The Digital Examen

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 with thousands searching for meaning in the everyday journey of faith. Together, they probe our cultural inability to sustain our attention to both God and life itself. Warren talks candidly about what happens to our souls when our capacity to contemplate is lost, how we can overanalyze moments of revival, and how we are often not very effective at talking about biblical joy. By confronting our fear of encountering God in the intimate setting of the mundane, they affirm that God desires to meet with and speak to us on any given Wednesday. As they share stories of family life and honest reflections on burnout, they uncover that true joy is both deeply spiritual and rooted in our human experiences. Tune into this conversation for an invitation to discover God’s sacramental joy even on your most ordinary days.This episode highlights the following themes:Why “ordinary” days are sacredJoy as a gift, practice, and a muscleHonest hope when everything feels like it’s falling apartLinks from this episode: Learn more about Tish Harrison WarrenRead Liturgy of the Ordinary and Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison WarrenCheck out Tish Harrison Warren’s upcoming book: What Grows in Weary LandsRead the transcript herePreorder The Pace of Peace by Jay Y. KimLearn more about The Digital ExamenLearn more about your host, 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. SPECIAL OFFER | Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPEXAMEN40 for 40% off and free shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.Credits:✅ 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.As an Amazon Affiliate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above. 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

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, satisfying discipline, and sincere growth in our everyday walk with God?Join Jay Y. Kim as he welcomes Andy Crouch, renowned author, thought leader, and partner for theology and culture at Praxis. Crouch has written several influential books on faithful Christian living, including Culture Making, The Tech-Wise Family, Playing God, Strong and Weak, and, most recently, The Life We’re Looking For. In their conversation, Kim and Crouch explore the unique ways in which modern, “personalized” technologies are malforming our loves, desires, and sense of personhood. They discuss the unprecedented “superpower” that technology grants us to experience the illusion of power without the burden of effort. They draw a strong connection between our ever-shortening attention spans and our common struggle to experience God’s presence meaningfully every day. Our growing absence of personal discipline, coupled with waning relational connection, is informing a covert belief that following Jesus should be easy and require little day-to-day effort. Crouch challenges the way modern worship music often focuses on effortless spiritual experiences, which fails to speak to corporate realities and the full range of human experiences. Informed by Scripture and Christian history, Kim and Crouch encourage us to embrace God’s grace by committing to simple, time-tested spiritual practices that will open us up to the activity and presence of God over time.Modern technologies seek to malform our sense of personhood through ease and convenience, yet the Christian life of noticing and experiencing God requires practice, focus, and intentionality.Tune in to heed God’s call to a harder, better life sustained by grace.This episode highlights the following themes:The illusion of effortless power in the digital ageThe distinction between personal and personalizationThe power of intentional, spiritual practicesLinks from the episode:Learn more about Andy CrouchRead Andy Crouch's recent book, The Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological WorldRead 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.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

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 bringing us to the end of ourselves, we all feel the temptation to hide our true selves, struggles, and insecurities. Simultaneously, it can be challenging to find a welcoming community to share our raw struggles with.How can we cultivate honest and vulnerable friendships that will receive our whole selves and hardships with nonjudgmental company, encouragement, and prayer? And how does God desire to meet us in these pain points?In this episode, host Jay Y. Kim sits down with Kathy Tuan-MacLean (PhD, Northwestern), spiritual director, mother of three, and co-author of the Bible study Moms at the Well. As the national faculty ministry director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, she draws from over three decades of experience in guiding students and faculty in spiritual formation.Together, they explore the isolating challenges of motherhood, the judgment that often pervades “mom culture,” and the silent weight of shame many women carry alone. Tuan-MacLean encourages us to locate the everyday “wells” of community and creative spiritual practices that open us up to experience God personally and alongside others. They also discuss simple practices, like breath prayers and silence, that can help us take “little sips” from God’s living water.If you feel exhausted, unseen, or stretched beyond your limits, this conversation will help you notice and believe that God hears you, sees you, and desires to meet you right where you are.This episode highlights the following themes:The paradox of strength becoming a barrier to experiencing God's graceExperiencing God uniquely in motherhood and marriageThe importance of intentional community in spiritual sustainabilityLinks from this episode: Learn more about Kathy Tuan-MacLeanRead Kath Tuan-MacLean’s Bible study, Moms at the WellRead 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

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 this episode, host Jay Y. Kim speaks with Michael John Cusick, CEO and founder of Restoring the Soul, a Denver-based intensive counseling ministry. Cusick, a licensed professional counselor, spiritual director, and author of Sacred Attachment, explores the profound connections between attachment theory, spiritual wounds, and our relationship with God. This conversation challenges us to steward our vulnerabilities with self-compassion, honesty, and hope—while reckoning with God’s gentle desire to meet us precisely in our needs and limitations. Cusick shares practical steps to connect with God through our imagination, helping us more fully trust that God sees us, soothes us, keeps us safe, and offers us security.Tune in to learn how to move from spiritual exhaustion to sacred attachment, finding rest in the healing balm of God's unchanging love. This episode highlights the following themes:The impact of attachment needs and theory on spiritual growthThe role of vulnerability in deepening our relationship with GodPractical steps to experience God’s loving presenceLinks from this episode:Get to know more about Michael John CusickRead Cusick’s book, Sacred AttachmentRead the transcript here God 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. KimDownload 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

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 Packiam, worship songwriter and lead pastor of Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, California. Packiam is also the author of several books on church ministry, worship, and everyday faith, including The Intentional Year and What's a Christian Anyway?Together, Kim and Packiam offer approachable spiritual rhythms to help us notice God everyday: practicing silence and solitude, praying the Psalms, and cultivating community. By affirming that God desires our joy and attention, Packiam explores how we can encounter God and receive his wisdom, not out of function, but out of love. Tune in to consider how offering small moments of stillness to God can renew your intimacy with him. This episode highlights the following themes:The importance of silence and solitude in developing spiritual awareness and connection with GodThe danger of functionalizing intimacy with God for ministry/content creation purposesThe value of intentionally structuring relationships and finding life-giving connectionsLinks from this episode:Learn more about Glenn PackiamKnow the latest on Glenn’s forthcoming book, What’s a Christian Anyway?Learn more about Arthur Brooks’ book, From Strength to StrengthLearn more about Derek Thompson’s book, On WorkRead 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. KimDownload 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.As an Amazon Affiliate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 conversations with leaders and luminaries on God’s nearness in every aspect of life. In this first episode, Kim reflects on his personal journey of parenthood to illustrate the steady closeness and safety God offers his children. Though anxiety and hurry can so easily narrate our lives, God’s presence offers a profound alternative formation. Kim shares how life lived with God is the antidote for fear, and he invites us to notice and receive God’s fatherly love and grounding presence in our everyday.This episode highlights the following themes:Reframing worry by recognizing God’s nearnessPractical ways to meet with God through the Prayer of ExamenBiblical insights into God’s love and presenceLinks from this episode:Read the transcript here Read The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother LawrenceGod 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.As an Amazon Affiliate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands