Schizophrenia, Faith & Business: Loving Jesus While Running a Startup
A Christian mental health podcast conversation about schizophrenia, entrepreneurship, and faith
In This Episode:
What does it look like to run a software business, build a startup, and follow Jesus while living with schizophrenia? In this conversation, Tom shares with rare honesty: hallucinations that ambush him at work, the constant tug-of-war with paranoia and “what-ifs,” and the practical ways he keeps handing his fear back to God. We talk stigma, friendship, prayer that’s messy but real, and why gratitude and community matter when life feels chaotic.
If you live with schizophrenia, bipolar, anxiety, or you love someone who does, this episode offers grounded hope: God hasn’t let you down yet—and he won’t start now.
Topics covered
Schizophrenia, hallucinations, and reality-testing as a Christian
Running a business while managing symptoms and anxiety
Paranoia, “what-ifs,” and choosing the next right step
Spiritual rhythms that feel human, not heavy
Stigma, reputational risk, and choosing safe people
Gratitude, friendship, and seeing God’s faithfulness in hindsight
A closing prayer over listeners
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome back, movies about mental illness, depictions that help
03:00 Tom’s consulting work, startup idea, and scheduling problem to solve
06:00 Business while living with schizophrenia—client comms and confidence
07:20 Hallucinations at work and how Tom resets safely
09:30 Reality checks: what’s obviously unreal, what might not be
10:30 Prayer in the moment: “God, please calm me down”
12:20 Dave on anger, unforgiveness, and giving burdens to God
13:40 Paranoia at work: learning not to live in hypotheticals
16:00 “Just ask”: doing the next right thing you can control
17:00 Seasonal slowdowns, money fears, and running back to God
18:10 Gratitude lists and remembering what’s still good
20:00 Spiritual rhythms as conversation with a Friend
21:30 Apps and structure vs “rolling with it”
23:30 Openness, DMs, and helping people professionally and personally
24:30 Stigma and reputation—why openness still wins
26:40 “You don’t look bipolar”: invisibility, comparison with physical illness
28:40 The friends who stay, and learning not to settle for the rest
31:10 Safe communities vs being dissected as a “case”
32:40 Tom’s closing encouragement: God has your back
34:10 Closing prayer and send-off
Transcript
00:00:00:10 - 00:00:22:17
Dave Quak
Welcome to Sunburnt Souls. I’m Dave Quak, and on this show we speak about life, faith, and our mental wellbeing. Today I’m stoked because Tom is back. Last year I interviewed Tom. He’s a man of God who lives with schizophrenia, runs a business, and is an all-round awesome guy. Today we’re going to talk about what it’s like to live with schizophrenia, love Jesus, and run a business, plus a bunch of other things.
00:00:22:17 - 00:00:45:24
Dave Quak
So sit back, relax, and thanks for tuning in to Sunburnt Souls. Tom, with all that in mind, I only have one opportunity to ask this question, and I have to ask you: do people with mental health conditions—and let’s talk specifically about schizophrenia, because that’s what you carry—like watching movies about people with schizophrenia?
00:00:46:00 - 00:00:57:16
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yes, I do. I don’t know why, but they’re my favourite sorts of movies, I guess because I can relate to the character. Favourite movie? Shutter Island.
00:00:57:18 - 00:00:59:00
Dave Quak
Shutter Island. That’s the one.
00:00:59:05 - 00:01:06:02
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
That’s a really good one. Fight Club as well, because in those ones you don’t know what’s going on—no spoilers.
00:01:06:04 - 00:01:07:03
Dave Quak
Yeah, lots of spoilers.
00:01:07:03 - 00:01:13:02
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
There are lots of spoilers. You don’t realise what’s happening until halfway through, and then towards the end you’re like, ohhh yeah.
00:01:13:04 - 00:01:13:17
Dave Quak
Oh man.
00:01:13:19 - 00:01:15:24
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
That’s why it hits so well.
00:01:16:01 - 00:01:31:03
Dave Quak
In Shutter Island, the next morning when he’s back to reset, he’s like, there’s something going on here—after they’ve gone through all that effort to rehab him and it didn’t work. What about A Beautiful Mind? I think that was one of the most original.
00:01:31:07 - 00:01:35:21
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I want to watch that, because that’s about the dude involved in game theory, isn’t it?
00:01:35:22 - 00:01:42:08
Dave Quak
Oh, maybe. I’m not sure. It’s the Russell Crowe one—he’s a professor.
00:01:42:11 - 00:02:04:23
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah. I think it’s someone who helped develop game theory—correct me if I’m wrong—but that’s been on my watch list for ages. I just haven’t had a chance to watch it. Game theory is super-useful across the entire world. It’s used in economics and all sorts of business applications.
