Radio, Ministry, and ASD: Robbo’s Inspiring Journey Behind the Mic

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How Has Andrew “Robbo” Robinson Contributed to Sunburnt Souls and Vision Radio?

Sunburnt souls. I am here with someone I’ve been nagging, hassling, and stalking for over a year to come on Sunburnt Souls. His name is Andrew Robinson, but most people know him as Robbo. So, Robbo, yes, we made it! Thank you so much for being here.

Robbo
Judging by the grin on your face, Dave! It’s amazing that you finally got me. So, when you first suggested it, I thought, “No.” But now, I’m really honoured to spend this time with you, mate.

Dave Quak
Well, Robbo, I’m honoured to have you here. You’re on my favourite people list. Now, I don’t know if everyone knows this, but people with bipolar disorder, like me, often have friends or enemies. There’s no in-between. You either love someone dearly or wish them ill. And you, Robbo, you’re definitely in the “love dearly” category. You’re right up there.

Robbo
Well, if I ever slip into the other category, just give me a bit of forewarning.

Dave Quak
I’ll give you a warning. The thing is, once you’ve slipped into that category, it’s hard to get out. It’s pretty final.

Robbo
It’s scary.

How Does Robbo’s Role as a Content Manager at Vision Radio Enhance Sunburnt Souls’ Reach?

Robbo, you’re an awesome guy, and I’ve wanted you to come on for so many different reasons. Over the last year, we’ve cultivated a friendship that I really appreciate. You’ve been an encouragement to me. One of the reasons you’re in the “friends” section and not the “enemies” section is that you work at Vision Radio as a content manager. You were actually the first content manager to give someone like us a shot.

Dave Quak
At the time, I was so enthusiastic and blown away but didn’t realise the calibre of the blessing it was. With Vision being so massive and covering so much of Australia, you gave us a run, and I just want to honour you and thank you for that, Robbo. Really, it was a massive deal to me.

Robbo
Oh, thanks, man. Look, the first time I heard Sunburnt Souls, I just thought, “This is a great concept.” And I think, obviously, the fact that Vision is overtly Christian, and you’ve intersected faith and mental health, it’s just such an important discussion. We didn’t really have anything like that available, and I thought, “This is something we need.” It’s been a blessing to be able to take you guys on board. So, yeah, there’s been a lot of good things from it.

Dave Quak
It’s unbelievable from our end. It really is. The support you’ve shown, like, you’re not just a passive supporter. You listen to all the podcasts to make sure that when you upload them, they’re content that’s going to bless people.

Robbo
Well, that’s not quite true. I actually listen to them because they help me.

Dave Quak
Well, that’s good! I’m glad to hear that.

Robbo
It’s great. I do listen to them because I benefit from the content and the guests you’ve got. You’ve got some great people sharing their stories. So, there’s a secondary benefit in that I can say, “Yep, I’m happy for this to go on our platform.” But to be honest, I’ve been listening from day one purely for my own benefit.

Dave Quak
And I love that. Thanks, Robbo. Now, everyone’s probably wondering, “Why has Dave been stalking this guy for a year? He’s obviously boring.” But here’s the thing you might not know about Robbo—he’s actually a super confident guy. Before you were the content manager, you were running the brekkie show for how many years, Robbo?

Robbo
Well, in total, I did Brekkie for 18 years at Vision. I did nine years initially, then took a bit of a break from breakfast, and I was just doing a casual role, really. I was working full-time at my church. But then, yeah, I came back to Vision and back onto Brekkie. So in total, it was 18 years. Crazy, right?

Dave Quak
Yeah, that’s amazing! Brekkie radio shows are always the flagship shows. They’re the ones that take the most work and have the most listeners. To do that for 18 years—huge!

Robbo
Yeah, it really is. And I guess, you don’t sign up for it, it just happens. You do one day at a time. But, honestly, I pinch myself. There have been so many times I’ve thought, “I can’t believe I get paid to do this.” I enjoyed it so much. It was a wonderful experience. So many happy memories from that time.

