How do you get past your self-limiting beliefs? Best-selling author Nir Eyal talks about the research on why some leaders see the positive while others see the negative, how to change your mindset...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz opens up about the factors that led to the collapse of his ministry. He discusses the core issues that led to his breach of trust, what it was like to preach...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Jennie Allen reflects on a year like no other she's had: an ephocal global event followed by a terribly difficult sabbatical, health scares, and discouragement. Jennie talks about wanting to quit,...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

JJ and Kait Tomlin join the podcast to give candid advice to church leaders who, um, haven't dated in a while. It's different out there than it used to be. They cover outdated dating advice, what...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Recent data shows that while young men are coming to church in record numbers, women are leaving. Why? Kadi Cole shares the #1 reason women are leaving church (lack of trust) and outlines numerous...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Beth Moore talks about leaving the SBC a decade ago, how to know when it's time to leave, why so many women are leaving the church, and proof-texting scripture to keep the pulpit and power. 🔗  ...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In this episode, Carey asks the question of whether we're selling church growth and marketing revival on social media. As leaders, our motives are always mixed, and Carey offers a framework for...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

The cultural moment we're in isn't just tense — it's a full convulsion, and it's landing in your church every Sunday. In this emergency panel episode, Ed Stetzer, Adam Mesa, and Sharon Hodde Miller...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Life.Church Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel and his therapist, Dr. Wayne Chappelle, join Carey to talk about a wall Craig hit in ministry, that he thought might k*ll him. They discuss what was at...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Patrick Lencioni opens up about his dark night of the soul and his recent five-month sabbatical. Plus, we discuss how we go to work to heal and the joys and challenges of leading next-gen leaders. ...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Henry Cloud explains why leadership is not lonely, or at least, shouldn't be. Plus, we discuss why founders hang on too long and why leaders have far more control than you think! 🔗   Show Notes ...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Comedian and listener favorite John Crist returns to ask if we're being too critical of the church right now. Has our cynicism gone too far?  Plus, we talk about finding hope and do a detailed...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Leadership expert Les McKeown talks about the rise of mini-celebrity pastors, the limits that places on church growth and team development, and how to overcome the growth barriers you're facing as...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

John Mark Comer talks about his 21-day venture into the desert and a silence unlike any he's known in his life. Plus, he clarifies where he stands in terms of the left or the right (and the Christian...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

YouTuber Ruslan KD sits down to explain that ambiguity from preachers on cultural issues is costing them more than they think. He shares how the next generation is looking to the church for what to...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Even as teenagers, Gen Zers Luke LeFevre and Daniel McLeod were preaching at their high school and at raves. They share why Gen Z is so bold, what's creating the surge in church attendance, and why...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Is America in revival? Well, not quite, according to Barna CEO David Kinnaman, who joins Carey to discuss 2026 church trends. New data shows overall American Christianity is still in decline AND that...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Carey Nieuwhof unveils 7 disruptive church trends to track in 2026. The trends include Gen Z leading a surge in young church attendance and a rise in women exiting the Christian faith. Plus, Carey...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Former LCBC Senior Pastor David Ashcraft talks about the small church dysfunction he encountered when he arrived at LCBC when it was just a small church. Plus, he discusses how it scaled into a...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Sharon Hodde Miller discusses entering ministry with idealism that is crushed when people break your heart and leave your church. Plus, she discusses how to keep your heart engaged, learning to fight...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Theologian and church planter Dom Ruso offers lessons from church planting in Montreal, one of the most secular environments in North America, and how to reach a very difficult culture.  He talks...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

J.R. Briggs has studied the art of asking questions for ten years. He shares how the quality of your questions determines the quality of your life and leadership, how to use questions to get your...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In this episode of the podcast, N.T. Wright discusses the forces that formed him into the scholar, priest, and writer he is today: his early influences, his calling, and what he gave up to pursue his...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Lysa TerKeurst opens up about the end of her marriage and offers insight into the distinction between difficult and destructive relationships. Lysa shares the biblical grounds for divorce, and Carey...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

J.D. Greear shares the tension every pastor feels over when to speak out, how to speak out, and which issues should command a pastor's voice. J.D. also discusses Charlie Kirk, the culture wars, and...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Dr. Caroline Leaf explains her philosophy on the distinction between the mind and the brain, and how to utilize your mind to combat stress, anxiety, and burnout. She also weighs in on AI and its...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In this episode, you'll learn a fresh perspective on exactly where your time goes, how to cut the investments where you're least effective, and multiply your time investments in the activities that...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Dr. James Sells and Shaunti Feldhahn rethink mental health and loneliness. They offer practical steps on how the church can lead healing without burning out its leaders, especially pastors. 🔗  ...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Comedian Andrew Stanley talks about his journey as a preacher's son who studied finance and accounting to become a rising comic who has performed with Colin Jost, Leanne Morgan, John Crist and others....Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Thom Rainer explains the difference he's discovered between what growing churches do and what declining churches do. It's simpler than you think. Plus, how can you help the Anxious Generation feel...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

