Podcasts Every Kidmin Leader Should Be Listening To

When you turn learning into an intentional habit, your leadership grows. Podcasts are one of the simplest ways to keep growing and learning as a leader without adding more to your plate or using any of your budget. Podcasts are also great tools to use with an intern! Here are some of my favorite podcasts for kidmin leaders in 2026:

KidMin-Specific Podcasts:

• Kids Ministry Circle with Lauren Jackson
• The KidMin Huddle Podcast with Amber Pike
• The Lead Ministry Podcast with Josh Denhart
• Stained Glass Kids with Yancy
• The KidzMatter Podcast
• Kids Ministry Calling with Jana Magruder
• Nick Blevins Family Ministry Podcast
• Kids Ministry Collective
• Child Discipleship Podcast
• Cross Formed KidMin
• Simple Kids Ministry with Jeremy O’Neill
• Small Church Ministry Podcast
• Every Child Belongs with Kim Botto

Non-kidmin-specific podcasts:

• Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
• Collide Kids Podcast
• All It Takes is a Goal with Jon Acuff
• Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast
• The Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast with Pete Scazzero
• TED Talks (especially in the fields of education, kids & family, and society & culture)

If you want to turn podcast-listening into a habit, start here:

• Pick 1-2 podcasts, preferably one that grows your leadership and one that gives you practical ideas. OR one that’s specific to children’s ministry and one that’s not.
• Build it into your rhythm. Attach listening to the podcast to something you already do, like a commute to work, while cutting out crafts for midweek prep, Sunday afternoon reset, daily walk around the neighborhood, while you’re folding laundry, et.c
• Lead with what you learn. Each week, share one takeaway with your team and your leadership.

Use podcasts to train and develop your volunteer team:

Try this once a month:

• Choose a short episode and share with your team, inviting them to listen. Consider asking a question for them to consider or answer as they listen.
• Ask: “What stood out to you?” and invite responses via email or in conversations. Optional: for everyone who responds, put their name into a drawing for a prize!
• Pick one idea to try together and let them see how what you’re learning is influencing how you lead.