The Carlos Whittaker Podcast

I was joking on Instagram this week how I was coming out of retirement to lead worship at my good friend Larry’s celebration of life service. Joking because I needed to find something to laugh about or I would cry and also joking because I was slightly terrified I may have forgotten how to do it. I mean I was leading worship on the same stage at Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Brandon Lake, John Mark McM...

People ask us all the time how we raised such awesome kids… Without skipping a beat we always say… “Sissy Goff” Sissy has been our daughters' personal counselor from their elementary years through their high school years. She has single handily changed the direction of our family's lives and we are forever grateful. Sissy is the director of child and adolescent counseling at Daystar Counseling Min...

Jeanne has poured her soul into this message that is going to transform so many of your lives… It’s not the state of the world. It’s not your particular circumstances. It’s not even your turbulent relationships. When it comes down to it, what keeps us from experiencing peace is either living in the past or living for the future. When we obsess over what’s already happened or put all of our efforts...

I realized something a few years ago. That my life was living me instead of me living my life. I was satisfied with watching other people living their adventures while simply existing day by day. And then I heard a friend say “Carlos, you can live your life or your life will live you…” And everything changed… So in today's episode, I give you 5 ways that you can start living the adventure you were...

This week I’m trying something different. I asked YOU what you wanted answers to and I got over 1,000 replies. So today I’m answering YOUR questions… And boy did you have some good ones… Like… What are my thoughts on the Roe vs. Wade story?  How do I deal with Compassion Fatigue? Should you make your teens go to church? Beat Fit Pro vs AirPod Pro What happens when I begin doubting my faith? (Which...

If there is something I’m asked about ALL THE TIME in my DMs it’s how we manage our teens dating. And I normally avoid this question because it’s so nuanced per kid. But today Heather and I decided to bring the TEEN COUPLES on the podcast and ask THEM. We ask them… What rules do Heather and I have for our kids dating? What can parents do to set up a healthy dating culture in the home? How we fold...

I’ve created lots of content helping people struggling with anxiety get through it. But I’ve never made something specifically for people who are walking alongside loved ones battling with anxiety. So I made this for you. Today we talk about three major steps we can take in building the support someone we love needs while walking through a season of anxiety. I give practical tools and phrases that...

Dr. Jen Pratt is a pediatric physician that is caring for children in the very same hospital where she was treated. Her story has come full circle, back to where her life was transformed. Dr. Pratt is now able to help improve the lives of other children battling critical illnesses with the gift of a wish referral and personally share in the transformation that comes with her patients’ wish experie...

In the summer of 2019 I was stricken with massive panic, anxiety, and generally felt horrible every single day. That is until I met a robin in my front yard. Today we take a dive into something that many of you didn’t even know you needed to know. How the nature in our own backyards can bring you breath you didn’t know you were missing. We talk to backyard bird and monarch butterfly expert Katie W...

The slap heard round the world. When we went to bed after seeing Will Smith slap Chris Rock and all the convo on twitter was about assault and bad jokes… When we woke up the convo had shifted to black woman… and staying in your lane… So what happened? Was this really about race? Was this another moment to be quiet and just listen to black women? Well instead of just wondering about it, I called on...

The world is throwing so much bad news at us on a daily basis… Our kids are addicted to video games… Our aunts are swallowed up by conspiracy theories… WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?!!!! On today's episode our new favorite psychologist, Dr. Carolyn Rubenstein, CALMS US THE HECK DOWN. First of all she is the CHEIF WELLNESS OFFICER for Misfits Gaming… One of the largest Esports gaming teams in the worl...

The last 2 years have been difficult for many church-going Christians in America. The reasons are many but a few contributing factors could be linked to A PANDEMIC, RACIAL TENSIONS, AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ALL MIXED UP IN ONE. :) So much hurt over the past 2 years and many church-loving Christians now feel homeless… This episode isn’t one to give you answers as much as it is to let you know wher...

I can’t believe it happened. All 5 of us on one episode. It’s never happened. And all it took was having my kids locked inside a car with their mom and dad for 30 minutes driving through the tiny streets of a small town in Italy. Today on the podcast we talk about our trip to Italy and then answer your questions on current international travel and what it’s like. I hope you enjoy this lighthearted...

