Stories of ordinary people who changed the lives of those around them. Sometimes they changed the world. One short episode a week, under ten minutes.
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Twenty centuries. Every walk of life.
A monk who found God at the kitchen sink. A woman who sued for her son’s freedom in 1828 and won. A man who chalked one word on the footpaths of Sydney for 35 years. None of them set out to be remarkable. Living out their faith, they simply paid attention to the people in front of them, saw what needed to change and then did what they could.
Why unexpected? Because the people who make this world a better place are rarely the ones with the titles. They’re the people who look out for one another, care for the stranger, build something together, stand up when it costs. These are the qualities that connect us and make a life worth telling. They run through every story here.
Every week, one short story, told simply. A few minutes with someone who lived these things out, along with a question or two to carry with you.
Three threads run through every story.
Courage
People who put faith ahead of their fear. They did the right thing, even when it was likely to cost them.
Compassion
Love with its sleeves rolled up. Choosing to move closer when it’d be easier to keep your distance.
Community
What people build together and who they refuse to leave out. Small acts of care every day make it stronger.
About
Who's behind this
We’re James and Veronika. James has spent thirty years telling people’s stories, in radio and in human rights work around the world, and more recently leading one of Australia’s largest retirement villages. Veronika’s passion is purpose: connecting people across sectors to create momentum for good. Together we believe in the power of stories to inspire and contribute to change in the world, often beginning in ordinary and unexpected places. That’s our starting point for Unexpected Saints.