00:02:04:23 - 00:02:13:21
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Everything. And the dude has schizophrenia and wasn’t all there at times, but he helped create this beautiful thing that everyone uses.
00:02:13:22 - 00:02:32:01
Dave Quak
I didn’t realise that’s what it was based on. And when you said game theory just then—because I’ve got a 16-year-old gaming son—I wasn’t sure if it was something to do with video games. But those movies are intense. If they’re done well, they can depict an important conversation.
00:02:32:01 - 00:02:53:06
Dave Quak
Mark Ruffalo plays a bipolar guy in Infinitely Polar Bear, and it’s awesome. I didn’t even know that movie existed until maybe six months ago—it popped up on Netflix. He depicts someone with bipolar so well that I wanted everyone who knows and loves me to watch it. I was like, see—that’s what it’s like.
00:02:53:08 - 00:02:54:02
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
That’s beautiful.
00:02:54:04 - 00:02:58:01
Dave Quak
They did that so well. Tell me—your consulting firm’s going well?
00:02:58:06 - 00:02:59:08
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yes. Yes, it is.
00:02:59:09 - 00:03:00:22
Dave Quak
Tell us about that.
00:03:00:24 - 00:03:07:07
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I run my own software engineering consultancy and marketing agency called To Media.
00:03:07:09 - 00:03:08:21
Dave Quak
I’ll plug it then.
00:03:08:23 - 00:03:25:04
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I’ll plug it—yeah, it’s called To Media, and it’s going quite well. I build web apps and mobile apps for Bond Uni and Queensland Health and a hospital. I also do a lot of consultancy for a couple of other agencies on the Gold Coast. I want to expand over the next year because that’d be nice.
00:03:25:04 - 00:03:36:00
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
While I’m doing that, I’m also doing a startup. One of my friends from church asked, “Hey Tom, want to join me on a startup? You know how to build an app.” He didn’t realise all I could do at the time.
00:03:36:03 - 00:03:36:21
Dave Quak
You know, just a—
00:03:36:21 - 00:03:49:23
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
—little bit. He was like, “Oh, you do all that? Perfect.” So yes, I did. It’s a barbershop availability app we’re building together called Campus.
00:03:49:23 - 00:03:50:12
Dave Quak
Nice.
00:03:50:13 - 00:03:56:23
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
We’ve got a couple of clients already and we’re just starting off. We’ve only been building it for five months—it came together quickly.
00:03:56:23 - 00:04:01:08
Dave Quak
That’s cool. So you can get a barbershop appointment at any barber shop?
00:04:01:08 - 00:04:18:07
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah. We’re doing scheduling now. It wasn’t part of the original idea, but someone said, “We need scheduling,” so we added it. The original idea was a Compass-style app that shows the availability of all the barbers near you.
00:04:18:08 - 00:04:36:01
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
So you can say, “I need a haircut right now—this one’s available. I’ll go there.” You know when you’re at a shopping centre and need a haircut, and you end up checking every single barbershop to see the lines, then give up and try again next week?
00:04:36:03 - 00:04:50:15
Dave Quak
It’s true. Or at my local, you write your name on a board and hope your name comes up in the right order—it could be anywhere from five minutes to an hour and a half.
00:04:50:16 - 00:04:51:10
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Exactly.
00:04:51:12 - 00:04:51:21
Dave Quak
That’s a good—
00:04:51:21 - 00:04:55:02
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
—idea. There’s a reason my hair grows so long.
00:04:55:02 - 00:04:58:07
Dave Quak
You do look like you’re from the hippie movement at the moment.
00:04:58:09 - 00:04:59:24
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I’ve got the doily on.
00:05:00:00 - 00:05:07:23
Dave Quak
We’ll have to take a photo for the podcast shot—you’re literally wearing a crocheted doily-looking shirt.
00:05:07:24 - 00:05:14:16
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I am. It’s my favourite shirt. It’s getting to summer—that’s when I can get away with it.
00:05:14:16 - 00:05:18:11
Dave Quak
How does one acquire a shirt like that? Gift? Party?
00:05:18:12 - 00:05:34:06
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
No—Cotton On. It was a choice I made, much to everyone’s shock. I remember people saying, “What is that? A doily?” And I said, yes. Yes, it is.
00:05:34:08 - 00:05:55:03
Dave Quak
I love hearing about your life, Tom. Your business encourages me. I’ve been watching you over the last year since our last chat. You’re flourishing in your faith, doing well in business, and carrying mental health challenges. It’s good to interview someone doing well while carrying all that.
