An Honest Conversation with Carl Lentz from Hillsong Church

We sit down with Carl Lentz, ex-Hillsong pastor, and we didn’t feel like we were talking to a “celebrity pastor” or someone from headlines—It felt like we were talking to a real human being who has walked through the fire and come out on the other side. This episode honestly felt different… like one of those conversations that stays with you. What stood out to me the most is how honest he was. No excuses. No pretending. Just real ownership of his mistakes, his pain, and his growth. He talked about how small compromises turned into bigger ones… how pressure and fame didn’t create his issues, but exposed what was already there. And instead of running from it, he leaned into healing. We also talked about Hillsong, what it was, what it wasn't, Carl's forthcoming book, and so much more. In This Episode 02:00 – Introducing Carl Lentz & His Redemption Journey 04:30 – Carl’s Early Life + Finding Faith 07:00 – Hillsong College: The Good, Bad & Misconceptions 12:00 – Church Culture, Pressure & “Stage Time” Conversations 17:00 – Leadership, Words & Influence Responsibility 20:00 – Fame, Justin Bieber & Platform Pressure 28:00 – Burnout, Hustle Culture & Ministry Pace 33:30 – What He Would Do Differently + Advice for Leaders 40:00 – Was It Real? Addressing Doubts About His Intentions 45:00 – Public Failure, Shame & Owning His Actions 48:00 – Letting Go of Bitterness + Choosing Healing 52:00 – Identity, Being Misunderstood & Public Perception 56:00 – What Redemption Actually Looks Like Today 01:00:00+ – Final Thoughts: Faith, Growth & Moving Forward More From Carl Lentz ⁠🗣️ Follow Carl -   / carllentz   ⁠⁠🎙️ Lights On Podcast - ‪@lightsonwithcarllentz‬ ⁠⁠📕 Pre-Order Overcoming Infidelity⁠ - https://www.simonandschuster.com/book... ORDER MY BOOK! - https://amzn.to/4pYsOIo This book is for the person looking for a practical guide on how to navigate life’s most common challenges. from lack of confidence and making difficult decisions to healing yourself from the inside and out and dating wiser, becoming healthy and healthy is your one stop shop to learning how to heal and thrive in life, God’s way. OUR SPONSORS Wayfair: Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home. - https://tinyurl.com/HAHWayfair Creatone: Try Creatone today. Use code HEALTHY at checkout for 20% off. - https://tinyurl.com/HAHCozyEarth If you’d like to partner with Jeanine as a sponsor for the Happy & Healthy podcast, you can email [email protected] Follow us on Instagram! Happy and Healthy:   / happyandhealthypodcast   Jeanine:   / jeanineamapola   Jeanine and Kaleb:   / jeanineandkaleb   Follow us on TikTok! Happy and Healthy:   / happyandhealthypodcast   Jeanine:   / jeanineamapola   #HappyandHealthyPodcast, #ChristianPodcast, #jeanineamapola, #JeanineandKaleb