Resignation day can sound dramatic, but for a lot of pastors it’s the quiet end of a long road of burnout, low energy, and wrestling with God about what’s next. Matt Thomas joins us to tell the truth about leaving pastoral ministry without walking away from Jesus, and why the actual moment of writing the resignation letter can feel both heavy and strangely relieving.

We dig into what happens after the job ends and the adrenaline wears off. Matt shares how separation from the church context can surface grief, exhaustion, and unexpected triggers, and why spiritual practices like prayer and reading the Bible can suddenly feel complicated when they’ve been intertwined with ministry pressure. We also talk about the gap between “I choose to forgive” and the emotional aftershocks that keep showing up, plus why venting safely to trusted people and to God can be part of real healing.

From there, we zoom out to the bigger picture: why pastors experience church differently, how “dual relationships” and shifting expectations wear leaders down, and why a season away from church can be a wise sabbatical rather than a failure. Matt also shares what he’s hoping for next, including training in counseling, healthier boundaries, and a simpler path to discipleship that doesn’t require a title to be meaningful.

If you’ve ever felt cooked, disillusioned, or just tired of carrying it all, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review. What part of recovery would you want to rebuild first?

If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.

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Sunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul.

Burnout isn’t a buzzword when you’re staring at the ceiling for weeks with no energy to move. I sit down with Mat Thomas, a former associate pastor, to talk about the kind of ministry burnout that hits your body, your emotions, and your faith all at once. Mat shares what it was like to realise he was spent, why the aftermath can include anger and grief, and how hard it is to make sense of giving so much to pastoral ministry only to end up feeling empty.

We also get honest about the pressures that don’t show up in job descriptions: the “this is how we do things” culture of established churches, the hyper vigilance of trying not to trigger another conflict, and the exhausting reality of pushing through endless admin just to get to the parts of ministry that actually bring life. Mat opens up about spiritual practices in a dry season, how journaling became a lifeline, and why even a retreat can feel crowded when your mind keeps snapping back to problems waiting at home.

We don’t skip the personal cost, either. Mat talks about the toll on marriage, the quiet strength of a supportive spouse, and why he’s now moving toward counselling because he still cares deeply about walking with people in the thick of it. If you’re a pastor, church leader, or volunteer feeling cooked, this conversation will help you name the signs, take rest seriously, and rethink the pressure to be someone you’re not. Subscribe, share this with a leader you care about, and leave a review if it helped. What part of this hit closest to home for you?

If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

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Sunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul.

Your brain is powerful, but it’s not the whole story. Dr. Ash Moreland joins us for a Sunburnt Souls collaboration to unpack a game-changing idea for Christian mental health: the mind and the brain are not the same thing, and confusing them can keep people stuck. Ash shares how years of severe mental health challenges, a PhD in neuroplasticity, and a deep faith in Jesus led her to rethink what “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” really means in everyday life.

We talk through three common responses that pile on shame, and we explain what a biblically grounded, trauma-informed approach can look like without turning pastors into therapists. If you’ve ever felt the tension between knowing your identity in Christ and still feeling rejected, abandoned, or unsafe, this conversation names that gap with clarity and compassion.

You’ll also hear how to access Remind Institute resources through Sunburnt Souls, including free tools and optional paid courses, plus how the Sunburnt Souls Support Fund helps remove financial barriers for people who need deeper support.

If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a better next step, and leave a review so more people can find real hope and practical help. What’s one area where you want freedom to feel real, not just theoretical?

GET ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES HERE

🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW

Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.

• Listen and Rate on Apple Podcasts
• Listen & Rate on Spotify

Sunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul.