Best Scott Whitaker Podcasts (2024)

1
Evolution + Christianity, Part II: An Interview w/ Dr. Jim Stump 51:26

5d ago51:26

51:26

Text us your questions! More Jim Stump! We hope you loved Part I of our conversation with Dr. Jim Stump as much we did. Here's Part II! In this one, we talk about the problem of evil and more about AI. Also...aliens! Seriously. Cheers! ===== Join us at Theology Beer Camp 2024! Get your tickets here to join us in Denver Oct. 17-19. Use code PASTPHIL…

1
Silvia Sarhadian: Never Lead From Fear 48:22

9d ago48:22

48:22

Kris welcomes Silvia Sarhadian, an Empire member of the Childcare Success Academy and owner of two franchise locations of The Learning Experience. Silvia shares her journey from a career in chemistry and banking to early childhood education, where she discovered her true passion. She highlights the importance of resilient leadership, communication,…

1
Evolution + Christianity, Part I: An Interview w/ Dr. Jim Stump 1:07:05

17d ago1:07:05

1:07:05

Text us your questions! Are Christianity and evolution compatible? Can a person trust God and trust science at the same time? Jim Stump wrote a book called The Sacred Chain: How Understanding Evolution Leads to Deeper Faith, and we are very much here for it. In this interview, we chat about the Bible, science, evolution, the soul, afterlife, and ma…

1
Patricia and Megan Williams: The Path to Joy in Entreprenuership in Mother-Daughter Team 50:52

1M ago50:52

50:52

Kris welcomes the dynamic mother-daughter duo of Patricia and Megan Williams. As members of the Child Care Success Academy's Empire track, Patricia and Megan share their inspiring journey of joyful entrepreneurship and the profound impact they are making — not just in the United States, but globally. Patricia and Megan talk about the challenges the…

1
Sarah McCammon on Exvangelicals 1:08:36

1M ago1:08:36

1:08:36

Text us your questions! Welcome to Season 5! We're joined by Sarah McCammon, a National Political Correspondent for NPR and author of The Exvangelicals, an insightful and empathetic look at the stories of those who have left white American evangelicalism. Sarah is also an exvangelical herself, so she has a unique perspective that blends both person…

1
Tasha Santistevan: Leading Teams Out of Conflict and Into Collaboration 44:04

2M ago44:04

44:04

Kris welcomes Tasha Santistevan, the Executive Director at Child Time Inc. and a coach for the Child Care Success Academy. Tasha shares her journey from a high school summer job in childcare to her current leadership roles. She discusses her passion for empowering directors and leaders in the childcare industry, offering insights on conflict resolu…

1
Ashley Blackmon: Empowering Growth in Adults and Children 1:04:34

2M ago1:04:34

1:04:34

Kris welcomes the awesome Ashley Blackmon, owner and founder of A Perfect Start Learning Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Ashley shares her remarkable journey from humble beginnings to running a thriving, nationally accredited childcare center with plans for expansion. She discusses how she’s built a program focused on empowerment, growth, and helpin…

1
Militza Mezquita: Get Support for Your Business in a Disaster or Crisis 35:57

3M ago35:57

35:57

It’s an extremely valuable and informative episode, as Kris welcomes Militza Mezquita, Senior Advisor with Save the Children. Save the Children is the primary organization in the United States, helping childcare centers with emergency preparedness, resources, and funding for over 100 years. Militza shares a wealth of knowledge about funding and wha…

1
The Book of Belonging: An Interview w/ Mariko Clark and Rachel Eleanor 1:20:10

3M ago1:20:10

1:20:10

Text us your questions! How do we grow and steward our children's spirituality when we've deconstructed so much of the spirituality that we were raised with? And even if we figure that out, how do we guide and encourage our kids on their spiritual journeys when there are so few quality resources and books that don't get all cheesy and cringe? We ar…

1
Latrice Galloway: Meet The Child Care Chic 48:20

3M ago48:20

48:20

Kris rolls out the pink carpet for Latrice Galloway, one of the most inspirational, dynamic, and business-savvy women in the early learning industry today. She talks about The Childcare Chic blog, The Childcare Clique community, and her upcoming Born to Teach conference at which Kris will be speaking. Latrice drops some golden wisdom on the two thi…

