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2 PKs in a Pod
2 PKs in a Pod episodes
- Third Culture (Pastors') Kids
What happens when being Korean American and a pastor’s kid means growing up in not two, but three different worlds?
In the season one finale, Annie and Sharon explore the “third culture” experience of Korean pastors’ kids: navigating Korean family expectations at home, trying to fit into American society, and performing the role of a model Christian at church. They share personal stories about home church, religious censorship, unpaid church labor, family contradictions, and the mental-health effects of constantly changing personas.The conversation also looks beyond their own experiences to consider why Christianity became such a powerful source of survival, opportunity, and belonging for their immigrant parents. From family trauma and hoarding to boundaries, financial independence, and religious deconstruction, Annie and Sharon reflect on the difficult process of understanding their parents while creating lives and identities of their own.They close the season by examining the adaptability, compassion, independence, and survival skills they gained from moving among three worlds—and sharing what they wish they could tell their younger selves.In this episode we cover:
00:00 — The hidden reality of the PK life
02:30 — What does “third culture kid” mean?04:34 — The three worlds of a Korean pastor’s kid07:43 — Identity, people-pleasing, and the mental-health impact09:08 — Growing up with a home church12:12 — How being a PK changes the church experience16:03 — Fundamentalism, fear, and conflicting family personas20:14 — Pastor parents, church hierarchy, and unfulfilled callings24:06 — Sibling differences, censorship, and strict religious rules28:33 — Understanding the trauma behind their parents’ choices34:20 — When Christianity becomes a source of survival38:14 — Immigration, hoarding, and other trauma responses42:26 — Moving from three worlds toward an integrated identity46:09 — Creating boundaries and building a life of your own49:00 — A near-death experience that changed a family relationship52:02 — The strengths gained from being a third culture kid58:27 — What the hosts would tell their younger selves01:01:05 — Season one finale and closingSharon Kwon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Bodhi Aware Therapy. Sharon specializes in working with Korean Americans who have struggled with overcoming religious trauma and spiritual abuse. She has worked in private and community mental health settings with immigrant families struggling with intergenerational trauma. Sharon’s writing has been published in Huff Post, SLATE Magazine, SELF Magazine, and Psychology Today. Sharon is an avid traveller and fan of all things “K”—dramas, food, soccer, etc. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Get to know her on Instagram @talkwithsharon or via her website: www.sharonkwon.com.
Sion Lim (임시온) is a self-proclaimed “Koreanist” with a special passion to learn more about Korean Diaspora all over the world. She goes by her naturalized middle name, Annie. Her desire to connect with her K-side stems from her days as a graduate student at SOAS and as a former educator at Osaka Board of Education and Stanford University. Before becoming a podcaster, Annie's latest career adventure was with Silicon Valley corporations (fun!) ranging from Samsung to video games before the AI takeover. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and 3 kitties and would share more with you through her instagram, @sionannielim.
If you enjoyed our podcast, please don't forget to rate us and leave a comment! Follow us on Instagram @2pkspod to connect with us.
Episode Credits:
Produced by Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim
Mixed by Abdul Wasay
Music: Risen by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sounds
Links:
Follow us on our website and on Instagram!
1 hr 2 min - The Other 40%
What is Korean American life like outside the Korean Christian bubble?
Annie and Sharon sit down with Christina Kam, a second-generation Korean American therapist who grew up in Los Angeles without being raised in the Korean church. Christina shares how she first encountered Korean Christianity in high school, why she later joined church and campus ministries in search of cultural belonging, and what it felt like to remain an outsider within a close-knit religious community.Their conversation explores the powerful connection between church, immigration, and Korean American identity—as well as Korean Buddhism, temple traditions, spirituality, and the difference between faith and institutional religion. Christina also reflects on being evangelized by friends, navigating religious judgment, and maintaining meaningful relationships with Christians while choosing a different path for herself.Together, they consider why churches remain essential sources of community, survival, and support for many Korean immigrants, even when those same spaces can feel rigid or exclusionary. The episode offers a thoughtful look at belonging, religious curiosity, and what the Korean American experience can look like beyond the church.In this episode we cover:
00:00 — Korean American life outside Christianity
05:45 — Meet Christina Kam08:03 — Discovering Korean church culture16:36 — Evangelization, judgment, and religious pressure22:19 — Campus ministries and the search for belonging32:29 — Buddhism, spirituality, and Korean traditions42:27 — Identity, community, and leaving church47:42 — What Christina gained from her experience58:36 — Coexisting across religious differences62:00 — The hosts reflect on religion and raising children66:24 — Closing and season-finale previewSharon Kwon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Bodhi Aware Therapy. Sharon specializes in working with Korean Americans who have struggled with overcoming religious trauma and spiritual abuse. She has worked in private and community mental health settings with immigrant families struggling with intergenerational trauma. Sharon’s writing has been published in Huff Post, SLATE Magazine, SELF Magazine, and Psychology Today. Sharon is an avid traveller and fan of all things “K”—dramas, food, soccer, etc. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Get to know her on Instagram @talkwithsharon or via her website: www.sharonkwon.com.
