Enter Wild With Carlos Whittaker

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 hospitable—we’re scared that we’re not good hosts or we can’t cook well enough or we don’t have the right space for it. Let Lee Ann and Heather help you realize what kind of hospitality you’re actually capable of!  Class is in session. Let’s get curious! . . . . . Learn more about Lee Ann here. . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/

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 on John's Live Inspired podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/20JDgh1AQwWphxsoFQp9oa?si=5fcaed6b6d694a26 Learn more about John here: https://johnolearyinspires.com/ . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1987227/1965424/ Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book me to speak HERE: https://www.carloswh

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 curtain and giving you a peek into my brain.  AND I’m sharing about why I believe in the content that I create. Here’s a tip: Believing in what you’re doing is the antidote to imposter syndrome. Class is in session. Let’s get curious! . . . . . Want to join Human School? Email whitney@carloswhittaker.com before April 14th for exclusive access! . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my latest book Reconnected. Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates.  Intereste

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 done this so well and shares such a humble and beautiful outlook on what it means to believe for new things in your life.  Class is in session. Let’s get curious! . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1987227/1965424/ Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book me to speak HERE: https://www.carloswhittaker.com/e

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/pastorevanlive/ . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1987227/1965424/ Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book me to speak HERE: https://www.carloswhittaker.com/events  . . . . . LUMEN: Go to Lumen.me/Carlos and get 15% off your Lumen! AQUATRU: Get 20% off any AquaTru purifier! Visit aquatru.com and use the code CARL

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 instilled hope in the hearts of citizens who had been under dictatorship for 37 years. Despite whatever situation you find yourself in, know that you have more courage within you than you think. Grab some tissues, lean in, and get curious. Class is in session! . . . . . Buy Evan's book here: https://amzn.to/4228VqT Follow Evan here: instagram.com/pastorevanlive/ . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be

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 curious! . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1987227/1965424/ Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book me to speak HERE: https://www.carloswhittaker.com/events  . . . . . Visit CatchingWhimsyBook.com to learn more and download a free chapter sampler today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad

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 support your unhoused neighbors. Joe is a mental health professional, a loving father, and a resilient community member.  Class is in session. Let’s get curious! . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1987227/1965424/ Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book me to speak HERE: https://www.carloswhittaker.com/events

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 feel like we need to talk about it. Sarah joins us on this episode to talk about mortality and what it looks like to be living with a life-ending disease.  Sarah talks about parenting with cancer, how her diagnosis has changed her and her family’s perspective on life and death.  Class is in session. Let’s get curious! . . . . . Learn more about One Day To Remember. . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here. . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected.  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates.  Interested in adve

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 become better humans and become more other-focused. And today’s conversation is going to do just that!  My new friend Valerie is going to absolutely transform your idea of what a food pantry is and what it means to really be a neighbor. Valerie teaches us about taking risks, being okay with questions, and boldly treating others with dignity. Class is in session. Let’s get curious! . . . . . Learn more about Nourish MKE here: nourishmke.org https://www.facebook.com/friedenspantry/ https://www.instagram.com/nourishmilwaukee/ . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on Human School. . . . . .

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 women who served in this sliver of history. Class is in session. Let's get curious! . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a Human School guest here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1987227/1965424/ Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book me to speak HERE: https://www.carloswhittaker.com/events  . . . . . BETTER HELP: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online ther

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 extraordinary stories. So, every week I'm sitting down with people who see the world through a different lens than I do–not to debate, but to listen. And I want you to come with me, because the world doesn't need more opinions, it needs more understanding. So, let's get curious. Subscribe now and never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 living room of the home that just burned down, 11 years ago, Nani shares the story of her life.  I’m so excited for you to dive into this story. . . . . . Watch my Midlife vlog here.  . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here. . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected. Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book me to speak here. . . . . . HIYA HEALTH: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/HUMANHOPE SHOPIFY: Go to shopify.com/CARLOS to take your bus

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 identify as someone going through a chronic condition or knowing someone who is.  Let’s get curious!! . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1987227/1965424/ Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book me to speak HERE: https://www.carloswhittaker.com/events  . . . . . DOSE: Go to dosedaily.co/CARLOS and get 3

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 and Lee Ann’s life, full of insight and laughter. If you missed part one, listen here: https://pod.link/1249486443/episode/79a5f7f0819be5fdb010eeb01013a0e9 . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Learn more about Lee Ann HERE: https://www.leeannmiller.net/  Follow Lee Ann HERE: https://www.instagram.com/leeannmiller/ . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/s

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 community in my book Reconnected!! This is her story of falling in love with an Amish man. (Plot twist: Lee Ann isn’t Amish… ) You’re gonna LOVE this. . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Learn more about Lee Ann HERE: https://www.leeannmiller.net/  Follow Lee Ann HERE: https://www.instagram.com/leeannmiller/ . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/19

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 contains a very special interview, and a story I think you’re all curious about. This is the last fully recorded conversation I had with my father before he wasn’t able to have conversations like this anymore.  . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1987227/1965424/ Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book

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??

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 kind of peace that can stand strong in the middle of the storm.  This kind of peace comes from Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I need that non-manmade peace more than anything right now.  Listen for a few tips on how to step into peace this week.  . . . . . Check out Braver Angels here: braverangels.org . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/a

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 you with me. This week is all about HOPE.  Let’s dig in!  . . . . . Have a secretly extraordinary life? Apply to be a guest on my podcast in 2025 here: https://forms.gle/Z13WGj63oEfgmtjJ9 . . . . . Order your copy of my new book Reconnected HERE: ReconnectedBook.com  Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear ALL my updates. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1987227/1965424/ Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book me to speak HERE: https://www.carloswhittaker.com/events  . . . . . AURA FRAMES: Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat at AuraFrames.com. Use code CARLOS at check