https://simplecast.com 2 PKs in a Pod 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. 2026 - Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim - 2 PKs in a Pod en Wed, 20 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Wed, 20 May 2026 13:43:56 +0000 https://2pkspod.com 2 PKs in a Pod https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/47a5ecad-5509-4964-8b75-d8fd1693f6cf/58ccd66d-30ce-43ef-ae04-eaeffefb05c4/3000x3000/chatgpt_image_mar_13_2026_034511_pm.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://2pkspod.com episodic 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. Annie Lim, Sharon Kwon false https://feeds.simplecast.com/lPVocIyH pastor's kid, korean history, religious trauma, mental health, asian american, korean mental health, korean american, progressive christian, pk, exvangelical Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim 2pkspod@gmail.com 641c0b2a-6382-451f-870b-fcfa75ed8839 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!

]]> Wed, 20 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2pkspod@gmail.com (Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim) https://2pkspod.com/episodes/welcome-4ZOMgPaT 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!

]]> Welcome to 2PKs in a Pod Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim 00:33:51 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 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. exvangelical, pastor's kid, deconstructing journey, church trauma, korean history, pastor's kids, korean american, pk, spiritual abuse, korean church trauma, south korea, religious trauma, deconstructing faith, korean church, korean culture, korean diaspora, korean immigrant false full 1 e27eaca5-e2f5-4b91-bb3e-991d9a03d606 Trailer Follow us at 2pkspod.com and on Instagram @2pkspod

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!

]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2026 23:45:00 +0000 2pkspod@gmail.com (Annie Lim, Sharon Kwon) https://2pkspod.com/episodes/trailer-no6vc0EN Follow us at 2pkspod.com and on Instagram @2pkspod

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!

]]> Trailer Annie Lim, Sharon Kwon 00:02:52 Welcome to 2PKs in a Podcast. We're your hosts, Annie and Sharon. Join us as we deconstruct the Korean American Christian Immigrant Experience. Welcome to 2PKs in a Podcast. We're your hosts, Annie and Sharon. Join us as we deconstruct the Korean American Christian Immigrant Experience. exvangelical, pastor's kid, korean american, pk, religious trauma, immigrant experience, deconstruction false trailer