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In this episode, Rob Schellert is joined by Saša Jacobea for a conversation about gathering the spiritually curious together. Saša shares her journey as a church pioneer and the story behind Nekostei — a monthly experimental church whose name translates roughly as "non-church" or "no church." We talk about how Nekostei creates a space for people who might not feel at home in traditional church structures, the joys and challenges of starting something new, and the beauty of walking alongside seekers exploring faith in fresh and authentic ways. If you enjoyed today's conversation, please consider sharing this podcast with your friends as well as subscribing and leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform. Intro/Outro music by skinfiltr8r.

On this episode of Rumors of Doing Good, Rob sits down with Jitendra Nayak from Odisha, India, who has chosen to live life alongside the Dalit community. Rather than observing from a distance, Jitendra enters into their daily realities—sharing in their struggles, celebrating their resilience, and witnessing the quiet ways hope and goodness take root. In their conversation, they explore what it means to journey with people whose stories are too often overlooked, and how deep presence, long-term relationships, and solidarity can cultivate a kind of goodness that grows slowly but meaningfully. Jitendra's experience challenges us to rethink what it means to do good in our own communities, and invites us to notice the whispers of hope happening all around us.

In this episode, Rob Schellert is joined by Micah Purnell, a visual artist and designer from Manchester, England, whose public word art invites people to slow down and see the world differently. Through simple yet powerful phrases placed in everyday spaces, Micah explores how language can challenge consumerism, spark empathy, and help us rediscover our shared humanity. Together, they talk about how Micah got started, the role of faith in his creative process, and the story behind The Word Art Project — a growing movement of public installations using words to provoke reflection, connection, and hope. If you enjoyed today's conversation, please consider sharing this podcast with your friends as well as subscribing and leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform. Intro/Outro music by skinfiltr8r.

In this episode of Rumors of Doing Good, Rob Schellert talks with Adele Botha, a literacy advocate and founder of the Uyavula Reading and Writing Project in Cape Town and Write2BU in Pretoria, South Africa. From a young age, Adele discovered a love for reading and writing—a passion that has guided her work in empowering children and young people through storytelling, creativity, and literacy. She shares how she started Uyavula with just two children and a handful of books, the growth of the project, and how it has inspired volunteers and transformed communities. After moving to Pretoria, she took her passion in a new direction with Write2BU, helping young people find their voice through creative writing. Join us as Adele reflects on the joys and challenges of nurturing imagination, the role of faith and community in her work, and how small acts of creativity can ripple into meaningful change. Intro/Outro music by skinfiltr8r.

In this episode of Rumors of Doing Good, Rob sits down with Rae Pears from Bristol, UK, founder of Girlhood Reclaimed. Rae is pioneering a bold vision to reclaim and restore the stories of women and girls who have been silenced or overlooked. They talk about the challenges of starting something new, the courage it takes to imagine differently, and the power of creativity and healing in building spaces where girlhood can flourish again. Listen in for a conversation about reclaiming what's lost, pioneering what's needed, and the hope that emerges when imagination meets action. Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

In this episode, Rob sits down with Ken Loyd to explore how the pain we carry can shape the way we see others. Ken shares about growing up without a father, the loneliness that followed him into adulthood, and how that ache slowly transformed into a deep capacity for empathy. Together, they reflect on how our wounds can become doorways to compassion, allowing us to recognize and sit with the pain of others in tender and humanizing ways. If you enjoyed today's conversation, please consider sharing this podcast with your friends as well as subscribing and leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform. Intro/Outro music by skinfiltr8r.

On this episode of Rumors of Doing Good, Rob Schellert is joined by Ebun Feludu, the founder of Kókárí Coconuts in Lagos, Nigeria. Ebun has built a social enterprise that's transforming Nigeria's coconut industry through sustainable production, empowering women, and supporting local communities. They dive into the origins of Kókárí, the challenges of building a values-driven business, and how Ebun's faith and vision continue to inspire hope, opportunity, and meaningful change. Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, social impact, or just curious about how one small venture can grow into a movement, this conversation is full of insights and inspiration. If you enjoyed today's conversation, please consider sharing this podcast with your friends as well as subscribing and leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform. Intro/Outro music by skinfiltr8r.

In this episode of Rumors of Doing Good, Rob Schellert sits down with Barbara Leite Cowan & Emma Cowan Leite, who started and help lead Mount of Oaks, an intentional community in the hills of Portugal. Rooted in simplicity, shared life, and connection to the land, their community integrates permaculture, natural building, and spiritual practice into a holistic way of following the way of Jesus while caring for creation. They talk about how they got started, the vision behind Mount of Oaks, and the journey of building a life and community with intention. Barbara and Emma share insights about living sustainably, nurturing belonging, and creating spaces for healing and transformation. Whether you're curious about intentional communities, inspired by sustainable living, or seeking ways to integrate spirituality and care for creation into everyday life, this conversation is full of inspiration and practical wisdom. Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

In this episode of Rumors of Doing Good, Rob Schellert talks with Minori Sueyoshi, a skateboarder from Fukuoka, Japan, whose story is one of faith, friendship, and finding purpose on four small wheels. For over a decade, Minori has experienced how skateboarding can be more than sport — it can be a space where people feel seen, accepted, and loved. His journey reflects the quiet ways God meets us in ordinary passions and turns them into pathways for connection and transformation. Through falls and breakthroughs, Minori has learned what it means to live his faith in motion — creating safe spaces where others can show up as their true selves and discover belonging. Join us for a conversation about resilience, community, and the surprising places where good news shows up — even on a skateboard. Intro/Outro music by skinfiltr8r.

