Best Carl Nichols Podcasts (2025)

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Tom Hanks on loneliness 5:35

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5m ago5:35

5:35

The Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2016. Tom’s parents split up when he was five, and he went to live with his father. By the age of 10 he'd lived in 10 different houses in five different cities.Tom spoke to Kirsty about his complicated childhood, his parents’ divorce and how he managed his overwhelming feelings of l…

1
Val McDermid on her childhood love of libraries 4:00

9m ago4:00

4:00

In 2013 the Scottish writer Val McDermid was cast away by Kirsty Young. Crime fiction is Val's chosen genre, and the millions of novels she sells examine and dissect the darkest recesses of human behaviour. Val spoke to Kirsty about her childhood love of libraries. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.…

1
Calming the mind and body for sleep, by Rohan Gunatillake 12:10

3d ago12:10

12:10

Having trouble quieting your mind at night? Join Rohan for this soothing, nighttime meditation designed to ease your body and mind into a restful sleep. Drawing on the close connection between mindfulness and relaxation, Rohan takes you step by step through the process of turning down your senses until all that remains is the quiet calm of rest. Se…

1
Malala on campaigning for equal access to education 4:33

4h ago4:33

4:33

The activist Malala Yousafzai was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2021. Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize when she was 17, becoming the youngest winner in its history. She spoke to Lauren about why equal access to education for girls matters so much to her and her family. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.…

1
Jilly Cooper on the secret to a successful marriage 3:12

1d ago3:12

3:12

In 2016 the novelist Jilly Cooper was cast away by Kirsty Young. Jilly is perhaps best known as the author of Rivals but her writing career also spans newspaper columns, non-fiction books on class, marriage and animals in war, and novels that sell in their millions. Jilly told Kirsty Young about her theory on what makes a successful marriage. You c…

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Ian Wright on his inspirational teacher 5:54

2d ago5:54

5:54

The former footballer and pundit Ian Wright was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2020. Born to Jamaican parents in south-east London, Ian grew up with his mother and stepfather. His biological father had left the family before Ian was two years old. Things at home were difficult, and Ian spent as much time as possible outside playing football. Ian sp…

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The Grip of Guilt 39:40

3d ago39:40

39:40

We’ve all felt the weight of guilt—the pit in your stomach, the shame of crossing a line, the regret of hurting someone you love. This week Pastor Daniel unpacks how godly sorrow leads to freedom, grace, and a new future. Don’t let guilt write your story—let grace rewrite it.By Carl Nichols

1
Trusting love’s infinite possibilities, by Morgan Saylor 37:43

11d ago37:43

37:43

Morgan Saylor is an actor of stage and screen, best known for her portrayal of the teenage Dana Brody in the series “Homeland.” But, before acting, her first passion was mathematics. Morgan unfolds how math has given her a way to approach the unknown with trust and openness, accepting that each moment and every relationship contains infinite possib…

1
When Anxiety Attacks 44:10

12d ago44:10

44:10

When anxiety attacks, you don’t have to fight alone. God’s peace guards your heart, His presence gives you rest, and His power makes you strong. With Him, fear doesn’t win—faith does.By Carl Nichols

1
Maggie Alphonsi, broadcaster and former rugby player 49:21

10d ago49:21

49:21

Maggie Alphonsi is a broadcaster and former rugby player. She was part of the England team which took home the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup and by the time she retired she’d won 74 caps for her country. Maggie was brought up in north London and when she was 14 her PE teacher suggested she give the sport of rugby union a try. Maggie joined her local…

1
Diana Nyad: Giving life everything we’ve got 31:55

18d ago31:55

31:55

By the 1980s, Diana Nyad had left competitive swimming behind, embarking on a successful career as a sports broadcaster. But after a meeting with “Superman” actor Christopher Reeve — whose throw from a horse left him paralyzed from the shoulders down — she is reminded of a challenge that fueled her early athletic ambitions, and re-commits to living…

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Professor Dame Carol Robinson, scientist 50:20

17d ago50:20

50:20

Professor Dame Carol Robinson is a scientist who was the first female professor of Chemistry at both Cambridge and Oxford Universities. She has been awarded scientific prizes from all over the world for her pioneering work studying complex macromolecules using an instrument called the mass spectrometer. Carol was drawn to science as a child growing…

1
Grief and the Greater Adventure 37:20

20d ago37:20

37:20

Grief touches every life, but it doesn’t have to define the end of the story. In this message, Pastor Carl Nichols reminds us that grief is the evidence of love—and when we bring our brokenness to God, He heals, comforts, and gives us strength to press forward. Discover how your pain can become purpose, and how the greater adventure begins when you…

