Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow is a 3rd Generation Filipino/Chinese American and an active speaker, writer, coach, and podcaster on topics of faith, leadership, activism, culture, race, and technology. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), he also works with organizations on immigration, decarceration, and Palestinian liberation. He is the author of six books, most recently Everything Good about God is True: Choosing Faith with his next book, "Prophets, Priests, Pastors & Poets: Being and Becoming the Ressurected Christ," due out in Fall 2026. He and his wife live in San Jose, CA.

Rev. Casey Thornburgh Sigmon, MDiv, PhD, is the Associate Professor of Preaching & Worship and Director of the Pause/Play Center for Preachers (a Compelling Preaching Initiative of the Lilly Endowment) at Saint Paul School of Theology. She earned her MDiv from McCormick Theological Seminary and her PhD from Vanderbilt. Her latest book, Engaging the Gadfly: Reflective Online, Hybrid, and In-Person Preaching in a Digital Age, offers a practical theological framework for preachers discerning how to faithfully navigate technocultural shifts brought about by social media and Artificial Intelligence. In addition to being a member of the Academy of Homiletics, Sigmon is a member of the North American Academy of Liturgy. Her research in this area is on progressive modern and contemporary worship music on the margins of the CCM industry. At Saint Paul, she supervises the specialization in Modern Worship Music. An ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Sigmon has served churches in Tennessee, Kansas, and Missouri.

In this episode of The Amalgamation, Bruce Reyes-Chow sits down with Professor, Pastor, and Podcaster Rev. Dr. Casey Sigmon for a wide-ranging, delightfully nerdy conversation about digital ministry, preaching, and how technology is reshaping faith communities.

Casey is the Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship and the Director of the Pause Play Center for Preachers at Saint Paul School of Theology. Together, Bruce and Casey explore the evolving landscape of online and hybrid worship, the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on preaching, and how different generations engage technology in faith spaces.

The conversation moves fluidly between practical ministry challenges and big-picture cultural questions—especially around attention, embodiment, and what it means to genuinely connect in digital environments. Along the way, they reflect on younger generations, question assumptions about in-person worship, and share thoughtful (and humorous) observations about post-pandemic church life.

Casey also discusses insights from her latest book, Engaging the Gadfly, and offers listeners a meaningful closing practice: noticing and naming “reverse pet peeves”—small things that unexpectedly bring joy or gratitude.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in preaching, digital ministry, or how faith adapts (and sometimes resists adapting) in a rapidly changing technological world.

1. Casey on IG

Here is the trailer for Episode 79 of The Amalgamation Podcast: Engaging the Gadfly: A Conversation with Casey Sigmon

The full episode drops on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, so be sure to subscribe where you listen to podcasts. To gain full access to today's and early releases of future episodes, become a paid subscriber today.

You can purchase a copy of Engaging the Gadfly: Reflective Online, Hybrid, and In-Person Preaching in a Digital Age by Rev. Dr. Casey Sigmon, as well as other past Amalgamation guests' books on The Amalgamation Bookstore on Bookshop.

The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good.

The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. Show inquiries can be sent to: theteam@reyes-chow.com.

Thanks for listening!

Rev. Bruce Reyes‑Chow is a 3rd‑generation Filipino/Chinese American speaker, writer, and coachsultant exploring topics of faith, leadership, activism, culture, race, and technology. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), he is the author of six books, most recently Everything Good about God is True: Choosing Faith. He and his wife live in San Jose, CA, surrounded by too many animals and houseplants.

Grace Ji-Sun Kim was born in Korea, educated in Canada and now teaches in the USA as Professor of Theology at Earlham School of Religion. She is the author or editor of 25 books, most recently, Earthbound, When God Became White, Invisible, and Spirit Life. Kim is the host of Madang podcast which is sponsored by Faith and Reason. She blogs on her Substack: Loving Life and has written for Huffington Post, The Nation, Sojourners, Baptist News Global, Faith and Leadership and TIME. Kim has appeared on MSNBC, PBS and C-Span. She has been a guest on BBC Radio, ABC Soul Search Radio, WBEZ Radio, and Keep Hope Alive Radio.

She is a book series Co-Editor for Palgrave Macmillan Series, “Asian Christianity in the Diaspora,” and has served on the American Academy of Religion’s Board of Directors. Kim is honored to be included in the Englewood Review of Book‘s list of “Ten Important Women Theologians That You Should Be Reading”.

In this lively and deeply insightful conversation, host Bruce Reyes-Chow sits down with his longtime friend and self-proclaimed "PCUSA twin," Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim. Together, they explore Grace's journey from feeling embarrassed by her Korean heritage as a child to fully embracing her culture as essential to her identity and theological work.

Grace opens up about her prolific writing life—including the origins of her latest book "Earthbound" and how her bestselling "When God Became White" helped her finish its conclusion. She shares why she writes without a strict schedule, often completes books before signing contracts, and resists pressure to write like others. Bruce challenges her to see how her unique process might actually be a strength and negotiation tool.

From climate justice theology to juggling roles as parent, professor, public speaker, and theologian, they discuss the intersections of creativity, calling, and culture. They explore how books find their way into classrooms and communities longing for justice, and share the truth that their spouses make this demanding work possible.

This is a conversation full of laughter, honesty, craft talk, and two friends reflecting on what it means to do public scholarship while staying true to yourself.

1. Asian Christianity in the Diaspora,
2. Ten Important Women Theologians That You Should Be Reading”.
3. Substack: Loving Life
4. Madang podcast
5. https://gracek.substack.com/