Joey Carter was raised in a blue-collar family of 12, entered the U.S. Navy at 17, and has worked as a satellite dish technician, groundskeeper, welder, computer serviceman, house painter, and teacher. He has degrees in philosophy, psychology, humanities, and computers. He has taught philosophy, humanities, the arts, and developmental courses for many years at the community college level, both face-to-face and online. He has also taught general education courses to at-risk young adults. Carter currently lives with his wife and children in Louisiana, where he teaches and tutors.