Podcasts about leadership network

New York Times bestselling author Eric Ries applies his startup philosophy to churches. Carey and Eric cover how to know when to take a risk, how to get past broke thinking in your church, and why the harder path is often easier.

Nicole Martin made history as Christianity Today's first Black female CEO — and took the hits that come with it. In this conversation: the backlash, Billy Graham's original vision, how the magazine is advancing and speaking into a polarized world, and why leadership is designed to kill you.

Twenty years after burnout almost took him out, Carey is back with Part 2—the recovery playbook. You don't need to get back to normal. Normal is what burned you out. In this solo episode, Carey shares seven strategies to burnout-proof your life: stop managing time and start managing energy, move to a fixed calendar, guard your green zone, and stop letting the wrong people hijack your best hours.

Twenty years ago this month, Carey almost became ministry road kill. After 11 years of 30%+ annual growth, he burned out, hard.  In Part 1 of this solo episode, Carey shares 5 honest insights from two decades of reflection: why dysfunction gets rewarded in the church, how denial accelerates the crash, and why grieving your losses matters. If your passion is fading, this episode is for you.

The vast majority of churches are plateaued or declining, and Exponential CEO Dave Ferguson explains why most churches never grow, let alone multiply. Plus, he shares the latest trends in church planting in this special episode recorded backstage at Exponential Global Conference in Orlando. 

Persuasion seems conspicuously absent from our politics.  Not shouting, denouncing, or trying to convince the "other side" that they're wrong, evil, or both.  But the good faithed attempt to reach the hearts, minds, and emotions of others and persuade them to our point of view.  Why?  Why is persuasion so hard?  And is it even possible to persuade in an era of political polarization?   Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis welcomes fellow "Josh"—Josh Bandoch—on the show to discuss his latest book, How to Get What You Want: Mastering the Art and Science of Persuasion, and to explore how persuasion can engage with how the human brain is actually wired.   About Josh Bandoch Bio from Illinois Policy   Josh Bandoch is the Head of Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute.   His research focuses on empowering people to rise out of poverty, increasing social mobility, improving housing affordability, and removing barriers to opportunity (e.g. burdensome regulations). His work has appeared in popular outlets like National Review, Real Clear Policy, RealClearMarkets, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Crain's Chicago Business, The Washington Examiner, The Washington Times, and Discourse, as well as peer-reviewed journals like Political Studies. He regularly appears in the media to discuss these and other policy issues, and speaks regularly at local and national events.   He is the author of The Politics of Place: Montesquieu, Particularism, and the Pursuit of Liberty (University of Rochester Press, 2017), which has received numerous positive reviews. He's currently working with his literary agent to submit his book manuscript on persuasion to publishers. He's using his persuasion research to develop strategies to advocate for policies that expand freedom and prosperity.   Josh is a member of the American Enterprise Institute's Leadership Network – a policy education and professional development program for state-based leaders in public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Before joining IPI, Josh was a Research Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a speechwriter for numerous senior government officials, a strategic communications consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, and a postdoctoral fellow at Brown University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.   He earned his bachelor's in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame.   To learn more about Josh, check out his website joshuabandoch.com  

Joel Muddamalle is a theologian who thinks harder about spiritual warfare than almost anyone in the church today. In this conversation: how sin got a mass-marketing strategy, why your devices are a primary battleground, why the best answer to political division might be subversion, and how to keep your best people long-term.

Most church leaders are leading inside a model they never chose and rarely understand. In this episode, Todd Wilson, founder of Exponential, walks through the true history of the modern church: Church Growth, Seeker Sensitive, Attractional, Missional—and what's coming next.  This is the seminary class no one got, but every church leader needs.

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.

Preston Sprinkle studied the full biblical narrative on women in ministry inductively, without an agenda. From Genesis to Paul, we discuss what he found and where it led him.  We also tackle what faithfulness to scripture looks like, and how opening your mind and changing your view can make you more biblically faithful rather than less.

Christine Caine returns to the podcast to discuss the real reasons she thinks women are done with the church, how to get them back, why playing the Holy Spirit's role in other people's lives has to stop, and the necessity of being pruned if you want to flourish.

In today's educational landscape, the role of family and community partnerships in student success cannot be overstated. Many schools struggle with establishing trust and collaboration with families and community members, but the benefits of doing so are immense. In this post, we will explore the significance of building highly engaged family, community, and business partnerships and share actionable insights from education leaders Ann Levett and Carol Birks. Dr. M. Ann Levett, is Senior Vice President, Leadership Network, AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Ann is a Savannah native and proud product of its public schools, was appointed superintendent of Savannah Chatham County Public Schools (SCCPSS) effective June 1, 2017, after serving as the deputy superintendent and the chief academic officer of the district. Immediately prior to returning to SCCPSS, she served as dean of the school of education at Middle Georgia State College. Prior to her tenure at Middle Georgia State College, Levett served as executive director of the School Development Program (SDP), a national school reform program at Yale University School of Medicine. In addition to coordinating SDP's school-university partnerships across the U.S. and its territories, Levett led reform efforts in Dublin, Ireland, and Rennes, France. She also consulted on significant community development projects in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and several major U.S. cities. Dr. Carol D. Birks is a catalytic and transformational educational thought leader with extensive experience in organizational leadership, community engagement and empowerment, executive coaching and change management. The leadership practices she implements are designed to enhance the systems, structures, and practices within organizations to accelerate academic progress and promote systems thinking. Dr. Birks began her career as a teacher, quickly growing her administrative capacity by serving as a school, district, and state leader. These roles include Teacher, Assistant Principal & Principal for Bridgeport Public Schools, Assistant Superintendent, and Chief of Staff for Hartford Public Schools, and Superintendent of Schools for New Haven Public Schools, and Chester Upland School District. Currently, Dr. Birks is the Superintendent for the Allentown School District located in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Find yourself procrastinating? You're not alone. Jon Acuff explains how to finally stop procrastinating on your sermon writing and other projects. Plus, he explains how he continues to grow as a leader, build an audience, and AI-proof his influence.

