What does it mean to run toward the fire instead of away from it?

For Carl Rhinehart III, that question became more than a metaphor—it became a mission. On this powerful episode of the BeTempered Podcast, Carl joins hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr to share his journey from insecurity and adversity to purpose and impact.

Growing up in Muncie, Indiana, Carl’s childhood was shaped by contradictions. He was the youngest of six in a home where love and trauma coexisted. While he faced domestic violence and his father’s struggles with addiction and absence, he was also surrounded by strong women of faith who prayed over him nightly. His father, despite his flaws, never missed a football game and often told him, “You’re going to be the first Black mayor of Muncie.” The tension between affirmation and chaos left Carl wrestling with identity, confidence, and belonging.

Football became both an escape and a proving ground. He admits he only played to please his dad, hating practice with a passion. But during his senior year of college, something changed. He asked himself, “What if I just tuned everything else out and gave it everything I had?” That mental shift changed how he showed up—not just in the game, but in life. He sprinted sideline to sideline, determined to give every ounce of effort. “If I die on this field,” he recalls thinking, “let them say I gave it my all.”

Today, Carl brings that same energy and intentionality into his role as a teacher at Richmond High School and as the founder of Future Achievers, a nonprofit organization focused on mentoring and developing young people in the community. Through birthdays, affirmations, and consistent presence, Carl ensures that every student knows they matter. In some cases, the birthday card he hands them may be the only acknowledgment they receive all year.

In one of the most emotional parts of the episode, Carl shares how the passing of his father in 2019 brought a moment of grace and growth. “How dare I make some of the same mistakes my dad made and still be shown grace—yet I couldn’t extend that same grace to him?” That moment of reflection reshaped Carl’s understanding of forgiveness, legacy, and leadership.

This episode is a powerful reminder that our deepest wounds can become our most profound sources of strength—and that showing up for others, especially youth, doesn’t require perfection, just presence.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a real difference in your community, this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of the BeTempered Podcast featuring Carl Rhinehart III at:
https://www.betempered.com

🌟 Learn more about mentoring opportunities and the mission behind Carl’s nonprofit, Future Achievers, at:
https://futureachievers.org

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BeTempered Episode 57 – From the Sidelines to the Frontlines of Education with Carl Rhinehart lll

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