The Curator's Algorithm: Reclaiming Your Identity in a Digital World

In this transformative MAD Extra connected to The Insiders: Out of the Blue, we meet Olivia Webb—a marketing professional whose carefully curated online identity is suddenly stolen by a hacker. Just as Bran discovered who he truly was when stripped of his messenger status, Olivia must confront a challenging question: Who is she when her digital presence disappears?

This story, inspired by a real coaching experience, follows Olivia's journey through digital detox, identity crisis, and the discovery of a more authentic way of being. As her career and sense of self unravel, she encounters a forgotten scripture—Philippians 4:8—that offers a radical alternative to the social media algorithms that have been shaping her attention and identity.

Through Olivia's struggle, we explore how our digital environments form us, the neuroscience of attention and validation-seeking, and what it means to curate our lives according to different metrics: truth, nobility, and excellence rather than likes, shares, and follows.

Whether you're drowning in notifications or simply questioning the role of technology in your life, this MAD Extra offers practical wisdom for creating healthier digital boundaries and rediscovering who you are beyond the grid.

🔥 Subscribe for future episodes of The Insiders.

💥 Want to dig deeper? Join the MAD Engine Dispatch for reflections and spiritual commentary.

🎙️ Support the MAD Engine on Patreon to help fuel the rebellion of hope.

The difference isn't in what happened.

The difference is what you do with it.

Ever stumbled into a place that felt like it already knew you?

The Tether is a story about a spare chair, a warm table, and the unexpected welcome that changes everything. It’s for the ones who don’t quite fit, who’ve stopped looking for belonging—but still ache for it deep down.

A whispered invite. A host who sees you.

A seat waiting just for you.

If this story resonates, don’t stay quiet.

Reach out.

You can leave a comment, drop a message, or share your own story.

Because The Tether isn’t built by content. It’s built by people.

And maybe… it’s time to come in from the noise.

You’re welcome here.

In this gripping MADCast Black Sheep Story , we dive deep into a story that reverberates through time—a story of identity, transformation, and divine encounters. It's a narrative that forces us to confront the very core of who we are and challenges us to reckon with who we are meant to become.

We start in the haze of a desert night, where Jacob finds himself alone—or so he thinks. This isn't just any night; it's the night before an unavoidable confrontation with his brother Esau, who brings with him the weight of past betrayals and a formidable army. The sands of the desert are quiet, but inside Jacob, a storm is brewing.

Jacob, the master schemer, has always known how to manipulate situations to his advantage, to bend circumstances to his will. Yet this time, against the backdrop of a dark sky, his tricks and plans have run their course. He's set everyone around him in strategic layers like pieces on a chessboard, ready to absorb whatever impact Esau might bring. All except him. Alone by the stream, Jacob is stripped bare of his defenses, and in that moment, something miraculous occurs.

A stranger appears—not just any stranger, but one with an aura of eternity and divine presence. There's no small talk, no formalities. The stranger approaches, and Jacob, driven by instinct, lunges. What unfolds is an extraordinary wrestling match—a battle not just of physical strength but of spirit and soul. It is a raw, unyielding struggle through the long hours of the night, a dance of desperation and tenacity.

Throughout the Bible, Jacob is known for his relentless grip, his constant striving to take hold of what isn't his. This night is no exception, but there's a shift. It's not victory he seeks; it’s a blessing. As dawn begins its approach, the stranger speaks for the first time with an unexpected command: "Let me go, for the day is breaking." Jacob, filled with ardor and exhaustion, replies with a plea that encapsulates his weary heart: "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

In asking for his name, the stranger shines a light on Jacob's deepest fear, his true identity. And for the first time, Jacob speaks his name aloud—not as a title but as a confession of who he truly is: the deceiver, the heel-grabber, the one who has spent a lifetime taking what he has not earned. But instead of judgment, the stranger offers a new name—a new identity. Jacob becomes Israel, the one who strives with God and with men and prevails.

This episode isn’t just about Jacob’s transformation; it’s about ours. It forces us to confront the names and identities we've clung to and the truths we’ve buried deep. It's a profound reminder that while God doesn’t erase our past, He redeems it. He calls us not to pretend but to transform—to own our Jacob so we can truly become Israel.

Join us as we unravel this timeless tale and reflect on what it means to be known and renamed by God. Discover how admitting the truth of who we are can lead to a profound, liberating transformation.

🔥 Subscribe for future episodes of The MADCast.

💥 Want to dig deeper? Join the MAD Engine Dispatch for reflections and spiritual commentary.

🎙️ Support the MAD Engine on Patreon to help fuel the rebellion of hope.

The difference isn’t in what happened. The difference is what you do with it.

Welcome to "You Know How I Said I Was Fine, Yeah? I Was Lying" — a candid exploration into the complexities of friendship, self-deception, and the masks we wear. Join us as we dive into the stories of three unforgettable characters: Ned Needy, Nick Cagey, and Percy Peacock. Each represents a facet of our own struggles and insecurities, from the relentless need for validation to the façade of success.

In this episode, we unravel the threads of our own experiences, recognising when we've been the needy soul, the guarded success, or the flamboyant charmer. Discover how these personas manifest in our lives and the importance of setting boundaries that serve our true selves.

With humour, honesty, and introspection, we reflect on the relationships that challenge us and the lessons they bring. Tune in for a journey through vulnerability and self-awareness, and learn how to build genuine connections beyond the superficial. Because maybe what we need isn't better friends, but better boundaries — and perhaps a raincoat for life's storms.

Subscribe now and join the conversation as we uncover truths that resonate in us all.

One careless comment. One label that stuck. At thirteen, I was called the black sheep—and I believed it. This is the raw, honest story of how that name shaped me, and how I finally broke free. If you’ve ever worn a label someone else gave you, this one’s for you. It’s time to name the lie, face the truth, and follow the Shepherd who calls us something better.

How to Go MAD Season 1 - Episode 1 Welcome to the Workshop

Brilliant. Respected. Exhausted. Charlie has everything success promised—but it’s not enough.

When a rumour of a forgotten place in Critter Vale leads her off the grid, she stumbles into a hidden workshop, a talking horse, gnome-like creatures, and the strange beginnings of something called the MAD Engine.

In this first episode of How to Go MAD—Making A Difference without losing your soul—we follow Charlie’s first steps away from burnout and into mystery, purpose, and a new way of becoming.

This is the welcome story—the one that opens the door for the series to come.

It’s where science meets story, need meets grace, and formation begins.

Includes:

• ​The ache beneath success
• ​A strange encounter with Sher Gar, the talking horse
• ​A glimpse of the MAD Workshop
• ​Gnomes. Dogs. Marmite.
• ​And the first hints of the Engine that changes everything