Sion Lim (임시온) is a self-proclaimed “Koreanist” with a special passion to learn more about Korean Diaspora all over the world. She goes by her naturalized middle name, Annie. Her desire to connect with her K-side stems from her days as a graduate student at SOAS and as a former educator at Osaka Board of Education and Stanford University. Before becoming a podcaster, Annie's latest career adventure was with Silicon Valley corporations (fun!) ranging from Samsung to video games before the AI takeover. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and 3 kitties and would share more with you through her instagram, @sionannielim.
If you enjoyed our podcast, please don't forget to rate us and leave a comment! Follow us on Instagram @2pkspod to connect with us.
Episode Credits:
Produced by Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim
Mixed by Abdul Wasay
Music: Risen by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sounds
Links:
Follow us on our website and on Instagram!
1 hr 7 min - K-Unicorn IRL
Can Christianity coexist with Korean Indigenous spirituality?
Annie and Sharon welcome Dr. Christine Hong—a Presbyterian minister, seminary professor, Korean shamanic practitioner, and author of the forthcoming memoir Waking Up Ghosts. Christine shares her experience confronting sexism in the Korean church and reconnecting with ancestral wisdom.Together, they explore decolonizing Christianity, healing generational han, and how mudangs help the living and the dead process grief. Christine also discusses ancestral altars, church hurt, and creating a more liberating spiritual path that makes room for both God and her ancestors.In this episode we explore:
00:00 — Korean shamanism, Christianity, and the mudang
03:18 — Meet Dr. Christine Hong05:16 — A calling challenged by sexism in the Korean church10:45 — Becoming one of her church’s first ordained women15:16 — Can Christianity be decolonized?17:50 — Reconnecting with Korean Indigenous spirituality and ancestors30:35 — Mudangs, grief, and healing generational han33:49 — Waking Up Ghosts and Heartwood Station39:00 — Community, church hurt, and working toward change44:58 — The hosts reflect on ancestors and reclaiming tradition56:02 — Closing and next-episode previewSharon Kwon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Bodhi Aware Therapy. Sharon specializes in working with Korean Americans who have struggled with overcoming religious trauma and spiritual abuse. She has worked in private and community mental health settings with immigrant families struggling with intergenerational trauma. Sharon’s writing has been published in Huff Post, SLATE Magazine, SELF Magazine, and Psychology Today. Sharon is an avid traveller and fan of all things “K”—dramas, food, soccer, etc. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Get to know her on Instagram @talkwithsharon or via her website: www.sharonkwon.com.
Sion Lim (임시온) is a self-proclaimed “Koreanist” with a special passion to learn more about Korean Diaspora all over the world. She goes by her naturalized middle name, Annie. Her desire to connect with her K-side stems from her days as a graduate student at SOAS and as a former educator at Osaka Board of Education and Stanford University. Before becoming a podcaster, Annie's latest career adventure was with Silicon Valley corporations (fun!) ranging from Samsung to video games before the AI takeover. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and 3 kitties and would share more with you through her instagram, @sionannielim.
If you enjoyed our podcast, please don't forget to rate us and leave a comment! Follow us on Instagram @2pkspod to connect with us.
Episode Credits:
Produced by Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim
Mixed by Abdul Wasay
Music: Risen by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sounds
Links:
Follow us on our website and on Instagram!
57 min - A Pastor and a PK in a Pod
In this episode, Annie and Sharon sit down with Lydia Lim, host of the Cheonggaeguri podcast, for an honest conversation about faith, family, Korean church culture, and the evolving relationship between immigrant parents and their children. Lydia shares why she began recording candid conversations with her dad, how her family responded when she stopped attending church, and what she has learned about boundaries, acceptance, and communicating without trying to change one another.
