Bleeding Daylight

Doreen Virtue was once one of the most recognised names in the New Age world, a bestselling author, a psychotherapist, a regular guest on Oprah and CNN, and a global spiritual teacher whose books were translated into 38 languages. Raised in a Christian Science household that blended biblical language with New Thought philosophy, she spent decades teaching angel spirituality, psychic development, and divination before a series of encounters with Scripture brought her face to face with the real Jesus. In 2017, while reading Deuteronomy 18, she was so profoundly convicted that she fell off her chair, cried out to God, and gave her life to Christ, immediately walking away from everything she had built. In this deeply candid conversation, Doreen speaks honestly about the cost of that decision, the deception she unknowingly spread across the world, and why she now devotes herself to warning Christians about New Age thinking that has quietly seeped into many churches. She draws on her insider knowledge to help believers identify false gospels, test the spirits as 1 John 4 instructs, and understand why the true Jesus of Scripture is so different from the one portrayed in much of popular culture. WEBLINKS Doreen Virtue’s Website Doreen Virtue on Facebook Doreen Virtue on YouTube

Mark Osborne spent decades in the background, playing rhythm guitar on the worship team, raising his kids, and going to church, while quietly living without real purpose, spiritual depth, or a genuine connection with God. A mild heart attack at 48 nudged him toward healthier habits, but it was the day he sat alone on his birthday with a bowl of Captain Crunch and asked God why he wasn't happy that something finally cracked open. What followed was a fitness journey that spiralled into ego, social media obsession, a marriage pushed to its breaking point, and ultimately, a moment on his knees that changed the direction of his life entirely. In this honest and encouraging conversation, Mark shares how he and his wife rebuilt their relationship and their faith from the ground up, what he's learned about the difference between self-improvement and Christ-centred development, and why he now believes discipline is not a pathway to self-mastery but a fruit of the Holy Spirit. He also speaks directly to men who are drifting, and to the women who love them, offering practical wisdom and genuine hope. Mark is the host of The Valiant Forge podcast. This episode could be the beginning of taking you from a life of staying in the background to the future that God has planned for you. WEBLINKS The Valiant Forge Podcast YouTube

Dr. James Torkildson brings more than four decades of clinical experience to a conversation that covers far more than mental health. From a dramatic conversion experience in an army chapel in Germany to a career spent helping thousands of people understand the roots of their pain, James speaks with the kind of quiet authority that only comes from having lived through both the darkness and the light. He unpacks why he sees psychology and faith as complementary rather than competing, and why most of what psychology gets right can be traced directly back to scripture. His book, Awaken! Exposing the Web of Deception, Threatening Our Faith, Family and Freedom, forms the backdrop for a wide-ranging discussion about truth, deception, the eternal perspective that changes everything, and the urgent need for the church to rediscover its true north. Whether you're grappling with emotional health, questioning what's shaping our culture, or simply looking for a conversation that takes both faith and reason seriously, this episode offers wisdom that is both deeply grounded and immediately practical. WEBLINKS Dr. James Torkildson’s Website Awaken (book) The Dr. T Show (podcast)

John Finkelde led a Perth church through three decades of growth before handing over the reins at 58, not because he was done, but because he'd been planning well ahead. In this warm and wide-ranging conversation, John shares how a moment behind the wheel watching a sunset shifted his entire perspective on ageing, and why he's traded the word "retirement" for something far more life-giving: redesign. From taking 72 flights in his first year of consultancy to inviting pastors to sit with him for a beachside sunset, John's journey is a masterclass in pivoting with purpose and grace. Whether you're in your 30s and haven't given your latter decades a second thought, or you're already navigating the go-slow season and wondering what's next, this episode is for you. John talks candidly about building a multi-book series on healthy church leadership, launching a YouTube channel, the unexpected gift of a serious illness, and why he believes the wisdom accumulated over a lifetime is far too valuable to be parked in a fishing chair. His faith, his humour, and his hard-won insights make this one of those conversations that stays with you long after you've finished listening. WEBLINKS Grow a Healthy Church Die with Zero by Bill Perkins