Every so often I feel like I’m getting things done. Like I’m accomplishing things in life. And then I meet a mayor of a city of 300,000 at 26 years old. OK. OK. Yes I’m getting things done… but Michael D. Tubbs is making me feel all sorts of lazy! In all seriousness Michael’s journey from nothing to everything is truly inspiring and I think you are going to love this convo with him. At the age of...

Before I was Derek’s friend… I was Derek’s fan. I WAS INFATUATED WITH CAEDMON’S CALL and was certain they would ask me to be a member of their ever-growing band one day. The day never came BUT the day did come when Derek and I would end up being friends. I’ve walked alongside Derek in various levels as he has walked a really public deconstruction of what he believes about Jesus, God, and Christend...

1,000,000 Downloads!!! We did it familia! No, you did it! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining me on this little experiment called “Let’s see if Carlos actually does this podcast thing longer than 3 weeks in a row” I think the experiment worked! So to celebrate, I’M GONNA GIVE ONE OF YOU $500!!! All you have to do is email podcast@carloswhittaker.com a screenshot of you sharing the po...

The other week I asked my wife Heather on my Instastory…”Hey babe! What are some things that we disagree on???” She answered without thinking… “Politics, Parenting, and the Vaccine…” And kept cooking dinner without skipping a beat. I kept on with the Instastory without skipping a beat. A few minutes later the DMs were FLOODED with my people asking how it was possible... And so today we answer that...

My dad has advance stage dementia. He can’t carry on a conversation with you for longer than 5 seconds. He no longer knows my wife. He no longer knows his grandchildren. He no longer really remembers anything about his life… But you know what? He is still… Him. I catch glimpses of who he is. There are tiny cracks into his soul that show up like magic every once and a while. But I totally had forgo...

If you follow me on instagram you see that we are in a season where our tiny house is constantly filled with teenagers we know and love as well as teenagers we don’t know. :) It’s a zoo around here and we love it. Heather and I hoped and prayed that our home would be “The House”. You know the one? The house that all the kids would hang out at? And here we have found ourselves as THE HOUSE. We don’...

I honestly can’t believe how fortunate we are to hear these life-changing words from my friend Donald Miller. This podcast episode literally has the potential to change so many lives out there. That is not clickbait. That is real. Don’s coaching us on how to live as the hero of our story today and leaves nothing on the cutting room floor. I have known Don for a long time and this may be his most i...

It’s been a hot minute since it was just you and I. And I’ve missed you!!! Listen I LOVE our guests. I love learning from their POV, but every once in a while I love to just unload some learnings that the world has been showing me and today I unpack some learnings on how to truly be a better ally towards people groups that your heart aligns with. We go through 5 steps… Define and Embrace The Defin...

This is a pen and paper podcast fam. Like seriously. Go grab it. The amount of nuggets and morals of wisdom that Dante Stewart drops for the human Hope Fam is ridiculous. Dante is a husband, father, football player, service member spouse, preacher, racial reconciliator (did I just make up a word?) But most importantly he is a hope dealer. He comes hard in this episode and gives us a lot to work on...

I know I have a lot of people who don’t see faith the same way I do and I love that. Today I introduce you to one of my most trusted and safe friends. Safe for wherever you are on your faith journey… Carey Nieuwhof is a pastor from north of Toronto, Canada who is one of those I would send the most skeptical of doubters to. Not because he will convince you not to be skeptical… But because he will s...

After a decade of indulging his darkest vices as a nightclub promoter, Scott declared spiritual, moral, and emotional bankruptcy. He spent two years on a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia, saw the effects of dirty water firsthand, and came back to New York City on a mission. He spent the next 15 years building one of the most impactful charities on the planet… And then covid hit… Here is how...

Sharon McMahon is a former high school government and law teacher on a mission to combat political misinformation. She is also one of my closest “instafriends”. Se was on the premiere episode of Human Hope and now pops in again on episode 37 to fill us in on all sorts of good, old-fashioned American history. We talk about it all. From why Uranus is now pronounced differently, to why indigenous peo...