YouVersion CEO Bobby Gruenewald discusses what's right and wrong with AI, sharing some shocking examples of why Christians should be cautious about trusting AI for biblical accuracy. Bobby also...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In a wide-ranging interview, Tim Timberlake reflects on a challenging pastoral succession and how he rebuilt momentum. Plus, he discusses getting divorced in his twenties, what he learned about...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In this episode, Carey explores why the attractional church model no longer works, what's replacing it, the three shifts that made it ineffective, and what you and your church can do now to reach...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Tim Stevens returns to the podcast to discuss the hardest assignment in ministry: his three years at Willow Creek. He also talks about how to spot talent, firing well, how to recapture momentum, and...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Judah Smith and Dr. Les Parrot, Judah's therapist of 15 years, talk about the unique pressures pastors face. Les and Judah explain why your brain is lying to you 80% of the time, offer insights into...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Preaching is hard, no matter how you approach it. But throw planting a church during lockdown, a life-long struggle with mental health and anxiety, and planting in a tough to reach area in the mix,...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Nearly twenty years after releasing his groundbreaking book Simple Church, Eric Geiger reflects on why complexity still doesn't scale, how complexity subtly creeps in as you grow, and what he's...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Megan Fate Marshman is an incredibly compelling preacher who speaks in many of the largest churches in America. She shares how her preaching has evolved since she started, what she does right before...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

83% of Americans say preaching impacts their decision on a church home. Having just filmed a new 45 video course called the Art of Preaching, Carey Nieuwhof and Mark Clark share 90 minutes of their...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Twenty-nine stressful events in 14 months. One major health crisis. Zero sugar-coating. In this flip-the-mic episode, Sean Morgan interviews Carey to dissect the hardest year Carey's faced in two...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Rick Warren returns to the podcast to explain what 99% of churches don't do. He discusses the extraordinary rise of the global church and how it's outpacing population growth, and he outlines the...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Julian Lowe never expected to be a pastor, which ironically freed him up to become one. He talks about what he learned at the Groundlings, in Music, and in ministry, sharing why he feels white men...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Many church leaders think of their staff as family. But if they're family, can you fire them? Jon Gordon has coached hundreds of professional sports teams and companies and explains what it takes to...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Dan Heath, author of Made to Stick, The Power of Moments, and other seminal leadership books, talks about the six surprising traits of sticky sermons, how to design church experiences people never...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Matt Smethurst has listened to and studied more hours of Tim Keller's preaching and teaching than almost anyone alive. In this conversation, Matt gets us inside Tim Keller's mind, breaking down what...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In Part 5 of our Revival series, JP Pokluda brings firsthand accounts of how God is moving in college stadiums. He shares the Gospel with your Uber driver, server, and other people you meet, what's...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In Part 4 of the Revival series, Nicky Gumbel, Al Gordon, and Stephen Foster explain how and why Gen Z men in the UK are becoming Christians in record numbers. They discuss how they're seeing...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In Part 3 of our Revival series, Andy Wood (Lead Pastor of Saddleback Church) and Luke LeFevre (A Gen Z preacher who works with the Gather movement) discuss a prophetic word Luke received about an...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In Part 2 of our Revival series, Jon Tyson does a deep dive on the history of revival, including a detailed account of what happened/is happening in the Hebrides and in NYC. Jon explores how to...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In our Revival Series opener, Zach Meerkreeb shares the backstory of the Asbury Outpouring sparked by his sermon, which didn't go particularly well.  He explores Gen Z's unique spiritual awakening,...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Ray Johnston, senior pastor of Bayside Church in Sacramento, CA, reflects on decades of ministry and how to stay encouraged in ministry even when you feel done, why cynicism is incurable, how to...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

One question church leaders keep asking is "what do I do about my boss/lead pastor? Enter Bree Groff, workplace expert who explains what to do when you have a bad boss, don't love your job, and the...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Major update to Carey's 2025 church trends with stunning new data. Gen Z church attendance has quadrupled (4% to 16%), with young men leading at 21%. US data shows similar revival patterns. ...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Max Lucado talks about his new role at Gateway Church, how to carry the trauma and disappointment of a congregation after the senior pastor has breached trust, how to know if and when you've crossed...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

What if our culture's biggest crisis isn't political, but spiritual and relational? New York Times columnist, bestselling author, and Atlantic columnist David Brooks talks about how American culture...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

