The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast — Episode 757

Title: The Key To Better Preaching Is NOT What You Think: Megan Fate Marshman on Preaching and How to Use Your Voice and Body for More Effective Communication
Host: Carey Nieuwhof
Guest: Megan Fate Marshman
Air Date: September 30, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode dives deep into the real secrets to better preaching, exploring why effective communication isn’t just about techniques or outlines. Carey Nieuwhof interviews Megan Fate Marshman, a renowned communicator and preacher, about her journey, the surprising origins of her speaking gift, how she weaves vulnerability and authenticity into everything she does, and—most importantly—how listening, loving others, and partnering with the Holy Spirit transform communication. The conversation is rich with practical tips, honest reflections, and actionable insights for leaders, preachers, and anyone wanting to engage and impact their audience more profoundly.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Megan’s Unusual Path to Preaching

Time: 10:15–17:00

• Turning Point: Megan explains how a college arrest for shoplifting led, surprisingly, to her first public speaking assignment. The judge sentenced her to speak at every local high school about decisions and friendships.

• Grace & Calling: What truly changed her, however, was her parents’ reaction—particularly her father’s words after she was released, which for the first time made grace real for her.

• Francis Chan’s Influence: After telling her story at camp, influential pastor Francis Chan affirmed her gift and challenged her:

  “You have a gift and it will either be all about you, or you’ll partner with the Holy Spirit and be a part of eternity shifting.” — Francis Chan (15:18)

• Discovery of “It”: Megan and Carey discuss the hard-to-define “it factor” in communicators, and how recognizing and calling it out in others can be transformative.

2. The Role of Affirmation and Vulnerability

Time: 18:44–23:25

• Feedback from Her Actor Father: Megan’s father, a theater actor, gave input on using voice, body, tone, and timing to connect with audiences and draw them in.

• Importance of Relationships: What made the technical feedback impactful was the deep sense that her dad delighted in her.

  “The reason I’m even listening to my dad in the first place about any of it is because I know that he’s proud of me, that he delights in me, that he loves me.” — Megan Fate Marshman (26:15)

• Parallel to God the Father: Megan draws a parallel between her father’s affirmation and the foundation needed to receive correction and grow, both as a communicator and as a child of God.

3. Preaching as an Act of Love and Listening

Time: 19:43–25:18 | 29:24–35:12

• Knowing Your Audience: Megan adjusts her delivery based on who she’s speaking to but keeps content largely the same; the difference is what happens “between the notes.”

• Power of Questions: She emphasizes asking audience-relevant questions and using God’s word, not just clever lines, as the ultimate answers.

• Opening the Heart, not Just Filling the Mind:

  “You don’t change your life by information...You change your life when you are willing to open up the heart so that the life-changing truth can get deposited.” — Megan Fate Marshman (32:17)

• Kindness in Confronting Sin: Tone in preaching about sin must be one of kindness and empathy, not judgment, reflecting the biblical principle that “kindness leads to repentance.”

4. Voice, Body, and Delivery

Time: 37:18–43:29

• Congruity Between Stage and Person: Carey notes and Megan affirms that she strives for consistency between who she is in conversation and on stage.
• Reps and Practice: Megan credits camp preaching—with its repeated delivery of the same talk 20+ times per summer—for helping her hone delivery, timing, and storytelling.
• Visual Anchors and Movement: She uses hand gestures, positioning, and facial expressions to create memorable word pictures and help audiences track concepts throughout a message.
• Feedback Loops: She values and seeks out constructive critique, inviting specific feedback not only on content but also on connection and impact on listeners’ hearts.

5. Women in Preaching & Pursuing Your Calling

Time: 45:05–49:21

• Barriers for Female Communicators: Megan acknowledges both hurtful experiences and unique challenges for women in preaching roles but urges women not to wait for a platform to begin sharing and listening.

• Best Preparation is Loving Others: She advises aspiring female communicators to “listen,” learn to love people authentically, and use their current relationships and spheres of influence.

  “Don’t wait for the platform...You have an area and a sphere of influence that’s around you, and the reps you need are right there.” — Megan Fate Marshman (45:28)

• Male Allies: Carey asks how men can help. Megan says the most helpful thing is specific, substantive encouragement that highlights what men have learned from female communicators—not just generic praise.