1
The Bible, Evangelicalism, and Propaganda with Scott Coley 1:17:21

3M ago1:17:21

1:17:21

Text us your questions! Good, Bible-believing Christians should just automatically be Republicans. Everybody knows this. Have you heard that sort of argument or been led to believe that this is just the "biblical" way? If so, that probably means you've been given a hearty serving of propaganda. Our friend and philosopher Scott Coley wrote Ministers…

1
Crystal & Ricardo Romero: How to Increase Staff Retention by 10x in Seven Months 59:24

4M ago59:24

59:24

From 120% staff turnover annually to just 14% in seven months? It may sound like a dream scenario, but for Kris’s guests this week, it’s reality. Kris welcomes Crystal and Ricardo Romero from the New Mexico Early Learning Academy, currently serving three amazing locations. They share some game-changing tips on hiring the right people, onboarding, a…

1
Pastors Behaving Badly with Sheila Gregoire 59:26

4M ago59:26

59:26

Text us your questions! Evangelical megachurch pastors saying cringe things is nothing new, right? However, there's a point when cringe turns destructive and abusive. That's what this episode is about. Dallas/Ft. Worth megachurch pastor Josh Howerton said some very ugly and destructive things, and then doubled down with a weak (plagiarized) apology…

1
Becoming the Provider of Choice with Scott Whitaker 55:36

4M ago55:36

55:36

What are the two keys to retaining more families in your program? And do you think that those two keys also apply to retaining staff? This week, Scott Whitaker, aka the “Membership Boy Wonder,” is here to answer those questions. Scott is the membership consultant at the Child Care Success Academy, and he has some great tips on how to set yourself a…

1
God, Goodness, and Choice: A Conversation with Bruce Reyes-Chow 1:02:53

4M ago1:02:53

1:02:53

Text us your questions! We speak with Bruce Reyes-Chow about his recent book Everything Good about God Is True, a primer on what it means to choose faith in the midst of a bleeding world and an often broken church. We discuss the Christian ethic of loving enemies, listening, having compassion across ideological division, embodying faith in the publ…

1
Q&A Bonus Episode: Corporate Deconstruction 47:58

4M ago47:58

47:58

Text us your questions! Jeff Cook is back with us to dive deeper into deconstruction, inspired by our interview with Keri Ladouceur, the Executive Director of the Post-Evangelical Collective. We discuss the nature of deconstruction, its corporate, personal, and ethical dimensions, and what it implies about what's next. And because we're nerds, we a…

1
Confident Leadership & A Strong Marriage with Rick and Nancy Kodama 55:00

5M ago55:00

55:00

The story this week starts with pizza, so you know it’s going to be a good one! Kris welcomes Rick and Nancy Kodama from Kid’s World Learning Center. Rick and Nancy are a husband-and-wife team based near Houston, Texas. They share some great tips on having a business together as a married couple for over three decades. They chat with Kris about the…

1
Recovering Enchantment in a Secular Age: Interview with Richard Beck 1:24:06

5M ago1:24:06

1:24:06

Text us your questions! Psychologist and author Richard Beck joins us to discuss his recent book Hunting Magic Eels: Recovering an Enchanted Faith in a Skeptical Age. Richard is an engaging critic of some forms of contemporary "disenchanted" spirituality. He's also a fun dialogue partner and a good sport, who was willing to roll with Kyle's annoyin…

1
From Floater to Executive Director with Shannon Vasquez 38:28

5M ago38:28

38:28

Kris welcomes Shannon Vasquez, Executive Director of PB Schools. Shannon started as a floater in 2004 and has since grown the organization to 8 locations. In their chat, Shannon shares her journey from floater to leader and her goals for the upcoming year. She discusses how the Academy's training and coaching have helped her build confidence in her…

1
Is American Democracy in Danger? Interview with David Gushee 1:17:34

5M ago1:17:34

1:17:34

Text us your questions! David Gushee is back on the show to discuss his book Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies, an erudite, timely, and disturbing take on American democracy, its struggles with authoritarianism, and its place on the global political stage. We discuss such questions as: How are government and morality related? What does…

