Podcast
The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
Hosted by Art of Leadership Network · EN
The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast is a podcast all about leadership, change and personal growth. The goal? To help you lead like never before—in your church or in your business.
Carey interviews top business and church leaders like Seth Godin, Adam Grant, Nancy Duarte, Simon Sinek, Cal Newport, Patrick Lencioni, Tim Keller, Annie F. Downs, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Rob Pelinka, Michael Hyatt, Christine Caine, John Mark Comer, Henry Cloud, Gordon MacDonald, Francis Chan, Lysa TerKeurst, Ian Morgan Cron and many more.
For insightful posts on leadership, change and personal growth, episode transcripts and podcast show notes, go to https://careynieuwhof.com/.
84episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
CNLP 817 | Grieving Your Ministry Wounds: Father Ronald Rolheiser and John Mark Comer on Getting Past Bitterness and Giving Your Life and Death Away
4d ago01:39:45Summary readyFather Ron Rolheiser has thought longer and harder about grief, aging, leadership, bitterness, and surrender than almost anyone alive. John Mark Comer joins me to co-interview him on what ministry actually costs, why so many leaders end up bitter, and what it looks like to give your life away before it's taken from you. 🔗 Show Notes 🤖 AI and the Future Church - NEW BOOK! 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes ART OF PREACHING If you're still writing your sermon Saturday night and replaying the mistakes Monday morning, The Art of Preaching is for you. It's a step-by-step course that's helped over 3,500 preachers write and deliver messages that land. Until July 15th, grab it for fifty dollars off at theartofpreachingcourse.com. VISITOR REACH Use the free Digital Health Assessment to see how many people are searching 'church near me' in your area. Visit VisitorReach.com/Carey to get your free assessment or book a demo. GLOO Gloo is the technology platform for the faith and flourishing ecosystem. They exist to serve the people who serve others. They do two things really well: they handle your technology, and they help you find and connect with people. If you're a church or a nonprofit or a ministry and you're tired of spinning plates, go to gloo.com/grow
Summary
CNLP 816 | The Brutal Reality of Pastoring: John Ortberg on Leadership Pain, the Introvert's Ministry Dilemma, and Dealing With the Job You Didn't Sign Up For
1w ago01:18:23Summary readyJohn Ortberg has spent decades leading churches, writing books, and teaching leaders. But every leader has parts of the job they're not naturally good at. In this conversation, John opens up about pain in leadership, what it's like to be an introvert in ministry, and how to handle the work you'd rather avoid. 🔗 Show Notes 🤖 AI and the Future Church - NEW BOOK! 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes ART OF PREACHING If you're still writing your sermon Saturday night and replaying the mistakes Monday morning, The Art of Preaching is for you. It's a step-by-step course that's helped over 3,500 preachers write and deliver messages that land. Until July 15th, grab it for fifty dollars off at theartofpreachingcourse.com. FREE WHEELCHAIR MISSION 80 million people with disabilities in developing countries can't get to work, school, or church because they have no way to move. Free Wheelchair Mission provides durable wheelchairs completely free to recipients across 95 countries. For about $100, you can give someone their independence back. Visit https://freewheelchairmission.org
Summary
CNLP 815 | The Death of Secularism: Matt Chandler on Why Pastors Shouldn't Wear Capes and When the Church Is All Wood and No Fire
2w ago01:01:11Summary readyMatt Chandler doesn't pull punches. The lead pastor of The Village Church joins Carey to talk about why wearing a cape doesn't help anyone, the death of secularism, and why the church is all wood and no fire. Matt also opens up about the moment he almost quit, what Spurgeon taught him about suffering, and why he stopped neglecting the Holy Spirit. 🔗 Show Notes 🤖 AI and the Future Church - NEW BOOK! 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes ART OF PREACHING If you're still writing your sermon Saturday night and replaying the mistakes Monday morning, The Art of Preaching is for you. It's a step-by-step course that's helped over 3,500 preachers write and deliver messages that land. Until July 15th, grab it for fifty dollars off at theartofpreachingcourse.com. BELAY BELAY gives you U.S.-based assistant or accounting support tailored to your church so you can lead instead of manage. Text CAREY to 55123 for a free copy of The Freedom Framework. RIGHT NOW MEDIA God's Kids from Right Now Media is a brand-new elementary and preschool curriculum launching this fall. Head to RightNowKids.org/access to schedule a free demo.