6. The Art of Cutting Content

Time: 51:08–53:02

• How to Decide What to Cut: Megan uses a two-page system in her sermon notes—a “maybe add” page for things she’s tempted to include, often for self-important reasons, but which rarely make it into the final message.
• Make Room for the Spirit: She’s learning to discern between her ego and the Spirit’s direction, and is grateful when she sees growth in putting the audience’s needs (and God’s desires) first.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Importance of Grace

  “My mom is standing there like this, and I’m like, I don’t deserve that. And I’m so ashamed. And she hugged me. I said, mom, I don’t deserve this. And my dad whispers, ‘My girl, you never did. When did you think we deserved grace?’ That’s when I understood grace for the first time.”
  — Megan Fate Marshman (13:17)

• On the Use of Voice and Body

  “He [my dad] was all in how to use your body, how to use your tone, how to use your voice, inflection.... How do you use your whole self to communicate?”
  — Megan Fate Marshman (19:43)

• On Loving Well as a Parent and Communicator

  “They can tell if I’m delighting in them or not... I never got that I was bugging my dad. I never got that him being with me or a conversation, yeah, I felt like he was always leaning toward the relationship.”
  — Megan Fate Marshman (26:15)

• On Simplifying Messages

  “Now I’ll tell you one of the tricks that I’ve learned...I now say things much simpler. I say a whole lot less.”
  — Megan Fate Marshman (30:43)

• On the Heart over Information

  “If you want to change your life, you don’t change your life by trying to change your life. You don’t change your life by information. You don’t change your life by note-taking. You change your life when you are willing to open up the heart so that the life-changing truth can get deposited.”
  — Megan Fate Marshman (32:17)

• On Feedback and Growth

  “Let everything continue to change you. Let God use everything. And I’d say, I hope that in five years, I’m looking back on who I was or who I am today and critiquing the heck out of it because of how far he’s grown me.”
  — Megan Fate Marshman (43:07)

• On Motivation for Content

  “Sometimes I’ll have content in there that I know is there because I want to be impressive....I have a second page, and it says 'maybe add.' And it’s usually the stuff that I want to add, but I probably want to add it for the wrong reasons.”
  — Megan Fate Marshman (51:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 10:15 — Megan’s backstory: how a college arrest led her to her first speaking assignment and an understanding of grace
• 15:18 — Francis Chan’s challenge on “the gift”: make it about yourself or partner with the Holy Spirit
• 18:44 — The power of calling out gifts in other people
• 19:00 — Her dad’s influence as an actor on her presentation and use of voice
• 26:15 — On being delighted in: foundation for receiving feedback and growing
• 29:24 — On adjusting tone and delivery for different audiences; the importance of asking the right questions
• 32:17 — Opening the heart vs. downloading information for real life change
• 37:18 — The benefits of “reps,” using camp preaching & word pictures
• 43:29 — Seeking and responding to meaningful feedback
• 45:28 — Advice to female communicators: start where you are, focus on listening and loving
• 49:42 — How men can support and empower women communicators: give substantive, specific encouragement
• 51:32 — How to cut content: “maybe add” page and learning to make space for the Spirit rather than ego

Final Takeaways

• Better preaching isn’t about perfect technique—it’s rooted in deep listening, genuine love, and an authentic relationship with both God and others.
• Technical skills in voice and body are valuable, but only when grounded in a sense of being seen, known, and loved.
• Growth as a communicator is lifelong—always be open to feedback, reflection, and the Spirit’s leading.
• For women (and anyone early in their journey): Use the influence and relationships you have now. Start loving, listening, and investing—don’t wait for a bigger stage.
• Cut what’s there to impress. Make space for the moments and content that truly serve the audience and God’s purposes.

Connect with Megan Fate Marshman

• Willow Creek Community Church
• Arbor Road Church, Long Beach
• [Instagram & Website] (Search "Megan Fate Marshman")
• Megan’s books: "Relax.", "7 Family Ministry Essentials"

For more show notes, resources, and Carey’s new Preaching Cheat Sheet, visit preachingcheatsheet.com.