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PODCAST

Towards Understanding

Towards Understanding is a full-length feature interview radio program hosted by Clayton Bjelan. The show contains a mix of interviews based around the understanding and living out of Christian faith and those just doing remarkable things in our world. It focuses on three key groups of people - The Known, The Overcomer and The Unknown. 89.9 | TheLight | PositiveMedia | LightFM | Melbourne

religion & spirituality christianity

All Episodes

31:28

Paul Syrstad - Writer of Testament - A New...

Towards Understanding ·

2025/09/07

Paul Syrstad is the creator, director, and executive producer of Testament, a bold reimagining of the Book of Acts set in an alternate modern world still ruled by the Roman Empire. While training as an actor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, he discovered a calling for storytelling behind the camera and creating one of the more spectacularly dynamic visual telling of a book of the Bible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

21:07

Rush Witt - Author of Want to Escape

Towards Understanding ·

2025/08/20

Rush Witt, Author of ‘Want to Escape’ is a pastor and counsellor who has some encouraging things to talk to Clayton about how to battle the desire to 'escape' during life. As you listen, you may find yourself reflecting on the 4 D's that you might escape to and how to combat them. Oh, and yes, Clayton asks if Rush is his real name!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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36:10

Sarah Ogilvie - How the first Dictionary is shaping...

Towards Understanding ·

2025/08/17

Sarah Ogilvie is Professor of Language and Lexicography at the University of Oxford. Her latest book is ‘The Dictionary People: the unsung heroes who created the Oxford English Dictionary’. The creation not only was remarkably universal in its work - but has long lasting impact on our language and culture today! Sarah, as a lexicographer, has been an editor at the Oxford English Dictionary and was Chief Editor of Oxford Dictionaries in Australia. As a technologist she has worked in

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40:45

Melissa DePaiva Gibson - Return to Palau

Towards Understanding ·

2025/08/13

Melissa chatted to Clayton about the documentary about her life - Return to Palau. After her whole family was tragically murdered, Melissa returned to Palau many years later and miraculously met with her family's killer, and her abductor, who left her for dead in a ravine. The impact on both Melissa's life and the entire population of Palau is truly amazing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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33:02

Dr. Ming Wang - Angel Studios "Sight" is his true...

Towards Understanding ·

2025/08/10

Dr. Ming Wang, a Chinese immigrant who defies all odds to become a world-renowned eye surgeon in the United States joins Clayton to talk about the so called 'Cultural Revolution' in the 1960's & 70's that destroyed Dr Wang's childhood education. He shares about his journey to America, his development of ground breaking eye technology that he gifted to the world (now worth $5billion). And shares how his Christian faith guides his life, but also his work as one of, if not the, leading eye surgeon

en-US

34:44

Bill Sutcliffe – Author of Driven

Towards Understanding ·

2025/08/06

Bill Sutcliffe shares with Clayton a story of overcoming unimaginable abuse as a child (on multiple levels) to a moment of forgiveness that changed his world. Hear Bill's story as he shares about his world changing relationship with Jesus and the subsequent life changing moments he has been able to give to prisoners and those who have been abused themselves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

34:34

Sheila Gregoire - Author of She Deserves Better

Towards Understanding ·

2025/08/03

Sheila Wray Gregoire is the author of eleven books includingShe Deserves Better: Raising Girls to Resist Toxic Teachings on Sex, Self, and Speaking Up,the host of the Bare Marriage podcast, and the founder ofTo Love Honor and Vacuum. An award-winning writer, Sheila calls the church to more than just pat answers by conducting original research to find out what advice works–and what really doesn’t. She Deserves Better is an evidence-based book grounded on surveys of over 28,000 women to

en-US

18:42

Dave Fishwick - Bank of Dave

Towards Understanding ·

2025/07/30

Dave Fishwick is the 'Dave' behind the UK movie,Bank of Dave. He chats to Clayton about being driven by the need to help others and is constantly seeking ways to make the lives of those around him, better. He shares with Clayton, his journey of being a working-class man from the small English town of Burnley in Northern England and fighting the elite London banking establishment to establish a local community bank. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

28:05

Jo Hood - Founder/CEO of mainly music

Towards Understanding ·

2025/07/27

Jo Hood is the Founder/CEO of mainly music. Originally starting in New Zealand in 1990, mainly music is now also in Australia and the UK, plus a handful of groups in other countries. In 2025, mainly music celebrates 35 years in NZ, 25 years in Australia, and 20 years in the UK, since the first group was established in each location. Tens of thousands of families over this time have enjoyed many moments together, singing, dancing, moving, laughing, learning, eating great cake, and most of all,