00:05:55:05 - 00:06:00:10
Dave Quak
How is it running a business while having schizophrenia?
00:06:00:12 - 00:06:04:21
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Running a business in general is hard. Running it with schizophrenia is very difficult.
00:06:04:21 - 00:06:05:06
Dave Quak
Yeah.
00:06:05:10 - 00:06:24:18
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I’ve been doing it for about five years now. I used to work at a PR agency doing web development. I worked my way up quickly, became head of it, then resigned and became a junior dev—downgraded myself for some clarity and reprieve.
00:06:24:19 - 00:06:48:10
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I was working on my business, then finally went full time. That was cool, but then I had to talk to people. I’m very introverted and don’t like talking to people. I had so many negative thoughts around every client conversation. I took everything personally in those first couple of years.
00:06:48:12 - 00:06:53:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I’ve gotten better at it. I’ve become more confident as time goes on.
00:06:53:14 - 00:06:55:08
Dave Quak
We probably need a little bit of that, don’t we?
00:06:55:09 - 00:06:57:04
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yes.
00:06:57:06 - 00:07:19:03
Dave Quak
Has there been a time when you’re developing a web app and you’re not sure if you’re thinking clearly? Like, if neurotransmitters are overlapping—how sometimes you see things. You mentioned last time you sometimes see things. Has that invaded your workspace?
00:07:19:03 - 00:07:27:09
Dave Quak
Any times where that’s happened?
00:07:27:11 - 00:07:48:18
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
One hundred percent. Quite recently, after the first podcast, I was really stressed because I lost a major contract. Everything felt like it was going wrong. I now work out of one of my contract offices—I wanted an office and they can tap me on the shoulder and give me work.
00:07:48:18 - 00:07:52:18
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
So I get a free office. Good deal.
00:07:52:20 - 00:07:53:17
Dave Quak
And you get a free office.
00:07:53:17 - 00:08:12:20
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Exactly. I remember sitting there, stressed, thinking I just need to get this done. Then a hand came from beside me—like a grim reaper skeleton hand—big, black, and it touched me on the shoulder. I did not like that at all. It freaked me out. I told a colleague, “I need to go for a walk, grab an energy drink, and come back.”
00:08:12:20 - 00:08:36:01
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
It does sometimes affect things.
00:08:36:03 - 00:08:37:18
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:08:37:19 - 00:09:01:08
Dave Quak
Seeing a grim reaper hand would freak most people out—of course—but you’re more used to it than most. When that happens, how do you know what’s real? Grim reaper hand is obviously not real, but has it ever felt real-real—like a person putting a hand on your shoulder that isn’t actually happening?
00:09:01:08 - 00:09:02:04
Dave Quak
Has that happened?
00:09:02:07 - 00:09:04:24
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
If it has, I don’t know about it—and that’s the scary bit.
00:09:04:24 - 00:09:06:22
Dave Quak
That’s actually a scary thought.
00:09:06:24 - 00:09:15:21
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
With the ones I do know about, I’m beyond fearful that’s happened without me realising—because how would I know?
00:09:15:21 - 00:09:16:20
Dave Quak
How would you know?
00:09:16:20 - 00:09:37:07
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
The only way I know is when it doesn’t make logical sense. Grim reaper hand—I turn around and it’s gone. Or I was driving late at night to Village Church once, and a headless, fully naked woman ran across the road. I thought, I don’t like that, but it was obviously not real. There’s no logical way.
00:09:37:07 - 00:09:46:15
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
A grim reaper hand—no logical way. A shadowy figure in the corner—I see those a lot at the moment. I’ll be walking and think, there’s one—ignore it. Could be spiritual, who knows?
00:09:46:15 - 00:09:47:14
Dave Quak
Yeah.
00:09:47:16 - 00:10:02:03
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
But the point is it’s obvious. If it wasn’t obvious, I don’t know how I’d tell—and that’s the scary bit.
00:10:02:07 - 00:10:09:09
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:10:09:09 - 00:10:15:09
Dave Quak
Good thought—I didn’t even think of that. If it looks the same as a person, how would you know?
00:10:15:10 - 00:10:16:07
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:10:16:07 - 00:10:31:18
Dave Quak
You mentioned the spiritual realm too. It’s encouraging, from my seat, to see you living full-on for Jesus in all of this. How have you been going spiritually since we last chatted?
00:10:31:20 - 00:10:55:00
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
He’s at the forefront. With my business especially, I would not be where I am without God—without Jesus. There’s no way. I look back at everything that’s happened—the contracts I got randomly—like the one in Coolangatta Cali, one of my bigger ones.
