, and witnessing the quiet ways hope and goodness take root. In their conversation, they explore what it me...

In this episode, Rob Schellert is joined by Micah Purnell , a visual artist and designer from Manchester, England, whose public word art invites people to slow down and see the world differently. Through simple yet powerful phrases placed in everyday spaces, Micah explores how language can challenge consumerism, spark empathy, and help us rediscover our shared humanity. Together, they talk about h...

In this episode of Rumors of Doing Good , Rob Schellert talks with Adele Botha , a literacy advocate and founder of the Uyavula Reading and Writing Project in Cape Town and Write2BU in Pretoria, South Africa. From a young age, Adele discovered a love for reading and writing—a passion that has guided her work in empowering children and young people through storytelling, creativity, and literacy. Sh...

In this episode of  Rumors of Doing Good , Rob sits down with Rae Pears from Bristol, UK, founder of Girlhood Reclaimed . Rae is pioneering a bold vision to reclaim and restore the stories of women and girls who have been silenced or overlooked. They talk about the challenges of starting something new, the courage it takes to imagine differently, and the power of creativity and healing in building...

In this episode, Rob sits down with Ken Loyd to explore how the pain we carry can shape the way we see others. Ken shares about growing up without a father, the loneliness that followed him into adulthood, and how that ache slowly transformed into a deep capacity for empathy. Together, they reflect on how our wounds can become doorways to compassion, allowing us to recognize and sit with the pain...

On this episode of  Rumors of Doing Good , Rob Schellert is joined by Ebun Feludu , the founder of Kókárí Coconuts   in Lagos, Nigeria. Ebun has built a social enterprise that's transforming Nigeria's coconut industry through sustainable production, empowering women, and supporting local communities. They dive into the origins of Kókárí , the challenges of building a values-driven business, and ho...

In this episode of Rumors of Doing Good , Rob Schellert sits down with Barbara Leite Cowan & Emma Cowan Leite, who started and help lead Mount of Oaks, an intentional community in the hills of Portugal. Rooted in simplicity, shared life, and connection to the land, their community integrates permaculture, natural building, and spiritual practice into a holistic way of following the way of Jesus wh...

In this episode of Rumors of Doing Good , Rob Schellert talks with Minori Sueyoshi , a skateboarder from Fukuoka, Japan, whose story is one of faith, friendship, and finding purpose on four small wheels. For over a decade, Minori has experienced how skateboarding can be more than sport — it can be a space where people feel seen, accepted, and loved. His journey reflects the quiet ways God meets us...

In this episode of Rumors of Doing Good , Rob Schellert speaks with Jack Holloway, founder of Despair Sanctuary in Brooklyn, New York, USA. What began as a moment of despair over taxes owed unexpectedly grew into a vision for creating vigils for the weary—a sanctuary where sorrow is honored and lament is made sacred. Jack shares the story behind Despair Sanctuary, the heart and vision that sustain...

In this episode, Rob talks with Silvia Faridencio Gore Lado , a South Sudanese teacher, mother of five, and community leader now living in Egypt. After fleeing her home in Juba in 2017, Silvia began a journey through Sudan that eventually led her to Cairo, where she continues to teach and serve fellow refugees. She founded The Friendship Initiative for Women and Children Development , creating spa...

Longtime friend Ken Loyd returns to Rumors of Doing Good to share a story that has stayed with him for nearly 45 years—about a man named Roy Rogers (not that Roy Rogers!), whose simple, quiet love changed a room and a life. In this conversation, Ken and Rob reflect on the small gestures that stay with us—the way someone looks at you when you speak, the warmth of a hand being held, the feeling of b...

In this final epsiode of the Counter Presence series, we reflect on what it means to actually form countercultural communities - communities that are more than just ideas, but embodied expressions of presence, care, and faith. We talk about how communities grow from shared life, small risks, and the daily work of showing up. Drawing from Anabaptist values and practices like mutuality, simplicity,...