What Has your Journey with ADHD and Asperger’s Taught you About Faith and Self-Acceptance?

You’re super competant and have an amazing CV. But I wanted you to come on to talk about something that’s not so easy. You’ve got some things going on—just like a lot of the guests on Sunburnt Souls—that make life a little bit more complicated behind the scenes, right?

Robbo
Yeah, that’s right.

Dave Quak
Can we talk about that?

Robbo
Absolutely. Yeah, I’d love to.

Dave Quak
Yeah, let’s go. You go.

Robbo
Well, I guess the first time we met, we talked a bit about the fact that I’d been diagnosed with Asperger’s, which these days falls under the ASD umbrella, and ADHD. That was about ten years ago. And I know that was the time you said, “Oh, you should come and tell your story.” I was like, “No, I’m not ready for that.” But I’m a bit more ready now. It’s been an interesting journey because, for over 40 years, I had no clue I had these conditions and didn’t even really know what they were. The diagnosis and the understanding that came with it have been part of an interesting journey.

Robbo
And then, I guess, living with it and becoming more aware of it, and trying to understand what it means, has been an interesting process.

Dave Quak
I bet it is. So, Asperger’s, and you said it’s sometimes referred to as ASD. Is it also referred to as autism? Are those terms interchangeable?

Robbo
Yeah. So, ASD is Autism Spectrum Disorder. Basically, there are three levels—level one is like Asperger’s, which is high-functioning autism. Then you’ve got level two and level three. At the top level, you’ve got people who are non-verbal and things like that. It’s a broad spectrum. I guess, for me, it’s more of the high-functioning side, so people often don’t realise. When I tell people, “I’ve been diagnosed with Asperger’s,” they go, “Oh, I never would have thought.” You can get away with stuff, but there’s a lot going on below the surface. Like missing non-verbal cues in personal relationships—things that just go unnoticed.

Robbo
You don’t always pick up on what might be going on, and you can sometimes feel like you’ve been caught out or made to look a bit silly in situations. You learn early to wear a mask. You sort of mask things. Like we were talking over lunch, you learn scripts—if someone says this, you say that. That’s how you navigate it. But, unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out.

Dave Quak
Yeah.

Robbo
You follow the script, but then someone goes off script, and you think, “What do I do now?” You’re kind of stuck in the middle.

Dave Quak
So it’s like training yourself for interactions in social settings.

Robbo
Yeah.

Dave Quak
Which must be tough, because it’s unpredictable.

Robbo
Absolutely.

Dave Quak
And I guess, for you, something that worked last time doesn’t work next time.

Robbo
Exactly. That’s right. If it worked 100% of the time, you’d be fine. But yeah, that’s not always the case. You watch TV shows like sitcoms—they’re all scripted. It seems random, but it’s all planned. One person says something, and they know what the other person is going to say next. I watch that and think, “That would be so good.” I’d love to feel that easy flow. But it’s not always like that. Sometimes you’re like, “I have no idea what’s going on.”

Robbo
If you miss those subtle cues or the nuance, you can find yourself chasing your tail, thinking, “Why did that person react that way? Why is everyone laughing?” And you’re not sure why. You don’t think they’re laughing at you, but you laugh along anyway. It’s that weird space where it seems fine on the surface, but underneath you’re thinking, “I’m lost. I don’t know what’s happening.”

Dave Quak
Yeah. So, social situations can be exhausting. Is that every time, or is it just a lot of the time?

Robbo
A lot of the time, yeah. Especially in new settings. If I’m with a team I work with every day, that’s more routine. But in new situations, it can be really tiring. Your brain’s doing a lot of extra calculations to fill in the gaps. Then you can get to a point where you think, “I’m done. I’ve exerted everything I’ve got, and I’ve got nothing left to give.”

Do people with autism take medication or anything to help? Because it’s not technically a mental illness as such, is it?

