The Carlos Whittaker Podcast

This episode is unlike any I’ve done before! I’m out in the field with Bo, our EcoTour Adventures Wildlife Guide in Grand Teton National Park.  We saw bears and other wildlife with him, and he graciously said yes when I asked if I could interview him!  He’s bringing all the wisdom of a nature guide who not only interacts with animals but deals with all of the people on his tours. You might be surp...

This week’s episode is a little different. No guest. No interview. Just me, catching you up on my life. I’m sharing honestly about what it’s been like navigating the loss of my dad, stepping into the new role of caring for my mom, and figuring out what boundaries look like in this season of shifting family dynamics. I also talk about the disappointment that comes when people say they’ll show up—an...

When I tell you that this episode will not only change your life but may also change your dying, I mean it! Joon humbly shares his gentle wisdom with us as he shares about his experience as a hospital chaplain. He shares a bit about how a hard childhood led him to a compassionate career and where we can find and offer dignity at the end of a life. He has the ability to make a topic we all shy away...

The two most hospitable people I know are on the show today to share alllll their wisdom.  Heather and I were visiting our good friends up in Amish country, and it was such a gift that I wanted to share it with you. Lee Ann’s hospitality has moved me and made me feel seen in ways that a lot of people don’t.  There’s something inside all of us that hesitates to go all in when it comes to being hosp...

My good friend John O’Leary is joining us today, and he’s sharing some good good wisdom.  John is a master of turning his pain into a hope that he can share with others.  We cover everything from encouraging strangers, living with chronic pain, caring for aging parents, and the importance of community. You don’t want to miss this. Class is in session. Let’s get curious! . . . . . Listen to Carlos...

That’s right. I’m the guest this week. LOL.  If you’ve been online this week, you’ll know that I launched an online course called Human School. However, what you don’t know is how anxious it has made me feel. As an online creator, I battle all kinds of feelings like anxiety, imposter syndrome, and fear of failure. Selling anything online feels like a huge risk. So today I’m pulling back the curtai...

I’m so excited for you to meet today’s guest! Jess Burke is one of the most inspirational stories of rags-to-riches. From cleaning toilets in an office complex with her kids in a playback next to her to now being an executive in corporate America, running a team of thousands of people.  It’s never too late to chase your dreams. It’s never too late to change the trajectory of your life. Jess has do...

This is Part 2 of our incredible conversation with Evan!  We left off with Evan being taken to prison for the first time. But what happens in the next 24 hours and for years to come will shock you. This is a story of courage, hope, community, and resilience.  Class is in session. Let’s get curious! . . . . . Buy Evan's book here: https://amzn.to/4228VqT  Follow Evan here: instagram.com/pastorevanl...

Y'all. I mean it when I say I can't stop thinking about this interview. This conversation deserves your FULL attention. It was so good that we had to make it two parts. Get ready! Evan's story is actually your story. He's going to inspire strength and courage in you. With just a cell phone (see these things aren't TOTALLY bad), Evan sparked a movement throughout the nation of Zimbabwe that instill...

Joseph joins us to share about his career as an ethical hacker. First of all, I didn’t know that there were good hackers out there. What a relief! You’re going to love this conversation. We cover everything from hacking to faith and AI to international adoption.  This stuff is all so fascinating to me, and it was so fun to get to share these thoughts with you! Class is in session. Let’s get curiou...

I LOVED this conversation with my new friend Joe. Joe reminds us how radical curiosity can be, especially when we work to stay curious about the things we come face to face with every day.  Joe shares a piece of his story of a time when he and his family were unhoused, living in a car. He’s going to challenge a lot of your ideas about homelessness and hopefully encourage you to find ways to suppor...

Before Heather’s mom and my dad passed, I was really scared of death. I’d never been in a room with a body after death before, but now I’ve seen it up close with two people I love. And it was sad and horrible but it was also really peaceful and hopeful. Even though we’re all going to die, our current culture avoids thinking about mortality. It feels like I’ve been surrounded by death lately, and I...

My dad passed away last week, so don’t mind my tears. Every day I'm learning more about what it means to grieve, and so far I've learned that it's grueling and exhausting. My dad has influenced every part of my being, and that fact doesn’t escape this podcast series. I hear him in the questions I ask; I see him in the way I approach the world. I know my dad would want me to continue to help people...