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Reaching our full potential is not a solo act, by Terence Blanchard 35:58

25d ago35:58

35:58

As a legendary Jazz trumpeter, winner of 5 Grammy Awards, and composer of over 60 films including the works of director Spike Lee, it’s easy to assume Terence Blanchard is someone with a lot of confidence. But growing up in New Orleans, he’s just a shy kid with glasses and a lot of uncertainty. In this week’s episode, Terence tells the story of how…

1
We Are Relevant and We Refuse to Come Down 33:20

27d ago33:20

33:20

You were never meant to settle for survival—you were made for more. Made For More is a powerful series walking through the book of Nehemiah, reminding us that God often breaks something in us before He rebuilds through us. Each week, we explore what it means to be Relevant—not just in name, but in how we respond to pain, pressure, and purpose. From…

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Harry Hill, comedian 50:48

26d ago50:48

50:48

Harry Hill is a comedian, writer and broadcaster best known for presenting popular television shows including You’ve Been Framed, Junior Bake Off and the multi award-winning TV Burp. He was born Matthew Hall in Surrey and brought up in Kent. He became a Cub Scout and got a taste for performing when he was nine after playing Widow Twankey in the Chr…

1
Asking for what we need, by Kathryn Nicolai 35:17

1M ago35:17

35:17

Kathryn Nicolai, creator of the Nothing Much Happens podcast, learns at an early age to diminish her own needs. She never wants to become a problem for other people, so she pretends like she’s always okay. When she gets an opportunity to study abroad in Italy, a difficult experience with her host family causes her to retreat further into herself. I…

1
We Are Relevant and We Are Built for Battle 35:51

1M ago35:51

35:51

You were never meant to settle for survival—you were made for more. Made For More is a powerful series walking through the book of Nehemiah, reminding us that God often breaks something in us before He rebuilds through us. Each week, we explore what it means to be Relevant—not just in name, but in how we respond to pain, pressure, and purpose. From…

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Monica Dolan, actor 50:58

1M ago50:58

50:58

Monica Dolan is a BAFTA and Olivier award winning actor. She is equally at home playing a wrongfully accused postmistress in Mr Bates Vs the Post Office as she is playing the serial killer Rosemary West. Alongside her many roles in TV, stage and screen, Monica has also written and performed in her award winning one woman play B*easts. Born in 1969,…

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Building trust in ourselves, by Rohan Gunatillake 17:39

1M ago17:39

17:39

Today’s meditation features a special guest, Rohan’s 7 year-old son, Arne. Letting go can come in stages, or so Rohan experiences on a recent holiday with his family. As his 7 year-old son Arne builds his swimming skills, Rohan realizes he’s gone from an active, hands-on support role, to one of a patient observer. It’s in this letting go that both …

1
We Are Relevant and We Work While It’s Day 36:01

1M ago36:01

36:01

This message focuses on the urgency and responsibility believers have to act on God’s instructions without delay, using Nehemiah 3 as an example of unified and purposeful work. Pastor Carl Nichols emphasizes that opportunities have an expiration date—when God has already spoken, there’s no need to pray for further direction. Like the builders of Je…

1
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor 51:19

1M ago51:19

51:19

Gustavo Dudamel is a Venezuelan conductor, violinist and composer. He is known for bringing humour and joy to the podium. He is currently director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra and in 2026 will take up the post of music director of the New York Philharmonic, following in the footsteps of Gustav Mahler and …

1
Loving our living world, by Carl Safina 30:38

2M ago30:38

30:38

We all need to love and be loved, we all want to feel not alone in this world. And this is true for all of the living world, says ecologist and author Carl Safina. Carl has spent his whole life interacting with the wild, from raising pigeons on a Brooklyn rooftop to trekking through the frozen landscape of Antarctica and the vast African savanna. A…

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We Are Relevant and We Make Big Asks…of God and of Each Other 42:56

2M ago42:56

42:56

In this message from the Made for More series, Pastor Carl Nichols emphasizes that when God gives you a vision, you shouldn’t play it small—you should boldly ask for what’s needed. Drawing from Nehemiah 2, the sermon highlights five bold moves: pray first, speak up even when afraid, ask with both passion and a plan, trust God with the outcome, and …

1
Ash Atalla, producer 50:03

1M ago50:03

50:03

Ash Atalla is a television producer whose first hit was the BBC sitcom The Office, starring Ricky Gervais. He followed it up with the IT Crowd, People Just Do Nothing, Big Boys and Stath Lets Flats. His haul of awards from these programmes include six BAFTAs, four Royal Television Society awards, a Golden Globe and an Emmy. Ash was born in Cairo an…

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Discovering the path to honor, by Ghuan Featherstone 31:28

