Meet Justin
I'm Pastor Justin.
Here's why I'm doing this.
Dad of four, husband to Brittany, and Online Pastor at Mariners Church. I started Carpooling with Jesus because I wanted to talk about Jesus with my own kids in the moments we already had together. Turns out a lot of parents want the same thing.
The Spark
The moment it started
Carpooling with Jesus started on a completely normal morning.
A meeting on my calendar got canceled, so I jumped in the car with Brittany and the kids on the way to school. We already had a rhythm going. A podcast, some affirmations, a prayer before drop-off.
That day Brittany picked a kids devotional I hadn't heard before. By the second minute, the kids were checked out. It was long. It was abstract. Nothing about it worked for what a car ride actually is.
I looked back at their faces and thought, there has to be something better than this.
So I asked Brittany what else was out there. Her answer was short.
“Not much.”
Brittany
Most kids devotionals weren't updated regularly. They weren't short enough for a drive. They weren't built for the moments families actually have together.
Then she said five words that are the reason you are reading this page:
“Maybe you should start one.”
Brittany
Send this to a parent who needs to hear it
I didn't rush it. I'd podcasted before, so I knew what I didn't know. I spent a few months thinking, testing, and getting feedback from parents I trusted.
On January 6, 2025, I hit publish on the first episode of Carpooling with Jesus.
Everything you'll find on this site started because one morning drive didn't have what our family needed. So we made it.
The Family
The Herman Crew
I've been married to Brittany since 2013. She is the reason this whole thing works. She shows up every day in ways I can't, runs our family, and I love her with everything.
Also... we've got four kids.
They are the first listeners of every episode and my toughest critics. If a story doesn't land with them in the car, I hear about it. They also ask the best questions, which is how the bonus series Questions from the Backseat got started. Half the ideas on this podcast come from a backseat conversation that every parent loves to have.
The Why
Why this exists
Faith in a family doesn't grow because of big moments. It grows because of small repeated ones. Breakfast conversations. Car rides. The ten minutes before bed. That is where real faith is shaped.
Most Christian parenting content feels like one more thing on your plate. One more curriculum. One more program. One more reason to feel behind.
This is not that.
Carpooling with Jesus is built for the life you already have. Short episodes that fit into moments you already share. Real conversations your kids will actually keep thinking about after the car stops.
You are not behind. You do not have to do this perfectly. You just have to press play.
At Home
Off the mic
Outside of Mariners and this podcast, most of my life is my family. School drop-offs. Sports. Dinner conversations. Trying to stay present in a schedule that is always full.
I also like pushing myself physically. I have run marathons and competed in triathlons, and I am usually training for something. It is how I stay disciplined and clear-headed.
And honestly, some of my favorite hours are date nights with Brittany. We protect that time even when life gets loud, because it keeps everything else grounded.
Most Asked
Quick answers.
- Where is Mariners Church?
- Mariners is a non-denominational church based in Orange County, California, with multiple campuses across Southern California. I serve as Online Pastor, leading Mariners Online, our online congregation, from my home in Goodyear, Arizona.
- Why do you use the CSB translation?
- I believe CSB is the best version for the purpose of study and teaching.
- How do you pick episode topics?
- I pick topics based on three things. My own prayer life. Listening to my kids and their friends and talking with my wife. And listening to Carpool Crew parents and their kids' requests.
- Can my church use these episodes?
- Yes. Any church can use Carpooling with Jesus at their church.
Next stop
Want a feel for what I make?
Press play on today's episode. 5 minutes, free, and you'll know if it's a fit for your family.
Listen to today's episode