1
Creating a World Worth Being In with Raj Jana 42:41

6M ago42:41

42:41

Kris welcomes Raj Jana, co-founder and CEO of the mental health app Liber8. Raj shares his entrepreneurial journey and how he created Liber8 to help people manage stress and mental health. He and Kris discuss their passion for entrepreneurship and using their gifts to help others. They talk about the importance of improving our world and mindfully …

1
Making Sense of Negative Theology: Peter Rollins, Part 2 1:28:50

6M ago1:28:50

1:28:50

Text us your questions! Believe it or not, this is our 100th episode! And what better way to spend it than diving back in with Peter Rollins, a guest who is unusually suited to the regular themes of our show, while also throwing some wrenches into pretty much everything we do. :-) Picking up with where we left off in Part 1, we explore the sense in…

1
An “Easy Button” For Child Care Management with Daniel Andrews and Sasha Reiss 37:15

6M ago37:15

37:15

It’s all about the best and brightest in software automation for schools this week, as Kris welcomes Daniel Andrews and Sasha Reiss, co-founders of Playground, an innovative childcare management software company. They first share Playground’s unique story of being friends since high school and creating a solution for their own families’ childcare c…

1
Disillusionment, Pyrotheology, and the Death of God: Peter Rollins, Part 1 1:05:38

6M ago1:05:38

1:05:38

Text us your questions! Break out your dictionaries folks, this one got in the weeds a bit. But if you're familiar with Peter Rollins, you're probably not too surprised by that. Peter is a philosopher, public intellectual, and self-described anti-guru who writes and speaks extensively about concepts like the death of God, negative theology, "pyroth…

1
Unstoppable: A Global Vision of Massive Impact with Kishani Woldberhan 45:38

6M ago45:38

45:38

Kris welcomes the very inspirational Kishani Woldberhan of Kids Early Learning Centers, now operating four locations in Texas with plans for expansion into Ethiopia. Kishani talks about bringing Montessori-inspired education to underserved communities, and her vision for building two new schools in Ethiopia with a combined capacity of over 3,000 st…

1
Is Your Theology Too Small? A Conversation with Trey Ferguson 1:27:47

7M ago1:27:47

1:27:47

Text us your questions! Trey Ferguson of the New Living Treyslation and Three Black Men podcasts joins us to discuss his new book Theologizin' Bigger: Homilies on Living Freely and Loving Wholly. We talk about the Bible, the difference between "theologizin'" and theology, the racial dynamics of deconstruction, why evangelicals are so obsessed with …

1
My Solo Adventure in Hawaii 52:32

7M ago52:32

52:32

Aloha! In this solo episode, Kris shares more about her month in Hawaii — why she decided to head to island life, the logistics behind her adventures, and how you can use her story as inspiration to make space in your life. She goes deeper into detail about the important strategic implementation steps that allowed her to live her best life and take…

1
Is There a Soul? 1:06:32

7M ago1:06:32

1:06:32

Text us your questions! In this episode, Kyle and Randy discuss the philosophy of the soul and its implications for religious belief, the lived experience of faith, and even ethics. Kyle is a materialist, which means he thinks humans are physical objects, and Randy leans towards dualism, which involves belief in a soul or non-physical part of a hum…

1
Kim Harris: Lifting People Up with “Big-Ups” 48:22

7M ago48:22

48:22

Kris welcomes the awesome Kim Harris, affectionately known as "Big Ups," from The Harris & Tucker School in Connecticut. Kim talks about getting her structures “right and tight” and how she stays on the pulse of good leadership. She talks more about the rich legacy of The Harris & Tucker School, and their mission to create superhero influencers and…

1
Randy Quit 1:01:12

8M ago1:01:12

1:01:12

Text us your questions! ... drinking. This is a more personal episode for us, particularly for Randy. As you know, we like alcohol around here, especially whiskey. In this episode, we chat about that and the presence it's had on our podcast and in our lives. Can we have a "healthy relationship" with alcohol? What does that look like? How does that …