After 25 years in pastoral ministry, spanning student ministry, worship, lead pastor, and church planting , Dustin Kleinschmidt found himself stepping into what he thought would be a redemptive season, only to discover it would become the hardest of his life. In this deeply honest conversation, Dustin walks us through the perfect storm of circumstances that led to his burnout: the relentless pressures of rebuilding a fractured church in the wake of pastoral moral failure, a global pandemic, and years of accumulated exhaustion. He shares how a chance encounter at a new church brought hidden wounds to the surface, leading him to seek counselling and face the uncomfortable truth that his identity had become inextricably tangled with his vocation, and that the unspoken deal he thought he had with God had never really existed. Dustin's journey through what he calls his "wilderness season" has given shape to his new book, The Wilderness Way, and to his ongoing work as a companion for people who are spiritually exhausted, disillusioned, or quietly pretending they're fine. Drawing on the parallel of Israel's 40 years between slavery and the Promised Land, Dustin offers a compelling and compassionate reframe: the wilderness isn't something to escape, but a place where beauty and brokenness exist side by side, and where God is quietly, faithfully present. This episode is for anyone who has felt the gap between the faith they expected and the life they're actually living. WEBLINKS Dustin Kleinschmidt Website The Wilderness Way (Book) Dustin’s Substack Dustin on Instagram Dustin on Facebook

Carolyn Sherrow's healing journey began not with a memory, but with a symptom. After waking in the middle of the night unable to breathe, this physician assistant of 23 years found herself on an unexpected path that led through medical specialists, a speech therapist, and eventually a Christian counsellor, one who recognised something in Carolyn that she hadn't yet seen in herself. What emerged over the following years was the gradual uncovering of childhood ritual abuse, suppressed so completely that Carolyn had no conscious awareness of it until her mid-40s. In this deeply honest conversation, she walks us through the process of piecing together a hidden past, the role of dissociation in protecting trauma survivors, and the painstaking but transformative work of healing through Theophostic Prayer Ministry. Now an author, speaker and founder of Cords of Grace ministry, Carolyn has turned her own journey into a resource for others. Her memoir, My Personal Holocaust, includes not only her personal story but also practical appendices written for survivors, counsellors and church leaders. She speaks candidly about the estimated six and a half million Americans living with trauma-based dissociation, many of whom don't yet know it, and about the importance of helping survivors build dependence on God rather than solely on their counsellors. Whether you are a survivor yourself, someone who loves one, or a person in ministry or the helping professions, this episode offers both insight and genuine hope. WEBLINKS Cords of Grace Carolyn on Facebook Restoration in Christ Ministries

When Allison Byxbe's oldest son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, her vibrant faith went silent. What followed was a full decade of processing grief, letting go of the life she'd imagined, and learning to embrace a new reality. In her darkest season, she discovered that journaling wasn't just a way to record her pain, it became a lifeline back to God's presence. In this conversation, Allison shares how the simple act of putting pen to paper softened her heart, helped her to make sense of overwhelming experiences, and allowed her to hear the Holy Spirit's whisper. She explores how Scripture's metaphors, like new wineskins, gentle whispers, and living water, became bridges to understanding her journey. Whether you're walking through a storm or simply seeking deeper connection with God, Allison's story and practical guidance will inspire you to discover the transformative power of journaling as a spiritual practice. WEBLINKS Allison Byxbe’s Website Allison Byxbe on Instagram Journalling as a Spiritual Practice

In this powerful episode, Amber Swift shares her remarkable journey through 25 years of pastoral ministry, marked by both beautiful highs and devastating lows. From planting a church with two small children, to raising five strong-willed kids whilst homeschooling and leading worship, Amber's story is one of faithful service met with unexpected trials. A health crisis at 39 forced her to confront how her worth had become tied to what she did, leading to profound lessons about pleasing God alone. The real test came when family betrayal sparked gossip and slander that tore their church apart. Amber opens up about the crushing loneliness of watching people she'd poured her life into believe lies about her, and how she chose forgiveness daily, even when only one person out of 35 ever apologised. Through worship music, gratitude journaling, and clinging to Scripture, she discovered that none of our pain is wasted when we walk with the Lord. Now, through her practice Journey to Renewed Health, Amber helps exhausted, overwhelmed women of faith find healing body, mind, and spirit, turning her refining fire into hope for others. WEBLINKS Amber’s Renewed Health Website Journey to Renewed Health on Facebook Journey to Renewed Health on Instagram