00:10:55:02 - 00:11:15:06
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
They literally found me on LinkedIn, and I had no LinkedIn presence. That didn’t just happen randomly. That had to be God nudging them in my direction so I could help them. In my mind it’s all God-given. There’s nothing special I did except being able to do the job.
00:11:15:06 - 00:11:21:09
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:11:21:15 - 00:11:24:10
Dave Quak
Yeah.
00:11:24:12 - 00:11:34:17
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
And with hallucinations and schizophrenia stuff, it’s, “God, protect me. Help me out.”
00:11:34:19 - 00:11:35:09
Dave Quak
Yeah, man.
00:11:35:13 - 00:11:51:06
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
If something major happens, there’s usually a bit of swearing followed by, “Okay God, help. Can you calm me down a bit?” I’ve had a lot of anxiety recently with work and personal stuff.
00:11:51:08 - 00:12:15:00
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
My dad’s good at reminding me: “Hey God, I’m not handling this. Can you take it off me? I give this to you so I can think a bit clearer. I know you’re with me, you’ve got a plan, and you’ve never failed me before. You won’t fail me again.” Can you help with this anxiety or this heavy feeling? It usually works.
00:12:15:00 - 00:12:24:17
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:12:24:23 - 00:12:38:02
Dave Quak
Have you had to train yourself to get to the place where it usually works? Was it always like that from the start, or did you need to do it over and over to get a breakthrough?
00:12:38:02 - 00:12:41:08
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I used to be more stubborn, to be honest.
00:12:41:08 - 00:12:41:18
Dave Quak
Right.
00:12:41:19 - 00:12:58:14
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Earlier in life, I was taught to be strong, and I was stubborn. I’d think, this is what’s happening; there’s no logical reason; I’ll overthink it and get myself out of it. I didn’t want anyone’s help.
00:12:58:18 - 00:13:15:06
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I had to learn it’s better to give it to God—He’s in control of everything. That helped. It made me feel a lot happier.
00:13:15:08 - 00:13:37:08
Dave Quak
I don’t know if there’s overlap with schizophrenia and bipolar here, but as you’re talking, I think about something I find really hard to give over—my hate towards people I feel are against me. They may not be, but it’s a real problem. I’ve been talking to friends, trying to figure it out. I’ve got unforgiveness and hate, and I find it hard to give that to God—“They’re your children; you love them; take this burden”—instead I plot their demise.
00:13:37:08 - 00:13:57:21
Dave Quak
Not great.
00:13:57:23 - 00:14:19:01
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
The paranoia element comes in. I’ve been getting better at that, probably just praying, “Protect me.” Three years ago I’d get very paranoid. A lot of it is work-related because most of my life is work. I’d think, this contract is doing this; this person said that in an email—what do they actually think?
00:14:19:03 - 00:14:36:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Then it spirals: is the contract going to go? What happens if it does? Are they plotting against me? Are they going to pull the plug?
00:14:36:15 - 00:14:55:05
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
It never turned out that way. If it ended, the reason was clear—“We hired someone internally; let’s do a transition.” People were nice. But in your mind, everyone’s out to get you.
00:14:55:05 - 00:15:07:02
Dave Quak
That’s similar—hypothetical tension that may never happen, but we entertain it so much it becomes real in our minds. You pay the price anyway.
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00:15:07:02 - 00:15:28:14
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah. I had this chat with my sister this morning. She was upset and thinking in hypotheticals—money, capacity, what ifs. I told her, just ask the person. You don’t control the hypotheticals. All you can do is ask.
00:15:28:14 - 00:15:50:06
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
There are so many things in the world that could affect it, but you don’t control those. You control doing the thing. Then see what happens next.
00:15:50:08 - 00:16:05:10
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Same with clients. I used to panic about what they might be thinking. I had to train myself: it doesn’t matter—do the next step and take each day as it comes.
00:16:05:10 - 00:16:15:04
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:16:15:06 - 00:16:18:14
Dave Quak
Way easier said than done.
00:16:18:14 - 00:16:19:18
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Way easier said than done.
00:16:19:22 - 00:16:31:19
Dave Quak
How many of us are bound up in hypotheticals—conflict, firings—horrible. Debilitating.
00:16:31:21 - 00:16:32:05
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:16:32:06 - 00:16:41:23
Dave Quak
The gospels keep saying, don’t worry—put that stuff down. You’ll have enough bread for tomorrow. It’ll be okay, but it doesn’t feel like it at the time.
00:16:42:00 - 00:17:06:24
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
It’s the human condition—worrying about what we can’t control. Right now my business is going well, but last month was very quiet. That worries me, but I know the seasonality—tax time is insane, Christmas is quiet. We’re heading into the Christmas period and I’ve got projects lined up for the next three months, which is good.