1
From Tolerating Mediocrity to Finding Big Momentum with John & Tracy LaBreche 49:41

8M ago49:41

49:41

In this episode, Kris welcomes John and Tracy LaBreche from Ardent Preschool and Daycare, with seven locations in Alabama. John and Tracy share their journey into developing Ardent’s value system and building a strong and happy team. They talk about their desire to not burn their team out during the pandemic and facing staffing shortages and enroll…

1
Changing Our Mind with David Gushee 1:19:49

8M ago1:19:49

1:19:49

Text us your questions! David Gushee is an influential Christian ethicist who famously changed his mind about LGBTQ Christians. His 2014 book Changing Our Mind (now in its third edition) has been celebrated and widely recommended as an honest and forceful reckoning with the ethical issues surrounding LGBTQ Christians and the church's complicity in …

1
A Huge Vision for Better Mental Health in Kids and Adults with Marissa and Sunflower from Little Luminaries 51:00

8M ago51:00

51:00

In this episode, Kris welcomes Marissa and Sunflower from Little Luminaries, two talented women partnering together to bring art, beauty, and mindset tools to empower children globally. They discuss how Little Luminaries aims to support children through self-celebration and resources for challenging conversations using their thoughtfully designed t…

1
Philosophy in the Wild: Aaron Simmons 1:20:34

9M ago1:20:34

1:20:34

Text us your questions! Philosopher Aaron Simmons joins us to discuss his new book Camping with Kierkegaard. It's all about living life in a way that is "worthy of your finitude," avoiding becoming an "asshole capitalist," and learning how to value the things in your life with the help of folks like Kierkegaard and Simone de Beauvoir. We discuss li…

1
Know Your Market with Grafton Milne 33:58

9M ago33:58

33:58

In this episode, Kris welcomes Grafton Milne and shares a glimpse into his distinctive expertise in childcare real estate. Grafton gives practical insights on understanding your market through straightforward approaches, emphasizing clarity and actionable insights. He talks more about his latest book, Childcare Center Success: How to Maximize Profi…

1
After Evangelicalism with Keri Ladouceur 1:21:31

9M ago1:21:31

1:21:31

Text us your questions! Where do we engage when we're done with evangelicalism, but we don't want to be done with the church? Thanks be to God, there are new signs of life springing up in the post-evangelical wasteland, and we're so here for it. Keri Ladouceur leads one of those hopeful spaces called the Post Evangelical Collective. Keri is the Exe…

1
How to Double Your Revenue In Less Than 12 Months With Barb Tedrow 47:23

9M ago47:23

47:23

Kris is joined by the incredible Barb Tedrow, a Child Care Rockstar finalist at the Child Care Success Summit and proud owner of A Gold Star Academy. Barb takes center stage as she shares her remarkable journey and unveils the secrets behind her extraordinary success that propelled her business from $3 million to an astounding $6 million in revenue…

1
William Paul Young & Brad Jersak: Judgment, Wrath, Hell, and the God Who Is Love (Re-Release from S01E11) 1:14:51

9M ago1:14:51

1:14:51

Text us your questions! For New Year's, we're re-airing an episode from Season 1 in which we discuss God and love in the context of suffering, abuse, betrayal, and addiction with William Paul Young and Brad Jersak. It remains one of our most popular episodes to date, and we hope re-airing it will introduce it to new listeners. Enjoy! We'll be back …

1
Maria Ahrens: Helping Moms Feel Comfortable and Supported 1:01:47

10M ago1:01:47

1:01:47

Kris welcomes Maria Ahrens, Owner of Paper Planes Early Learning Center in Mount Sinai, NY, for an inspiring conversation on transparent and open communication and embracing the special parts of yourself in leadership. During their talk, Maria shares more about what makes Paper Planes unique and provides valuable tips for team engagement and teache…

1
The Other Side of Advent with Brian Zahnd 1:16:54

10M ago1:16:54

1:16:54

Text us your questions! Merry Christmas! Brian Zahnd is back on the show to discuss his Christmas devotional The Anticipated Christ. We talk about why he's "trying to be religious," the difference between Christmas and Advent, the book of Isaiah, the Magnificat, what nonviolence has to do with Advent, the current Israel–Hamas war, and more. We also…

