What gets you up in the morning? The Japanese have a phrase that describes one's life's purpose - Ikigai.
In this podcast, we interview inspirational people from all walks of life to learn about what makes them tick. Join us as we explore the intersections of Life and Faith through interesting conversations.
Episode 9: Loving, Living and Listening (With Trevor Hudson)
What if our deepest purpose begins with loving the people closest to us and learning to cherish the life we’ve been given?
In this episode of Investigating Ikigai, Rev Joe Taylor speaks with Methodist minister, author and spiritual accompanier Trevor Hudson. For Trevor, purpose begins with loving his wife and children, then extends into receiving life as a gift and sharing that gift with others.
Together, Joe and Trevor explore the relationship between faith and purpose, the importance of becoming a listening presence, and how we can find meaning beyond our work—especially as we move into new seasons of life. Trevor also shares where he finds hope, how he is learning to enjoy life’s simple pleasures, and why the person we become matters more than what we accomplish.
Grab a cup of your favourite drink and enjoy this warm, thoughtful conversation about family, gratitude and the lifelong journey of learning to love well.
23 Oct 2026
Episode 8 - A Church for Everyone (with Jane Codrington)
What gives life meaning when the answers aren’t easy?
In this episode of Investigating Ikigai, Rev Joe Taylor speaks with Jane Codrington, pastor and founder of We Are Church, an inclusive Christian community in Johannesburg where all are welcomed as safe, seen and celebrated.
Jane shares how grief, faith and her daughter Rebecca’s memory continue to shape her sense of purpose. She reflects on building a community for people who have felt excluded or wounded by church, the small acts of generosity that bring people together, and learning to lean into the mystery of God rather than needing certainty.
Together, Jane and Joe explore belonging, kindness, faith after deconstruction, and the hope Jane finds in a younger generation. It’s a tender conversation about making room for complicated stories and choosing compassion, one small thing at a time.
16 Oct 2026
Episode 7 - Fixing What's Broken (with Chris Pappas)
What gets you out of bed in the morning? For Chris Pappas, Mayor of uMngeni Municipality, it’s bringing people together to fix things that aren’t working—and making a meaningful difference in the community he calls home.
In this episode of Investigating Ikigai, Chris joins Rev Joe Taylor to explore the experiences that shaped his purpose, from growing up on a farm in Mooi River to encountering inequality at university. He reflects on using power for good, staying open to criticism, and choosing impact over titles.
We also talk about his personal faith journey, the importance of allowing people space to connect with God differently, and finding hope by pausing to notice the progress already made.
Enjoy this honest, down-to-earth conversation about purpose, leadership, faith, and serving the people around us.
20 Jan 2023
Episode 6 - Difficult Topics (with David Elliott)
On this episode of Investigating Ikigai, we chat to my friend and colleague, David Elliott.
Dave is a Methodist Minister who uses his various platforms to raise awareness of social injustices and expand people's worldviews.
In this episode, we discuss responsible biblical scholarship and how we can use the bible to confront contextual issues in the world today. Dave also shares about his experience as a social media influencer, how he feels called to share content that challenges people, and how he responds to criticism.
6 Jan 2023
Episode 5 - The Creative Passionate Genius (with Mogomotsi Diutlwileng)
On this episode of Investigating Ikigai, we chat to Mogomotsi Diutlwileng, the author of The Creative Passionate Genius.
Mogomotsi is a Methodist Minister as well as an author, speaker, facilitator and spiritualist.
In this episode, we chat about the psychological aspects of spirituality and how determining our Ikigai can assist us in living fulfilling lives of creativity, productivity and purpose.
23 Dec 2022
Episode 4 - The Mystery of God (with John van de Laar)
On this episode of Investigating Ikigai, we chat to John van de Laar, the founder of Sacredise and EvoFaith.
John is an entrepreneur and spiritual teacher. He has released a number of successful books and music. He publishes regular devotional material and resources to assist churches and progressive spiritual communities.
In this episode, we take a deep dive into life, spirituality and faith. John shares inspirational stories explaining his journey of understanding and nurturing his Ikigai.
9 Dec 2022
Episode 3 - The Good Things Guy (with Brent Lindeque)
On this episode of Investigating Ikigai, we chat to Brent Lindeque, the Good Things Guy.
Brent is a blogger, key-note speaker and social media influencer with over 400,000 followers.
He has been voted in the top 200 young South Africans and the top 100 most influential South Africans.
Today, Brent chats to us about how he came to determine his life's purpose and what motivates him to keep going.
25 Nov 2022
Episode 2 - Blessed to be a Blessing (with Luxolo Kentane)
On this episode of Investigating Ikigai, we chat to Luxolo Kentane, the National Director of Alpha South Africa and founder of the Living Legacy Movement. He has his own Podcast called Intentional Conversations and is a prolific Hip-Hop artist under the name of Lux Kent.
11 Nov 2022
Introducing Investigating Ikigai
Welcome to the Investigating Ikigai Podcast.
Ikigai is a Japanese philosophy that describes someone's life's purpose - the thing that gets them out of bed in the morning.
On this podcast, we interview a wide variety of inspirational people about their Ikigai.
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