Investigating Ikigai

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.