Together, they explore the pressure placed on pastors’ kids, the church’s role in Korean American identity, differences between Christianity in Korea and the diaspora, and the ways younger generations are approaching mental health and difficult family conversations more openly. It’s a thoughtful and often funny look at leaving church while continuing to love—and be loved by—the people who remain.In this episode we cover:
00:00 — Welcome and introduction to Lydia Lim
02:04 — Meet Lydia: PK, marketer, dancer, and “problem kid”04:23 — Starting a podcast with her pastor dad08:01 — Listener reactions, faith, and leaving church10:55 — Telling her parents she would no longer attend church16:21 — When church comes before family19:24 — Returning to Korea and reverse culture shock21:08 — Korean church as community and cultural identity24:49 — Christianity in Korea versus Korean American churches29:39 — Transparency, disagreement, and challenging religious authority34:35 — Konglish, language loss, and Korean American identity36:39 — How the podcast changed Lydia’s relationship with her dad41:01 — The positive and painful sides of being a pastor’s kid43:03 — Setting boundaries with Korean parents46:02 — The meaning behind the Cheonggaeguri podcast47:37 — Lydia’s evolving exit from church and Christianity51:25 — Reflections on Gen Z, therapy, and healthier communication57:45 — What went well—and what the hosts would do differently1:05:49 — Closing and a preview of the next episodeSharon Kwon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Bodhi Aware Therapy. Sharon specializes in working with Korean Americans who have struggled with overcoming religious trauma and spiritual abuse. She has worked in private and community mental health settings with immigrant families struggling with intergenerational trauma. Sharon’s writing has been published in Huff Post, SLATE Magazine, SELF Magazine, and Psychology Today. Sharon is an avid traveller and fan of all things “K”—dramas, food, soccer, etc. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Get to know her on Instagram @talkwithsharon or via her website: www.sharonkwon.com.
Sion Lim (임시온) is a self-proclaimed “Koreanist” with a special passion to learn more about Korean Diaspora all over the world. She goes by her naturalized middle name, Annie. Her desire to connect with her K-side stems from her days as a graduate student at SOAS and as a former educator at Osaka Board of Education and Stanford University. Before becoming a podcaster, Annie's latest career adventure was with Silicon Valley corporations (fun!) ranging from Samsung to video games before the AI takeover. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and 3 kitties and would share more with you through her instagram, @sionannielim.
If you enjoyed our podcast, please don't forget to rate us and leave a comment! Follow us on Instagram @2pkspod to connect with us.
Episode Credits:
Produced by Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim
Mixed by Abdul Wasay
Music: Risen by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sounds
Links:
Follow us on our website and on Instagram!
1 hr 7 min - Seeking PK Perfection
In this episode, Annie and Sharon sit down with content creator and fellow PK Daniel Oh to explore his journey from devoted pastor's kid to deconstructing his faith. Raised non-denominational, Daniel dedicated his teenage years to prayer, worship, and preparing for a future in ministry. But beneath his spiritual devotion was a deeper search for identity, belonging, and approval. Daniel chats about growing up under the weight of religious expectations, the challenges of questioning long-held beliefs, the complicated ties between faith and Korean culture, and what it means to rebuild a life that feels authentically your own after leaving church.
In this episode we cover:
00:00 - Intro: Daniel Oh and the perfect PK
01:01 - What it meant to be a perfect PK01:51 - Martyr stories, "She Said Yes," and childhood fear06:28 - Hiding non-Christian friends from pastor parents08:45 - Setting up Daniel's interview09:20 - Meet Daniel: Seoul, content creation, and coming back to yourself11:21 - Daniel's PK childhood and family church life16:59 - Middle school, guilt, and going all in on faith21:32 - Homeschooling, fear of hell, and choosing a Christian path25:34 - Worship, anointing, and chasing God's presence29:05 - Father approval and the dream of Wheaton37:29 - Wheaton, deconstruction, and the limits of certainty45:03 - Annie and Sharon connect their own deconstruction stories55:18 - Leaving Christianity and finding peace01:03:46 - Daniel's final reflections on purpose and authenticity01:05:03 - Host reflection: what would we do differently?01:09:05 - Closing and next episodeSharon Kwon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Bodhi Aware Therapy. Sharon specializes in working with Korean Americans who have struggled with overcoming religious trauma and spiritual abuse. She has worked in private and community mental health settings with immigrant families struggling with intergenerational trauma. Sharon’s writing has been published in Huff Post, SLATE Magazine, SELF Magazine, and Psychology Today. Sharon is an avid traveller and fan of all things “K”—dramas, food, soccer, etc. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Get to know her on Instagram @talkwithsharon or via her website: www.sharonkwon.com.
