The Act Five Podcast

Marty Solomon joined for week 2 of Unreliable Instincts! Take a listen to the conversation Madi and Jon had with Marty that resulted in a debate about jazz music, talking about their favourite musicals, and understanding the differences between Empire and Shalom. Leave a comment to join in on the conversation!Interested in coming to Unreliable Instincts? Registration is open until March 25, 2026.References from the Conversation:BEMA DiscipleshipThe Gospel of Being HumanEvents:⁠Winter Learning Series⁠Open HouseTo connect with us, find us here:⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠Read the Blog⁠Ways to Give⁠Applications:⁠Gap Year ⁠⁠Residency ProgramSponsors:Stronger Philanthropy: Stronger Philanthropy connects the right donors with the right charities, facilitating the kind of strategic, targeted giving that leads to real and lasting social change. By providing advisory services that bridge the gap between donors and the charitable sector, Stronger Philanthropy plays a critical role in strengthening the impact of Canadian philanthropy. Learn more at strongerphilanthropy.caThe Priscilla and Stanford Reid Trust: For over 25 years the Reid Trust has supported both creative and traditional initiatives in Reformed and Presbyterian theological education in Canada.

Jon Berends kicked off our Winter Learning Series, Unreliable Instincts, with a talk titled, “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend.” Here this bonus conversation where Jon and Madi talk about darkness and light, the role of knowing history and how it shapes our imaginations, and how people actually change. Leave a comment to join in on the conversation!Interested in coming to Unreliable Instincts? Registration is open until March 25, 2026.References from the Conversation:Iain McGilchristC.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeEvents:⁠Winter Learning Series⁠To connect with us, find us here:⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠⁠Read the Blog⁠Ways to Give⁠Applications:⁠Gap Year ⁠⁠Residency ProgramSponsors:Stronger Philanthropy: Stronger Philanthropy connects the right donors with the right charities, facilitating the kind of strategic, targeted giving that leads to real and lasting social change. By providing advisory services that bridge the gap between donors and the charitable sector, Stronger Philanthropy plays a critical role in strengthening the impact of Canadian philanthropy. Learn more at strongerphilanthropy.caThe Priscilla and Stanford Reid Trust: For over 25 years the Reid Trust has supported both creative and traditional initiatives in Reformed and Presbyterian theological education in Canada.International Justice Mission: Children, women and men face the reality of modern slavery, exploitation and abuse every day because people in power prey on the vulnerabilities that poverty creates. International Justice Mission Canada or IJM Canada is on a mission to partner with local communities to build a more just world where everyone can expect to be safe and protected. Together, we can build a safer, more just world. Learn more about getting your church involved at ijm.ca/churches.

Who better than to kick off the launch of our Winter Learning Series, Unreliable Instincts, than Dr James K. A. Smith! This conversation launches our series on fostering an imagination, and it’s one you don’t want to miss. Jon, Madi, and Jamie talk about the stories we’re part of, disordered narratives, philosophy, liturgies, and the Gospel. We also dive into friendship, noble failures, hope, presence, and belovedness conquering fear. What a way to start off our series, Unreliable Instincts: The Case for a Robust Christian Imagination. Make sure you register to join in for the whole series starting February 18th, and going for 6 Wednesday evenings. The speaker line up is incredible. Check out our website to learn more and to register to be part of the conversation. Learn more about Dr James K. A. Smith here. Upcoming Events:⁠Winter Learning Series⁠To connect with us, find us here:⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠⁠Read the Blog⁠⁠Ways to Give⁠Applications:⁠Gap Year ⁠⁠Residency Program

Welcome back! Jon and Madi take a few minutes to share about the upcoming Winter Learning Series titled "Unreliable Instincts: The Case for a Robust Christian Imagination". Tune in learn more about the series.Register here to let us know you're coming, and invite a friend to join you!Check out last year's series, Six Acts in Six Sessions.

