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
Modern slavery can feel like a problem from another era, yet millions of people around the world remain trapped in trafficking, forced labour and exploitation. Peter Williams joins Clayton to discuss the realities of modern slavery today, the work being done to protect vulnerable people, and why justice requires more than simply being aware of the problem.About Peter Williams:Peter Williams serves as Regional President for Asia Pac...
In a crumbling Soviet Union, the Petrosyan family finds themselves as outcasts - wherever they go. Hear Violetta & Ivan talk with Clayton about how their Armenian heritage marked them out for discrimination, first in their home country of Azerbaijan and then in Russia. After finding their eternal hope through a church planted by American missionaries, the hostilities of everyday life push them to seek refuge in the United State...
Maureen Martin shares with Clayton how the bedrock of her faith enabled her to face the challenges, including (in a 6 month period) the death of her son & her husband's horse-riding accident that resulted in brain damage. Her story encourages us that no matter what life throws at you, there can be a purposeful future up ahead as we trust in God.
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CHECK: Dave Adamson is a speaker, author, and digital ministry leader who has spent more than two decades helping churches communicate clearly, disciple people effectively, and reach beyond their walls through digital platforms. After nearly a decade as a TV reporter with Channel TEN in Melbourne, Australia, Dave moved to the US in 2008 to work at the intersection of church, media, and digital culture. He led online communities at ...
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Magnus is the founder and CEO of Mary’s Meals International, a global charity providing daily meals to over 3 million of the world’s poorest children in their place of education. His journey began in 1992 when, ...
Clayton spoke to Robert Rogers. In 2003, Robert experienced a deep tragedy. After 8 years as a father, nearly 12 years as a husband, Robert's life completely changed one night on his family's way home from a wedding in which he and the family got caught out in a wild flash flood. Sadly Robert was the only one to survive, with his wife and 4 children drowned. Through his immediate trust in God, Robert has risen above adversity and f...
Clayton chatted with Hilda John, who has been serving vulnerable communities through DAIA (Development Association for Integrated Activity) since its inception in 2002. With a professional background as a civil engineer in India, she stepped away from a successful technical career to pursue her true calling, serving people in need, bringing a wealth of leadership, professional expertise, and deep compassion for low socio-economic c...
Clayton chatted to Lauren Novak (an award-winning journalist) specialising in coverage of education, parenting, family violence and child safety. But, it was her personal journey of understanding why motherhood causes havoc with your life that led her to write the book Meltdown: Why motherhood makes us angry and what to do about it. Clayton and Lauren talk through the discoveries, the reserach and the opportunities of this period o...
Clayton chatted to singer, songwriter Bay Turner, whose love for music was first ignited by a gas station mixtape he’d listen to from the passenger seat to and from his dad’s house. Turner’s parents divorced when he was an infant, and when his father moved out to the Texas Hill Country, his weekends were always bookended by a car ride with his dad, which imporved and ignited his love of music.
Clayton and Bay a...
Neil Walshe is a creative director in advertising and creator of the Losing Sound. Neil chatted to Clayton about his desire to see the addiction to pokies in Australia reduce. Australia has 20% of the worlds pokies while having less than 1% of the worlds population. Neil is now urging the Australian government and gaming authorities to take this crucial step of making a sound when players lose. Find out more about the story at: los...
Kareena Shaw was a registered nurse for 20 years when she first heard Dr Andrew Browning AM speak about the plight of new mothers in Ethiopia living with obstetric fistula. Kareena felt compelled to volunteer, to which Dr Browning replied that he really needed midwives. As simple as that, Kareena decided to retrain as a midwife with the sole purpose of volunteering with Barbara May Foundation. Since th...
Sheridan Voysey chatted to Clayton about establishing and running the Friendship Lab's mission is to empower adults with the wisdom and skills to make their friendships thrive and its dream is to see every adult have at least three '2am friends'. This is a chat everyone needs to hear.
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Common Grace speaks and acts for justice in multiple areas across Australian society. Ahead of Reconciliation week Clayton spoke to Common Grace's Safina Stewart is a proud Wuthathi and Mabuiag Island woman who grew up cross culturally in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Safina is passionate about culture, education, the arts, justice and faith. Safina shares about the opportunities for all to particpate in Reconc...
Clayton spoke with NZ/Australian entrepreneur David Bussau who gave a $50 loan to a struggling farmer named Ketut 50 years ago, who was facing the unimaginable. His crops had failed, and with no way to repay his land lease, he was forced to hand over his eldest child to the landowner as collateral. That small loan allowed Ketut’s wife to buy a sewing machine and begin a home business. Their child was returned. Their family wa...
Timothy Wainwright, based in Sydney, NSW, is a seasoned fire and emergency management professional with over 30 years of experience. As the Executive Director of Operation Fire Support, he leads global initiatives to enhance community safety through innovative fire prevention strategies. Timothy has held significant roles in both government and non-government organizations, receiving numerous awards, including citations for rescue ...
Kari Hoffmann is the mother of Landen Hoffmann, the young boy who survived a 39 foot fall from a third-floor balcony at the Mall of America in 2019 (he had been thrown off by a stranger). A story that made headlines around the world. In the midst of that unimaginable moment, Kari turned to her faith, crying out to God and asking everyone in the mall to pray. What followed was a series of undeniable miracles that defied science and ...
Paul Singer was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Soldier On in 2025. As a veteran and having worked closely with the Defence community, Paul is passionate about the values of service, resilience, and community that Soldier On embodies. He is dedicated to supporting veterans and their families lead meaningful and healthy lives. Soldier On's mission is to deliver life-changing support services, programs and activities, to serving...
Daniel Reynaud is Emeritus Professor of History at Avondale University. He was the inaugural Visiting Historian at the Anzac Memorial in Sydney and is recognised as an authority on Anzac social history, including cinema, spirituality and food. Reynaud is the author and co-presenter of eight award-winning documentaries on the Anzacs and religion. He has written across multiple genres including academia, poetry translation and journa...
Dick Tibbits is a licensed professional mental health counsellor, a hospital administrator and a professional sports coach, who is currently a performance coach to some of the world’s elite motorsports racers. Following a devastating job loss, Tibbits suffered the impact of deep resentment – experiencing fatigue, weight gain and the onset of high blood pressure. He investigated whether forgiveness could have measurable ...
Amy Brown, former head of Investment NSW, explained to Clayton how she found herself at the centre of what can best be described as a political firestorm, involving an intense public inquiry and an avalanche of media coverage and speculation. As a leader who has always been very open about her Christian faith, she told Clayton that she had to work out pretty quickly what that faith really meant in the context of such a stressful, p...
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