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Zach Terry shares his journey from a secular upbringing to discovering genuine faith through a radio broadcast he initially thought was news. As a pastor, author and host of the Code Red podcast, Zach is passionate about helping believers think biblically and stand faithfully in an increasingly confusing world. He opens up about the moment he realised Christianity wasn't about what he did but about what Christ had already accomplished, and how that revelation transformed his entire approach to faith. Zach offers practical wisdom on navigating controversial topics with grace, maintaining integrity as a platform grows, and approaching Scripture not as a rulebook but as living bread that feeds our souls. His transparency about accountability, vulnerability and the dangers of spiritual coldness, even in ministry, provides a refreshing reminder that finishing well requires intentional effort. Whether you're struggling to trust God with daily decisions or wondering how to engage culture without compromising truth, this conversation offers clarity, hope and encouragement. WEBLINKS Zach Terry’s Website Zach on Instagram Zach on Facebook Code Red Podcast

In this profoundly moving episode, Karol Holmes shares her family's journey of adopting three children with profound disabilities, including Moise, a deaf, blind, medically fragile boy from Haiti who would transform their lives completely. What began as a temporary hosting arrangement became a 23-year journey filled with impossible decisions, heartbreaking losses, and a deepening faith that carried them through the darkest valleys. Karol opens up about the devastating lack of services for adults with developmental disabilities, the trauma of losing her daughter in a backyard drowning, and the agonising choice to leave Moise at a hospital when his violent behaviours threatened her other medically vulnerable child. Through it all, Karol discovered what she calls "a love affair with Jesus" born from lament and surrender. She challenges listeners to consider what it truly means to be pro-life beyond birth, to care for the most vulnerable among us, and to embrace an eternal perspective that transforms suffering. Her story reveals hidden truths about thousands of families suffering in isolation, the gaps in our care systems, and the radical compassion Jesus calls us to show the disabled, the marginalised, and the forgotten. This is a conversation that will challenge your assumptions, break your heart, and ultimately point you toward hope. WEBLINKS Karol’s Website Karol on Instagram

After nearly three decades working in sustainable energy, Ramsey Zimmerman hit a wall. He was forced to confront the reality that while he was working to save the planet, he'd completely neglected his own health. The red flags had been there for years, high blood pressure, weight gain, declining fitness, but like so many of us, he'd written it off as just getting older. The COVID pandemic became a turning point, revealing how desperately our communities need better baseline health, and prompting Ramsey to ask himself a crucial question: what's worthwhile? Today, Ramsey is a nutritional therapy practitioner, author of Stress Response, and host of the What's Worthwhile podcast. In this conversation, he shares practical wisdom on nutrition, sleep, stress management, and those simple practices we've somehow forgotten in our screen-filled lives. Beyond the practical tips, Ramsey offers something deeper, a perspective on stewardship, self-care, and the interconnection between mind, body, and spirit. His journey to helping others "get better before burnout" is both challenging and inspiring, reminding us that the best changes in life are usually slow, incremental, and rooted in asking ourselves what truly matters. WEBLINKS What’s Worthwhile

In this deeply moving episode, Jody Hudson shares the heartbreaking yet inspiring story of her daughter Alex's 10-year battle with Lyme disease. From the first mysterious symptoms at age 11 to visiting 40 doctors and facing countless misdiagnoses, Jody and Alex fought together with unwavering faith and determination. Despite the medical community's inability to identify the illness for years, Alex remained a beacon of hope and strength, even as the disease ravaged her body. After Alex's passing in 2018 at just 22 years old, Jody fulfilled her promise to continue the fight against Lyme disease. She authored the award-winning memoir "My Promise to Alex" and established the Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation, which has developed educational programmes with the Girl Scouts of America and provided crucial support to families facing similar battles. Jody's story reminds us that even in our darkest moments, faith, love and purpose can light the way forward. Her message of believing those who suffer, helping them find their voice and trusting in God's presence will resonate with anyone facing mysterious illness or supporting a loved one through difficult times. WEBLINKS Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation Jody Hudson on Instagram Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation on Instagram Jody Hudson on Facebook Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation on Facebook Jody Hudson on LinkedIn

