The Digital Examen

We rarely experience pure, unfettered joy. More often, we live with a layered emotional experience—where opposite emotions overlap and muddle together.  Yet, even in these moments, God is with us and understands us. In this season finale of The Digital Examen , Jay Y. Kim gently guides listeners to embrace the journey of faith as marked by paradox, longing, and the unexpected possibility of joy, e...

Ministry burnout is real—for pastors, leaders, parents, and volunteers. But beneath our exhaustion, God is inviting us to slow down and experience soul-level renewal by simply being honest in his presence. In this episode of The Digital Examen , host Jay Y. Kim sits down with pastor Will Chung, whose own journey through severe burnout, breakdown, and renewal led to the founding of Beloved Church i...

Sometimes sacred gifts arrive quietly—in the scent of broth simmering in the kitchen or in the gentle light cascading across a painting. These small moments hold invitations for us to connect with God. But are our hearts prepared and open to do so? In this episode of The Digital Examen , host Jay Y. Kim welcomes theologian W. David O. Taylor and visual artist Phaedra Jean Taylor for a moving conve...

How can we engage our imagination to perceive the ordinary imbued with the extraordinary? All of reality is aflame with God’s loving presence, glimmering with meaning, beauty, and wisdom beneath the surface of our everyday. In this episode of The Digital Examen , Jay Y. Kim welcomes author, poet, priest, and musician Dr. Malcolm Guite. Widely recognized as one of today’s greatest Christian poets,...

Our often hurried pace of life not only affects us as adults, but also our kids.  How can we create rhythms of rest, play, and delight to help our kids savor their childhood years—even as we learn rich spiritual lessons from them as adults? In this episode of The Digital Examen , Jay Y. Kim welcomes Grace Pouch, educator, content manager for Renovaré , and author of Savoring Childhood . Together,...

With the infinite knit into our very being, our brief life cannot bring us ultimate joy and satisfaction. And yet, as we long for eternity, we can find meaning and peace by resting in God, serving others, and cultivating a mellow heart. In this episode of The Digital Examen , Jay Y. Kim welcomes Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, acclaimed Roman Catholic priest and author, whose spiritual trilogy offers wisdom...

In seasons when life feels meaningless, how can we perceive purpose, hope, and even joy? Amid our deeply materialistic culture, the purpose of life can seem to simply be the elimination of pain and inconvenience. Yet the answer to our deepest aches lies in the joy of serving others, the wisdom of our ancestors, and the worthiness of Jesus.  In this episode of The Digital Examen , host Jay Y. Kim s...

Many of us are trapped in a default state of hurry, leaving little space for self-care, spiritual depth, or true rest. The cost is palpable: frayed nerves, drained energy, and fractured relationships—with ourselves, others, and God. In this episode of The Digital Examen , Jay Y. Kim welcomes Karynthia Glasper Phillips, physician assistant, minister, and author of Press Pause: Making Time for God i...

How do we move beyond performative spirituality and instead bring our whole selves to God in prayer—including our boredom, sorrow, and joy? It can be hard to believe that the entire spectrum of human experience and emotion is welcome in God’s presence. Music, beauty, and art can help us. In this episode of The Digital Examen , Jay Y. Kim welcomes singer-songwriter Jon Guerra, known for his deeply...

Reading the Bible can sometimes feel like a chore or duty. But when we slow down, we notice the text carries an invitation to join a story that’s vibrant, creative, and deeply personal.  In this episode of The Digital Examen , Jay Y. Kim welcomes biblical scholar and founder of Sacred Patterns, Hakeem Bradley, whose unconventional journey to faith and research expertise invites us to see the Bible...

For many of us, the possibility of joy can feel intimidating or unattainable. Sometimes elusive and hard to pin down, we wonder if joy is simply a feeling or if it could involve our emotions in any substantial way.  In this episode of The Digital Examen , Jay Y. Kim welcomes Anglican priest and author Tish Harrison Warren, whose books Liturgy of the Ordinary and Prayer in the Night have resonated...

What do we do when the “spark” of life fades? The sorrows and fleeting pleasures of life can leave each of us despairing, burnt out, and unfulfilled. Yet even here, God offers us an alternative: real joy. In this season’s opening episode of The Digital Examen , host Jay Y. Kim unpacks what Scripture really teaches about "joy." As Kim explains, the pursuit of pleasure in our modern age is l...

