The Digital Examen

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 like running endlessly on a treadmill—you never truly arrive. Yet, the entire Bible testifies to the joy God offers: a lasting inner steadiness built upon the goodness of God. Together, we’ll find that Jesus himself embraced a life of both palpable grief and abundant joy.If you long to live a life marked by grounded delight, join us as we look to the most joyful being in the universe: God. You'll be encouraged that joy is not just possible, but readily available to you as a gift from God.This episode highlights the following themes:The difference between fleeting pleasures and lasting joyDeep joy is rooted in the presence and goodness of GodHow true joy prevails even amid suffering and struggleLinks from this episode:Read the transcript hereLearn more about The Digital ExamenLearn more about your host, Jay Y. KimPreorder The Pace of Peace by Jay Y. KimListen to Meditations from The Digital ExamenDownload a Guide to The ExamenSlowing down in a culture of speed isn’t easy. Noticing in an age of distraction might be even harder. But walking intentionally with God happens at the pace of peace, leading us to that which often feels elusive: joy and delight. In this season of The Digital Examen podcast, host Jay Y. Kim joins an array of writers, educators, artists, and theologians to explore the many gifts God offers just beneath the surface of our frenzied lives, often hidden in plain view. Together, we’ll discover that a life marked by joy and delight is available to any and all who would slow down and notice. Credits:✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPEXAMEN40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.✅ Consulting Producer: Helen Lee✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo and Travis Albritton✅ Assistant Producer: Jack Reece✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard and Elsbette San Blas✅ Theme Song: "For They Will Inherit the Earth" by Stephen KeechDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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, educators, artists, and theologians—including Malcolm Guite, David Taylor, Jon Guerra, Tish Harrison Warren, and many others—to explore the many gifts God offers just beneath the surface of our frenzied lives, often hidden in plain view. Season three of The Digital Examen launches Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or tune in on the IVP YouTube channel. Together, we’ll discover that a life marked by joy and delight is available to any and all who would slow down and notice. Links from this episode:Read the transcript hereLearn more about The Digital ExamenLearn more about your host, Jay Y. KimPreorder The Pace of Peace by Jay Y. KimListen to Meditations from The Digital ExamenDownload a Guide to The ExamenThe world is full of noise. Many are exhausted by the cacophony and chaos of the modern, digital age, where peace is scarce and self-reflection is infrequent. In The Digital Examen, a podcast from IVP, author and pastor Jay Y. Kim converses with a variety of leaders, pastors, and scholars who are working to reorient their lives in the direction of listening, tuning their hearts and minds to hear the voice of God in all of its clarity, kindness, and strength.Credits:✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPEXAMEN40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.✅ Consulting Producer: Helen Lee✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo and Travis Albritton✅ Assistant Producer: Jack Reece✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard and Elsbette San Blas✅ Theme Song: "For They Will Inherit the Earth" by Stephen KeechDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 to live at the countercultural pace of his love.As we conclude the second season of The Digital Examen, Jay Y. Kim reflects on our journey of learning to notice God together. Kim draws inspiration from the Romantic painting "The Wanderer above the Sea Fog," by Caspar David Friedrich, which helps us see beyond our immediate self-interests and embrace the ambiguities of life with God. Kim also illustrates the joy of living in service to others and intimacy with God. Finally, Kim invites us to go patiently with God by saturating ourselves in Scripture, making a regular practice of prayer, and inviting a local Christian community to accompany us along the way. In due time, these everyday practices will help attune us in heart, soul, mind, and strength to more readily experience God’s voice and presence, forming us into people who are more alive to him in all of life. As we offer our attention to the needs of others and daily spiritual rhythms, we can grow to notice God in all of the mundane and majestic moments of our everyday lives. Tune in to learn more.This episode highlights the following themes:Experiencing freedom by casting our anxieties on GodNoticing God through humility and serviceTrusting God to complete his work in you in due timeLinks from the episode:Read the transcript hereGod is present; do we notice him? As the world gets louder, listening to God’s voice becomes increasingly challenging. We are bombarded by the chaos of our feeds, by distractions both inside and out, and by the everyday cacophony that drowns out the calm of a life lived in close communion with God. In this season of The Digital Examen, pastor, and author Jay Y. Kim guides us toward reorienting our lives so that we can notice God with the entirety of our beings—heart, soul, mind, strength—in both the mundane and majestic moments of everyday life. Learn more about The Digital ExamenLearn more about your host, Jay Y. KimRead Analog Church and Analog Christian by Jay Y. KimListen to Meditations from The Digital ExamenDownload a Guide to The Examen.Links and Credits✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.✅ Consulting Producer: Helen Lee✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo and Travis Albritton✅ Production Assistant: Jack Reece✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts✅ Social Media Managers: Allie Noble and Makayla Payne✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard and Elsbette San Blas✅ Theme Song: "For They Will Inherit the Earth" by Stephen KeechDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In a thought-provoking conversation, Andy Crouch, an esteemed author and thought leader at Praxis, shares insights on how modern technology shapes our spirituality. He discusses technology as a 'superpower' that distorts our connection with God while highlighting the struggle to maintain meaningful relationships in a digital world. Crouch critiques the trend of seeking shortcuts in faith, emphasizing the importance of discipline and genuine effort. He also explores how worship music must evolve to foster deeper communal connections, pushing listeners to embrace a more authentic spiritual journey.