Summary
CNLP 814 | Networking Without the Awkward: Michael Bungay Stanier on Better 1:1s and Building a Path No One Else Is Walking
3w ago01:23:08Summary readyNetworking feels fake because most people do it wrong. Michael Bungay Stanier has a better way. In this conversation, MBS breaks down how to connect without the cringe, the seven questions you need to ask to run 1:1s that actually matter, and build a career path nobody handed you. Plus: a deep dive into self-publishing and viral marketing. 🔗 Show Notes 🤖 AI and the Future Church - NEW BOOK! 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes SERMON PREP CHALLENGE July 7th through 9th, my team and I are running a free three-day challenge to help you get two weeks ahead on your sermon prep. There's a one-hour call each day, and if you stick with it, by Thursday you'll have a two-week buffer built in. It's free. Sign up at careynieuwhof.com/sermonprep. MINISTRY BRANDS Get the 2026 Annual Church Giving Report from Ministry Brands. This free report breaks down the latest trends in church generosity, digital giving, donor behavior, and financial engagement — all designed to help church leaders make smarter decisions in a changing ministry landscape. ministrybrands.com/carey CHURCH SALARY Trying to figure out what to pay your team fairly? Church Salary gives you personalized compensation recommendations built on the largest church-specific salary database in the world. Head to ChurchSalary.com/carey.
Summary
CNLP 813 | Church Trends Update: Your Congregation Is Being Discipled 49 Hours a Week (And Not By You), The Wrong Convo About AI, Women Leaving, and the Anti-Celebrity Pastor
3w ago00:34:47Summary readySix months into 2026, four church trends deserve a closer look. Algorithms are discipling your congregation 49 hours a week. AI's biggest threat isn't prompts—it's disruption on a scale the church isn't ready for. Women are still leaving, and now we know why. And a new kind of megachurch pastor is quietly emerging. Here's what's changing and what to do about it. 🔗 Show Notes 🤖 AI and the Future Church - NEW BOOK! 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes SERMON PREP CHALLENGE July 7th through 9th, my team and I are running a free three-day challenge to help you get two weeks ahead on your sermon prep. There's a one-hour call each day, and if you stick with it, by Thursday you'll have a two-week buffer built in. It's free. Sign up at careynieuwhof.com/sermonprep. MINISTRY BRANDS Get the 2026 Annual Church Giving Report from Ministry Brands. This free report breaks down the latest trends in church generosity, digital giving, donor behavior, and financial engagement — all designed to help church leaders make smarter decisions in a changing ministry landscape. ministrybrands.com/carey LIFESTONE MINISTRIES Adult Bible Teacher gives you a verse-by-verse exposition of every week's lesson, built-in discussion questions, practical points, research helps, and lesson preparation notes. Everything you need to walk into your classroom with confidence every quarter. http://lifestoneministries.org/carey
Summary
CNLP 812 | Creativity Is the Church's Lost Superpower: Al Gordon on How Stress and Algorithms Are Killing Your Imagination and How to Unlock Creativity in Your Team
4w ago01:15:33Summary readyMost leaders don't think of themselves as creative. Al Gordon says that's the lie keeping you stuck. Al, founder of Renaissance, lead pastor of SAINT in East London, talks about why creativity is the church's lost superpower, how stress and algorithms are quietly killing your imagination, and what it actually takes to unlock creativity in yourself, your team, and your church. 🔗 Show Notes 🤖 AI and the Future Church - NEW BOOK! 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes SERMON PREP CHALLENGE July 7th through 9th, my team and I are running a free three-day challenge to help you get two weeks ahead on your sermon prep. There's a one-hour call each day, and if you stick with it, by Thursday you'll have a two-week buffer built in. It's free. Sign up at careynieuwhof.com/sermonprep. MINISTRY BRANDS Get the 2026 Annual Church Giving Report from Ministry Brands. This free report breaks down the latest trends in church generosity, digital giving, donor behavior, and financial engagement — all designed to help church leaders make smarter decisions in a changing ministry landscape. ministrybrands.com/carey GLOBAL CHRISTIAN RELIEF Global Christian Relief serves persecuted Christians in places like Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, India, and Iran. They bring Scripture where it's restricted, provide emergency relief when crisis hits, and give long-term support so local churches can remain and grow. When you give to GCR, you're standing with family. http://gcrelief.org/
Summary
CNLP 811 | The Myth of 10,000 Hours: David Epstein on How Creativity Actually Works and Why Constraints Set You Free