What does it mean to live with hope when so much feels uncertain or in decline? In this conversation, we explore the idea of   post-Christendom -   the shift away from Christianity as a cultural center of power - and how that creates both loss and opportunity. Rather than trying to reclaim influence, my friend & colleague Andrew Dungan joins me as we talk about how this moment invites us to reimag...

What does it mean to seek the good of the places we live — not through control or performance, but through presence, peace, and faithful attention? In this episode, we explore how the pursuit of shalom — wholeness, justice, and right relationship — invites us to stay rooted and work for the flourishing of our neighbors. Shaped by the life of Jesus and grounded in Anabaptist values like local prese...

What does it look like to join in the mission of God — not through programs or blueprints, but through presence, listening, and local response? In this episode, we talk about creating experimental communities as a way of participating in the Missio Dei . Rooted in the life of Jesus and shaped by Anabaptist values like simplicity, mutuality, and discernment, we explore how community can emerge thro...

In this episode, we explore the deep and disruptive belief that every person bears the image of God — the  Imago Dei . We reflect on how this conviction, rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus and nurtured within the Anabaptist tradition, calls us to a radically different way of seeing and relating to others. In a world that often categorizes, dehumanizes, and divides, we ask: what kind of comm...

In this first episode of season five, I am joined by my friend and colleague Andrew Dungan as we reflect on the place we find ourselves in — culturally, spiritually, and personally. We talk honestly about the restlessness many of us feel and how that led us to discover and appreciate the Anabaptist tradition. This conversation is about naming where we are, not to despair, but to make space for som...

Bonus Episode – What happens when creativity meets compassion?  In this special conversation, I sit down with my daughter Gwen to talk about a project she and her Girl Scout troop took on — knitting blankets for people experiencing homelessness. It started as a small idea, but quickly became a meaningful way to offer warmth, dignity, and human connection. We talk about what inspired the project, w...

In the season four finale of Rumors of Doing Good , Ken Loyd returns to chat with Rob about the remarkable female leaders who have shaped their lives. Together, they reflect on the significant impact these women have made and emphasize the importance of making room for their unique gifts and perspectives in a world traditionally dominated by men. Thank you for joining us this season! If you enjoye...

In today's conversation, I'm joined by Ray Motsi from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has a complex history, marked by significant violence stemming from the colonial rule of the British Empire and the subsequent fight for independence in the 1960s through the 80s. This history has deeply influenced the culture, where violence often became the preferred means of resolving conflict. The 1980s saw the...

In today's conversation, I'm joined by my good friend Gordon McDade, who hails from Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he still resides. Growing up, Gordon directly experienced and witnessed the conflict between those advocating for an independent Ireland and those loyal to the United Kingdom—an era known as The Troubles. In this tumultuous environment, Gordon felt called to become a pastor, mediato...

Ken Loyd returns to the Rumors of Doing Good podcast to talk with Rob about their experiences of dealing with mainstream churches, organizations and leaders who don't always appreciate or take the time to understand those who are trying to do good in the margins. Listen in as they share wisdom they have learned on how to navigate a world that doesn't always have their best interest at heart. If yo...

In today's conversation, I'm joined by my friend Eagle Spits from Nottingham, England. As a teenager, Eagle discovered his passion for punk rock. In 2009, he had a profound experience with Jesus. Inspired by the writings and stories of Dorothy Day of providing radical Christian hospitality towards the poor, Eagle began organizing punk shows in 2010 under the banner of Punk 4 The Homeless to suppor...

In today's conversation, I am joined by Ariatna Karlet, a 24 year old remarkable entrepreneur from Colonia Tovar, Venezuela. Ariatna started Monos, a casual clothing company in the midst of recent social, political and economic turmoil of Venezuela. Through her business, Ariatna hopes to provide quality clothing as well as jobs while supporting herself  and her family in order to help rebuild and...