The Vibe Shift
The Vibe Shift is a podcast of the Gen Z Role Models Project, based at King’s College London. We explore the fast-changing spiritual lives of the first smartphone generation—diving into original research on religion, influencer culture, and the search for meaning in a digital age. From lifestyle gurus to papal TikTokers, we’re tracking the saints and cynics shaping Gen Z’s world. Featuring fresh voices and participatory research methods, each episode invites you into conversations that matter.
The Vibe Shift
Episode 4: Simple Faith and Being Intentional
In this episode of The Vibe Shift, Claire and I speak with Grace, an international student from Malaysia whose family is part of the Chinese diaspora there. Now based in the UK, Grace took part in our study and connected with what we’ve called the Simple Faith Narrative—a story in which Jesse, a fictional Gen Z character, finds peace and meaning through a sacred text shared by a religious influencer.
Together, we read and reflect on a Simple Faith submission from our story archive, using it as a springboard for a wide-ranging conversation. Grace shares her view that Gen Z is a generation marked by open-mindedness—even as many feel distant from formal religion. She offers insight into why some young people are drawn to a simple, unshaken faith, and reflects on how she carefully evaluates religious content encountered online.
This episode explores:
- The appeal of a simple faith and how one's family plays a role
- What Gen Z is seeking—and avoiding—in religion today
- The ethical importance of intentionality and discernment
- What the media gets right (and wrong) about Gen Z spirituality
If you’ve ever wondered how young people—in the East and West—are navigating faith today, this episode offers a thoughtful, grounded perspective.
This is The Vibe Shift. And the conversation keeps unfolding.
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Music: 'Find Yours Dreams' by Art Flower. CC0 1.0 Universal License.
Copyright: The Vibe Shift, 2025.