Sion Lim (임시온) is a self-proclaimed “Koreanist” with a special passion to learn more about Korean Diaspora all over the world. She goes by her naturalized middle name, Annie. Her desire to connect with her K-side stems from her days as a graduate student at SOAS and as a former educator at Osaka Board of Education and Stanford University. Before becoming a podcaster, Annie's latest career adventure was with Silicon Valley corporations (fun!) ranging from Samsung to video games before the AI takeover. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and 3 kitties and would share more with you through her instagram, @sionannielim.
If you enjoyed our podcast, please don't forget to rate us and leave a comment! Follow us on Instagram @2pkspod to connect with us.
Episode Credits:
Produced by Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim
Mixed by Abdul Wasay
Music: Risen by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sounds
Links:
Follow us on our website and on Instagram!
1 hr 11 min - Sexy Christian Virgin
In this episode of 2PKs in a Pod, Annie and Sharon unpack the confusing expectations placed on Christian girls growing up in church culture: be pure, modest, and “good,” but also desirable enough to eventually become someone’s wife. Through the lens of purity culture, the Madonna-whore complex, and Korean American church expectations, they reflect on how these messages shaped dating, sexuality, shame, self-image, and the pressure to perform both innocence and attractiveness at the same time.
In this episode we cover:
00:00 – Welcome to “Sexy Christian Virgin”
03:42 – What purity culture taught us about being “good girls”09:18 – The Madonna-whore complex in Christian spaces15:36 – Modesty, desirability, and mixed messages for church girls22:14 – Korean American church culture and gender expectations29:48 – Dating, shame, and the pressure to stay “pure”37:20 – When purity becomes part of your identity44:05 – Reclaiming sexuality, agency, and self-worth50:10 – Final reflections and closingSharon Kwon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Bodhi Aware Therapy. Sharon specializes in working with Korean Americans who have struggled with overcoming religious trauma and spiritual abuse. She has worked in private and community mental health settings with immigrant families struggling with intergenerational trauma. Sharon’s writing has been published in Huff Post, SLATE Magazine, SELF Magazine, and Psychology Today. Sharon is an avid traveller and fan of all things “K”—dramas, food, soccer, etc. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Get to know her on Instagram @talkwithsharon or via her website: www.sharonkwon.com.
Sion Lim (임시온) is a self-proclaimed “Koreanist” with a special passion to learn more about Korean Diaspora all over the world. She goes by her naturalized middle name, Annie. Her desire to connect with her K-side stems from her days as a graduate student at SOAS and as a former educator at Osaka Board of Education and Stanford University. Before becoming a podcaster, Annie's latest career adventure was with Silicon Valley corporations (fun!) ranging from Samsung to video games before the AI takeover. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and 3 kitties and would share more with you through her instagram, @sionannielim.
If you enjoyed our podcast, please don't forget to rate us and leave a comment! Follow us on Instagram @2pkspod to connect with us.
Episode Credits:
Produced by Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim
Mixed by Abdul Wasay
Music: Risen by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sounds
Links:
Follow us on our website and on Instagram!
53 min - Colleges and Careers
In this episode of 2 PKs in a Pod, Annie and Sharon welcome their very first guest, David Kim, an attorney for LA County and a former runner for US Congress, who shares his honest journey through college, career changes, and the unexpected turns that shaped his life. Through David's story, they explore the pressure to choose the "right" path, the fear of making the wrong decision, and how our identities can become tied to our education and careers.
Together, they reflect on the "what ifs" that so many people carry into adulthood, the weight of family and cultural expectations, and the realization that success rarely follows a straight line. Rather than offering simple answers, this conversation encourages listeners to see detours, setbacks, and changing directions not as failures, but as experiences that often lead to growth in ways they never expected.
