Hillsong Creative Podcast

How many videos have you watched in the last 24 to 48 hours? Between YouTube, Netflix, Instagram, Facebook, TV, etc., chances are you’ve watched more videos than you can even remember. Thanks to screen media, the opportunity to reach and influence people in their everyday lives has probably never been greater for us as creatives in the Church. In this episode, Rich interviews Ben Field, head of Hillsong’s Film and TV department and former director of popular Australian TV show “Home and Away”. Ben shares about the journey and lessons learnt from his professional career in the TV industry, and his passion to pioneer new avenues for the Church within the film industry. You’ll be inspired and challenged to see people’s lives transformed through the power of media and storytelling. P.S. to join the Hillsong Worship & Creative Conference Online, use the promo code PODCAST19 when you register here.

What’s the secret behind Hillsong’s influential worship music? It’s actually not a secret at all - it’s first and foremost the grace of God. It’s also a team of people who are committed to the vision and direction set by their senior pastor. Long before Hillsong songs were sung by millions of people around the world every week, Ps Brian Houston was creating & leading the culture of a worshipping church, and inspiring his own creative team to push the boundaries of leading worship and pointing people to Jesus. In this episode, we pull back the curtain and give you a sneak peak into what our pastor says to his creative team, what he expects from us and the reasons why! Ps Brian came to Team Night specifically to encourage, inspire, and refocus us towards 13 practical things that he’d love us to move forward in. Whether we are up front as the worship leader, behind a console pushing faders, or in the back row of the choir, we can all contribute to leading others and pointing them to Jesus. This episode is an

Do I know Jesus, or do I know OF Jesus? This episode is an inspiring and confronting conversation with Mike Gore, CEO of Open Doors Australia, an organisation that serves the persecuted Church around the world. Mike shares impacting stories of believers who face persecution on a daily basis, challenging our concept of persecution, faith, and the differences between the Western and the Eastern Church. Mike challenges us that our creativity must make Jesus visible, and how we, together, can all take one more step towards a more courageous relationship with Jesus.

This episode explores something crucial to leading any creative team: how to build the culture you want for your team. Rich Langton answers questions from listeners, alongside Muchiri ‘Mush’ Gateri, our Production Oversight in Australia, and worship leader Annie Garratt, one of our most experienced and trusted creative pastors. They answer some of your questions about creating, building, developing and maintaining team culture, and share some practical examples from their years of serving and leading within Hillsong Creative. If you’re using Apple Podcasts, you can swipe up on your app to see “Episode Chapters”, to jump ahead to a particular segment or replay a question with your team.

We kick off Season 6 with the one and only Laura Toggs! Laura is the visionary leader and pioneer of Hillsong Young & Free and The Secret Garden TV, and pastors the youth ministry of Hillsong Church with her husband Peter. In this inspiring and heartfelt interview, Laura shares her story in pioneering these influential movements, as well as her journey as a pastor’s kid in ministry.

Practice, practice, practice! In this special episode that first aired in Season 2, we have a panel interview with four incredible guests from various creative disciplines including music, film creation, audio and dance. They cover how to prioritize practice amidst full and busy lives, what their practice disciplines have looked like over the years, and debunking the myth that talent is everything. We get so many requests to share what we do at Team Nights, so here is a taste to enjoy for you and your creative team!

At the halfway point of the year, we wanted to revisit “A Year Called Alfred”, a powerful message by Cass Langton, our Global Worship & Creative Pastor. This message gave the direction to our Hillsong Creative team at the start of this year, and we hope you enjoy this halftime reminder! Cass Langton is our Global Worship & Creative Pastor, and in this episode, we get behind the scenes of the Hillsong Creative team. Cass shares her heart for our team and frames the direction for our year. Be ready to be challenged and inspired as she unpacks the five R’s for 2019: risk, resilience, relationship, reverence, revival. We are believing this message will equally equip and inspire you and your creative teams!

On the heels of Hillsong Conference 2019, this episode is a taste of Conference, as we throwback to one of our favourite episodes from Season 3, a chat with Chris Tomlin from Hillsong Conference. Chris Tomlin is a world-renowned songwriter and worship leader. In the last 3 decades, there are few who have had as much impact on Christian music as Chris, having given the global Church worship anthems such as How Great Is Our God, Indescribable and Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). In this wide-ranging interview with Cass Langton, you’ll get to know Chris as much more than a musician, as he walks listeners through key stages of his life, whether it be the start of his marriage or the creative process to writing many of his songs.

Kalley Heiligenthal is a songwriter and worship leader from Bethel Music. In this inspiring episode, Kalley reminds us of the power of our humanity, how the raw moments of surrender before God cultivate inspiration and release creativity. She shares how she overcame perfectionism in the journey to writing the popular worship anthem “Ever Be”, and shares practical advice for every creative.