It’s time for another Porch Podcast! Our students have now completed their first term at Act Five, so we invited them to take a seat on the front porch with us to share some reflections and highlights from the fall. We hope you feel like you’re sitting on the front porch with us, hearing their stories firsthand. Upcoming Events:⁠Winter Learning Series⁠To connect with us, find us here:⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠Read the Blog⁠⁠Ways to Give⁠Applications:⁠Gap Year ⁠Residency Program

For the first time ever, we have three incredible Alumni Ambassador Interns! Our Alumni Ambassadors get the opportunity to visit schools, churches, camps, and conferences to tell their story as a student with us, and share more about Act Five. If you’ve had the privilege of getting to hear from them, you know how awesome they are!Here is Hannah's story, who is a graduate from the class of ‘22.Interested in being an Alumni Ambassador Intern next year? Stay tuned in the new year for the application!Upcoming Events:⁠Winter Learning Series⁠To connect with us, find us here:⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠Read the Blog⁠⁠Ways to Give⁠Applications:Gap Year ⁠⁠Residency Program

For the first time ever, we have three incredible Alumni Ambassador Interns! Our Alumni Ambassadors get the opportunity to visit schools, churches, camps, and conferences to tell their story as a student with us, and share more about Act Five. If you’ve had the privilege of getting to hear from them, you know how awesome they are!Here is Zoe's story, who is a graduate from the class of ‘24.Interested in being an Alumni Ambassador Intern next year? Stay tuned in the new year for the application!Upcoming Events:⁠Winter Learning Series⁠To connect with us, find us here:⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠Read the Blog⁠Ways to Give⁠Applications:Gap Year ⁠Residency Program

For the first time ever, we have three incredible Alumni Ambassador Interns! Our Alumni Ambassadors get the opportunity to visit schools, churches, camps, and conferences to tell their story as a student with us, and share more about Act Five. If you’ve had the privilege of getting to hear from them, you know how awesome they are!Here is Daniel's story, who is a graduate from the class of ‘25.Interested in being an Alumni Ambassador Intern next year? Stay tuned in the new year for the application!Hear Daniel share a story on Episode 11 too.Upcoming Events:⁠Winter Learning SeriesTo connect with us, find us here:⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram⁠ Facebook⁠Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠Read the Blog⁠⁠Ways to Give⁠Applications:Gap Year ⁠Residency Program

Tim Dichau is on the podcast! Tim was the pastor at Grandview Church for over two decades. He led the church to refocus its mission among the neighbourhood and for the good of the city.In this episode, we talk about the importance of attention and collaboration in engaging where you are, and Tim shares many examples of how he’s experienced the significance of staying long enough to witness transformation. Tim also invites us to remember the role of repentance and the power of naming idols. Let us know what you think by commenting or reaching out.Learn More about Tim:CityGate VancouverGrandview ChurchBooks Tim has WrittenJoin us this season by Open Doors Wider at Act Five! Learn more here or at actfive.ca/giveUpcoming Events:⁠Open House⁠⁠Winter Learning Series⁠To connect with us, find us here:⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠⁠Read the Blog⁠⁠Ways to Give⁠Applications:⁠Gap Year ⁠⁠Residency Program

Join in on a conversation with Aimee Berends, a musician and registered psychotherapist. Madi and Aimee discuss the role of music in our lives, why play and beauty matter, and the many unique ways in which trust is built. In our theme this year about fostering an imagination, Aimee also shares ways in which our imaginations are fostered or hindered, and how it's not neutral.Aimee also gets Madi playing the piano in this episode! Let us know what you think by commenting or reaching out.Upcoming Events:⁠Storytelling Night in Guelph⁠⁠FUNDRAISER Storytelling Night in Hamilton⁠⁠Open House⁠⁠Winter Learning Series⁠To connect with us, find us here:⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠⁠Read the Blog⁠⁠Ways to Give⁠Applications:⁠Gap Year ⁠⁠Residency Program⁠

Act Five is a place of education, but how we educate is designed intentionally. Join us for a conversation with Justin Cook and Lena Scholman, two incredible educators, who bring us into thinking about the how and why of education. Let us know what you think by commenting or reaching out.Upcoming Events:Storytelling Night in GuelphFUNDRAISER Storytelling Night in HamiltonOpen HouseWinter Learning SeriesTo connect with us, find us here:WebsiteInstagram FacebookSubscribe to our NewsletterRead the BlogWays to GiveApplications:Gap Year Residency Program

Phil Reinders joins us on The Act Five Podcast! He is a pastor and runs a Rule of Life community, Habitus. In this episode, we talk about how the Habitus community was formed, how a Rule of Life forms and deforms our attachments, and the desire to be in communion with Jesus and becoming more fully alive humans. This conversation is one that will give you a glimpse into why the rhythms at Act Five are the way they are too. It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss!Let us know what you think by commenting or reaching out.Upcoming Events:Storytelling Night in GuelphFUNDRAISER Storytelling Night in HamiltonOpen HouseTo connect with us, find us here:WebsiteInstagram FacebookSubscribe to our NewsletterRead the BlogWays to GiveApplications:Gap Year Residency Program

