Sunburnt Souls

Faith and Mental Health

As a pastor living with bipolar disorder, Dave Quak brings raw honesty, humour, and the occasional manic tangent to Sunburnt Souls.

This Christian mental health podcast explores life, faith and mental well-being. We tackle real conversations about following Jesus while navigating depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and more.

Sunburnt Souls is where faith and mental health collide—raw conversations, real hope

Sunburnt Souls is a Christian podcast and resource platform dedicated to exploring faith, mental health, and spiritual well-being.

Through honest conversations and powerful testimonies, we explore the realities of faith and mental illness, offering hope, encouragement, and practical strategies for those navigating anxiety, depression, and life’s deeper struggles.

If you're seeking Christian mental health support, faith-based coping strategies, or inspiring stories of resilience, Sunburnt Souls provides real talk for real-life challenges, helping you walk in faith, even in the messiness of life.

How Sunburnt Souls is Making a Difference

  • Dave is a great guy with a great message! His testimony about his mental health battles is so relevant and real, and it’s a topic we should all be learning more about in this season! I highly recommend Dave as a speaker

    — Pastor Matt Prater - New Hope Church Brisbane, Vision Christian radio

  • Dave, I absolutely loved your year-in-review podcast! Every episode of Sunburnt Souls has been such a gift to those struggling with mental health and their families. It creates a space where people feel seen, heard, and reminded that they are not alone. Your honesty about living with bipolar is so refreshing—you don’t sugarcoat anything, and that’s what makes it so powerful. The message of making churches a safe place for the most vulnerable is incredibly important.

    Sarah H

  • I highly recommend Dave as your guest speaker. We had him at Fire Church Gold Coast recently and he knocked the ball out of the park! He handles the word with precision but wraps it up in a package that’s a heap of fun. You’ll love him like our church did

    — Wes Jessop- Fire Church

  • Hey Dave, This might be a bit out of the blue, but I just wanted to say thanks for your podcast. It’s meant a lot to me lately. I’m currently on extended leave for mental health reasons—something I’ve never faced before—and hearing from another pastor who gets it has been really encouraging. Just wanted to let you know I appreciate what you’re doing. Keep going, mate!

    Paul R

  • Dave, thanks for sharing so openly about your lithium journey and medication. It’s so refreshing to hear real talk about this stuff, especially in Christian spaces. Hope you’re doing well, mate. Appreciate you sharing your journey—it helps more than you know."**

    Jeremy S

  • Dave, I just wanted to say a massive thank you for your podcast! As someone who struggles with OCD, it has been such a blessing. I binged every episode in just two weeks, and it’s honestly helped me feel seen, understood, and equipped in ways I didn’t expect. Hearing faith and mental health talked about so openly has been incredibly freeing. Please keep doing what you're doing—it’s making a real difference!

    Ava M

  • Dave Quak, through his Sunburnt Souls series has gone where few have dared. Dave’s openness and honesty concerning his own mental health struggle is an amazing and uplifting story.

    — Michael Ballard- Wynnum Baptist Church

  • Dave, I just wanted to thank you for Sunburnt Souls. As a pastor battling depression, there were days I wasn’t sure I could keep going—but your podcast was a real encouragement along the way. Hearing your honesty and faith in the midst of the struggle reminded me I’m not alone and gave me the push I needed to keep pressing on

    Joshua H

  • Our son has bipolar, and walking this journey with him has been overwhelming at times. Your podcast has not only helped us feel less alone but also given us some really practical tools to support him better. Your honesty and wisdom have been such a blessing.

    Harry and Jennifer V

  • We had Dave speak to our church community about the challenges of mental health. It was a powerful time where people were vulnerable and the church community was strengthened.

    Steph M

Make an impact today

Your donation helps us equip people to love life with faith and mental health. Mental illness can be messy, but it doesn’t have to be hopeless. With Jesus, there is hope, healing, and purpose—even in the mess.