In last week’s episode, we were introduced to the hilarious Nathan Finochio, as he interviewed some of our well-known team. This week, we get to see a completely different side of him, as he shares his profound wisdom about hearing God and the different between gifting and anointing. Nathan has spent years as the teaching pastor of Hillsong NYC, has a passion for theology and communicating the timeless truths of the Gospel in relevant and impacting ways. He’s a songwriter, author, preacher, musician, and an all-around creative. Listen to Nathan share a bit about his journey, the value of spiritual maturity and the power of what we bring individually and collectively as creatives. To hear more from Nathan, check out his newly released book ‘Hearing God’

In this hilarious and light-hearted episode, we bring you a taste of Worship & Creative Conference, as Nathan Finochio interviews some favourites from the Hillsong music team. Get to know Taya, Ben Hastings, Aodhan King, Jad Gillies and plenty more, from their most embarrassing moments to their beginnings as creatives, songwriters and worshippers.

What is worship? In this episode, we have a conversation with Catrina Henderson, our Hillsong Israel Lead Pastor. Having spent years as a Principal of Hillsong College, she’s also a passionate Hebrew and Old Testament scholar, with a postgraduate degree in Ancient History and a Master of Arts in Ancient History. She unpacks the biblical origins of worship, and what it means for us today as God’s people.

Erwin McManus is an author, futurist, filmmaker, designer, and lead pastor of Mosaic Church in LA, passionate about identity and imagination. Listen as Erwin tears the veil between creativity and spirituality. He shares about his life and evolution as a Christian, writer, and creative in the middle of one of the world’s most prominent centers for creativity and innovation. Learn about his creative process for his new book, The Way of the Warrior, and how a living a life of art and beauty is essential to humanity and inner peace.

Calling all creative teams! In this bonus episode, our team have taken extra time to answer some of your questions — leading creative teams within church, developing creative leaders, casting vision and much more! Rich answers 15 of your favourite questions, with the help of Cass Langton, Autumn Starra, and Vicky Rough. If you want to skip ahead to specific questions, just swipe up on the Apple Podcasts app as you’re listening, and select the question you want to jump to!

To celebrate the new album release by Hillsong United, People, listen to this special bonus episode with Taya and JD. Dive deeper into the new album as they answer some of your questions about introducing new songs, worship leading, finding your grace zone and more. You won't want to miss this hilarious and helpful episode!

In this episode, our host Rich Langton walks us through ten essential attributes of a creative leader. Listen to practical insight for any creative wanting to have a positive impact in their sphere of influence. Take note of some challenging questions you can ask yourself, to lay the foundation for both personal and team development. Afterwards, don’t miss out as Rich & Cass answer some of your questions. P.S. this is the last episode of Season 4, we’re taking a short break and Season 5 will be starting in a few short weeks. Also, make sure to subscribe and stay tuned for a bonus episode during the break.

Amanda Lindsey Cook invites us into a conversation on her life and journey the past few years. In this vulnerable episode, Amanda talks about the art of discovery and awakening from pain, which inspired her newly-released album House on a Hill. Be inspired as Amanda discusses the value of vulnerability in songwriting and worship, and the importance of having an integrated, authentic soul in your creativity.

Listen to Hannah Hobbs talk to artist Leanne Thomas, about progressing into a creative career. Leanne is a professional painter with great expertise on the art of developing your craft and finding gold in your everyday, ordinary life to inspire creativity. Make sure to stay tuned for the extended Q&A segment afterwards, where Rich & Cass Langton and Autumn Hardman take plenty of time to answer YOUR questions.

In this panel of a lifetime, Hannah Hobbs chats to Bobbie Houston, Amanda Cook, Joel Houston and Laura Toggs about the God ideas and the edge of the prophetic in our creative quests. Listen to the panel discuss how the quiet spaces of their lives and the conviction truths of the gospel fuel and maximise their prophetic edge in creativity. If you’re constantly chasing after the new thing, this episode will show you how to release yourself to create from a place of simplicity and curiosity, remembering instead timeless revelations that simply need a fresh perspective.

As creatives, what does it take to fulfill the call on our lives? Muchiri (Mush) is the oversight for Creative Technology at Hillsong Church in Australia. Originally from Nairobi, Kenya, Mush shares the inspiring but everyday lessons that have kept him in God’s lane for over 15 years. In this episode, learn about how we are ALL worship leaders, whether we are singers, production engineers, lighting operators, etc. Listen to Mush talk about the weight of the ministry, pursuing our dreams, burnout, and the ability to lead a creative technology team at any capacity. Make sure to stick around after the message for the bonus Q&A segment in Season 4, where Rich and a special guest take time to answer YOUR questions!