Are you ready to own your day instead of letting your day own you? In this transformative conversation, Michael Klassen, co-founder and host of the 5AM podcast, shares practical wisdom about intentional living, the power of morning routines, and what true abundance really means. From his farming roots where responsibilities mattered more than curfews, Michael has developed a life philosophy centred on faith, gratitude, and the radical idea that obstacles aren't in our way, they are the way. Michael challenges our instant-gratification culture and redefines abundance beyond dollar bills and Instagram-ready lifestyles. Whether you're struggling to find vision for your life, tired of the same old results, or convinced you're "not a morning person," this episode offers hope, practical tools, and biblical wisdom for building a life of genuine abundance. Discover how simple practices like reading Proverbs daily, cultivating gratitude, and starting your day with rest can create exponential transformation in every area of your life. WEBLINKS 5am Podcast 5am Podcast on Facebook 5am Podcast on Instagram

Mick Weinholt's life has been marked by profound loss and miraculous survival. After the devastating stillbirth of his firstborn son Luke, Mick and his wife found themselves crying out to a God they knew of but had never truly known. This heartbreaking loss became the catalyst that transformed them from people with intellectual knowledge of Christianity into believers with genuine faith. Their journey through grief, including a subsequent miscarriage and the eventual blessing of three living children, reveals how tragedy can reshape not just individual lives but entire family trajectories. Before becoming a father, Mick survived a near-fatal avalanche on a Colorado mountain at age 19. With catastrophic injuries including a skull broken in three places, a shattered jaw, and his scalp split wide open, he walked out alone, only to find a stranger named Steve waiting in the car park with no explanation for being there. Now hosting his own podcast "When You Look," Mick collects stories from ordinary people experiencing extraordinary moments, inviting listeners to decide whether these events are mere coincidences or evidence of God at work in the modern world. WEBLINKS When You Look Website When You Look on YouTube Be a guest on When You Look When You Look on Instagram When You Look on Facebook

Kim Harms never expected to hear the word "cancer" twice. After beating breast cancer with only a 5-6% chance of recurrence, she was devastated when it returned seven years later, this time more advanced and requiring intensive chemotherapy. Kim's story isn't just about surviving cancer; it's about discovering God's presence in the darkest valleys. During her second battle, whilst enduring 16 rounds of chemotherapy, her son Owen began mysteriously losing weight and strength, ultimately being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis after months of frightening uncertainty. Through these overlapping crises, Kim found her calling. She's written two books, Life Reconstructed and Carried Through Cancer, and co-ordinates a ministry that sends free mastectomy pillows worldwide. Her raw honesty about crying on her floor, making promises to God, watching friends fade away, and feeling the isolation of cancer will resonate with anyone facing overwhelming circumstances. Kim's story reminds us that we're not promised smooth sailing, but we are promised God's presence, and that makes all the difference. (Want to be a guest on Bleeding Daylight? Send Rodney Olsen a message on PodMatch, here.) WEBLINKS Kim Harms Website Kim Harms on Facebook Kim Harms on Instagram

After losing her husband Luke to cancer in 2020, Michelle Bader Ebersole transformed her devastating grief into a lifeline for thousands of widows around the world. In this deeply moving conversation, Michelle shares her journey from standing on the metaphorical train tracks of anticipatory grief to building a thriving ministry that spans 121 countries. She offers practical wisdom on what to say (and what never to say) to someone who's grieving, debunks the myth of grief stages, and explains why talking about our loved ones who've passed is so precious to the bereaved. Michelle's story is one of remarkable resilience and purpose. Through her podcast Widowed Too Soon, her book Widow Goals, and widow support groups in over 30 cities, she's creating communities where people don't just survive loss, they learn to thrive again. Whether you've experienced loss yourself or want to better support those who have, Michelle's insights on navigating grief, serving others, and finding hope after heartbreak will change the way you understand bereavement forever. WEBLINKS