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 way.In this episode, host Jay Y. Kim welcomes Kaitlyn Schiess, author, speaker, and perpetual theology student. She is the author of The Liturgy of Politics and The Ballot and the Bible, and her writing has been featured in Christianity Today, The New York Times, Relevant, and elsewhere. Schiess is a co-host and Senior Editor of the Holy Post podcast, and the host of Curiously, Kaitlyn. She has a ThM in systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and is currently a doctoral student in theology at Duke Divinity School.Kim and Schiess explore the revealing intersections of spiritual formation and politics, challenging us to prayerfully reflect on the allegiances shaping us. They discuss our need for an imagination that is reformed by the story of Scripture, rather than fear. They also contrast the empty promises of political figures with God's faithfulness to keep his abundantly better promises. In highlighting spiritual practices to help ground us in our local communities, they discuss the freedom and clarity we experience when we are secure in our identity in Christ and belonging with his people. When we know who we are, where we belong, and what story we believe, differences become less of a threat and more of an opportunity for curiosity, conversation, and connection.Tune in for a refreshing opportunity to reflect on your political imagination with God. This episode highlights the following themes:Aligning our political loyalties with ScripturePrioritizing embodied presence with communityPracticing spiritual disciplines to learn faithful politicsLinks from this episode:Learn more about Kaitlyn SchiessRead Kaitlyn Schiess’ books, The Liturgy of Politics and The Ballot and the BibleHear more from Kaitlyn Schiess on The DisruptersRead the transcript hereGod is present; do we notice him? As the world gets louder, listening to God’s voice becomes increasingly challenging. We are bombarded by the chaos of our feeds, by distractions both inside and out, and by the everyday cacophony that drowns out the calm of a life lived in close communion with God. In this season of The Digital Examen, pastor, and author Jay Y. Kim guides us toward reorienting our lives so that we can notice God with the entirety of our beings—heart, soul, mind, strength—in both the mundane and majestic moments of everyday life. Learn more about The Digital ExamenLearn more about your host, Jay Y. KimRead Analog Church and Analog Christian by Jay Y. KimListen to Meditations from The Digital ExamenDownload a Guide to The ExamenLinks and Credits✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.✅ Consulting Producer: Helen Lee✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo and Travis Albritton✅ Production Assistant: Jack Reece✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts✅ Social Media Managers: Allie Noble and Makayla Payne✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard and Elsbette San Blas✅ Theme Song: "For They Will Inherit the Earth" by Stephen KeechDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.As an Amazon Affiliate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 founder of the Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. Dr. Chapman is the author of Mastering Our Emotions, founder of Sound Mind Ministries, and host of The Sound Mind Show on YouTube. His expert wisdom has been featured on TLC, The Today Show, and other major platforms.Throughout their conversation, Dr. Chapman breaks down the three components of emotions—thoughts, physical feelings, and behaviors—and how they influence each other. He introduces practical tools like the Emotional SEAL framework, Practice In His Presence (PIP), and breathing techniques to aid us in being present with our emotions. Their discussion also explores how emotional avoidance reinforces distorted beliefs about God and poses greater mental health risks. By instead pondering and parsing our emotions with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can experience wholeness and transformation through God’s loving presence. With God’s company and comfort, we can reprogram our perception of our emotions and how we respond to them.Tune in to learn how to engage your emotions with honesty, curiosity, and hope to more accurately see God for the loving Father he is.This episode highlights the following themes:Understanding the triad of emotions: thoughts, physical feelings, and behaviors The importance of being present with our emotions rather than avoiding them How the Holy Spirit helps us navigate our emotional experiencesLinks from this episode: Learn more about Dr. Kevin ChapmanThe Sound Mind Show on YouTube Dr. Kevin Chapman's book Mastering Our EmotionsRead the transcript hereGod is present; do we notice him? As the world gets louder, listening to God’s voice becomes increasingly challenging. We are bombarded by the chaos of our feeds, by distractions both inside and out, and by the everyday cacophony that drowns out the calm of a life lived in close communion with God. In this season of The Digital Examen, pastor, and author Jay Y. Kim guides us toward reorienting our lives so that we can notice God with the entirety of our beings—heart, soul, mind, strength—in both the mundane and majestic moments of everyday life. Learn more about The Digital ExamenLearn more about your host, Jay Y. KimRead Analog Church and Analog Christian by Jay Y. KimListen to Meditations from The Digital ExamenDownload a Guide to The Examen.Links and Credits✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.✅ Consulting Producer: Helen Lee✅ Producers: Christine Pelliccio Melo and Travis Albritton✅ Production Assistant: Jack Reece✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts✅ Social Media Managers: Allie Noble and Makayla Payne✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard and Elsbette San Blas✅ Theme Song: "For They Will Inherit the Earth" by Stephen KeechDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Natasha Smith, a grief advocate and author, shares her insights on navigating deep grief and loss. She discusses the importance of being honest with God about our heavy emotions and highlights the powerful role of faith in healing. Smith emphasizes that feeling is part of the journey, and lamenting can lead to deeper spiritual growth. She offers encouragement for those facing grief, reminding listeners of Jesus as the ‘suffering Savior’ who understands our pain, fostering hope and renewal through God’s comforting presence.

