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 10: A Behind the Scenes Look at Researching Gen Z and Religion
In this episode, Edward sits down with Claire, Communications Officer at the University of Oxford, to talk about her role as collaborator on the Gen Z Role Models Project.
They discuss the rewards of doing collaborative research and explore the lessons that Claire is taking forward. They also discuss Gen Z religion in light of what Edward and Claire learnt at the European Academy of Religion in Vienna.
They talk about:
- The aspirations and tensions involved in participatory research
- The joys of researching alongside one's day job
- The unglamorous realities of doing research in higher education
- The diversity of Gen Z approaches to religion, specifically in Indonesia
Join us for this special, behind-the-scenes conversation about the power of teamwork and the excitement of doing participatory research in the humanities.
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Erica Larson (2023), Ethics of Belonging, University of Hawaii Press.
Visit us at oxfordexemplars.org.
Music: 'Find Yours Dreams' by Art Flower. CC0 1.0 Universal License.
Copyright: The Vibe Shift, 2025.