00:17:07:05 - 00:17:24:11
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
But in the moment, it’s like, I haven’t had projects since September—what’s happening? Then I hyper-fixate: what if I don’t make enough to pay myself next month? What if I have to shut down? Sell things? I have to stop worrying and pray again—“God, I’m worried. Please help.”
00:17:24:13 - 00:17:33:18
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:17:33:20 - 00:17:47:23
Dave Quak
But you run back to Him. That’s the key. We go on our little detours, but we’ve got to run back. The fact we’re sitting here at home drinking iced coffee means He hasn’t let us down yet.
00:17:48:03 - 00:17:48:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
No.
00:17:48:18 - 00:17:56:09
Dave Quak
We’re still here. That’s important to remember. It can be rough, but you’re still breathing and moving forward.
00:17:56:09 - 00:18:10:10
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
You’ve got to be grateful for what you have. I think God’s been reminding me of that. Running a business is stressful. Running a startup is stressful.
00:18:10:15 - 00:18:12:12
Dave Quak
The new thing rather than the old thing.
00:18:12:12 - 00:18:14:13
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah—the new thing and the old thing at the same time.
00:18:14:13 - 00:18:15:22
Dave Quak
Which one’s more stressful?
00:18:15:24 - 00:18:23:01
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
One makes me money—that’s stressful because I need it. The other takes time, but it’s fun.
00:18:23:06 - 00:18:23:20
Dave Quak
Okay.
00:18:23:20 - 00:18:47:19
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I see the potential, so it’s exciting—but both are stressful in different ways. I feel like God’s been reminding me of all the good things I have now. You may be stressed and hyper-fixating on things you can’t control, but remember: you’ve got your family.
00:18:47:19 - 00:18:59:21
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
You’ve got your sister you’re looking after, your mum and dad who look after you, a place you can stay for the time being.
00:18:59:21 - 00:19:00:23
Dave Quak
Yeah, man.
00:19:01:00 - 00:19:02:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
You’ve got a car that kind of works.
00:19:02:12 - 00:19:04:21
Dave Quak
Your car’s cool. We just went and got coffee.
00:19:04:21 - 00:19:07:00
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
The bumper’s falling off.
00:19:07:02 - 00:19:09:16
Dave Quak
You can’t see it when you’re in it.
00:19:09:18 - 00:19:10:08
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
True.
00:19:10:08 - 00:19:13:03
Dave Quak
You’ve got a really cool dashboard and digital stuff.
00:19:13:03 - 00:19:28:21
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I like it. It’s on my bad books because the front fender—the little plastic screw—popped out. Dry plastic. I fixed it.
00:19:28:21 - 00:19:29:15
Dave Quak
Happens all the time.
00:19:29:16 - 00:19:35:07
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
My dad and I put another plastic fixing in. I’m just worried it’ll happen again.
00:19:35:09 - 00:19:39:11
Dave Quak
Count your blessings—you’ve got a car.
00:19:39:11 - 00:19:40:10
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Exactly.
00:19:40:11 - 00:19:43:03
Dave Quak
You could buy two business cars—you’ve got two businesses.
00:19:43:03 - 00:19:45:22
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
If I had the money, yes.
00:19:45:24 - 00:20:07:18
Dave Quak
Your family—met them—they’re lovely. We need to be grateful. One thing I can see is your relationship with God keeps deepening. What do you do for spiritual rhythms—what’s your way of connecting with God through the week or day? What does that look like?
00:20:07:20 - 00:20:10:13
Dave Quak
What’s that look like?
00:20:10:15 - 00:20:35:19
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
It’s interesting. I know people who do traditional things—hands together, set times to pray. I’m very much, “Jesus loves me,” and I see Jesus and God as a very good friend—like a best friend. I talk to God like He’s my best mate: “Okay God, here’s what’s happening. Help me out. I’ve been an idiot and done this—please help me get through it. I’m sorry.”
00:20:35:19 - 00:20:49:13
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
That’s my style.
00:20:49:15 - 00:20:50:07
Dave Quak
It’s me again.
00:20:50:07 - 00:20:55:03
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
It’s me again. It’s like a phone call with someone who knows me too well.
00:20:55:05 - 00:21:01:03
Dave Quak
There’s something beautiful in that. You feel close—no wall to access?
00:21:01:06 - 00:21:06:24
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
No. I like talking to God like that—and I’m sure He likes it too. I hope so.
00:21:07:01 - 00:21:07:21
Dave Quak
He does.
00:21:07:23 - 00:21:13:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
He probably has a lot of spiritual phone calls from me.
