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, 29 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:00:13 +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 89c7d374-fd30-4687-88a5-1c929de9d154 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 PK 
01:51 - Martyr stories, "She Said Yes," and childhood fear 
06:28 - Hiding non-Christian friends from pastor parents 
08:45 - Setting up Daniel's interview 
09:20 - Meet Daniel: Seoul, content creation, and coming back to yourself 
11:21 - Daniel's PK childhood and family church life 
16:59 - Middle school, guilt, and going all in on faith 
21:32 - Homeschooling, fear of hell, and choosing a Christian path 
25:34 - Worship, anointing, and chasing God's presence 
29:05 - Father approval and the dream of Wheaton 
37:29 - Wheaton, deconstruction, and the limits of certainty 
45:03 - Annie and Sharon connect their own deconstruction stories 
55:18 - Leaving Christianity and finding peace 
01:03:46 - Daniel's final reflections on purpose and authenticity 
01:05:03 - Host reflection: what would we do differently? 
01:09:05 - Closing and next episode

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, 29 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2pkspod@gmail.com (Sharon Kwon, Annie Lim, Daniel Oh) https://2pkspod.com/episodes/seeking-pk-perfection-uFGTpXD3 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 PK 
01:51 - Martyr stories, "She Said Yes," and childhood fear 
06:28 - Hiding non-Christian friends from pastor parents 
08:45 - Setting up Daniel's interview 
09:20 - Meet Daniel: Seoul, content creation, and coming back to yourself 
11:21 - Daniel's PK childhood and family church life 
16:59 - Middle school, guilt, and going all in on faith 
21:32 - Homeschooling, fear of hell, and choosing a Christian path 
25:34 - Worship, anointing, and chasing God's presence 
29:05 - Father approval and the dream of Wheaton 
37:29 - Wheaton, deconstruction, and the limits of certainty 
45:03 - Annie and Sharon connect their own deconstruction stories 
55:18 - Leaving Christianity and finding peace 
01:03:46 - Daniel's final reflections on purpose and authenticity 
01:05:03 - Host reflection: what would we do differently? 
01:09:05 - Closing and next episode

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!

]]> Seeking PK Perfection Sharon Kwon, Annie Lim, Daniel Oh 01:10:28 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, 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. bible college, spiritual pressure, exvangelical, shame, faith journey, church trauma, evangelicalism, korean american, spiritual abuse, guilt, immigrant church, prayer culture, religious trauma, speaking in tongues, christianity, korean church, charismatic church, fundamentalism, worship leader, deconstruction, pastor’s kid, leaving church, purity culture false full 6 2a81c840-26bc-47f4-a656-29e7e2a87027 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 spaces
15:36 – Modesty, desirability, and mixed messages for church girls
22:14 – Korean American church culture and gender expectations
29:48 – Dating, shame, and the pressure to stay “pure”
37:20 – When purity becomes part of your identity
44:05 – Reclaiming sexuality, agency, and self-worth
50:10 – Final reflections and closing

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, 15 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2pkspod@gmail.com (Sharon Kwon, Annie Lim) https://2pkspod.com/episodes/sexy-christian-virgin-mg7t4ciZ 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 spaces
15:36 – Modesty, desirability, and mixed messages for church girls
22:14 – Korean American church culture and gender expectations
29:48 – Dating, shame, and the pressure to stay “pure”
37:20 – When purity becomes part of your identity
44:05 – Reclaiming sexuality, agency, and self-worth
50:10 – Final reflections and closing

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!

]]> Sexy Christian Virgin Sharon Kwon, Annie Lim 00:52:06 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 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. pastor's kid, church girls, religious shame, asian american podcast, pastor's kids, church culture, korean american, madonna whore complex, faith deconstruction, sexy christian virgin, pk life, christian dating, 2 pks in a pod, korean church, korean american podcast, sex positivity, modesty culture, purity culture, good girl complex, sexual shame false full 5 38bb8fda-41e3-4770-affa-9e9ee701af4a 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 guest
10:18 – Why education feels so high-stakes in Korean immigrant families
17:45 – The pressure to choose the “right” school and career
25:10 – Law school, identity, and figuring it out as you go
33:58 – Leaving prestige behind for more meaningful work
42:36 – Serving vulnerable communities through law
43:35 – How David rallied the Korean Christian community in his political campaign despite being gay
52:20 – What success looks like after the “perfect path”
01:02:48 – Regrets, detours, and advice for younger listeners
01:13:12 – Final reflections

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, 1 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2pkspod@gmail.com (Sharon Kwon, Annie Lim, David Kim) https://2pkspod.com/episodes/colleges-and-careers-KjlrnWD7 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 guest
10:18 – Why education feels so high-stakes in Korean immigrant families
17:45 – The pressure to choose the “right” school and career
25:10 – Law school, identity, and figuring it out as you go
33:58 – Leaving prestige behind for more meaningful work
42:36 – Serving vulnerable communities through law
43:35 – How David rallied the Korean Christian community in his political campaign despite being gay
52:20 – What success looks like after the “perfect path”
01:02:48 – Regrets, detours, and advice for younger listeners
01:13:12 – Final reflections

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!

]]> Colleges and Careers Sharon Kwon, Annie Lim, David Kim 01:17:27 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. 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. prestige culture, education pressure, parental expectations, korean immigrant families, second generation korean american, korean american, college pressure, career pressure, pks, asian american success, pastor’s kid podcast, career regrets, pastor’s kids, immigrant family sacrifice, immigrant parent expectations, korean american podcast, korean church culture, model minority myth, korean american stories, pk podcast, 2pks in a pod, college and career expectations, success and identity false full 4 6320aa9d-eb68-45e0-9c09-782ff02ebb4d 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!

]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2pkspod@gmail.com (Sharon Kwon, Annie Lim) https://2pkspod.com/episodes/k-cults-341m9gg1 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!

]]> K-cults Sharon Kwon, Annie Lim 00:47:53 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 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. church kids, growing up in a church, exvangelical, faitha nd identity, shekinah church, pastor's kid, third culture kids, pastor's kids, church culture, korean american, pk, spiritual abuse, high-control religion, religious trauma, former pastor's kids, christianity, korean church, cults, korean cult, deconstruction, ex-pk, shincheonji, spirituality false full 3 75bdeed6-9a9e-4060-bda2-118763e8e213 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!

]]> Wed, 3 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2pkspod@gmail.com (Sharon Kwon, Annie Lim) https://2pkspod.com/episodes/vbs-p__ABSIX 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!

]]> VBS and Bible Camps Sharon Kwon, Annie Lim 00:32:00 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 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 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 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. exvangelical, pastor's kid, deconstructing journey, korean american, vacation bible school, spiritual abuse, korean church trauma, church kid, religious trauma, bible camp, korean church, church camp, deconstruction, korean immigrant, vbs false full 2 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