The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast

Joel Muddamalle, theologian and author focused on spiritual warfare and biblical studies, explores how social algorithms mass-market sin and reshape desire. He examines devices as battlegrounds and how idolatry reappears as sex, money, and power. Joel also discusses subversive approaches to political division and practical habits that keep top staff long-term.

Todd Wilson, church leader, author, and founder of Exponential, traces how church growth thinking evolved from mission research to seeker-sensitive and attractional strategies. He walks through key influencers, the rise of megachurch practices, leadership professionalization, and recent disruptions. Short, historical, and forward-looking conversation about where church models came from and what's changing now.

What do you do when you run a playbook on discipleship that's worked for years, and it stops working? That led Robby Gallaty to a place of despair, and out of that, revival and renewal came. Robby Gallaty and Replicate CEO Vick Green explain how to renew your ministry through revival and discipleship. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork ❗️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 LIFESTONE MINISTRIES Adult Bible Teacher from LifeStone Ministries gives Sunday school teachers verse-by-verse exposition, built-in discussion questions, and lesson preparation notes—everything you need to walk into your classroom with confidence. Head to lifestoneministries.org/carey to learn more. CHURCH GROWTH ENGINE Church Growth Engine's free guide, "Why Do Good Churches Get Stuck?" identifies ten fixable problems holding churches back—from leadership exhaustion cycles to visitor retention gaps—with practical steps that have helped thousands of churches move from survival mode to thriving ministry. Download it free at churchgrowthengine.com/actionplan. COMPASSION Compassion International equips churches to lead with a posture of compassion just as Jesus did—offering resources, events, and experiences that help your church family take action, love their neighbors, and help release children from poverty in Jesus' name. Visit compassion.org/carey to download free resources and learn more. Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Preston Sprinkle, biblical scholar and author who studies theology, sexuality, and gender, walks through Scripture on women in ministry. He revisits Genesis, highlights Old Testament and Gospel examples, reexamines Romans 16, Priscilla and Junia, and digs into contested texts like 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy. The conversation models open-minded, scripture-centered study and why context reshapes interpretation.

Christine Caine, speaker, activist, and best-selling author who founded A21 and Propel Women, reflects on why women are walking away from church and what might bring them back. She discusses generational trends, the need for intentional leadership pipelines, pruning and flourishing through pain, and the danger of trying to play the Holy Spirit’s role in others’ lives.

Jon Acuff, author and leadership communicator known for books on goals and procrastination, shares fast, practical conversations on beating deadline procrastination. He talks about building a team and audience, shifting from solo work to trusting others, and AI-proofing creative work with live events. Short, tactical ideas on planning, time-tracking, and avoiding common procrastination traps.

Bill Gurley, veteran venture capitalist behind early bets like Uber and Twitter, shares career pivots and why curiosity beats the clichéd “follow your passion.” He explains the delusional factor that fuels outliers, how top founders spot network effects, and practical ways to find and approach mentors. Short, sharp takes on startup traction, learning edges, and career flexibility.

Arthur C. Brooks, professor and bestselling author who studies happiness and meaning, shares practical rhythms for reclaiming creative time. He reveals his 4:30am routine, how columns fuel books, and a tight sermon structure with a memorable lead and three takeaways. He also explores the brain’s role in meaning, risks of short-form culture, and six levers to restore purpose.

Mark Lutz, lead pastor and founder of Lux Digital Church who builds fully digital ministry for gamers. He shares why a 100% online church reaches people others miss. Topics include Twitch and Discord culture, how digital relationships form and grow, Lux’s service rhythm and teams, and what traditional churches get wrong about online ministry.

Nir Eyal, best-selling author on behavior and technology, shares insights on belief, motivation, and resilience. He explores why some people persist while others give up. He discusses research linking prayer and practices to greater pain tolerance and resilience. He explains how reframing beliefs and testing them can create agency and spark opportunities.