For many people, faith isn’t just about church on Sundays—it’s about wrestling with questions, searching for meaning, and sometimes, rebuilding your life from the ground up.
That’s the story of Catholic author and speaker Kim Zember, who knows what it’s like to feel pulled in different directions when it comes to identity, love, and truth.
In her new podcast, “Here I AM Stories” on EWTN, Kim opens up about her own transformation and gives others a platform to do the same.
A Double Life and a Silent Battle
Kim’s story began quietly during her senior year of high school.
She realized she was attracted to women, but instead of feeling free to explore that part of herself openly, she kept it hidden.
Publicly, she dated men—but privately, she was in relationships with women.
Over time, she let go of the façade and embraced her same-sex relationships fully.
Despite that choice, Kim couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
After years of living that way, she found herself emotionally drained and spiritually empty. That’s when everything changed.
A Desperate Cry and a Life-Changing Encounter
It was October 17, 2014, when Kim hit her lowest point.
She remembers it clearly—standing before God and saying, “I’ve read about you. I’ve heard about you.
But now I need to experience you.” She wasn’t looking for clichés or comfort.
She was looking for something real.
“I told God, ‘This is your one shot. If you don’t show me you’re good, I’ll go somewhere else—just like I always have,’” she recalled.
And according to Kim, God answered.
She described the moment as feeling the “tangible love of God”—a presence so real it marked her for life.
That night was a turning point. “It feels like a second birthday,” she said. Since then, she’s never been the same.
Launching a Podcast to Share Stories Like Hers
After living through her own journey, Kim felt called to amplify other voices.
That’s what led to her podcast “Here I AM Stories,” a space for people who’ve experienced gender and sexual identity confusion but found peace through faith in Christ.
“These aren’t stories about perfect people,” Kim said.
“They’re about people still walking it out—honestly, messily, but faithfully.”
Episodes feature guests like Jessica Rose, who identified as male for seven years and battled depression and suicidal thoughts before her encounter with Christ.
Another guest, Angel Colon, survived the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016 and saw his life transform after that horrific night.
From Brokenness to Freedom
Kim’s own background includes what she calls a “normal Catholic upbringing”—two older brothers, a stable home, and all the traditional sacraments.
But she says she didn’t have a relationship with Jesus.
She saw God more like a police officer keeping score than a loving Father.
Part of what led her toward same-sex relationships, she says, was a deep distrust of men, paired with a longing for closeness she didn’t know how to fill.
She acted on those feelings in high school, then eventually came out publicly.
Along the way, she even sought affirmation from a Catholic counselor at 18 who confirmed her same-sex identity.
But none of it brought lasting peace.
It wasn’t until she cried out to God that everything shifted.
What the Church Can Learn
So what does Kim believe the Catholic Church needs to do better?
“I think we need to remember that all of us are broken in some way,” she said.
“We all need Jesus, every single day.”
Instead of trying to “fix” people, she encourages believers to walk alongside others—supporting them, not judging them.
“When we recognize our own brokenness, we become better at helping others with theirs,” she added. “That’s how we all find healing—together.”
A Hope That Goes Beyond Labels
More than anything, Kim hopes the podcast helps people feel less alone—and more open to encountering Jesus for themselves.
“It doesn’t have to be about sexuality or gender,” she said.
“It could be your career, your identity, anything that’s left you empty.
I just hope someone hears these stories and thinks, ‘Maybe Jesus wants to be that good in my life too.’”
Because at the heart of every longing, she says, is a need to feel seen, known, and loved—and only God can truly satisfy that.