

The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
Art of Leadership Network
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/.
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/.
Episodes
Mentioned books

36 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 1h 20min
CNLP 756 | Preaching Secrets That Actually Work: 90 Minutes of Strategy, Theology, and the Art of Preaching with Mark Clark and Carey Nieuwhof
Mark Clark, founder of The Village Church and senior pastor at Bayside Church, joins Carey Nieuwhof to share transformative preaching tips. They dive into the art of storytelling, revealing how humor and structure can elevate a sermon. Mark discusses the importance of preparation, recognizing success through audience transformation, and crafting powerful intros with vulnerability. They also explore the ethical use of AI in sermon prep and the challenge of appealing to both churchgoers and the unchurched. Ideal insights for today’s communicators!

38 snips
Sep 18, 2025 • 1h 23min
CNLP 755 | 29 Stress Points in 14 Months and My Health Wake-Up Call: Inside My Hardest Year in Leadership in 20 Years
In this insightful discussion, Sean Morgan, a former military pilot and executive pastor, interviews Carey Nieuwhof about a tumultuous year in leadership marked by 29 stressors and a significant health crisis. Carey shares his personal journey through illness and how it forced him to rethink his approach to leadership and self-care. He emphasizes the importance of building margins in life, tracking stressors, and redefining contributions to avoid burnout. Listeners will walk away with practical tips on resilience and recovery.

87 snips
Sep 16, 2025 • 1h 17min
CNLP 754 | Rick Warren on What 99% of Churches Don't Do, The Rise of the Global Church, and the Call American Churches Need to Hear
Rick Warren, Pastor and author of The Purpose Driven Life and founder of Saddleback Church, shares insights on what 99% of churches overlook. He discusses the remarkable growth of the global church, highlighting its expansion and demographic shifts. Warren emphasizes the need for American churches to embrace a mission-driven approach and revitalize connections through love and discipleship. He also offers practical tips for preachers to engage their congregations meaningfully, advocating for a deeper commitment to faith and community.

38 snips
Sep 9, 2025 • 1h 21min
CNLP 753 | Why White Christian Men Are Afraid to Preach the Bible — Therapy, Calling, and Comedy with Julian Lowe
Julian Lowe, a pastor at Oasis Church in LA with a vibrant background in music and comedy, discusses the unique fears white Christian men face when preaching the Bible. He shares insights from his journey, highlighting how creativity from his music and comedy experiences enriches his communication style. Julian emphasizes the importance of self-care and personal health in leadership, reflects on the emotional complexities of ministry, and advocates for authenticity and humor in sermons to connect deeply with diverse audiences.

62 snips
Sep 4, 2025 • 49min
CNLP 752 | How Do You Fire Staff That Are Like Family? Jon Gordon on Making the Tough Calls on Staffing and Creating Great Teams
Jon Gordon, bestselling author and speaker, dives into the challenging terrain of leadership and staffing decisions, particularly when those involved feel like family. He shares personal anecdotes about the emotional complexities of firing staff and emphasizes the importance of commitment over talent in high-performing teams. With insights from his latest book, he discusses building strong connections, fostering open communication, and the necessity of difficult conversations in leadership, ultimately advocating for a people-first approach in team dynamics.

40 snips
Sep 2, 2025 • 1h 11min
CNLP 751 | The 6 Surprising Traits of Sticky Sermons And Why Focusing On The Problem is the Wrong Approach—With Dan Heath
Dan Heath, a renowned author known for his impactful books like Made to Stick, discusses crafting unforgettable sermons. He reveals six surprising traits that make messages memorable, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and emotional connection. Heath challenges leaders to shift their focus from problem-solving to celebrating successes, sharing insights from Chick-fil-A on creating peak experiences. The conversation is filled with strategies for enhancing engagement and fostering a more positive leadership environment.

101 snips
Aug 26, 2025 • 1h 14min
CNLP 750 | Inside Tim Keller's Mind: Matt Smethurst on Keller's Preaching, DNA, and Rule of Life
Matt Smethurst, the lead pastor of River City Baptist Church and co-host of the Everyday Pastor podcast, dives deep into the influential mind of Tim Keller. He unpacks Keller's unique preaching style and the foundational elements of his pastoral care. Their discussion touches on the vital role of friendship in ministry, the challenges of preaching amidst modern individualism, and the importance of grace and scripture in fostering spiritual transformation. This exploration reveals the heart of Keller’s enduring impact on faith communities.

61 snips
Aug 21, 2025 • 1h 9min
CNLP 749 | Revival Series Pt. 5 | Why God is Moving So Powerfully Now: JP Pokluda on Gen Z and Gen Alpha Revival and How to Share the Gospel with Your Uber Driver
JP Pokluda, lead pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church, shares insights on the powerful movement of God among Gen Z and Gen Alpha. He highlights the unique openness of younger generations to faith discussions and offers practical strategies for personal evangelism in everyday encounters. Pokluda also discusses the significance of recent biblical events and their implications for modern faith. He emphasizes the revival among college students and the need for churches to adapt to today's challenges while nurturing community ties.

51 snips
Aug 19, 2025 • 1h 19min
CNLP 748 | Revival Series Pt. 4 | Gen Z Men Converting—UK Church Revival Lessons for America: Nicky Gumbel, Al Gordon and Stephen Foster on Reversing Generations of Church Decline
Nicky Gumbel, the pioneer of Alpha, joins Al Gordon, head of a thriving East London church, and Stephen Foster, who leads a historic church in Oxford. They discuss the remarkable rise of Gen Z men embracing Christianity in the UK. Personal stories reveal a genuine shift towards faith, moving away from mere nominalism. The trio stresses the significance of humility and unity in church leadership, and share insights on how America can learn from these revival lessons in fostering community support and genuine spiritual connections.

92 snips
Aug 12, 2025 • 1h 45min
CNLP 747 | Revival Series Pt. 3 | Revival Broke Out at Saddleback: Andy Wood and Luke LeFevre on How Far the Church In America Has Fallen and the Way Back
Andy Wood, Lead Pastor of Saddleback Church, and Gen Z preacher Luke LeFevre dive into an inspiring revival that ignited at Saddleback. They share insights from a prophetic message about the movement's spiritual atmosphere, emphasizing genuine hunger for God among attendees. The discussion highlights the balance between structured church leadership and the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit's work, exploring how contemporary leaders can adapt to foster deeper connections within their communities. They also reflect on the importance of prayer and the urgency for revival in American churches.