Robbo
I don’t think so. Technically, no. There’s no specific medication for autism itself. Really, it’s more about awareness. For example, when I was first diagnosed, they recommended seeing a counsellor to help understand some of the stuff going on. It’s all about navigating the unwritten rules of life. Since I have ADHD and ASD combined, there’s a lot of executive functioning stuff that I struggle with—things like initiating tasks and completing them. So, I’ve done a lot of counselling, and for ADHD, there is medication, which I take every day.

Robbo
And I’ve found that incredibly helpful. It’s like switching on the light in a dark room. It helps me complete tasks, plan things out—basically, all that executive functioning stuff that the ADHD side needs. But for ASD, there’s no medication. Some people with ASD might struggle with anxiety or even depression because of what's going on in their head. There’s medication for that, so some people might say they're on medication for it, but it’s not specifically for ASD.

Dave Quak
So, were you diagnosed at the same time for both conditions? Was the ADHD recognised when you were diagnosed with ASD?

Robbo
No, it was close. It actually happened because my son was diagnosed with ADHD first. The pediatrician said, “You’ll struggle with this, and you’ll find that difficult,” and I’m sitting there thinking, “He’s reading my diary!” It was amazing. So I said to the doctor, “I can relate to a lot of what you’re saying to my son. Is it possible I might have it too?” And he said, “Well, obviously, he got it from somewhere.” I went, “Oh, really?” and he said, “Yeah, it’s genetic. You might have it too.” So, he referred me to a psychiatrist to do testing. I was diagnosed with ADHD, and we started the journey of figuring out the right medication.

Robbo
But then, about six months later, the psychologist said, “I don’t think we’ve got the full picture yet. I’m starting to think there’s something else going on, maybe Asperger’s.” So there was another round of assessments, and eventually, they said, “Yeah, you’ve also got ASD.” It was about six to nine months later that we got the full diagnosis. Interestingly, my son also has both ASD and ADHD, so we both share the same diagnosis. I always joke that I got it from him.

Dave Quak
You can share medication!

Robbo
Yeah, that’s right.

You’ve been working in Christian ministry with Autism and ADHA, where does Jesus fit into the whole picture for you?

Well, I grew up in a Christian home, so as far back as I can remember, probably around 3 or 4 years old, I was going to Sunday school and church. Mum and Dad were both Christians, and Dad had been to Bible college before I was born. He eventually became an ordained pastor when I was a teenager. So, I’ve always known God. I went to a Christian school, was always involved in church, kids' church, youth groups—just grew up in it.

Robbo
But even though I knew all the right things to say and do, I was more of a people-pleaser. I didn’t really own my faith for myself until I had kids. It wasn’t until I was in my 30s that I really had a genuine encounter with God. That’s when I became truly aware of my own sinfulness. Up until then, I knew God, but I didn’t really feel like I needed Him. It wasn’t until I had that revelation—that gap between me and God—and realised I needed Jesus to fill it, that my relationship with God became more real. Before that, I was kind of just going along with my parents’ faith.

Dave Quak
And then you entered ministry. At that point, did you wonder if your diagnosis or the way you saw the world would limit you, but being used by God?

Robbo
Yeah, I guess I’ve always thought that. I’ve looked at people excelling in leadership or ministry and thought, “That’s great for them, but I’m probably never going to get there.” I’ve always said, “I’m a good second-in-command, but not a good leader.” I’ve struggled with that for years, thinking I wasn’t qualified or fit to lead. I’ve always felt like I rose to leadership positions naturally, but never really felt like I was a good leader. There’s always been this imposter syndrome, like I was just pretending to be in charge.

Robbo
The whole ADHD and ASD thing just sits underneath all of that. I don’t know if it’s a limiting factor, but it’s definitely part of the mix. I’ve always felt like I’ve been put in leadership roles, but I didn’t feel like I was really leading well. There’s always been that struggle.

Dave Quak
Yeah, and I think anyone who’s even just trying to figure out leadership structures can relate to that. It’s complicated enough when you don’t have to overthink it. And at the time, no one was really talking about Asperger’s.

