Episodios

  • Discovering Joy and Healing Through Vulnerability with Will Chung

    Discovering Joy and Healing Through Vulnerability with Will Chung
    Apr 8 2026

    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 in Southern California. Together, they trace Chung’s reckoning with the pressures of ministry, the pain of spiritual weariness, and the temptation to embrace opportunities that outrun the soul. Chung shares about the pivotal moments that shattered his illusions, brought him to tears, and opened his heart to God’s true invitation: to not just serve him, but to stay close to him. Together with Kim, he explores why honest vulnerability is essential for lifelong faithfulness, how solitude and hiddenness restore our souls, and why God cares more about our hearts and characters than any of the work we might do for him.

    Tune in to learn how God doesn’t just desire our repentance, but our healing and wholeness.

    This episode highlights the following themes:

    • What true spiritual healing looks like
    • Why vulnerability and authentic friendships matter for leaders
    • Small shifts that help us choose a life with God, not just for God

    Links from this episode:

    • Learn more about Will Chung
    • Learn more about Beloved Church
    • Read Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero
    • Read the transcript here

    Preorder The Pace of Peace by Jay Y. Kim

    Learn more about The Digital Examen

    Learn more about your host, Jay Y. Kim

    Listen to Meditations from The Digital Examen

    Download a Guide to The Examen

    Slowing 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 Keech

    Disclaimer: 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
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    50 m
  • Discovering Joy by Praying All of Life with W. David O. Taylor & Phaedra Jean Taylor

    Discovering Joy by Praying All of Life with W. David O. Taylor & Phaedra Jean Taylor
    Apr 1 2026
    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 conversation about embracing God’s interest and presence in our everyday life. Together, they share how prayers, paintings, and simple moments invite us to slow down, embrace a softened heart toward God, and receive the hidden graces we often overlook.Drawing from their book Prayers for the Pilgrimage and the visual landscapes Phaedra creates, the Taylors reflect on the trust we foster amid struggle, how art and imagination cultivate hope, and how we can truly be met by God both in joy and sorrow. They wrestle with how to bring our full lives—our soup-making, our grumpy moods, our diaper-changing, our illnesses—into honest prayer. They also uncover Jesus’ subversive way of modeling joy amid suffering and offer creative ways to nurture an "undramatic attunement" to God's presence as we move through the world. Tune in to learn how to experience Jesus and joy afresh today through vulnerability and praying through all of life’s emotions and experiences with God.This episode highlights the following themes:How God meets us in pain, pleasure, and the ordinary moments of lifeHow prayer and art invite vulnerability, honesty, and healingPractices for slowing down, noticing, and finding God everywhereLinks from this episode: Learn more about W. David O. TaylorLearn more about Phaedra Jean Taylor and her artRead Prayers for the Pilgrimage by W. David O. Taylor, with paintings by Phaedra Jean TaylorRead 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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    1 h
  • Discovering Joy with our Imagination with Malcolm Guite

    Discovering Joy with our Imagination with Malcolm Guite
    Mar 25 2026
    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, Guite shares how our imagination is not a creative extra, but a truth-telling faculty that helps us apprehend meaning in a world saturated with data yet hungry for substance. Seamlessly connecting insights from Shakespeare and Seamus Heaney to John’s gospel and the life of Moses, Guite illustrates how poetry and story help us discover that reality shimmers with divine presence. By engaging our imagination with God, Guite notes that we can perceive “reality [as] itself numinous, translucent with glimmerings of the supernatural.” Together, Kim and Guite explore how imagination makes biblical truth come alive, how metaphors and parables reveal vivid wisdom, and why community is essential for nurturing and expanding the Christian imagination. Listen and be inspired to see your life, faith, and surroundings in a new light—and the world as the handiwork of the greatest poet, God. This episode highlights the following themes:Why imagination is crucial for perceiving meaning, not just informationHow metaphor and poetry bring spiritual truths down to earthThe role of community in expanding and renewing Christian imaginationLinks from this episode: Learn more about Dr. Malcolm GuiteRead Dr. Malcolm Guite’s books, Mariner, Sounding the Seasons and Faith, Hope and PoetryRead "Digging" by Seamus HeaneyRead 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
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    58 m
  • Discovering Joy by Savoring Childhood with Grace Pouch

    Discovering Joy by Savoring Childhood with Grace Pouch
    Mar 18 2026

    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, they talk honestly about the frenzied pace of modern life—how it impacts young people, families, and the adults we become—and propose gentler rhythms centered on trust, presence, and joy.

    Pouch shares her own journey as a parent and teacher, reflecting on how savoring the moments of childhood, lingering with familiar stories and practices, and embracing Sabbath rest can help children and adults recover a sense of identity and connection with God and one another. They discuss why nurturing play, creativity, and even boredom are essential in a world obsessed with productivity and achievement.

    If you sense that life has become too rushed and wonder how to recapture joy, trust, and deep spiritual formation for yourself or the children in your life, this episode is for you.