00:21:13:14 - 00:21:18:00
Dave Quak
He’s omnipresent and omniscient—He can handle it.
00:21:18:00 - 00:21:18:21
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Literally.
00:21:18:21 - 00:21:36:23
Dave Quak
So for you it’s more conversation. My pastor got me onto Lectio 365—three times a day if you want, five to fifteen minutes, devotional meditation. “Settle our scattered senses,” meditate on Scripture, then go. I’d never done anything structured like that. It’s been good for me. Do you do anything like that, or do you roll with your style?
00:21:36:24 - 00:21:56:09
Dave Quak
Is that your style?
00:21:56:09 - 00:22:12:13
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Rolling with it is my style. Funny thing about being a software engineer—I really don’t like apps. I don’t use them much.
00:22:12:15 - 00:22:15:02
Dave Quak
What do they say—the builder’s house is falling down.
00:22:15:04 - 00:22:31:20
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
My favourite Instagram joke: tech enthusiasts love tech; tech builders keep a hammer next to the printer when it makes a weird noise. It’s true. I have enough of tech every day—I don’t want more. I’d rather go for a walk. If I tried the app, I’d use it for a week then go, nah—I like my way.
00:22:31:20 - 00:22:40:20
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:22:40:24 - 00:22:42:01
Dave Quak
Yeah.
00:22:42:03 - 00:22:52:23
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
It sounds great though. There are a few like that—Hallow, for example.
00:22:53:04 - 00:22:57:24
Dave Quak
Yeah, Hallow—the Catholics have that one. They’ve got Mark Wahlberg and all those guys on it.
00:22:57:24 - 00:23:00:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Chris Pratt’s on that now. And the guy from The Chosen.
00:23:00:14 - 00:23:02:01
Dave Quak
Yeah—The Chosen, the Jesus guy.
00:23:02:02 - 00:23:04:18
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah—the one who plays Jesus.
00:23:04:20 - 00:23:05:21
Dave Quak
I met him.
00:23:05:23 - 00:23:06:11
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Did you?
00:23:06:12 - 00:23:33:11
Dave Quak
Well, my mum did. I didn’t—but I wish I had. She met him at the studios—had a special pass. They went to go through a door at the same time and he let her go first. Tom, because you’re open about your spiritual life and mental health, do people who struggle with anxiety or whatever come and have a side chat with you—like, “Tom understands—can I have a chat?”
00:23:33:17 - 00:23:35:06
Dave Quak
Does that happen?
00:23:35:07 - 00:23:36:03
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Not really.
00:23:36:06 - 00:23:37:05
Dave Quak
You don’t get that?
00:23:37:05 - 00:23:43:15
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
No, because I’m a professional dude.
00:23:43:17 - 00:23:44:01
Dave Quak
Yeah.
00:23:44:02 - 00:23:58:13
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
But if anyone asked, I’d chat right away. I do mentoring around business. I do Instagram Stories about how I’m running parts of my business and why.
00:23:58:13 - 00:24:00:00
Dave Quak
You do that? I didn’t know.
00:24:00:03 - 00:24:08:15
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah—I’m trying to grow that. I like helping people. People ask me for coffee chats.
00:24:08:15 - 00:24:10:00
Dave Quak
More the professional at the moment.
00:24:10:00 - 00:24:23:13
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah. I have had people say, “My friend heard the podcast and talked to me about it—that’s how I knew you.”
00:24:23:15 - 00:24:27:10
Dave Quak
There was so much feedback from our last chat. What did you get?
00:24:27:11 - 00:24:44:17
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Someone from a men’s group texted me the next day: “Did you go on a podcast?” Then someone else asked them how they knew me—because they’d listened to the podcast. That was pretty cool.
00:24:44:17 - 00:25:03:06
Dave Quak
A lot of people listened, because it was cool to hear from someone who loves Jesus and carries a heavy mental health condition. I don’t know if there are different categories, but schizophrenia—when you line them up—isn’t the first one you pick. I think it’s cool you’re open about it. Are you worried about reputational risk coming on a podcast and talking about it?
00:25:03:06 - 00:25:11:01
Dave Quak
Yeah?
00:25:11:03 - 00:25:35:18
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
It’s always in the back of my mind—but I also don’t care. It has affected relationships before. I’d meet someone, get to know them, then say, “Hey, by the way, I’ve got this,” and they’d be like, “Okay, bye.” They’d go to the toilet and never come back. Long toilet break.
00:25:35:20 - 00:25:36:14
Dave Quak
Longest toilet.
00:25:36:14 - 00:25:58:22
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
There’s stigma. But people who’ve met me and know me—know me really well because I don’t hide anything now. The people who stay will stay.
00:25:58:24 - 00:26:10:02
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I might lose a contract because of it, but I might gain one because people think, “Wow, you’re open. I trust you more.”
00:26:10:06 - 00:26:14:17
Dave Quak
I love that. If you lose a contract because of it, you don’t want that person anyway.
00:26:14:18 - 00:26:16:22
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Exactly—character.
00:26:17:00 - 00:26:17:19
Dave Quak
It really is.
00:26:17:20 - 00:26:43:17
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
We live in a time when people are more accepting. Some aren’t—bless them—but many are. People go through this all the time or know someone who does. One of my best friends is highly anxious. I don’t think of her any differently.
00:26:43:23 - 00:26:59:09
Dave Quak
That’s the point, right? I had a run-in with a loved one the other day who refused to accept I have bipolar—because I don’t look like I have bipolar.
00:26:59:11 - 00:27:01:09
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
That’s the thing—it’s mental.
00:27:01:09 - 00:27:10:13
Dave Quak
It’s mental, not physical. We were at a table with someone who needed double knee surgery.
00:27:10:17 - 00:27:11:06
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:27:11:08 - 00:27:31:17
Dave Quak
I was making light of it—“At this table we’ve got this guy needing knees, I’ve got bipolar,” etc. The person said, “No you don’t.” I’m like, pretty sure I do. Then they made a joke about suicide—it went down like a lead balloon. I thought we were beyond this.
00:27:31:17 - 00:27:55:15
Dave Quak
She’d never say to the knee person, “No, you don’t need surgery.”
00:27:55:17 - 00:27:56:11
Dave Quak
Exactly.
00:27:56:13 - 00:28:01:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
“Walk it off.”
00:28:01:14 - 00:28:02:07
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:28:02:09 - 00:28:09:22
Dave Quak
Being open is the only way forward. If all of us are open, then there are a lot of us open.
00:28:09:24 - 00:28:22:16
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Exactly. And in Australia, you can’t be fired over this—if they did, you’d go to Fair Work and win.
00:28:22:18 - 00:28:25:00
Dave Quak
It’d be epic to get fired over it.
00:28:25:02 - 00:28:26:15
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Free pass to Fair Work.
00:28:26:15 - 00:28:28:11
Dave Quak
Straight there.
00:28:28:13 - 00:28:41:17
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I feel pretty safe in that regard. It took me a long time to learn this—I’m only 25. I’m learning.
00:28:41:17 - 00:28:43:05
Dave Quak
You’re 25?
00:28:43:07 - 00:28:44:02
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:28:44:04 - 00:28:46:20
Dave Quak
You don’t look old or haggard.
00:28:46:23 - 00:28:48:21
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I’ve had to be, with business and experience.
00:28:48:23 - 00:28:52:11
Dave Quak
I thought you were way older. Sorry—keep going.
00:28:52:13 - 00:28:55:17
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
It really is a God-given thing.
00:28:55:17 - 00:28:57:19
Dave Quak
Go on.
00:28:57:21 - 00:29:15:15
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
It took me a long time—friends and situations convinced me that the people who stay make the people who didn’t stay not worth it. When I was 21 and had hardly any friends, I thought I needed friends no matter how they treated me.
00:29:15:17 - 00:29:29:21
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I was very alone and introverted. People knew me, but didn’t really know me. I struggled to get people around me who truly knew me—because I’d run.
00:29:29:23 - 00:29:31:15
Dave Quak
Yeah.
00:29:31:17 - 00:29:58:05
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I’ve been told I can be hard to deal with in conversations. Get me started on ergodic literature and I won’t stop. But I learned quickly: the people who stay are worth it. I’ve now got some really good best friends. It took 25 years, and I’m grateful. They’re sticking through thick and thin—because that’s what friends do.
00:29:58:07 - 00:30:12:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
I didn’t realise that as a kid. Back then, the friends I had weren’t great, but that’s all I had.
00:30:12:12 - 00:30:15:13
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:30:15:16 - 00:30:16:03
Dave Quak
Yeah.
00:30:16:03 - 00:30:27:17
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Now I’m glad I had those people, but even more grateful I’ve got people who understand me. They do exist.
00:30:27:19 - 00:31:06:01
Dave Quak
That’s special. We live in a crazy environment with millions of people within a few hundred kilometres. We have to choose who we spend our life with. For me, if I’m around people who don’t understand me and are already mental-health-suspicious—maybe a bit over the top spiritually, dissecting me as a case rather than loving me as a person—I get tired. It’s awesome you’ve got your people.
00:31:06:01 - 00:31:09:11
Dave Quak
Yeah.
00:31:09:13 - 00:31:10:04
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:31:10:06 - 00:31:33:12
Dave Quak
I can’t believe it, but that’s already the episode. Any pearls of Tom wisdom before we wind up? While you’re thinking, I want to encourage listeners—if you want to chat to Tom, Google his name—it’ll be in the podcast title. How do you even say your name, Tom?
00:31:33:12 - 00:31:35:05
Dave Quak
Tom…
00:31:35:07 - 00:31:36:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Tomas Heligr-Pyke.
00:31:36:17 - 00:31:43:23
Dave Quak
Heligr-Pyke. I didn’t want to try to pronounce it. If they Google you, will they find your Instagram with your stuff—or the business?
00:31:44:01 - 00:31:47:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
If you Google me—
00:31:47:12 - 00:31:47:22
Dave Quak
They’ll find you.
00:31:47:22 - 00:31:51:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
They’ll find me at the top. I’m good with my own SEO.
00:31:51:12 - 00:31:53:18
Dave Quak
You’d better be.
00:31:53:20 - 00:31:57:12
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
It’s usually Instagram or Facebook on top.
00:31:57:12 - 00:31:58:11
Dave Quak
Yeah.
00:31:58:13 - 00:32:01:15
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Then your podcast is like the fourth result.
00:32:01:15 - 00:32:02:07
Dave Quak
Come on.
00:32:02:07 - 00:32:10:16
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
My business shows up too. If you Google me, you’ll definitely find me—tidbits of my life and all.
00:32:10:18 - 00:32:15:15
Dave Quak
Earlier you said not many people reach out to chat.
00:32:15:17 - 00:32:16:03
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yeah.
00:32:16:04 - 00:32:18:10
Dave Quak
If people want to reach out, is that cool?
00:32:18:10 - 00:32:24:01
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Yes—literally, I love talking. And now, thanks to this podcast, we’ll have a part three.
00:32:24:01 - 00:32:46:14
Dave Quak
I can’t believe we did that already. I feel like I’ve got an ally in you, Tom—someone willing to chat this stuff through from a faith-based perspective who means business for Jesus. Back to that last question—any last pearls of Tom wisdom, Tomas Heligr-Pyke wisdom, before we roll out?
00:32:46:16 - 00:32:48:11
Dave Quak
Go for it.
00:32:48:13 - 00:33:12:11
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Biggest pearl of wisdom: God’s always got your back. I’ve not seen a situation where God let someone just go. Everyone I know has gone through random stuff, and God’s been there when they gave it to Him.
00:33:12:11 - 00:33:33:02
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
It may not feel like it at the time, but in hindsight—after the tough battle—when you give it to God, on the other side you can see how He was working. I didn’t see it beforehand.
00:33:33:02 - 00:33:39:13
Dave Quak
I love that. Looking back with 20/20 vision.
00:33:39:15 - 00:33:51:10
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
So many bits of my life where I thought, why did I go through this? Then five years later—oh, that’s why. That led to this.
00:33:51:10 - 00:33:51:21
Dave Quak
Yeah.
00:33:51:21 - 00:34:03:22
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Why did that contract die? Because it led to something even better. I’m yet to find something that doesn’t work that way.
00:34:03:24 - 00:34:09:24
Dave Quak
I love that. Tom, it’s been an honour. We’re getting you back for part three.
00:34:10:01 - 00:34:10:20
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Keen.
00:34:10:22 - 00:34:18:18
Dave Quak
I can’t believe that’s over. Could you please honour us and bless us with a prayer, and we’ll be done. Thanks for coming on Sunburnt Souls—you’re the man.
00:34:18:20 - 00:34:59:00
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Thank you. Heavenly Father, thank you for everything you do in everyone’s life. Thank you for looking after us through thick and thin. Thank you for being with us. Please bless everyone listening to the podcast. Bless Dave and bless me. We know you’re always with us through everything we may be going through—no matter how tough it feels in the moment—we know deep down you won’t let us down.
00:34:59:02 - 00:35:08:03
Tomas Heligr-Pyke
Please guide us if we need guidance. We’re so grateful to have you in our lives forever.
00:35:08:05 - 00:35:25:06
Dave Quak
Amen. Thanks again for tuning in to Sunburnt Souls. We’re really trying to grow and get the message out there, so if you’re able to share this episode or point people to the website—we’ll share the Spotify link—that would be amazing. Have the best week, and thank you so much for your support.
Related Resources
Part 1: Tom’s Faith and Mental Health Journey
Explore More Episodes on Faith and Mental Health
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Schizophrenia Resources
