The Carlos Whittaker Podcast

When we landed in Uganda, fresh off of 30 hours of travel, we were picked up by the most joyful human I’ve encountered in a long time. Her name was Lillian and she was going to be our personal guide the next few days… For 2 days I assumed she was filled with joy because she had an incredible job, a healthy baby at home, and was relatively well off… But then she told me of her orphaned childhood… filled with homelessness, begging, abuse, suicide attempts, and then how a few letters from across the ocean actually saved her life… This is an unbelievable story of tragedy and triumph and one you won’t want to miss… You can sponsor a child and join the 750 who sponsored this week by clicking this link… http://www.compassion.com/whittaker Thank you Lillian for bravely sharing your story of hope… Thanks to our sponsors… Indeed https://bit.ly/IndeedHH ExpressVPN https://bit.ly/HHExpressVPN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As I’m typing this… I’m coming out of a 10-day battle royal with depression. This isn’t the first time it has come calling my name. But it has been a long time since I have had to pull out my tool belt and get to work. Since the summer of 2020, I’ve been depression-free. And I had begun walking with a little bit of a swagger. Like “Look at me! I don’t struggle with depression anymo%@%#$%$#%$#%$” Oooops. Waaaaay back on the 6th episode of this podcast, I titled it “When Anxiety Shows Up, Here's How To Show It Out…” Well, today is the same... but different. Anxiety and depression are cousins but the tools to get through a season have looked a little different for me. So today I literally let you in on how I have worked through the last ten days and give you 9 tools that I think could help you or a loved one out of a season of depression as well. Also, know that I’m not a doctor or therapist… these are just tools that have helped me. I hope you enjoy today and let it serve as a reminder that you can and will get through this… If you are thinking of taking your own life… Please dial 800-273-8255 right now and someone can help you immediately. We need you here. You are loved. Thanks to our sponsors… Better Help https://bit.ly/HHBetterHelp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 McMillain, and so many other incredible worship leaders. But then something surprised me. It surprised me that so many people didn’t know that I ever did that. Like that was my main source of income for over a decade! And second, so many people wanted to know why I stopped. As I was going back through my story with a friend I realized that there are a lot of little nuggets that I think many of you that are feeling stuck in a job, or career, or maybe even a past calling, could use… Like I wish I knew someone that risked quitting something they were really good at to find success in something they didn’t know they would be good at WHEN I WAS QUITTING WORSHIP LEADING! So todays episode is simply my story of why I quit, and why I think maybe you need to quit something you are good at too! I hope you enjoy… Thanks to our sponsors… Athletic Greens https://bit.ly/HHAthleticGreens Chime https://bit.ly/HHChime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Ministries in Nashville TN and is one of the most sought-after voices in helping our kids overcome anxiety in their lives. Today she gives us 4 very sticky tools to use when helping our kids navigate these national tragedies as well as gives us 3 ways to help with our kids and any other anxiety they may be dealing with. Today's episode is rich with goodness and practical help. Please let sissy know how much you appreciate her @sissygoff on Instagram. Thanks to our sponsors… Better Help https://bit.ly/HHBetterHelp Canopy https://bit.ly/HHCanopy StoryWorth https://bit.ly/HHStoryWorth Babbel http://www.babbel.com (code: humanhope) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 into creating a picture-perfect tomorrow, we miss what is for us here and now. The result is regret over what we can’t change and anxiety over what we feel we must change. Today everything changes… Pick up What’s Here Now?  By clicking this link… Thanks to our partner Indeed! Claim your SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR CREDIT now at www.Indeed.com/HUMANHOPE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 created to live. 5 steps. You can do this… You got this… Ready? Set? Adventure… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 does happen!) How to have tough convos on hot topics Best 8-week-old puppy tips! And so many more!!! I loved this one and hope you do too… Here is the Roe Vs Wade video I talked about...  https://youtu.be/RvWD7ykNjCc Thanks to our sponsors… Now What Book https://bit.ly/HHNowWhatBook Athletic Greens https://bit.ly/HHAthleticGreens Chime https://bit.ly/HHChime Family Camp Movie https://bit.ly/TSFNFamilyCampMovie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 the boyfriends into our family unit? How the younger sibling feels about his sisters having guys around all the time? I ASK MY MOM ABOUT MY TEEN DATING DAYS… I honestly think today is going to be helpful for relationships no matter if it’s with your kids, or friends, or other family members… So much gold. Thanks to our sponsors… Now What Book https://bit.ly/HHNowWhatBook Better Help https://bit.ly/HHBetterHelp Canopy https://bit.ly/HHCanopy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 can open them up to see you as an ally in their battle and will allow you to help them get better faster. I hope this helps… Thanks to our sponsors… Indeed https://bit.ly/IndeedHH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 experiences. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health.  Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 520,000 wishes worldwide; more than 350,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. Thanks to our sponsors… Better Help https://bit.ly/HHBetterHelp Canopy https://bit.ly/HHCanopy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices