Towards Understanding

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

Episodes

April 1, 2026 45 mins

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 ...

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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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March 25, 2026 47 mins

Cheng Lei is a Chinese Australian journalist working for Sky News. In 2020 while Australia-China relations hit bottom, she was incarcerated for over three years by the Chinese government on charges of leaking state secrets. Diplomatic efforts led to her release in October, 2023. Lei spoke with Clayton about the torture technics in detention, the reasons for her incarceration and the ability to survive to eventually see her kids aga...

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Chris Cipollone has a passion for bringing a deep and authentic faith to the everyday experiences of life. Originally training as a teacher, Chris went on to spend over a decade as a church pastor in Sydney, Australia. He is Founding Director of Life To The Full, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to help people flourish in faith and life. Clayton chatted to Chris about his book 'Here to Love'.

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John Lennox is an Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Said Business School. He is particularly interested in the interface of science, philosophy and theology. Lennox has been part of numerous public debates defending the Christian faith against well-known atheists in...

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Nikki Lee is a 33-year-old Aussie living with multiple medical conditions and disabilities (including Alagille Syndrome) – surviving a liver transplant twenty years ago – she is passionate about sharing God’s story through her life. She is the author of Alagille Girl, a memoir about resilience, healing and God’s grace.

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March 11, 2026 31 mins

Justine Toh is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. She has a PhD in Cultural Studies from Macquarie University. Justine is the author of the book  Achievement Addiction, where she aims to answer the question of "why do we constantly strive for our significance - and could you quit the habit if you tried?".  Justine & Clayton discuss the current Western culture of achievement addiction and talk abo...

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This International Women's Day, Clayton chats to a very special guest, Kate, who works for Dignity Freedom Network (DFN). DFN raises awareness and support for women's ministry in South Asia. Kate is always seeking opportunities to ‘be a voice for those who have no voice’ and share how these exploited and impoverished women are finding freedom and hope. Kate says it is a privilege to represent these precious women and in...

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Josh Reid is National Director of Jesus Club Community - an organisation that helps local churches start their own ministry with adults with intellectual disabilities through their flagship program, Jesus Club.Here how Jesus Club operates, the opportunity for your local community and the impact Jesus Club is having on participants!

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Clayton invited a very unique guest into the studio to interview this week. The rapper known as 360 has cemented himself as one of Australia’s most iconic and beloved rappers since breaking onto the scene in the early 2010s. More recently he has done a 180 on his life and boldly proclaiming his faith in Jesus.Renowned for his raw honesty, sharp lyricism and emotionally charged storytelling, he has built a career defined by bo...

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Greg Sheridan is one of Australia's best-known journalists. How Christians Can Succeed Today is his ninth book. He chatted to Clayton about the book, which is about rediscovering the radical, transcendent and downright weird message of Jesus, being the third title in Greg's bestselling trilogy about Christianity in the modern world.

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Kathleen Folbigg was wrongfully convicted in 2003 of murdering her four infant children. She was pardoned in 2023 after twenty years in prison, following a long campaign for justice by her supporters, she had her convictions overturned on appeal a few months later. 

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Peggy Callahan is the producer & co-director of the film Mission: Joy. She explained how His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu give them unprecedented access to their unlikely friendship as they shared different religions and found (neuroscience-backed wisdom) to help each of us live with more joy, despite hardship. 

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Edwin Keshish-Abnous is an Iranian-born theologian and media leader, currently serving as Executive Director of Heart4Iran at 24/7 satellite Christian TV. Not only does it provide free studio production to hundreds of partners, but it also provides free broadcast, free in-country follow-up, and free Bible distribution inside Iran. To this date, Heart4Iran has helped launch over 300 house churches across Iran. Clayton chatted to Edw...

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February 11, 2026 31 mins

Dani Treweek, who has grappled with a theology of singleness for the past 16 years, spoke to Clayton about the fact that it is frustrating that both society and the contemporary evangelical church see singleness as a state of lacking and deficiency, grounded in what it is not. Dani is the founding director of the Single Minded Ministry, and was excited to share with Clayton that she has brought together the encouraging insights fro...

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 "Into the Spotlight" is a documentary following one season of the annual Spotlight Musical Theatre production at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas (HPUMC). The Spotlight program is a part of the church's Belong Disability Ministry (BDM), and the annual musical is unique because participants with disabilities lead the creation of a full-length musical showcasing their passions and ideas. Clayton chatted wi...

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Clayton chatted to the founder of the Table Talk Project, Neil Milton. Neil's passion for valuing time at the table comes through as he explains the importance of having intentional family conversations around the dinner table.

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Growing up in the slums of Manila, Sherwin got sponsored by an INA supporter and gained access to education, which enabled him to rise to become the Director of Vineyard of His Grace Ministries, where he now oversees all of INA’s country-level programming. His work focuses on empowering the most marginalised women and children to escape extreme poverty. Sherwin is also a passionate Christian communicator who speaks powerfully...

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Tina leads service delivery at ChimeIn Recovery Services, bringing her compassionate, practical approach, dedication and significant experience working with participants seeking psychosocial or addiction recovery support. Tina shares her story of despair, hope and now providing hope for others.  In 2011, Tina was inducted into the WA International Women’s Hall of Fame for her contribution to mental health and addiction s...

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December 14, 2025 29 mins

Naomi Reed is an ambassador for the International Nepal fellowship (INF). The INF is an international Christian mission, working in Nepal since 1952, and aiming to empower the most marginalised and disadvantaged people in Nepal, through health and community development. She is a gifted communicator who loves to use honest, everyday stories to remind us that even in the hardest moments, God has not forgotten us. She began ...

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