

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

27 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 1h 14min
CNLP 760 | Your Brain is Lying to You 80% of the Time: Judah Smith and Les Parrot on Why Leaders Self-Sabotage and How to Break the Cycle
Judah Smith, Lead communicator of Churchome and bestselling author, joins Dr. Les Parrott, a clinical psychologist and bestselling author, to explore the mental challenges faced by leaders. They reveal that our brains deceive us 80% of the time, leading to self-sabotage, especially in ministry. Judah shares personal experiences with ministry pressure, while Les highlights toxic thought patterns and the dangers of people-pleasing. The duo emphasizes the importance of grace over performance and offers practical insights for breaking negative cycles.

13 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 1h 5min
CNLP 759 | Preaching Through Depression — Faith Eury Cho on Mental Health, the Holy Spirit, and Gen Z
Faith Eury Cho, co-founder and co-pastor of Mosaic Covenant Church and mental health advocate, shares her journey of church planting during lockdown while battling anxiety. She emphasizes the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit, finding strength in community, and vulnerability in preaching. Faith discusses practical mental health strategies, highlights the need for authentic encounters with God for younger generations, and encourages church leaders to prioritize mental well-being. Her core message? God is always with you, inviting you into a deeper friendship.

39 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 1h 14min
CNLP 758 | Does Simple Church Still Work? Eric Geiger on What Scales and Why Older Church Leaders Need to Die to Themselves
Eric Geiger, senior pastor of Mariners Church and bestselling author of 'Simple Church,' shares powerful insights on effective church leadership. He discusses the pitfalls of complexity and the importance of simplicity in growth. Geiger emphasizes the necessity for older leaders to set aside egos for the next generation's benefit. He highlights the value of engaging Scripture and the need for purposeful leadership development. Humor and humility shine through as he details adapting to change, the impact of COVID-19, and fostering community among young adults.

21 snips
Sep 30, 2025 • 53min
CNLP 757 | 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
Megan Fate Marshman, a dynamic teaching pastor and communicator, shares her journey from a life-changing arrest to a fulfilling preaching career. She reveals how to effectively use voice and body language to engage audiences, emphasizing the significance of authentic connections. Megan discusses common delivery mistakes and the art of making space in sermons for listeners to process. She offers empowering advice for women preachers and highlights the role men can play in supporting female communicators. It's a refreshing dive into the art of impactful preaching!

126 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!

61 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.

100 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.

41 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.

73 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.

46 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.