Robbo
Yeah, absolutely.

Dave Quak
It’s commendable, Robbo. What you’ve done in the last 20 years at Vision—none of that could be done in your own strength. I think one thing I love about your story is that so many people we come into contact with struggle with their mental well-being. The last thing I want people to think is that our mental deficits disqualify us from being used mightily by God.

Dave Quak
And you even just mentioned you were the school captain! Which high school was that?

Robbo
It was a small Christian school in Townsville. There were probably only 300 kids in the whole school, from Prep to Year 12.

Dave Quak
Yeah, but you were the school captain! That’s still an achievement.

Robbo
Yeah, but I tend to underplay it because it was a small school.

Dave Quak
Yeah, but still, that’s a big deal. We tend to underplay things like that, but it’s an achievement.

On a practical level, what does life with ADHD and Autism look like?

I want to paint this picture a bit more. So, it’s Monday morning. Your ADHD has been playing up. You’ve had one of those weekends, and you’re about to launch into the week. You’ve got to somehow go in and negotiate a meeting with five people you’re overseeing. You’ve got to go to a staff meeting with 30 people, where things are unpredictable and not following the script. Later in the day, you might have to make a hard decision or whatever else. How do you do life as a person with ASD and ADHD, with all the pressure, and still continue to be successful?

Robbo
Great question. I think for a long time, I didn’t do it well. I felt like I had to do it in my own strength, and I don’t think that was very successful. There was certainly a season where I was running on fumes. I was feeling a lot of anxiety, particularly around the time when I was diagnosed. I’m not sure why, but I had a period of about 18 months where I really struggled with anxiety. Maybe it was the feeling of being confronted with the reality that, “Oh, I don’t have it all together.”

Robbo
I don’t know what it was, but I really did struggle with anxiety for a while. I don’t think I did a very good job of handling it. I felt like I was really out of my depth and not doing well. But I guess I’m in a much better place now, probably because I’ve been able to be more honest about who I am. I’ve accepted and even celebrated the fact that in our weakness, God’s strength is perfected. I don’t have to have it all together, and it’s actually probably better if I don’t. Because when I’m honest about my weaknesses, God’s strength comes in, and His grace is sufficient for me.

Robbo
That’s been a real liberating revelation for me. The fact that God loves me just as I am. I don’t need to strive or live in shame. He just loves me as I am, and that’s huge. The last couple of years, that’s been a huge revelation for me. I feel like I’m starting to really embody it now, whereas before, it was just a nice thought, but I didn’t really believe it. Now, I do believe it, and that’s been massive.

Robbo
Another thing that’s made a big difference is that I love to run. Running actually gives me space to think things through. I pray while I run, and there are great mental health benefits to running. It also gives me time to think, plan out my day, and reflect on things. For example, I’ll think about what’s on my mind—what’s causing me anxiety—and then I can commit it to God. I’ll say, “God, can you go with me today and be with me in that situation?”

Robbo
So, that day you just described? I would start with a run, and the day would probably go better. I’ve proven this to myself: I’m better off getting up a bit earlier, going for a run, and setting up my day right rather than staying in bed for that extra hour.

Dave Quak
Yeah, that’s great.

Robbo
Yeah. It’s been a great journey, discovering the benefits along the way. But now, I believe in the benefits enough that I know it’ll help me. I’m not perfect; I still put on a mask sometimes and bumble my way through, pretending everything’s okay when it’s not. I’m not saying I’ve got it all together, but I’m a lot more self-aware today than I was ten years ago.

Robbo
I can reflect on the day or week and think, “I didn’t do that well,” but I can at least identify it now, whereas before, I wouldn’t have even realised. So, there have definitely been steps forward on this journey.

Do you have any tips for those of us who have friends with Asperger’s or autism on how best to love them?

I feel like one of the things people with autism fear most is exclusion—feeling like they missed something that everyone else got. Do you have any pointers on how to avoid that?