There's nothing like honesty when it comes to hearing people's stories. CCV Lead Pastor Ashley Wooldridge returns to the podcast with his wife, Jaime. In a raw conversation, they open up about their...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Lessons from one of America's fastest-growing and largest churches, Christ Church of the Valley (CCV). Senior Pastor Ashley Wooldridge talks about lessons he learned from a decade at Intel before...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Derwin Gray talks about toxic masculinity and how it plays out in the NFL, the culture, and the church. Plus, insights on using ministry to heal childhood wounds and the challenge of finding the...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Fact: Many churches with facilities and money lack people, while churches with people often lack facilities and funds. In this episode, Carey Nieuwhof argues why dying churches should transfer their...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Imagine if your biggest question was, why did our church grow so fast? Jason Mitchell, Lead Pastor of LCBC, talks about what you need to do to see a 280% greater spike in first-time visitors...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

The Unstuck Group's Amy Anderson discusses how to know if your church is overstaffed (it probably is), the key differences between growing and declining churches, and leading a company after its...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Has your calling become toxic? Biola Professor Arianna Molloy discusses the identity crisis most church leaders face: identifying with their calling so much that it becomes toxic. She also discusses...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Kyle Idleman discusses why it's easier to admit a fault on stage than to a friend in person, the times you feel like you want to punch a hole in the wall (and what to do about it), vulnerability,...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Chris Hodges, founding pastor of Church of the Highlands, opens up for the first time about being bullied as a kid, having an inferiority complex, and how that's impacted his leadership. Plus, he...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Carey answers your questions about whether there are limits to church growth, what to do if your elders try to micromanage you, and how to know who to fire and how to do it. 🔗   Show Notes ...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Patria Lead Pastor Adam Mesa shares how viral podcasting helped grow his church from 1,100 to 7,500+ in five years, his experience as a millennial taking over leadership from his dad, and navigating...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Ryan Leak has become one of the most sought-after preachers and leadership speakers today. He explains why he prepares for a three-minute offering talk the same way he preps for a leadership talk to...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Organizational consultant Andrew Mellen returns to the podcast to discuss the three rules he uses to help leaders organize their work and home life for mental clarity. Plus, why clutter is deferred...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Real estate mogul Mark Faris talks about going from being cut from professional hockey to becoming the #1 real estate agent and company in the nation. He explains what it took to become #1 in his...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

John Eldredge asks whether 30 is too young to be a lead pastor (and what to do if you're in your 20s or 30s and leading a large church). He also talks about finding spiritual authority and the stages...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Levi Lusko opens up about navigating a mid-life crisis in ministry at 38 and identifying wounds that become a ticking time bomb. Plus, Levi and Carey explore the mixed motives and gifting of...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Carey Nieuwhof takes the top questions young leaders submitted about ambition and how it works for and against you. Plus, he discusses media consumption habits, being a 'professional" Christian...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Glenn Packiam talks about how to pastor in an age where no one trusts pastors, the church leader mental health crisis (especially among next-gen leaders), and the difference between being weary and...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In an incredibly candid conversation, Gabe and Rebekah Lyons open up about their 28-year marriage. They discuss how they fight about everything, sex, navigating two careers, parenting, and how,...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Mark Sayers brings astonishing insight to the rapid cultural, economic, and political change we're seeing right now in America and globally. Carey and Mark cover why woke broke, the massive upheaval...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In this episode, Kara Powell discusses why teens and young adults don't trust the church. Plus, Carey and Kara talk about why young women are dropping out of church, why young men are leaning in, and...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Warren Bird and Adelle Banks share data and case studies on what you need to do to make your church future-ready and to experience church growth. Plus, they go deep on what happens when Christians...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Does character even matter anymore for Christians? If you look at the moral failure happening among pastors and the current culture politically, you'd think not. But the truth is your character...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Mark Batterson unpacks the funding and church planting strategy of National Community Church. He shares how NCC went from 29 people to owning coffee houses and city blocks in one of America's most...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In this live interview, Annie F. Downs returns to the podcast and explains what most churches are missing in ministry. Plus, she discusses the most overlooked group in your church, how to connect...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Mart Green joins the podcast to share how his retail book chain stayed profitable and growing in the face of the rise of Amazon, defying the odds. Plus, Mart explains Hobby Lobby's Green Family's...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Surprise. The New Atheism of people like Dawkins, Hitchins, and Sam Harris has lost favor over the last few years. Podcaster and author Justin Brierley discusses why New Atheism isn't resonating...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Mark Clark talks about the difference between preaching to a pre-Christian and post-Christian culture and how to do both effectively so that you can reach people and grow your church. Plus, Mark and...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Christian Apologist Wesley Huff recently debated Billy Carson, which led to an appearance on the Joe Rogan Show. In both cases, Wes demonstrated a powerful approach to apologetics. In this episode,...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Craig Groeschel breaks down how he's changing and adapting his preaching and communication style for digital ministry, AI, and social media. Plus, he shares the power of extreme habits, how to...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Culture expert Jenni Catron joins the podcast to discuss the signs to look for that tell you whether your church or company culture is healthy or toxic. Plus, she shares the power of culture in...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