00:00 – Welcome to Colleges & Careers
04:32 – Meet David Kim, our very first guest10:18 – Why education feels so high-stakes in Korean immigrant families17:45 – The pressure to choose the “right” school and career25:10 – Law school, identity, and figuring it out as you go33:58 – Leaving prestige behind for more meaningful work42:36 – Serving vulnerable communities through law43:35 – How David rallied the Korean Christian community in his political campaign despite being gay52:20 – What success looks like after the “perfect path”01:02:48 – Regrets, detours, and advice for younger listeners01:13:12 – Final reflectionsSharon Kwon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Bodhi Aware Therapy. Sharon specializes in working with Korean Americans who have struggled with overcoming religious trauma and spiritual abuse. She has worked in private and community mental health settings with immigrant families struggling with intergenerational trauma. Sharon’s writing has been published in Huff Post, SLATE Magazine, SELF Magazine, and Psychology Today. Sharon is an avid traveller and fan of all things “K”—dramas, food, soccer, etc. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Get to know her on Instagram @talkwithsharon or via her website: www.sharonkwon.com.
Sion Lim (임시온) is a self-proclaimed “Koreanist” with a special passion to learn more about Korean Diaspora all over the world. She goes by her naturalized middle name, Annie. Her desire to connect with her K-side stems from her days as a graduate student at SOAS and as a former educator at Osaka Board of Education and Stanford University. Before becoming a podcaster, Annie's latest career adventure was with Silicon Valley corporations (fun!) ranging from Samsung to video games before the AI takeover. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and 3 kitties and would share more with you through her instagram, @sionannielim.
If you enjoyed our podcast, please don't forget to rate us and leave a comment! Follow us on Instagram @2pkspod to connect with us.
Episode Credits:
Produced by Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim
Mixed by Abdul Wasay
Music: Risen by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sounds
Links:
Follow us on our website and on Instagram!
1 hr 18 min - K-cults
In this episode of 2 PKs in a Pod, Annie and Sharon share stories about accidentally getting involved with groups they later realized were cults, discuss why high-control religious movements continue to thrive, and reflect on how growing up in church shaped the way they recognized (or failed to recognize) the warning signs.
In this episode we cover:
02:15 — Annie shares how she accidentally attended Shekinah Church during a high school summer program.
09:42 — Discussion of why cults often appeal to people seeking community and certainty.
17:30 — Comparing Shincheonji, World Mission Society Church of God, and other Korean high-control groups.
26:08 — Growing up as PKs and how church culture affected our ability to recognize red flags.
35:11 — Why intelligent people still get drawn into cults.
43:20 — Lessons learned and practical warning signs listeners should watch for.
Sharon Kwon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Bodhi Aware Therapy. Sharon specializes in working with Korean Americans who have struggled with overcoming religious trauma and spiritual abuse. She has worked in private and community mental health settings with immigrant families struggling with intergenerational trauma. Sharon’s writing has been published in Huff Post, SLATE Magazine, SELF Magazine, and Psychology Today. Sharon is an avid traveller and fan of all things “K”—dramas, food, soccer, etc. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Get to know her on Instagram @talkwithsharon or via her website: www.sharonkwon.com.
Sion Lim (임시온) is a self-proclaimed “Koreanist” with a special passion to learn more about Korean Diaspora all over the world. She goes by her naturalized middle name, Annie. Her desire to connect with her K-side stems from her days as a graduate student at SOAS and as a former educator at Osaka Board of Education and Stanford University. Before becoming a podcaster, Annie's latest career adventure was with Silicon Valley corporations (fun!) ranging from Samsung to video games before the AI takeover. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and 3 kitties and would share more with you through her instagram, @sionannielim.
If you enjoyed our podcast, please don't forget to rate us and leave a comment! Follow us on Instagram @2pkspod to connect with us.
Episode Credits:
Produced by Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim
Mixed by Abdul Wasay
Music: Risen by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sounds
Links:
Follow us on our website and on Instagram!
48 min - VBS and Bible Camps
In this episode of 2 PKs in a Pod, Annie and Sharon reminisce about their childhood summers spent at VBS (Vacation Bible School) and Bible Camps. They share their positive and negative experiences as both attendees and also organizers of these summer pastimes and what is considered a quintessential part of growing up in a Korean American, Christian household.
In this episode we cover:
04:26 - What's the difference between VBS and Bible camp?
05:09 - History of VBS
06:19 - Why Korean Americans adopted VBS
08:30 - Importance of summer activities for child development
11:15 - Annie's experience organizing VBS for her dad's children's ministry
18:25 - Sharon's experience attending white VBS
23:22 - Mafia, the universal camp game
24:40 - What did we like / what went well regarding VBS?
26:48 - What would we do differently?
30:57 - Next week, we're talking about K-cults!