Robbo
That’s a really good question. It can be easy to assume things. You might think, “Oh, they’ll just know that,” but that’s probably not the case. Sometimes, actually speaking what might seem obvious can really put someone at ease.

Robbo
For example, if you notice someone’s feeling uncomfortable, say something like, “I can see you might be feeling a bit uncomfortable right now, but that’s okay.” It might seem obvious to you, but it could actually help them feel understood. They might not even be aware of how they’re feeling or why, so verbalising it can make a big difference.

Robbo
I think the key thing is to be empathetic—to meet people where they’re at and not leave things unspoken. Non-verbal cues are often missed, and we might assume that someone with ASD is aware of things that they’re not. Just speaking it out can make a big difference.

Dave Quak
That’s really helpful. There are a couple of characters in pop culture that have been painted with the ASD brush. One of them is Matthew from The Chosen. Are you watching that?

Robbo
I actually love watching Matthew! I can relate so much to him. Last year, I had the privilege of going to the set of The Chosen and interviewing some of the cast. I got to talk about Matthew and how much I relate to him.

Dave Quak
How have we only just started talking about this? We should’ve opened with this! But anyway, please continue.

Robbo
Well, I was talking to Elizabeth Tabish, who plays Mary Magdalene in The Chosen. She has a special relationship with Matthew in the show, and I mentioned how much I relate to him. I love that they’ve written Matthew this way. Some people might think it’s off-script, but the reality is that someone in that crowd would likely have had those characteristics. A tax collector, especially, would have had mathematical traits, so it makes sense. For me, watching that, I feel seen. I think, “Okay, that’s good,” because I really relate to a lot of the quirky things about Matthew.

Robbo
It also helps me to be more empathetic towards others in the same space. So, it’s great. You mentioned another show, Atypical. I haven’t seen that, but I love Matthew in The Chosen.

Dave Quak
Yeah, Atypical is another one, but I was really just using Matthew from The Chosen as an example.

I’m pretty sure The Big Bang Theory is another one I’ve watched. Yeah, and I just laugh because I can relate so much to it. Obviously, there's the main character, Sheldon. But yeah, it's not just him; it's all the other characters too. It’s hilarious because you watch it and think, “I remember there was one particular episode I watched a few times because it was so relatable.” It felt like you were living in that scene. So, there definitely are characters in pop culture like that, and they probably get some bits wrong, but overall, I think they’re pretty spot on.

Dave Quak
That’s good because we’ve got to try to understand each other, you know? That’s part of the empathy that Jesus had. He was always asking questions about people's lives and trying to figure them out, even though He had more insight than us. But yeah, I just think it's so important to show love and try to understand each other.

Dave Quak
Okay. You went to The Chosen set. I can’t believe you went to The Chosen.

Robbo
Oh, I thought you knew that!

Dave Quak
No, I didn’t know, but I’d forgotten because you also went to the Ark Encounter at the same time.

Robbo
That’s right. Yes, it was an amazing trip.

Dave Quak
I bet it was. Man, I want your job! So, meeting Mary Magdalene would have been cool. Did you meet any of the other cast while you were there?

Robbo
Well, I met Jesus.

Dave Quak
You met Jesus?

Robbo
I had a conversation with Jesus.

Dave Quak
Wait, is this the story where you cut in front of Him in the food line?

Robbo
Well, that happened immediately after! So, I sat down and had a conversation with Him, face to face, which was just bizarre. They had said, “You can’t ask for a photo,” but I thought, “I’ve just got to ask.” So I did, and I got a photo with Jesus.

Dave Quak
Well organised. So, I can ask?

How did you meet “Jesus?” Jonothan Roumie

Robbo
Exactly. Anyway, we did that, and not long after, it was lunchtime. We went in to have lunch, but it was just bizarre. I came in one door, and He came in the other, but we both ended up at the buffet. He said, “You go ahead.” I said, “No, no, you go ahead.” Then He said, “No, you go.” I was having this fight with Jesus about who would go first. It was just the most bizarre scenario.

Dave Quak
That’s awesome. He would have been dressed as Jesus, though, because it’s the set, right?