In this insightful discussion, Kathy Tuan-MacLean, a spiritual director and mother of three, sheds light on the messy realities of motherhood. She delves into the isolating challenges women face in 'mom culture' and the judgment that often stifles vulnerability. Tuan-MacLean emphasizes the importance of nurturing supportive communities and building honest friendships, encouraging listeners to embrace their struggles and seek God in the everyday 'wells' of life. She also shares practical spiritual practices to find divine comfort and connection.

A.J. Swoboda, an associate professor at Bushnell University and author of The Gift of Thorns, dives into the complexities of human desire. He discusses how consumerism leads to overwhelming cravings, urging listeners to embrace waiting as part of their spiritual journey. By reflecting on biblical narratives, he encourages a balance between surrender and active longing for God. Swoboda emphasizes the importance of recognizing fleeting desires versus deeper spiritual fulfillment, guiding us towards healthier engagement with our longings through faith and dependence on the Holy Spirit.

In this engaging discussion, Michael John Cusick, founder of Restoring the Soul and author of Sacred Attachment, dives into the profound connection between attachment and spiritual healing. He challenges listeners to embrace their vulnerabilities, viewing them as pathways to experiencing God's love. Cusick shares practical insights on how to trust in God's presence during pain, emphasizing the importance of being seen, soothed, and secure. The conversation ultimately invites us to move from spiritual exhaustion to a renewed sense of God's embrace with compassion and hope.