Sharon Kwon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Bodhi Aware Therapy. Sharon specializes in working with Korean Americans who have struggled with overcoming religious trauma and spiritual abuse. She has worked in private and community mental health settings with immigrant families struggling with intergenerational trauma. Sharon’s writing has been published in Huff Post, SLATE Magazine, SELF Magazine, and Psychology Today. Sharon is an avid traveller and fan of all things “K”—dramas, food, soccer, etc. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Get to know her on Instagram @talkwithsharon or via her website: www.sharonkwon.com.
Sion Lim (임시온) is a self-proclaimed “Koreanist” with a special passion to learn more about Korean Diaspora all over the world. She goes by her naturalized middle name, Annie. Her desire to connect with her K-side stems from her days as a graduate student at SOAS and as a former educator at Osaka Board of Education and Stanford University. Before becoming a podcaster, Annie's latest career adventure was with Silicon Valley corporations (fun!) ranging from Samsung to video games before the AI takeover. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and 3 kitties and would share more with you through her instagram, @sionannielim.
If you enjoyed our podcast, please don't forget to rate us and leave a comment! Follow us on Instagram @2pkspod to connect with us.
Episode Credits:
Produced by Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim
Mixed by Abdul Wasay
Music: Risen by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sounds
Links:
Follow us on our website and on Instagram!
32 min - Welcome to 2PKs in a Pod
In the first episode of 2 PKs in a Pod, Annie and Sharon explore the historical and sociological context of why Korean Americans are so Christian. They’ll take you back to the Japanese annexation times and through their immigration journeys to the U.S. in the early 90’s. They also share their personal stories of growing up and leaving the Korean church.
In this episode we cover ::
00:00 - Introducing Annie and Sharon
00:31 - What is a PK?
4:11 - Annie’s background in Korean history and living in Japan
4:30 - Sharon’s background in mental health and specialization working with Korean Americans with religious trauma
4:59 - Why did we make a podcast about the PK immigrant life?
5:59 - How did Koreans become so Christian?
8:00 - How churches impacted Korean immigration to the U.S.
8:58 - Confucianism and Christianity
9:40 - Filial piety and collectivism can cause shame and guilt in Korean families
10:15 - Talking about taboo topics destigmatizes shame
12:44 - Annie’s immigration story and strict, Christian upbringing, and how she left the church
18:06 - Sharon’s immigration story and spiritual journey coming back to herself and culture
24:54 - Sharon’s first time in therapy and how she came out to her parents about not being Christian anymore
27:59 - Annie’s current relationship with her parents - “don’t ask, don’t tell”
31:26 - Next episode preview - VBS and Bible camps
Sharon Kwon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Bodhi Aware Therapy. Sharon specializes in working with Korean Americans who have struggled with overcoming religious trauma and spiritual abuse. She has worked in private and community mental health settings with immigrant families struggling with intergenerational trauma. Sharon’s writing has been published in Huff Post, SLATE Magazine, SELF Magazine, and Psychology Today. Sharon is an avid traveller and fan of all things “K”—dramas, food, soccer, etc. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Get to know her on Instagram @talkwithsharon or via her website: www.sharonkwon.com.
Sion Lim (임시온) is a self-proclaimed “Koreanist” with a special passion to learn more about Korean Diaspora all over the world. She goes by her naturalized middle name, Annie. Her desire to connect with her K-side stems from her days as a graduate student at SOAS and as a former educator at Osaka Board of Education and Stanford University. Before becoming a podcaster, Annie's latest career adventure was with Silicon Valley corporations (fun!) ranging from Samsung to video games before the AI takeover. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and 3 kitties and would share more with you through her instagram, @sionannielim.
If you enjoyed our podcast, please don't forget to rate us and leave a comment! Follow us on Instagram @2pkspod to connect with us.
Episode Credits:
Produced by Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim
Mixed by Abdul Wasay
Music: Risen by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sounds
Links:
Follow us on our website and on Instagram!
34 min
About 2 PKs in a Pod
From the publisher's feed
Did you know that according to the Pew Research Center, 60% of Korean Americans identify as Christian?
This podcast explores the other 40%.
We are Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim - Two Korean women, born Pastors’ Kids (PKs), 1.5-generation immigrants, coming together to deconstruct and discuss various related topics on religion and immigration through our unique lens, and we hope to find friends and listeners along the way. Annie is our resident historian and Sharon is our exvangelical psychotherapist. Join us as we process our childhoods and upbringings in the Korean church and explore the why's and how's of the Korean American Religious Immigrant experience.