    This episode highlights the following themes:

    • The importance of savoring childhood
    • Spiritual formation is a slow work
    • Sabbath as a space for trust and rest

    Links from this episode:

    • Learn more about Grace Pouch
    • Read Grace Pouch’s book, Savoring Childhood
    • Discover Renovaré and resources for spiritual renewal
    • Read the transcript here

    Preorder The Pace of Peace by Jay Y. Kim

    Learn more about The Digital Examen

    Learn more about your host, Jay Y. Kim

    Listen to Meditations from The Digital Examen

    Download a Guide to The Examen

    Slowing 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 Keech

    Disclaimer: 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
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    45 m
  • Discovering Joy in Each Season of Life with Ronald Rolheiser

    Discovering Joy in Each Season of Life with Ronald Rolheiser
    Mar 11 2026
    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 for following Jesus in our youth, mid-life, and final years: The Holy Longing, Sacred Fire, and Insane for the Light. Drawing from decades of pastoral experience, Fr. Rolheiser explores the cultural obsession with staying young, the challenge of aging well, and the deep joy that comes from surrender and gratitude. Together, Kim and Fr. Rolheiser reflect on the power of everyday rituals, our modern misunderstanding of happiness, and how true spiritual maturity is cultivated by serving others with an open heart. Through this, they explore how tending a forgiving and thankful spirit is how we can be subversive instruments of joy in the world.Tune in to discover how to follow Jesus in each of life’s unique seasons, wrestle with our longings, and find true rest in God’s presence. This episode highlights the following themes:How restless longing shapes all stages of life and can only find rest in GodHow delight, mellow-heartedness, and forgiveness connect to true meaning and maturitySimple practices for channeling desire, sustaining love, and finding God in ordinary momentsLinks from this episode: Learn more about Fr. Ronald RolheiserExplore Fr. Rolheiser’s trilogy: The Holy Longing, Sacred Fire, and Insane for the LightRead 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
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    51 m
  • Discovering Joy When Life Feels Empty with Isaac Serrano

    Discovering Joy When Life Feels Empty with Isaac Serrano
    Mar 4 2026
    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 sits down with Isaac Serrano, lead pastor at South Valley Community Church in Gilroy, California and author of When Life Feels Empty. He also serves on the leadership team of the ReGeneration Project and is an adjunct professor teaching theology and ministry at Western Seminary. Together, Kim and Serrano draw from ancient Christian wisdom and their experiences as pastors in Silicon Valley to discuss how discerning our telos, embracing connection with others, and locating ourselves with God’s story are essential to experiencing joy in our digital age. Serrano shares why the antidote to pain and suffering isn’t positive thinking or attempting to escape pain, but embracing endurance, selflessness, and age-old practices like communal singing, thanksgiving, and prayer. If you long to experience tangible meaning in your everyday, this episode offers hope, clarity, and practical next steps toward a life filled with purpose and deep joy. This episode highlights the following themes:The search for meaning in an age of emptinessHow timeless practices can help us recalibrate our lives toward joy, meaning, and connection with God and othersEndurance and faith in the midst of sufferingLinks from this episode: Learn more about Isaac SerranoRead Isaac Serrano’s book, When Life Feels EmptyRead the transcript hereSlowing 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. Preorder The Pace of Peace by Jay Y. KimLearn 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 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
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    55 m
  • Discovering Joy by Pressing Pause with Karynthia Glasper Phillips

    Discovering Joy by Pressing Pause with Karynthia Glasper Phillips
    Feb 25 2026
    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 in an Overscheduled Life. Drawing from her 20+ years in family medicine and ministry, Glasper Phillips shares why our culture’s pace taxes mind, body, and soul—and she offers clear ways to notice the early symptoms of burnout: scuttle sickness, fast fever, and frenzy sickness. Her story—shaped by personal health trials and insights from working with patients—reveals both the lie of self-sufficiency and the healing power of sacred pauses in God’s presence.Together, Kim and Glasper Phillips discuss recognizing the hurried heart, finding God at work in quiet moments, and learning the rhythms of rest that reawaken joy, creativity, and meaningful connection. You’ll find practical ways to start your day with intention and embrace the wholeness that comes from being present with God, with yourself, and with others.If you’re weary, stretched thin, or on the verge of burnout, tune in for an opportunity to pause in God’s loving presence and experience his restorative rejuvenation. This episode highlights the following themes:How hurry syndrome erodes our health, relationships, and spiritual lifeThe power of Sabbath and practical strategies for true restWhy self-care and spiritual wholeness matter for loving others wellLinks from this episode: Learn more about Karynthia Glasper PhillipsPreorder Karynthia Glasper Phillips’s book, Press Pause: Making Time for God in an Overscheduled LifeRead 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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    40 m
  • Discovering Joy through Honest Prayer and Music with Jon Guerra

    Discovering Joy through Honest Prayer and Music with Jon Guerra
    Feb 18 2026

    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 honest and beautiful devotional music. Guerra opens up about his journey from writing congregational worship songs to creating what he calls "Monday morning prayer music," offering language and space for the full range of our human experiences with God—not just the triumphant. Kim and Guerra reflect on the power of music and art to help us process truth, perceive the invisible, and uncover the delight that can only be experienced alongside grief. Guerra shares practical wisdom for cultivating our inner life with God, the importance of silence and lament, and how all of art ultimately moves towards prayer.

    Tune in to discover how prayer is both the antidote for performative living and an invitation to a more spacious, grounded, and joyful faith.

    This episode highlights the following themes:

    • How prayer forms the core of a healthy spiritual life
    • The ways beauty and music connect us to God and each other
    • The freedom found in acknowledging our raw emotions with God

    Links from this episode:

    • Learn more about Jon Guerra and his music
    • Read the transcript here

    Preorder The Pace of Peace by Jay Y. Kim

    Learn more about The Digital Examen

    Learn more about your host, Jay Y. Kim

    Listen to Meditations from The Digital Examen

    Download a Guide to The Examen

    Slowing 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 Keech

    Disclaimer: 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
    Más Menos
    48 m