In this second part of the Season 3 introduction, Madi, Jon, and Eric dig deeper into themes they didn’t cover in Part 1. Together they explore what it means to walk with emerging adults—those navigating identity, purpose, faith, and belonging. They discuss Act Five’s mission to provide spaces of exploration and commitment, reflect on character development practices, and share stories from wilderness trips, community life, and moments of disconnection.This conversation invites us to reflect on who we’re becoming, how we “wave others in”, and what it looks like to create healthy spaces for young adults to grow in faith and life.To connect with us, find us here:WebsiteInstagram FacebookSubscribe to our NewsletterRead the BlogWays to GiveApplications:Gap Year Residency Program

Season 3 kicks off with stories from the summer as Madi, Jon, and producer, Eric, return to the digital front porch to celebrate one year of the Act Five Podcast. They revisit the heart of Act Five’s vision: helping young adults live wholeheartedly as disciples of Jesus, and explore the mission. They unpack the balance of community and education, why practices shape us more than “aha” moments, what it means to faithfully improvise in everyday life, and so much more.It’s an episode that continues to bring you into the heart of Act Five and why what happens at Act Five matters!To connect with us, find us here:WebsiteInstagram FacebookSubscribe to our NewsletterRead the BlogWays to Give

This summer, we’re releasing all the sessions from our winter learning series this past year, Six Acts in Six Sessions. This series is taught by dynamic speakers and scholars, who guide us through the six act drama of Scripture with the hope of sparking our imaginations in new ways. To close out the series, here is Act Five with Brian Walsh.Watch the video here.To connect with us, find us here:Spring CatalogueWebsiteInstagram FacebookSubscribe to our NewsletterWays to GiveApplications:Gap Year Residency ProgramSummer Living Opportunity

This summer, we’re releasing all the sessions from our winter learning series this past year, Six Acts in Six Sessions. This series is taught by dynamic speakers and scholars, who guide us through the six act drama of Scripture with the hope of sparking our imaginations in new ways. Here is Act Six (yes, we went out of order intentionally) with Laura De Jong.Watch the video here.To connect with us, find us here:Spring CatalogueWebsiteInstagram FacebookSubscribe to our NewsletterWays to GiveApplications:Gap Year Residency ProgramSummer Living Opportunity

This summer, we’re releasing all the sessions from our winter learning series this past year, Six Acts in Six Sessions. This series is taught by dynamic speakers and scholars, who guide us through the six act drama of Scripture with the hope of sparking our imaginations in new ways. Here is Act Four with Steve MacDouell.Watch the video here.To connect with us, find us here:Spring CatalogueWebsiteInstagram FacebookSubscribe to our NewsletterWays to GiveApplications:Gap Year Residency ProgramSummer Living Opportunity

This summer, we’re releasing all the sessions from our winter learning series this past year, Six Acts in Six Sessions. This series is taught by dynamic speakers and scholars, who guide us through the six act drama of Scripture with the hope of sparking our imaginations in new ways. Here is Act Three with John Bowen.Watch the video here.To connect with us, find us here:Spring CatalogueWebsiteInstagram FacebookSubscribe to our NewsletterWays to GiveApplications:Gap Year Residency ProgramSummer Living Opportunity

This summer, we’re releasing all the sessions from our winter learning series this past year, Six Acts in Six Sessions. This series is taught by dynamic speakers and scholars, who guide us through the six act drama of Scripture with the hope of sparking our imaginations in new ways. Here is Act Two with Jackson Theune.Watch the video here.To connect with us, find us here:Spring CatalogueWebsiteInstagram FacebookSubscribe to our NewsletterWays to GiveApplications:Gap Year Residency ProgramSummer Living Opportunity

This summer, we’re releasing all the sessions from our winter learning series this past year, Six Acts in Six Sessions. This series is taught by dynamic speakers and scholars, who guide us through the six act drama of Scripture with the hope of sparking our imaginations in new ways. Here is Act One with Nina Schuurman-Drenth.Watch the video here.To connect with us, find us here:Spring CatalogueWebsiteInstagram FacebookSubscribe to our NewsletterWays to GiveApplications:Gap Year Residency ProgramSummer Living Opportunity