Unashamed with the Robertson Family
Unashamed with the Robertson Family

Ep 1421 | Carlos & Alexa PenaVega Open Up to the Robertsons About How Loss Changed Them Forever

September 16, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Carlos PenaVega was 23, depressed, and chain-smoking weed when he called his realtor, Andrew Mortaza, with a strange question: “How are you so happy all the time?” Andrew’s answer was Jesus. Carlos resisted at first, but a few days later he showed up at a small Black church in Inglewood, California. The bishop preached a sermon about being 23, smoking doobies, and sleeping around. Carlos felt like the man was reading his mail. He left the service wanting God “hardcore.” That same week, Andrew invited him to a Bible study. He also invited a young woman named Alexa, who had just split from her husband and was hungry for something real. Carlos and Alexa met at that Bible study. He rolled down his car window and quoted a line from Spy Kids — “Shiitake mushrooms.” She rolled the window back up and told Andrew the guy was weird. She married him anyway.

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:46) **Introducing Carlos & Alexa PenaVega** - The Robertsons welcome the couple and discuss their unusual journey from living on a boat in Hawaii to relocating to Nashville.
  • 2 (09:48) **Meeting at Their Lowest** - The couple describes their first meeting at a Bible study, where both were broken and new in their faith, leading to a God-centered relationship.
  • 3 (12:43) **Building Generational Legacy** - The couple discusses their desire to break cycles of brokenness from their own upbringings and create a new legacy for their children.
  • 4 (16:51) **The Power of Authenticity** - The conversation shifts to the nature of fame, contrasting manufactured personas with genuine authenticity that resonates with audiences.
  • 5 (21:41) **Navigating Hollywood and Faith** - The PenaVegas recount their experience on *Dancing with the Stars* as a married couple, which became a public testimony of their faith and commitment.
  • 6 (33:34) **The Boat Story and Divine Intervention** - Carlos and Alexa detail their ill-fated plan to sail the world on a catamaran, which was plagued by mechanical failures and ultimately redirected by God.
  • 7 (50:49) **The Stillbirth and Supernatural Peace** - The couple shares the devastating loss of their daughter during childbirth and the inexplicable peace that carried them through the worst week of their lives.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Movie & TV stars Carlos and Alexa PenaVega open up about finding faith at some of the lowest points in their lives and putting their marriage ahead of Hollywood expectations. They share a candid discussion with Jase, Al, and Zach about why Hollywood and the heartland of America often seem worlds apart when it comes to authenticity, family values, and understanding what audiences actually want. They also reflect on the devastating loss of their daughter and the supernatural peace they experienced through grief, while Al connects their story to the Robertson family’s own transformation. 


Check out the LEXLOS podcast at https://lexlos.com/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@LexLos.


In this episode: Philippians 4:6-7; Revelation 2:17; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Matthew 18:3; Job 1:20-21


Want to watch the Lost Episodes of Unashamed, only on EKKL? Get 20% off with code UNASHAMED, and watch faith- and family-friendly movies, podcasts, and more: https://ekkl.com/


“Unashamed” Episode 1421 is sponsored by:


https://chministries.org/solution - Get a better solution at half the cost of traditional healthcare! 


https://rocketmoney.com/unashamed - Join Rocket Money and let them help you reach your financial goals faster. 


https://myphdweightloss.com - Find out how Al lost 80+ pounds. Visit the website or call 864-644-1900 and mention "Al Robertson" to get 2 weeks free in the program!

http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ - Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College


Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621


Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts.


Chapters

00:00 Carlos & Alexa Create a New Family Name

06:35 Carlos Hits Rock Bottom

12:50 Faith Becomes Their Foundation

20:00 ‘Duck Dynasty’ Was Never Supposed to Work

26:48 Why Authenticity Connected With Millions

32:11 The Robertsons’ Four Generations of Faith

39:20 Alexa & Carlos Put Marriage Before Hollywood

43:30 The Hardest Season of Their Lives

48:22 God Redirects

Unashamed with the Robertson Family

More from this podcast

Unashamed with the Robertson Family →