1
Jessica Ferguson — The Latest on Loans and Funding To Grow Your ECE Business 41:56

10M ago41:56

41:56

It’s all about financial success this week as Kris welcomes Jessica Ferguson from Live Oak Bank, the nation’s largest SBA lender. Jessica talks about Live Oak’s commitment to helping small business owners and how they have grown from starting with veterinarians and dentists to 35 different industries, including ECE. Jessica shares some best practic…

1
Theology, Race, and Inclusion: An Interview w/ Dr. Willie James Jennings 1:14:55

10M ago1:14:55

1:14:55

Text us your questions! This is such a rich conversation. Dr. Willie James Jennings is an incredible theologian who teaches Systematic Theology and Africana Studies at Yale Divinity School. Dr. Jennings has written influential books like, The Christian Imagination: Theology and Origins of Race, After Whiteness: An Education in Belonging, and a grou…

1
Theology from the Margins: An Interview w/ Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim 1:15:43

11M ago1:15:43

1:15:43

Text us your questions! How do you process your identity and theology if you feel invisible as a person? What if your story, history, and experience are largely rejected and excluded from the culture you're a part of? How does that shape the way you see God and the world? Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim is a Korean-American theologian who works in liberation …

1
Q&A Bonus Episode: The Problem of Evil 57:23

11M ago57:23

57:23

Text us your questions! Jeff joins us to ask some questions about evil and get into the philosophical weeds a bit. What is the connection between God's nature and suffering? Can we say that suffering is meaningless? What was up with Leibniz? And a lot more. If you'd like to ask a question about a recent episode to be featured on one of these bonus …

1
Michael Ingram — A Legacy of Five Decades and Thousands of Families 44:55

11M ago44:55

44:55

Kris recaps the incredible Child Care Success Summit and sets her sights on next year’s event in Chicago. She then welcomes the amazing Michael Ingram of Bedford Heights Daycare, founded by his mom five decades ago. Michael discusses the impact that he and his mom have had on thousands of families in and around Cleveland, his drive to serve and giv…

1
How Liberals, Progressives, Feminists, and Black and LGBTQ People Got Kicked Out of Evangelicalism 1:07:45

11M ago1:07:45

1:07:45

Text us your questions! We discuss the history of evangelicalism with Isaac B. Sharp. Or rather, the alternative history of evangelicalism, for it differs in some significant ways from what you may have heard about how evangelicalism in America developed, and how most of us understand what it is today. Would it surprise you to learn there were once…

1
Maria Dos Santos: From Venezuela to Florida: Driven By Impact 44:32

12M ago44:32

44:32

In this episode, Kris welcomes the awesome Maria dos Santos, a childcare entrepreneur hailing from Florida with Venezuelan roots. Maria founded My First Academy, a thriving venture with three locations, each catering to around 100 children, and she’s not stopping there — she’s gearing up for the opening of her fourth location in December 2023. Mari…

1
The Problem of Evil (Part 2) 43:18

12M ago43:18

43:18

Text us your questions! We wrap our discussion of evil and suffering with a look at some other sorts of responses to the problem and a reflection on where we land personally. If you haven't heard part 1, start there first. Due to the subject and the tone of this conversation, these episodes do not include a beverage tasting. Content note: this conv…

1
Matt Arnerich: Fresh Ideas for Improving Parent Engagement & Relationships 51:13

12M ago51:13

51:13

This week, it’s all about making a positive impact on kids and their families, as Kris sits down with Matt Arnerich, the Director of Brand & Comms at Famly, a global software company supporting over 5,000 schools and centers across 18 different countries. In this interesting episode, Matt takes us on a journey through his personal journey into the …

1
The Problem of Evil (Part 1) 1:06:06

1y ago1:06:06

1:06:06

Text us your questions! How can people who believe in a good God account for the existence of pervasive suffering and evil? This is the oldest and most powerful objection to both belief in God's existence and religious practice, and it has been the subject of philosophical discussion and theological speculation spanning many religious traditions fo…

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