On today’s episode of OFF-AIR with Carmen, you’re going to hear one of those stories that make you go, “Wait. WHAT???” Terrell and Brandy Scott are married with five kids. They live in McDonough, Georgia and pastor a church. They run a ministry that serves families, children, and individuals in need, which is about as far away as you can get from where the story starts. When in the depths of drug use and gang activity, Terrell’s gang members held two women at gunpoint. One of those women was Bra...
May 25, 2022•54 min
Today’s mine & Pete’s anniversary! Last year, we sat down at our kitchen table and told our story. It was out of that podcast (Episode 14) that birthed the idea of us renewing our vows. With the help of one of my best friends, Kellie, we planned a 50th birthday party (for me) with a surprise Vow Renewal! In this episode, you’ll here’s how it all came together... CONNECT @carmenbrown @themorningcruise @southern_grace_weddings @kayliegill @kellielhughes @goodmorningbill MENTIONS OFF-AIR with C...
May 26, 2021•44 min
Laura Whitaker is the Executive Director of Extra Special People (ESP). ESP helps people see the abilities in people with disabilities. My first interaction with ESP was in Athens a few years ago with Java Joy, their coffee service program. Java Joy is completely run by people with disabilities and special needs. They call themselves JOYristas! Every cup of coffee is served with joy AND with a hug! In our conversation, Laura tells us about ESP and the programs that help assist, encourage and EMP...
May 18, 2021•50 min
My guest this week is Chris Tomlin! Chris is the most sung worship artist of all-time! And because of this, he is often viewed through a “ super spiritual” lens. But here what you may not know… Chris is one of the funniest guys I know! And, boy can he tell a story! In this episode of OFF-AIR with Carmen, you'll hear THIS side of Chris as he shares some of our all time favorite Chris Tomlin stories. My morning show partner, Bill, and co-worker Jayar were on this catch-up Zoom call with me. Chris ...
Apr 14, 2021•50 min
Happy Easter, y’all! On this episode of OFF-AIR, I sat down with three of my favorites…Bill, Lindsay & Haley. We’ve been doing an online bible study together led by Paige Brown called “Bible History Overview.” That title sounds dry, but we were riveted! She connected to Old and New Testaments together for us and changed our perspective so much that we started a text thread with a few others called “5 Broads + Bill” to talk about each week’s lesson. So, that’s the starting place for our conve...
Mar 31, 2021•57 min
Repp & Summer Gordon experienced every parent's worst nightmare. They lost their sweet five year old son, Sawyer, in a horrific accident when he pedaled his bike onto a busy road. In this vulnerable conversation, Summer shares their journey through unspeakable grief and inexplicable forgiveness, held together by an unwavering faith. Of all the episodes of OFF-AIR with Carmen, THIS one will inspire you the most, especially if you have experienced personal loss. Repp and Summer’s belief in the...
Mar 23, 2021•45 min
My guests this week are sisters Taylor and Madison from the band, Cain. I met Taylor and Madison along with their brother Logan about a year ago. It’s been fun to watch their debut single, Rise Up, shoot to #1 on the charts and stay there for several weeks! We'll talk about the dynamics between siblings being in a band together, what they all learned in their first year of marriage, and what it was like for us all (me included!) to grow up in Alabama! CONNECT @carmenbrown @themorningcruise @cain...
Feb 23, 2021•50 min
My guest today is Temple Stewart. Temple is married to Ross, and they recently adopted sweet Ellie! They are also pregnant and expecting baby number two next month. Temple and I go to church together and have walked similar roads in trying to figure out our health through Functional Medicine. Temple is a WEALTH of knowledge in the Ketogenic world, and she is a “must-follow” on Instagram. She has helped many, many folks find long term success for their health goals. You'll also hear Temple talk a...
Feb 16, 2021•34 min
Today you’ll meet Sarah Faulkner. I randomly met Sarah at a Christmas Market a couple of years ago. Like so many of us, Sarah thought her “story” would be one thing. But after surviving not one – but TWO – brain aneurysms, Sarah realized God’s story for her life had some unexpected chapters. Sarah’s faith inspires me, and I know it will inspire you too! CONNECT @carmenbrown @themorningcruise @mvpearlgirl MENTIONS Milk Velvet Pearls Caron Treatment Center Goliath Must Fall by Louie Giglio BIBLE V...
Feb 10, 2021•42 min
Like so many people, I’ve had a life-long struggle with weight. I’ve tried everything under the sun. You name it, I’ve done it. That all changed in 2019 when I was introduced to FASTer Way to Fat Loss. It was through this program that Amanda Tress introduced me to Alex, who practices Functional Medicine. In February of 2020, I had my first appointment with Alex, and I can confidently say that I have FINALLY found the answers I spent decades looking for. In today’s episode, I talk with Alex and A...