In this powerful episode, Steve Rotermund shares his journey from childhood abandonment and abuse to discovering his true identity in Christ. After years of ministry, battling co-dependency, and walking away from God, Steve found transformation through Christian counselling that addressed not just behaviour but identity. His honest account of planting a church while his wife struggled with addiction, feeling like God merely tolerated him despite helping others, and finally discovering the difference between being an adoptive son and a spiritual son will resonate with anyone who's felt stuck in religious performance. Steve now leads Walk Right Ministries, offering a fresh approach to recovery that focuses on identity in Christ rather than behaviour modification alone. Through his book "God's Imperfect Plan is Perfect" and online community, he helps others move beyond Sunday Christianity into genuine relationship with God. This conversation challenges listeners to engage deeply with Scripture, understand their union with Christ, and discover the abundant life available right now, not just in the afterlife. WEBLINKS Walk Right Ministries

When Dan Nichols and his wife Joy discovered at their 20-week ultrasound that their unborn son had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, their world was turned upside down. What followed was a journey through three open-heart surgeries before kindergarten, two terrifying moments when baby Landon flatlined, and a profound deepening of faith that continues to shape Dan's ministry today. In this powerful conversation, Dan opens up about wrestling with God in hospital, rejecting the prosperity gospel's false promises, and learning to trust God's heart when you can't trace His hand. Beyond his personal story, Dan shares his passion for church unity through Northeast Collaborative, a regional network bringing pastors and denominations together in the most unchurched corner of America. He discusses his Making Scripture Simple book series designed to help children engage deeply with God's Word, and reflects on how suffering has transformed him into a more empathetic leader. Whether you're walking through your own valley or simply want to hear an honest conversation about faith, doubt, and God's unfailing presence, this episode will encourage and challenge you. WEBLINKS Dan and Joy’s Website Northeast Collaborative Dents in the Darkness Podcast

Former attorney Lara Silverman's life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious neurological illness forced her from the courtroom to being bedridden for years. After trying 150 treatments across eight years without success, Lara has had to wrestle with questions most Christians never face: What if God calls you to accept suffering instead of healing? In this raw and honest conversation, Lara shares how her theology was completely reshaped by chronic illness, and how meeting Matt, a youth leader with terminal cancer, led to an unexpected love story and one precious year of marriage before his death. This isn't a story of neat endings or miraculous healing. Lara still spends 65% of her days bedridden with debilitating vertigo. Yet she's written a bestselling book, "Singing Through Fire," that offers hope from inside the flames rather than from the other side. With the heart of a comedian and the mind of a lawyer, Lara challenges prosperity gospel thinking while revealing how God gives unexpected gifts, music, creativity, and deep joy, even when He doesn't give the healing we desperately pray for. Her story is for anyone who has felt betrayed by unanswered prayer or wondered why good theology doesn't always translate to an easy faith journey. WEBLINKS Singing Through Fire (Book) Lara Silverman’s Website Lara Silverman on Facebook Lara Silverman on Instagram Lara Silverman on YouTube

Dr. Oluwole Babatunde's story is one of extraordinary resilience and purpose. After losing both parents by age 13 in Nigeria, he could have let tragedy define him, but instead, he chose to adapt. Now a physician scientist, psychiatry resident, and author, Dr. Babatunde has turned his pain into a powerful mission to serve others and reduce mental health disparities. In this conversation, Dr. Babatunde shares the principles that carried him through unimaginable loss, including his MAP-LAMP framework for turning trials into triumphs. From the power of making meaning in suffering to the importance of serving others in our pain, his wisdom offers practical hope for anyone facing difficulty. His new book, Adapt and Advance, provides a faith-based, step-by-step guide to navigating life's storms, not just surviving them, but using them as stepping stones to something greater. WEBLINKS Adapt and Advance Oluwole Babatunde on Facebook