Jun 1601:22:12Summary readyNew York Times bestselling author David Epstein talks about why Malcolm Gladwell's 10000-hour rule isn't accurate, how he and Malcolm became friends, how creativity actually works (what you can learn from Dr. Seuss), and why constraints and limits set you free. 🔗 Show Notes 🤖 AI and the Future Church - NEW BOOK! 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes AI AND THE FUTURE CHURCH A world growing more artificial by the day is going to produce people starving for what's real. And the church has been answering that hunger for two thousand years. Carey's book, AI and the Future Church, walks you through three shifts every church needs to make now to be prepared for whatever change AI brings. Pre-order is open now. You can find it at careynieuwhof.com/ai or search for AI and the Future Church on Amazon. LIFESTONE MINISTRIES Adult Bible Teacher from Lifestone Ministries gives you a verse-by-verse exposition of every week's lesson, built-in discussion questions, practical points, research helps, and lesson preparation notes. Everything you need to walk into your classroom with confidence every quarter. lifestoneministries.org/carey MINISTRY BRANDS Get the 2026 Annual Church Giving Report from Ministry Brands. This free report breaks down the latest trends in church generosity, digital giving, donor behavior, and financial engagement — all designed to help church leaders make smarter decisions in a changing ministry landscape. ministrybrands.com/carey
Summary
CNLP 810 | The End of Anxiety? Joshua Becker on Spiritual Minimalism and When Enough is Enough
Jun 1101:18:36Summary readyFormer pastor, minimalist, and New York Times bestselling author Joshua Becker returns to the podcast. He discusses why he left ministry to pursue a fresh calling, how minimalism can usher in an end to anxiety, when enough is enough, and how decluttering can be good for your soul. 🔗 Show Notes 🤖 AI and the Future Church - NEW BOOK! 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes AI AND THE FUTURE CHURCH A world growing more artificial by the day is going to produce people starving for what's real. And the church has been answering that hunger for two thousand years. Carey's book, AI and the Future Church, walks you through three shifts every church needs to make now to be prepared for whatever change AI brings. Pre-order is open now. You can find it at careynieuwhof.com/ai or search for AI and the Future Church on Amazon. VICTORY BEYOND THE CUP The World Cup is underway and billions of people across every culture and background are gathering together. Victory Beyond the Cup has two free kits you can access. One, for pastors to help you cast vision and equip your church, and another that your people can use to host watch parties that feel natural, not forced. Visit victorybeyondthecup.com to access these free tools. ALPHA USA If your church is ready to open a door for the people in your community who are searching, Alpha has a free 3-Step Launch Plan that shows you exactly how to get your first gathering off the ground. Download it at alphausa.org/carey.
Summary
CNLP 809 | Get Past Broke Thinking In Your Church: The Lean Startup's Eric Reis on When To Take A Risk and Why Harder is Easier
Jun 900:56:47Summary readyNew York Times bestselling author Eric Ries applies his startup philosophy to churches. Carey and Eric cover how to know when to take a risk, how to get past broke thinking in your church, and why the harder path is often easier. 🔗 Show Notes 🤖 AI and the Future Church - NEW BOOK! 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes AI AND THE FUTURE CHURCH A world growing more artificial by the day is going to produce people starving for what's real. And the church has been answering that hunger for two thousand years. Carey's book, AI and the Future Church, walks you through three shifts every church needs to make now to be prepared for whatever change AI brings. Pre-order is open now. You can find it at careynieuwhof.com/ai or search for AI and the Future Church on Amazon. JONI & FRIENDS Joni and Friends exists to bring Gospel hope and dignity to people living with disability—and they do it in a real, hands-on way. Over 250,000 wheelchairs delivered internationally, tens of thousands of special needs families served at Family Retreats every year, and Bibles put into the hands of people who've never had access to one. If you want to get involved, give, volunteer, or just learn more, head to joniandfriends.org/carey. Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network
Summary
CNLP 808 | Why Leadership Is Designed to Kill You: Nicole Martin on Leading Christianity Today in a Divided, Rapidly Changing World
Jun 201:11:37Summary readyNicole Martin made history as Christianity Today's first Black female CEO — and took the hits that come with it. In this conversation: the backlash, Billy Graham's original vision, how the magazine is advancing and speaking into a polarized world, and why leadership is designed to kill you. 🔗 Show Notes 🤖 AI and the Future Church - NEW BOOK! 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes AI AND THE FUTURE CHURCH A world growing more artificial by the day is going to produce people starving for what's real. And the church has been answering that hunger for two thousand years. Carey's book, AI and the Future Church, walks you through three shifts every church needs to make now to be prepared for whatever change AI brings. Pre-order is open now. You can find it at careynieuwhof.com/ai or search for AI and the Future Church on Amazon. BELAY BELAY pairs pastors with U.S.-based Financial Experts who bring clarity and confidence to your numbers. Their support is fractional, flexible, and tailored to your church so you get exactly what you need, within your budget. Not sure where to start? Download BELAY's free resource: "The Small Business Guide to Outsourced Accounting." SPIRE CONFERENCE You're juggling a lot. And it's easy for development to get pushed to "someday." SpireConference 2026 is happening September 29 through October 1 in Indianapolis. Spire is one of those environments that helps your team step back, get clarity, and move forward together with real momentum. Learn more at spire.network Use code CAREY50 to get $50 off each ticket. Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network
Summary