Slowing down in a culture of speed isn’t easy. Noticing in an age of distraction might be even harder. And experiencing joy amid the pressure to produce can feel impossible. But walking intentionally with God happens at the pace of peace, leading us to that which often feels elusive: joy and delight. In season three of The Digital Examen podcast, host Jay Y. Kim joins an array of writers, educator...

Life is a mysterious gift—a gift meant to be given for the sake of others. While our individualistic and speed-driven culture urges us to prioritize our own needs and desires, serving others can offer us not only a profound sense of freedom but also a heart more attuned to noticing God every day. By lifting our gaze from ourselves, we recognize that walking slowly with God includes an invitation t...

Modern technology has become more than just a neutral tool—it has become a “superpower,” making the sensation of skill and semblance of progress almost effortless. Personalized algorithms allow us to shed the seeming inconveniences of effort, connection, and patience that engage our human personhood. In a landscape of automation and customization, how can we experience personal connection, satisfy...

Politics not only include who and what you vote for. It reveals how you see yourself, other people, and God.  Our imaginations have been malformed by fear-inducing stories and unchecked allegiances, revealing not only our positions on a given issue but our deepest loves and loyalties. While it may seem that joining the “culture war” or withdrawing are our only political options, God offers another...

Many of us default to suppressing our emotions. Yet, even our most challenging emotions reveal our beliefs about ourselves, others, and God. Instead of avoiding our complex emotions, how can we faithfully engage them and learn to rewire our responses to them with God as our guide? In this episode, host Jay Y. Kim welcomes Dr. Kevin Chapman (PhD, A-CBT, HSPP), a licensed clinical psychologist and f...

In seasons of poignant grief and loss, we all ask a version of the question, “How long, O Lord?” Though Scripture tells us that God draws uniquely near to the hurting, experiencing hope amid our pain often feels impossible. How can we sit with God in our suffering, and experience his loving presence even as we lament?  Join host Jay Y. Kim as he welcomes Natasha Smith, a grief advocate, speaker, a...

Parenthood—and life—rarely unfolds the way we expect. Whether we are raising children or not, we all experience complexity, messiness, and insecurity in our relationship with ourselves, others, and God. Though for parents, the exhaustion of sleepless nights, the weight of providing for a family, and the loneliness of navigating “mom culture” come as unique challenges.  With these challenges bringi...

Our desires reveal who we are becoming. Yet, we are able to satiate our longings more easily and quickly than ever before in human history. Our hearts decay in the wake of desire overwhelm, consumerism trains us to be ever-craving, and we are often incapacitated to trust God for the richness he can supply. Amid our allergy to waiting, how do we steward our desires well? In this episode, host Jay Y...

Can we really trust God with our wounds? Fear and shame can lead us to mishandle and hide our brokenness and insecurities from God and others. Yet, as we attempt to protect ourselves, these fractures hinder our ability to perceive and receive God’s loving presence.  How can we instead believe in our belovedness and embrace our vulnerabilities as an opportunity to experience God’s delight in us? In...

In a culture that prizes living on the verge of burnout, God invites us to embrace our human limitations and recover delight. While performative spirituality distracts us from God’s true purposes for our lives, partnering with God in a regular practice of Sabbath can help renew our hearts to perceive his voice, counter the pressures of our productivity-driven culture, and reinvigorate the meaning...

The everpresent pressures of social media, and even ministry needs, can warp the way in which we process our personal encounters with God. We face the temptation to treat our relationship with God as a means to an end, whether that end be fresh content or much-needed wisdom. How can we reorient to connect with God simply to experience him?  In this episode, host Jay Y. Kim is joined by Glenn Packi...

We live in a culture marked not only by hurry, but also antagonism and individualism. It’s easy for our voice to feel either drowned out by the noise, or unworthy of adding to it. How do we discern our unique voice amid distractions and effectively speak goodness into a world in need? In this episode, host Jay Y. Kim sits down with Ashlee Eiland, thought leader, Bible teacher, and author of Say Go...

For many of us, the steady hum of worry feels ever present and hurry has become our default.  Life circumstances and uncertainties, our own anxiety-bent thoughts, and the constant overwhelm of our news feeds have created a perfect storm for fear to distract us from God’s loving presence.  As we begin season 2 of The Digital Examen , host Jay Y. Kim sets the tone for the journey ahead—thoughtful co...