Welcome to Human School! In this episode, I'm sitting down with my new friend Ann, who generously shares her incredible story with us. Ann was a Donut Dolly in the Vietnam War, which was a Red Cross position that sought to bring a shining example of womanhood to the GIs. She shares about her experience before, during, and after the war. I guarantee you'll gain a new appreciation for the unsung wom...

What if I told you that the most extraordinary people you'll ever meet aren't celebrities? They're the people you pass on the street–the ones you wouldn't think twice about: a donut dolly who handed out joy in the middle of the Vietnam War; a political fixer who operates in the shadows of power; an ethical hacker who protects people from digital destruction. These are everyday humans living extrao...

My family has been hit by wave after wave after wave of blows these last few weeks. Heather’s grandma Nani lost her home in the California wildfires, and then Heather’s mom Bridgette passed away last week. If I had to describe this season with one word, it’d be unrelenting.  As we were reminiscing about these lives, I found this conversation between Heather and Nani from 11 years ago.  In the livi...

I may be biased, but this is one of my favorite stories (and guests) EVER.  Okay, I’m totally biased, but her story will help you get curious about people who are living with chronic conditions and what happens when you pray for something for decades and don’t see a result. My daughter is one of the strongest people I know, and she is wise beyond her years. And I think a lot of you will be able to...

We’re continuing the story from the last episode, but this time we get to hear from Lee Ann’s husband D! D grew up Amish, and is no longer Amish, but so much of who he is has been shaped by his history and community. D is honest, loyal, hardworking, and a dear friend of mine. I can’t wait for you to join me around the dinner table and enjoy this conversation. This is such a beautiful peek into D a...

2025 is here, and I’m READY. I’ve got some new stuff in the works, and I’m so excited to share it all with you.  One of the new things is this podcast! I’m setting out to tell your jaw-dropping stories. If you have one to tell, fill out the form below!  This week’s story is a rerun, but it’s worth retelling. Lee Ann is a good friend of mine and the person who actually connected me with the Amish c...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! How is it already 2025?!! This year on the podcast, I want to focus more on people’s stories. I want to BREW curiosity. And I’m starting with an oldie but a goodie. I know many of you love my mom and my dad. And as you probably know, my dad has dementia, and I moved my parents into the house across the street from mine last year so I could see them more and help out. This episode...

This is IT. The last podcast of 2024. WHAT!! This episode has it all. I recount a Christmas tragedy. I dissect the difference between happiness and joy. (Hint: Joy isn’t a feeling; happiness is.) And I get into a tangent about the humanity of Jesus. HAHA.  How can we find joy in a world that feels like it wants to suck the joy out of everything? (I mean, have you been to the mall lately?? 😅) Joy...

In a world where everything feels like a war zone—Instagram comment sections, dinner tables, even just interpersonal relationships—how are we ever supposed to find peace? Advent’s version of peace isn’t about magically fixing everything or pretending that chaos doesn’t exist. The peace of advent is a deep, steady sense of calm even when the world feels like it’s spinning off its axis. It’s the kin...

I’ll be honest, I haven’t always understood Advent. Traditionally, our family celebrates with a Trader Joe’s chocolate Advent calendar.  So I want to dive into what Advent is—beyond the chocolate. What is Advent? Why would we celebrate it? Is it something that non-Christians would want to celebrate? I don’t think I’ve celebrated Advent since I was six, but this year, I’m doing it! And I’m bringing...

I did not have 3 million people watching me cry over an Australian cartoon on my bingo (no pun intended) card for 2024. But here we are! In this episode we’re talking about how I met Bluey, a social media conundrum I recently faced, and how curiosity can lead us to have better conversations—even in a heated political season.  Plus, at the end I’m sharing about an exciting new project, so you won’t...

People are in more need of joy than they want to admit—especially in this post-election season. A simple way that I bring joy to my neighborhood is by decorating my yard for Christmas on November 1st.  I LOVE IT. And so do my neighbors!!  I’m giving you a tour of my yard and some tips on how you can bring joy to your home—whether it’s with a single strand of lights or a Clark Griswald level of dec...