Bill Gurley, legendary investor behind Uber, Snapchat, and Twitter, shares why "follow your passion" is dangerously misleading, what to chase instead, what the best startup founders do, and the delusional factor that separates outliers from everyone else.  Plus, his best advice on finding a mentor, landing your dream job, his biggest mistake (passing on Google), and what he'd tell young leaders just starting out.

Arthur C. Brooks attends church every single day, has sat through thousands of sermons, gives lectures and talks around the world and based on that, gives his best advice to preachers. Plus, we look at how to reclaim writing time and the meaning of life.

Mark Lutz pastored a regular church for a few years. Then, as a gamer, he opened up Lux Church, a 100% ditigal church created for gamers. He explains the model, why it's reaching people no one else is reaching, how online relationships are as real as IRL relationships, and what other churches are missing and getting wrong when it comes to their digital ministry.

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 and gain greater agency, and the science behind why prayer improves resilience and mindset.

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 while he was having an affair, the relentless pressure of rapid growth, what rehab taught him about addressing core issues, his regrets, and warning signs for church leaders facing the pressure.

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, suffering and spiritual warfare, lies leaders believe, and not giving up.

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 pastors should say, and the real challenges of being a Christian and single today.

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 other red flags that are alienating women. Plus, she discusses how to address them and how to create an engaging environment for women, whether you lead a complementarian or egalitarian church.

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.

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 checking our motives before posting on social media. Momentum doesn't need marketing. Don't sell it. Steward it.

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 debate when to speak up, when to be silent, how to deal with fallout, and how to pastor people in a deeply divided age. This is the conversation many pastors are desperate to have but afraid to start.

A “simple” candy box tweak turned into a six-year redesign—because in packaging, changing a quarter inch can force you to rethink the entire manufacturing line.00:00 Why a ¼-Inch Box Change Took 6 Years (Packaging Equipment)00:17 Charlotte Ashcroft Intro: Mike and Ike + Peeps Packaging00:47 What Is Packaging Engineering? Automation, Materials, Structure01:41 Mike and Ike Box Redesign: What Actually Changed02:52 Designing Packaging Backwards from the Pallet (Pallet Optimization)03:17 Headspace Explained: Damage, Settling, “Half-Empty” Complaints04:26 Hidden Carton Upgrades: Right-Sizing + Tamper-Proof Design07:49 Sustainability Wins: Fewer Trucks + Source Reduction11:38 Mike and Ike vs Peeps: Why “Gooey” Products Need Different Packaging14:02 3 Questions New Candy Brands Must Ask (Equipment, Shelf Life, Distribution)17:44 Shelf Life Testing: Chamber Studies + Packaging Barrier Basics27:20 EPR + SB 54: Recyclable Packaging Regulations + Real-World ImpactIn this episode with Charlotte Ashcroft, we unpack what packaging engineering really means—and why the stuff most designers never see (automation compatibility, headspace, pallet patterns, tamper-proofing, distribution reality) is where the real money, speed, and sustainability wins happen.You'll learn:• What packaging engineering actually covers (beyond “structure”)• Why automation dictates more design decisions than people realize• The real reason “headspace” exists—and how it affects damage, complaints, and line speed• How engineers design backwards from the pallet (and why it saves trucks/material)• The hidden structural tweaks (glue, flaps, tamper-proofing) that change everything• How regulations like EPR / SB 54 push packaging decisions years in advanceIf you've ever thought “it's just a box”… this one will permanently change how you look at packaging.Connect with Charlotte:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-ashcraft/Packaging & Processing Women's Leadership Network:https://www.pmmi.org/womens-leadership-network/homeLarger Events:https://www.packexpoeast.com/https://www.packexpointernational.com/Support our Sponsor, and download your free Packaging Design Guide:https://idpdirect.com/design-guides/Connect with Evelio Mattoshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/eveliomattos/

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 stake, how he got through it, what happens to leaders who don't take action, and how Craig recovered fully from what almost took him out. 

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.

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!

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 breakdown of exactly what it takes to appear on the Tonight Show.

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 church leaders.

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 past), discusses major challenges for modern discipleship and the church, and adds his own church trend.

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 think and how to think. In this episode, we do a deep dive into how the next generation is leveraging YouTube and social media to preach the Gospel.

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 so many Gen Z are not using their gifts in local churches, and how to change that.

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 Gen Z men are dialing into Jesus, young adults are the most churched group in America, and that we're setting ourselves up for a succession crisis. 

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 discusses discipleship by algorithm and why that makes it impossible to lead people with harmony.

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 mega-church of 22,000, succession, and how he repositioned the Global Leadership Summit for the future.

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 cynicism, and how to know when to speak into culture and when to keep silent.

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 about the lack of theological training churches are facing, why we're probably not ready for real revival, and how to reach people most people think are unreachable.

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 audience's full attention, and why question-asking is a dying art.

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 writing. He also shares his views on spiritual warfare and the problem of Christians demonizing their enemies.

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 and Lysa discuss how to help people in a tough marriage.

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 social outrage. 

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 potential to harm the mind and brain.

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 generate the most results.

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.

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. Andrew covers the art of writing jokes, what happens when you bomb, how to recover, working with different audiences and more.

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 comfortable coming to church? Thom explains what the research reveals.

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 explains how it took 13 years to reach 500 million installs, but only four years to reach a billion, and the changes YouVersion made to accelerate bible reach.

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 leading while bleeding, and a lot more.

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 more people.