Robbo
No, He was just in civvies because they weren’t actually filming that day.

Dave Quak
But He’s still the same!

Robbo
Oh yeah, of course. Absolutely!

Dave Quak
What a boss. Yeah, I love what they’re doing with The Chosen. It’s amazing.

Robbo
Yeah, He’s involved in a lot of different projects right now, actually.

Dave Quak
Yeah, the ones that are really making an impact.

Robbo
Yeah, he recently did a project because apparently, he’s a drummer. He did a single with Mark W. Smith or one of those guys. They were chatting and found out he played drums, so he ended up playing on a track, and I think they just released it.

Dave Quak
That’s crazy. I can’t believe that happened during dinner! You know, what you could have done was sneak extra food onto His plate when He wasn’t looking—like His food was multiplying. So many things you could have done! But you did get the photo, right?

Robbo
I did! Can I send that to you to upload with this?

Dave Quak
Absolutely.

Robbo
Yeah, I’ll get that for you.

Dave Quak
Jesus, together. That’s awesome.

Robbo
Just so you know, that’s a lie—He didn’t really say “hello.” (laughs)

Dave Quak
Well, He did say “hello” in spirit. (laughs) Man, this has been such a good chat, Rob. A lot has happened since your diagnosis ten years ago, and God’s continuing to use you. You mentioned before that you’re “half a century old,” so you’re halfway to 100. What do you want to see in the next ten years?

Robbo
I’m a bit excited about the next ten years. When I turned 49, I realised that was my Jubilee year. I always thought the year of Jubilee was the 50th year, but it’s actually the year from 49 to 50. I was pretty excited about that year, looking forward to the second half of the century. I guess in some respects, it’s a bit of an open book.

Robbo
What a lot of people don’t know—and this might be a first for you, especially for your radio listeners—is that I’ve recently gone through a divorce. The last couple of years have been a journey of separation and then ultimately divorce. It wasn’t something I was expecting or hoping for, but it means I’m at the start of a brand new season. There’s a bit of a blank slate now.

Robbo
I don’t see myself moving away from Vision—I love what I do there and will definitely stay involved in the foreseeable future. But I feel there’s a lot of possibility ahead. I’ve got a real heart for men’s ministry, especially after the journey I’ve been through. I’m excited about connecting with guys in different situations. I don’t know what it’ll look like, but I feel like it’s going to be good. God’s in it, and I’ve had that revelation that God loves me, not because of anything I’ve done, but just because of who I am. I don’t need to do anything to make Him love me more.

Robbo
I’m on a journey, and I’m keen to see what the future holds, even if I don’t have much clarity on it right now. It’s like my two-year plan, five-year plan—it’s more about seeing what comes.

Dave Quak
That’s awesome. You’ve presented yourself before the Lord as willing and open, and He can do a lot with that.

Robbo
Exactly.

Dave Quak
Yeah. Rob, it’s been a real pleasure having you on, man. I really appreciate you, and I love you as a brother in Christ. The souls are going to be so blessed by hearing your story. Would you kindly bless us and pray for us as we wind up this episode?

Robbo
I’d love to.

Dave Quak
Thanks, Rob.

Robbo
Father, I thank You for this opportunity to spend time with Dave and to share a little bit of my story. I pray, Lord, that everyone listening today would have the same revelation I’ve had—that You love them. You don’t love them because of anything they’ve done. You don’t love them less because of anything they’ve done. You just love them. Your love is complete and eternal, and we can rest in that. That love can be a comforting force in our lives.

Robbo
I pray that everyone listening would have that revelation and that it would shift something in their lives—that they would lean into that and embrace that truth. I pray blessing over everyone listening today. I pray for Dave as well. I thank You for him and for this incredible ministry. Thank You for what he’s been able to achieve and for what’s coming in the future. As more stories are shared and communities are built, I pray blessing over this ministry, in Your name.

Robbo
Thank You for Your favour and for Your goodness in our lives. Amen.