Jan 27, 2021•54 min
Welcome to my 20th and final episode of OFF-AIR with Carmen in 2020! This week’s guest is my girlfriend, Natalie Grant!! Folks have said for years that we could be sisters, and I take this as a very high compliment! Natalie is equal parts hilarious, prone to TMI (like me!), and so full of wisdom. I just love her!! We recorded this episode in February. Since then, Natalie has released a new project called “No Stranger.” In this pre-pandemic episode, we talk about Team Freedom (something we birthe...
Dec 01, 2020•41 min
Because you asked for it, here’s a special ELECTION DAY 2020 edition of OFF-AIR with Carmen! With all the political noise and social tensions this year, we need some solid guidance. So, somewhat unplanned, my morning show partner Bill Martin and I sat at my kitchen table the weekend before the general election to have a conversation about a biblical view of government. Really, it’s more of a Bible study, so there are notes—3 pages of them—with all the Scriptures Bill referred to. You might want ...
Nov 03, 2020•48 min
Thirty years ago today, my oldest, Haley Amanda, made me a momma! I was young, nervous, and had no idea what I was doing! But, looking down at her sweet little face, I felt a love I had never felt before. As much as we can protect them as parents while they’re little, life happens, and they eventually have their own journeys they have to walk. I asked Haley if she would be my guest this week to talk about singleness. Of course every girl has childhood dreams of finding that one Prince Charming t...
Oct 28, 2020•47 min
On this week’s episode of OFF-AIR with Carmen you’ll hear a conversation I had with Zach Williams BC (Before COVID!) It was actually the last big event that we did before everything shut down. We talk about Zach’s redemption story, new music (at the time), and candles! You’ll also hear a hysterical story about the first time Zach met Chris Pratt in person. FOLLOW @carmenbrown @themorningcruise @zachwilliamsmusic MENTIONS Thymes Fraiser Fir candle PF Candle Co Song: “Less Like Me” Song: “Empty Gr...
Oct 20, 2020•26 min
We all walk with a limp. Some are literal. Some are figurative. But we all have things with which we struggle. For my co-worker and friend, Jules, you’ll hear her share “the limp she walks with.” You can’t see it, but it’s there. And it affects every area of her life, including her job of reading the news for us on The Morning Cruise. I often say what Jules may lack in one area, she certainly makes up for with hustle. She inspires me! You’ll also hear her gush about her husband, David’s spray ta...
Sep 29, 2020•37 min
Welcome to Season 2 of OFF-AIR with Carmen!! We're starting this season off a little differently. Aaron Burke, Pastor of Radiant Church in Tampa, recently joined us on The Morning Cruise to give us his 10 Reasons why it's to your benefit to be un-offendable. Since Aaron is my pastor, when I heard this message a few weeks ago, I decided EVERYONE needs to hear this Top Ten list! It had such GREAT response (first as a sermon, then on the morning show), and so many asked where they could get all 10 ...
Sep 22, 2020•31 min
Season #2 of OFF-AIR with Carmen starts tomorrow (Tuesday, September 22nd)! She kicks the season off with some great guests! Season 2 will begin a little differently: we're starting it off with an ON-AIR conversation The Morning Cruise had with Carmen's Pastor, Aaron Burke of Radiant Church in Tampa, Florida. He joined The Morning Cruise to share 10 Reasons why it's to our benefit to be unoffendable. We got A TON of response, so Carmen decided to make it the first podcast of the season. You'll a...
Sep 21, 2020•51 sec
Today is mine & Pete’s 30th Anniversary. If there’s anything I’ve learned in thirty years, it is this: Marriage does not “fix” you. Marriage does not heal you. Nope, marriage does not fix your problems. It reveals them. Whenever two broken people join together to become one, you simply double the brokenness. When I tell you that our marriage is a miracle, I mean OUR MARRIAGE IS A MIRACLE. The fact that we’re still standing – happier than we’ve ever been – THIRTY years later, is simply the re...
May 27, 2020•56 min
On this week’s episode, you’ll hear from one of my great guy friends, who can totally hang with the girls. He’s probably going to kill me for saying that! I met Mike years ago when he was in a band. We did several mission trips together, and he’s truly one of my dearest friends. He’s married to Molly (think Sunday Bakes that you’ve heard on The Morning Cruise). They have two daughters and one on the way. Mike is a Worship Pastor in Nashville, and has been leading his congregation through this on...
May 19, 2020•47 min
On this week’s episode of OFF-AIR with Carmen, you’re going to meet Ford Taylor. Ford has been coaching me the last year and a half through some professional transitions. He has taught me so much about leadership, navigating change, conflict resolution, and how to sincerely apologize. {Yes, there is a healthy and meaningful to ask forgiveness.} Ford is the founder of Transformational Leadership and author of Relactional Leadership. He’s married to Sandra, and they have three daughters. This part...