In this episode of Rumors of Doing Good, Rob Schellert speaks with Jack Holloway, founder of Despair Sanctuary in Brooklyn, New York, USA. What began as a moment of despair over taxes owed unexpectedly grew into a vision for creating vigils for the weary—a sanctuary where sorrow is honored and lament is made sacred. Jack shares the story behind Despair Sanctuary, the heart and vision that sustain it, and his love for drone music—slow, heavy, sustained soundscapes that create space for grief, stillness, and faithful lament. Together, they explore what it means to grieve faithfully in a world that often rushes past pain. If you enjoyed today's conversation, please consider sharing this podcast with your friends, as well as subscribing and leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform. Intro/Outro music by skinfiltr8r.

In this episode, Rob talks with Silvia Faridencio Gore Lado, a South Sudanese teacher, mother of five, and community leader now living in Egypt. After fleeing her home in Juba in 2017, Silvia began a journey through Sudan that eventually led her to Cairo, where she continues to teach and serve fellow refugees. She founded The Friendship Initiative for Women and Children Development, creating spaces of learning, belonging, and hope for South Sudanese women and children. Together, they talk about resilience, faith, and rebuilding life in a new land. Listener discretion advised: This episode includes firsthand accounts of displacement, war, and the refugee experience that may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening. Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

Longtime friend Ken Loyd returns to Rumors of Doing Good to share a story that has stayed with him for nearly 45 years—about a man named Roy Rogers (not that Roy Rogers!), whose simple, quiet love changed a room and a life. In this conversation, Ken and Rob reflect on the small gestures that stay with us—the way someone looks at you when you speak, the warmth of a hand being held, the feeling of being seen without needing to perform. Ken remembers Roy not for eloquent words or impressive credentials, but for a love that was uncomplicated, sincere, and disarming. As Ken's own life and health have changed over time, he finds himself drawn more and more to that kind of simplicity: a faith made real in presence, tenderness, humor, and humanity. This episode is a reminder that: We are shaped by the ordinary moments. We are remembered for how we loved, not what we accomplished. And sometimes the simplest things are the most profound. Maybe the good life really is that simple.

What does it look like to join in the mission of God — not through programs or blueprints, but through presence, listening, and local response? In this episode, we talk about creating experimental communities as a way of participating in the Missio Dei. Rooted in the life of Jesus and shaped by Anabaptist values like simplicity, mutuality, and discernment, we explore how community can emerge through shared lived experience. These are communities that take risks, learn as they go, and stay close to the ground they're planted in. Many of us are living with a deep dissatisfaction — with organized religion as it's been, with society as it is, and with the pace and patterns of life that leave us fragmented and exhausted. Counter Presence: Dissatisfaction Rooted in Hope is a series of conversations born from that unrest, and from a longing to live more grounded, more human, and more faithful lives. It's about cultivating a presence shaped by the life and teachings of Jesus, and formed through community, simplicity, mutuality, and hope — as exemplified by the Anabaptist tradition. Not as an escape, but as a faithful way of being in the world, together. Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

In this episode, we explore the deep and disruptive belief that every person bears the image of God — the Imago Dei. We reflect on how this conviction, rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus and nurtured within the Anabaptist tradition, calls us to a radically different way of seeing and relating to others. In a world that often categorizes, dehumanizes, and divides, we ask: what kind of community becomes possible when we begin by recognizing the divine in every face? And how might that recognition reshape the way we live, lead, and belong — together? Many of us are living with a deep dissatisfaction — with organized religion as it's been, with society as it is, and with the pace and patterns of life that leave us fragmented and exhausted. Counter Presence: Dissatisfaction Rooted in Hope is a series of conversations born from that unrest, and from a longing to live more grounded, more human, and more faithful lives. Rooted in the conviction that the Anabaptist tradition offers a wealth of wisdom for these times, we take the time to explore what it means to cultivate a countercultural presence — one that is shaped by the life and teachings of Jesus, and formed through community, simplicity, mutuality, and hope. Not as an escape, but as a faithful way of being in the world, together. Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

In this first episode of season five, I am joined by my friend and colleague Andrew Dungan as we reflect on the place we find ourselves in — culturally, spiritually, and personally. We talk honestly about the restlessness many of us feel and how that led us to discover and appreciate the Anabaptist tradition. This conversation is about naming where we are, not to despair, but to make space for something new to emerge — a way of life grounded in presence, hope, and shared humanity. Many of us are living with a deep dissatisfaction — with organized religion as it's been, with society as it is, and with the pace and patterns of life that leave us fragmented and exhausted. Counter Presence: Dissatisfaction Rooted in Hope is a series of conversations born from that unrest, and from a longing to live more grounded, more human, and more faithful lives. Rooted in the conviction that the Anabaptist tradition offers a wealth of wisdom for these times, we take the time to explore what it means to cultivate a countercultural presence — one that is shaped by the life and teachings of Jesus, and formed through community, simplicity, mutuality, and hope. Not as an escape, but as a faithful way of being in the world, together. Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.