John Ortberg discusses the spiritual power of admitting your personal inadequacy, what the church can learn from alcoholics, and why the church keeps producing elder brothers.   🔗  Show Notes ...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Dave Ramsey talks about how going broke, broke him as a person and leader and the difference that's made to his leadership today. He also shares his top business lessons and talks about the keys to...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Tyler Staton shares lessons from his journey with cancer, including why he never prayed for healing, the profound transformation of suffering, and what he learned about leading from his strengths and...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Ramit Sethi, New York Times Bestselling author, podcaster, and Netflix show host, returns to the podcast. Ramit shares his insight on what couples struggle with financially and how church leaders can...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Only 1% of pastors say their churches are very effective at evangelism. Yet, 72% of people say they are open spiritually. In this episode, Barna CEO David Kinnaman and author Mark Matlock continue...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Church planter Noah Herrin continues the 2025 church trends series as he and Carey discuss high-growth church planting. Noah shares how he created a ministry model that leads with community over...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Joby Martin and Mike Housholder both lead high-conversion growth churches. That means the growth they're seeing isn't coming from transfer growth. How are they doing it? As the 2025 Church Trends...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

J.P. Pokluda and Jennie Allen join Carey to share their experiences with the college revival happening across the United States.  As the 2025 Church Trends series continues, they discuss Gen Z's...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Carey Nieuwhof shares the top 5 church trends leaders need to pay attention to in 2025. Carey discusses how Gen Z is in both revival and retreat, evangelism is on life support, church closures are...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

What's wrong with the current approach to discipleship? Lutheran pastor and author Zach Zehnder talks about what's wrong with the current approach to discipleship and what it's like to plant a church...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

How do leaders attract and keep high performers? Brett Hagler, Y Combinator grad and New Story Founder, shares a young leader's counterintuitive advice on how to attract and keep high performers. ...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Many leaders understand the cost of decision fatigue, but very few understand the cost of indecision fatigue—the real cost of not deciding.  In this episode, Carey Nieuwhof explains what...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Bob Goff returns to the podcast and shares what he's learned from millions of people who have had his phone number, how to be more available as a leader, and how to infuse whimsy and adventure into...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Chad Veach talks about the red flags of pride in ministry and leadership, how to process things when people leave your church, and what happens when you're operating out of your gifting alone, not...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Will Guidara shares the backstory to his book, Unreasonable Hospitality, and his involvement in the hit TV series The Bear. Plus, Will and Carey discuss navigating control and collaboration and how...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Al Gordon, founder of Saint.Church in London, talks about revival and pre-revival in the church, the anatomy of revival, and rethinking the things the church got wrong. Plus, he shares why...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Tim Ross talks about the difference between deconstruction, destruction, and reconstruction. Plus, the pressure to code switch as a pastor, how podcasting might be the future of ministry, and the...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

There are two kinds of leaders: leaders who make excuses and leaders who make progress. A huge red flag in leadership centers on the leaders who make excuses. Carey shares how to identify...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Is the mid-life crisis real? Pete Scazzero questions the mid-life crisis and explains what really happens to most leaders in their thirties and early forties.  Plus, he and Carey discuss how leaders...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

In an era where the average church in America has an attendance of about 50 people, Karl Vaters talks about desizing the church. Karl also discusses the drug of size, the good and bad of the church...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Henry Cloud unpacks his traumatic childhood and past and offers advice on combatting depression and panic attacks. Plus, Henry outlines the problems with the dominant models of psychology in the...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Chuck DeGroat returns to the podcast to discuss secrecy and exposure in leadership, how your body keeps score of trauma, and how the 'go mode' that makes many leaders successful can sometimes lead to...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Sharon McMahon, also known as @SharonSaySo on Instagram, explains the business model behind the monetization of hate and how that's driving division. She discusses why some people crave certainty and...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Mark Sayers, Pastor and author, weighs in on why people inside and outside the church are so upset and the rise of the culture wars. He discusses why conspiracy theories have taken hold, the...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Theologian N.T. Wright deconstructs why Christians have bought into the culture wars, discusses how the Gospel is political, and offers his best advice on leading through the election without losing...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.

Michael Wear, founder of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, discusses our political sickness and how to guide your staff when they want to share their political views. This episode is Part...Read the whole entry... »Click the icon below to listen.