May 12, 2020•50 min
Welcome back to OFF-AIR with Carmen! I think it’s time we get back to it. To re-start the pod, I reached out to my girlfriend, Tammi. You know her best from being our lifestyle contributor on The Morning Cruise. We always call her to find out what she’s cooking, and we post all of her recipes on themorningcruise.com and carcarandco.com. When I was growing up, my mom told me that if I had a handful of true blue girlfriends in life, I would be incredibly blessed. She was absolutely right! Proverbs...
May 05, 2020•36 min
Hey Y’all, we shuffled some things around and decided to do a Special Edition of the podcast! Given what everyone is walking though in dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic, so many people are asking us for a real conversation about fear and anxiety from a faith perspective. And I just want you to know - we hear you, and we are with you! It’s a lot to handle right now, and even those of us that don’t typically struggle with fear can feel a little anxious in this season. In this episode, I grabbe...
Mar 25, 2020•47 min
This week, I'm talking to a really special guy that I've gotten to know over the last couple of weeks. His name is Jason Greitzer. Jason's story is my dad's story. With one big difference. Jason survived addiction. My dad did not. I'm really eager for you to hear this conversation with Jason. If you are struggling with addiction, I hope it encourages you. If you love someone who is struggling with addiction, keep praying for them. LINKS: Jason's Testimony Teen Challenge (Faith Based Recovery Pro...
Mar 11, 2020•1 hr
Today’s guest on OFF-AIR with Carmen is Tauren Wells. We recently took at trip to Houston and sat down with Tauren at his kitchen table. I think we can all agree that Tauren is at the top of his game right now! He’s got hit, after hit, after hit. You know him best for Hills & Valleys, but also songs like Known, When We Pray and most recently Like You Love Me. His new CD, Citizen of Heaven is out! In this episode we hit it all… Identity & Calling. Our Assignments. Marriage & Touring. ...
Mar 03, 2020•31 min
This week’s episode is really special to me. I get to introduce you to my mom, who I affectionately call Mohair. You’ll hear how she got that name. Not unlike a lot of folks, I grew up with a single mom, in low-income housing. I remember my mom working two jobs just to keep mac n cheese on the table. We may not have had a lot, but I wouldn’t trade the way I was raised for anything. My mom taught me about perseverance, how to be resourceful, and how to laugh through any circumstance. She’s never ...
Feb 26, 2020•46 min
Welcome to another episode of OFF-AIR with Carmen! This week’s episode is a little bit different. For starters, it’s all about something very near to my heart – TEAM FREEDOM, and our fight against Human Trafficking. You are going to hear how it all came about almost ten years ago. This weekend, thousands of runners will lace up to run the Gasparilla Distance Classic along the shoreline of Tampa Bay. Several hundred of those runners will be wearing a Team Freedom jersey and running for those not ...
Feb 18, 2020•44 min
Welcome to my 5th episode of OFF-AIR with Carmen! This week’s guest is my brother, Bill Martin! Of course, if you listen to The Morning Cruise, you hear Bill & I along with our third, Dave, every weekday morning. Bill & I have worked together for almost 17 years. And I can honestly say, I’ve learned as much about the Bible from Bill as I have anyone! In this episode, Bill and I are going to talk about one of Bill's favorite subjects (and mine too!) … Scripture. What happens when you set ...
Feb 11, 2020•41 min
Welcome to my 4th episode of OFF-AIR with Carmen! This week’s guest is Joyce Kelly. Joyce is one of my favorite people ever. I actually met Joyce through the station. OF COURSE, I feel like everyone in our listening family is my bestie, but goodness, when I get to meet some of you, and become real life friends…well, it’s one of the biggest gifts ever! Joyce is one of these people for me. I have so much respect for her, and she has become a dear friend. There’s not a soul who will hear this that ...
Feb 04, 2020•48 min
Welcome to my 3rd episode of OFF-AIR with Carmen! This week’s guest is Amanda Tress, CEO & Creator of FASTer Way to Fat Loss. Today’s episode is going to be a little more niche. This conversation is for those of us who battle with their weight. I have had a life long battle with the scale. Even as middle schooler, I was the tallest and the chunkiest. I’ve always been super self-conscious about my weight. I will say that in recent years, I’ve transitioned to worrying less about the number, an...
Jan 28, 2020•30 min
Hi! I’m Carmen, one-third of The Morning Cruise. Chances are if you’re listening to this podcast, you are a listener to The Morning Cruise on The JOY FM. Welcome to my 2nd episode of Off-Air with Carmen. This week’s guest is Brooke Ligertwood of Hillsong Worship. You’ve heard her sing songs like What A Beautiful Name, Who You Say I Am, and a whole catalogue of others! As a matter of fact, the music bed you'll hear in the beginning is "King of Kings", from Hillsong’s current album, Awake. It’s al...
Jan 21, 2020•21 min