2M ago31:28

31:28

Ghuan Featherstone is determined to go his own way – to live with courage, kindness, and faith in justice. To be a cowboy. But growing up in a neighborhood rife with gang violence, the forces marshaled against him feel beyond his control. After visiting a little-known horse stable in South Central LA, Ghuan discovers a path to honor on the back of …

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We Are Relevant and We Pray Through the Pain 25:31

2M ago25:31

25:31

In the sermon Made for More: “We Are Relevant and We Pray Through the Pain”, Pastor Carl Nichols draws from the story of Nehemiah to show that before God rebuilds through us, He often breaks something within us. Using Nehemiah’s journey, he outlines a progression: first, we must sit down to cry, allowing ourselves to feel the brokenness around us; …

1
Carol Klein, gardener 50:47

2M ago50:47

50:47

Carol Klein is a gardener, broadcaster and longtime contributor to BBC Gardeners’ World. She is a six time Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner, a certified RHS Horticultural Hero and was awarded the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour. Born in 1945 in Lancashire, Carol was the eldest of three children and her love of gardening was evident when she used …

1
Let your body be the guide, by Andrea Gibson 37:49

2M ago37:49

37:49

What do you do when your own body feels like the enemy? Spoken word artist and activist Andrea Gibson (You Better Be Lightning) spends years struggling with chronic illness, feeling as if their body is at odds with their anxious mind. It’s only when they learn to surrender control and embrace their physical sensations that they allow their body to …

1
A Different Spirit 42:05

2M ago42:05

42:05

This message highlights the unwavering faith and bold spirit of Caleb, who stood out among his peers because he followed God wholeheartedly. While others doubted and disobeyed, Caleb’s “different spirit” positioned him to inherit the promise God made—even after 45 years of waiting in the wilderness. His name, meaning “dog,” symbolizes loyalty, grit…

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Sir Gregory Doran, director 53:01

2M ago53:01

53:01

Sir Gregory Doran is the former artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He spent a total of thirty five years with the RSC directing fifty productions in the UK and abroad. He’s been called “one of the great Shakespeareans of his age” and has won multiple awards for his work. Born in 1958, Greg was brought up near Preston and played a n…

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Stay open to find belonging, by Tami Simon 35:10

2M ago35:10

35:10

Tami Simon, founder of the spiritual wisdom publishing house Sounds True, goes through much of her life feeling like an alien. Often misunderstood, Tami yearns to discover where she fits in. In today’s episode, she shares the story of how an otherworldly experience teaches her that she can tune into the frequency of finding belonging. Each episode …

1
Giants and Grasshoppers 33:01

2M ago33:01

33:01

In “Giants and Grasshoppers,” Pastor Carl Nichols emphasizes that your perspective can either push you into your promise or trap you in the wilderness. Drawing from the story of the Israelite spies, he outlines four facts about faith: what you see shapes who you become; how you view yourself influences how others see you; real faith stands even whe…

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Norma Percy, film-maker 51:06

2M ago51:06

51:06

Norma Percy is a documentary film-maker. She has been making programmes for over three decades and her productions have featured a range of political leaders from Tony Blair and Bill Clinton to Mikhail Gorbachev and Slobodan Milošević. Her film-making method, which she developed alongside her colleague Brian Lapping, tells the stories of our times …

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Creative potential is everywhere, by Jon Foreman 35:23

2M ago35:23

35:23

Jon Foreman is a land artist who uses the raw materials of the environment to create breathtaking ephemeral pieces. His ability to see creative potential all around him is his superpower, but when his life presents him with the unexpected, he has to become more narrowly focused on his responsibilities. In today’s episode, Jon tells the story of how…

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Lord Alf Dubs, politician and campaigner 52:38

2M ago52:38

52:38

Lord Alf Dubs is a Labour peer and former MP. He came to the UK from Prague in 1939 on one of the Kindertransport trains organised by Sir Nicholas Winton which rescued mostly Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. Alf was born in Prague in 1932. His father was from a Jewish background and was brought up in what was then Northern Bohemia…

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What kindness means to us 10:18

3M ago10:18

10:18

At a time when it feels like the world needs kindness more than ever, Rohan and the Meditative Story team share a unique, immersive exploration of the ways kindness can show up in all of our lives, featuring contributions from the Meditative Story community. This purposefully crafted pause from the rigors of daily life is an invitation to cultivate…

1
From Sinai to Pentecost 38:03

3M ago38:03

38:03

In “Lessons from the Wilderness: From Sinai to Pentecost,” Pastor Carl Nichols explores four key shifts between the events at Mount Sinai and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. At Sinai, God’s power caused fear and distance, but at Pentecost, His presence brought boldness and closeness. The law given at Sinai brought death and exposed …