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29:40

Victoria Sinis - From OnlyFans to Creating Gems

Towards Understanding ·

2025/07/24

Victoria Sinis once used her skills to market OnlyFans creators, she now uses them as a speaker, strategist, and founder of Creating Gems, to equips counter-cultural voices, nonprofits, and advocates to grow with integrity online. With a background in marketing and lived experience in the adult content industry, Victoria now uses storytelling to challenge harmful narratives, educate on digital exploitation, and empower others to reclaim their worth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

en-US

19:28

Don Spencer – Play School Legend

Towards Understanding ·

2025/07/23

Don Spence an Australian singer-songwriter, musician, and former children's television presenter, known the best for his long tenure as a host on Play School.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

9:05

Max Lucado: Author, Pastor and Missionary

Towards Understanding ·

2025/07/17

Author, missionary, pastor and sometimes-actor Max Lucado chatted with Clayton about his motivations and creative processes. With over 100 books published internationally, Lucado is a passionate and inspired author. He discusses his creativity and love for writing, and the joy that the practice elicits within him. Showing no signs of slowing down, the full-time pastor revels in his busy and inspired lifestyle: “I love what I do. As long as the Lord gives me good health and ideas, I’m

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17:45

Boxer Nigel Benn’s addiction to adultery

Towards Understanding ·

2025/07/16

Boxing champion Nigel Benn opened up to Clayton Bjelan about the misguided path he led during his boxing career. “I just thought it was great at the time because I’d come from nothing. I’d gone straight to the top of the food train.” With the overwhelming changes to his everyday life, Nigel found himself surrounded by a different crowd of people, got into drugs, and became addicted to adultery. Unable to break this damaging cycle, Nigel found courage in himself to tell his

en-US

28:31

Martine Wilson – Generosity Path

Towards Understanding ·

2025/07/13

Martine is a Director for Generosity Path and believes generosity could solve the world’s problems! She is passionate about supporting churches, ministries and business groups to disciple believers into radical and joyful generosity as a natural response to Jesus' radical generosity to us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

22:20

Steve Lawrence - leading in life, footy, family and...

Towards Understanding ·

2025/07/09

Clayton chatted with Steve Lawrence about leading in life, character, footy, family and community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

42:59

Jason T. Smith - Author of Unlikely

Towards Understanding ·

2025/07/06

Jason is an accomplished physiotherapist, dynamic entrepreneur, and award-winning leadership expert in high demand. He was the CEO of Australia's largest physiotherapy network at the time, Back In Motion Health Group. He has written three books and chatted to Clayton about his latest book, Unlikely. Jason shares how is life as a businessman is intertwined with God's purposes for him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

17:56

Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles

Towards Understanding ·

2025/07/02

Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles As Victoria’s most experienced homicide detective, Ron Iddles investigated around 300 murders spanning 25 years. He became known for his tough but fair approach to solving serious crimes, even coming under fire when he used a crime scene photo of Jill Meagher while talking about community safety. Here he reflects on his involvement in a number of high-profile cases and his role as Police Association Secretary. Tune in to hear more about Ron’s life

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29:13

Katherine Kirkwood - Stable One CEO

Towards Understanding ·

2025/06/29

Katherine Kirkwood - Stable One CEO Katherine Kirwood is the CEO of Stable One. Hear how this creative concept might just be a key to helping solve homelessness and connecting Churches together like never before. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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17:35

Nicky Gumbel – Alpha Program

Towards Understanding ·

2025/06/25

Nicky Gumbel – Alpha Program Nicky Gumbel chatted with Clayton about everything to do with the Alpha program (the program that allows you to ask those ‘big’ questions about life). Nicky talked about the amount of countries and languages that the Alpha program is in, the strangest place that the Alpha program has run (doubt you will guess it!) and why Bear Grylls is involved in the Alpha program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

29:56

Helen Thorne–Allenson - Purity in a Porn–Saturated...

Towards Understanding ·

2025/06/25

Helen Thorne–Allenson - Purity in a Porn–Saturated Culture Helen Thorne-Allenson is the Director of Training and Resources at Biblical Counselling UK. She is an experienced speaker and writer whose recent books include Mental Health and Your Church, Hope in an Anxious World and 5 Things to Pray for a Suffering Friend. Clayton and Helen talked about Helen's new book ‘Purity in a Porn-Saturated Culture’, specifically having conversations around young females’ usage of

en-US

188 results

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