1
The Law, the Servant, and the Savior 46:00

3M ago46:00

46:00

This sermon, Lessons from the Wilderness: The Law, the Servant, and the Savior, explores how God’s law was never meant to save us but to reveal His holiness and expose our need for a Savior. Like a mirror, the law reflects our flaws but cannot cleanse us. Jesus, through His perfect life, fulfilled the moral, civil, and ceremonial laws, completing w…

1
Professor Lucy Easthope, emergency planner 51:36

3M ago51:36

51:36

Professor Lucy Easthope is an adviser on disaster recovery and planning. She’s an expert in planning for and reacting to major incidents: natural disaster, terrorist attacks, pandemics and fires, and is the visiting Professor of Mass Fatalities and Pandemics at the University of Bath. Born in Merseyside in 1978, Lucy cites the impact of watching th…

1
There’s nobody like you, by Eddie Huang 33:07

3M ago33:07

33:07

In 2009, Eddie Huang, author of the acclaimed memoir Fresh Off the Boat, opens Baohaus, his first Taiwanese restaurant on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. It’s a wild, chaotic gamble that exemplifies Eddie’s spirit. But as the restaurant’s success grows, Eddie is faced with the challenge of either sticking to his principles or living someone else’s dre…

1
Romesh Ranganathan, comedian and broadcaster 50:23

3M ago50:23

50:23

Romesh Ranganathan is a comedian and BAFTA-winning broadcaster who has been a fixture on British television screens for the past decade. In addition to his TV shows and stand-up tours he presents the Weakest Link on BBC One, Radio Two’s Saturday morning show and another weekly Radio Two programme in which he shares his passion for hip hop music. Ro…

1
The Law and the Lamb 44:38

3M ago44:38

44:38

This sermon, Lessons From the Wilderness: The Law and the Lamb, explores God’s covenant through the lens of His standard, His heart, and His mercy. The Ten Commandments are not just a list of rules, but a mirror that reveals our need for transformation. Jesus intensifies the standard by focusing not only on our actions, but on our inner motives and…

1
Letting go of the need to do it all, by Meredith Goldstein 37:18

3M ago37:18

37:18

Meredith Goldstein writes the wildly popular Love Letters column in the Boston Globe, but for much of her life, she’s viewed romantic relationships as a trap. Meredith grows up seeing the limitations of her mom’s insular life, and knows she wants more for herself. It’s only when the pandemic forces her to slow down that she realizes the beauty in g…

1
Abdulrazak Gurnah, writer 51:17

3M ago51:17

51:17

Abdulrazak Gurnah is emeritus Professor of Post-Colonial Literatures at the University of Kent and the 2021 Nobel Prize winner in Literature. Born in Zanzibar in 1948, the second of six children, Abdulrazak grew up in the dying days of the island’s status as a British protectorate before independence was declared in 1963. The revolution which follo…

1
Chasing Idols 37:44

3M ago37:44

37:44

This sermon, Lessons from the Wilderness: Chasing Idols, explores how idolatry—past and present—can hinder us from fully trusting and walking with God into the future He’s prepared for us. The Israelites longed for Egypt, romanticizing their past bondage when faced with the discomfort of the wilderness. They built golden calves when God seemed sile…

1
Experiencing the world through my senses, by Fred Minnick 38:54

3M ago38:54

38:54

When Fred Minnick returns from his military service as a photographer documenting the war in Iraq, he finds himself haunted by what he saw through the lens of his camera. Trauma, as a result of the battlefield and his childhood, holds a grip on him until a bag of barbecue potato chips unlocks something in his brain. An untapped talent — he was born…

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Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu, scientist 50:58

3M ago50:58

50:58

Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu is Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at University College London and President of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge. She has devoted her career to harnessing the potential of nanoparticles – which are less than a thousandth of the width of a human hair - to take medicines to hard-to-reach areas of the bod…

1
When Men Take The Hill 42:04

3M ago42:04

42:04

This series unpacks how God often leads us into a wilderness season after deliverance from bondage, emphasizing that freedom is just the starting point. In the wilderness, God reshapes our identity, breaks old mindsets tied to our past, and refines us for the purpose ahead. Though we may leave physical bondage, spiritual and emotional baggage often…

1
Standing in my own truth, by Moj Mahdara 26:40

4M ago26:40

26:40

No boys. No dresses. As a teen, Moj Mahdara, founder of the fashion media company Beautycon, knows she’s different. And growing up in a traditional Iranian household, she struggles to reveal her own true identity. When two long-term houseguests descend — her grandmothers — Moj is shocked to learn that each woman has a surprising story of identity o…