Episode 094 - Why I Hid My Blackness For So Long & Why Black History Month Is Still Needed…

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—and don’t. If you’ve ever found yourself holding more than you thought you could carry, this one’s for you. Class is still in session… just a little more personal today. . . . . . 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.  Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book me to speak. . . . . . AQUATRU: Get 20% off any AquaTru purifier! Visit aquatru.com and use the code CARLOS at checkout. DOSE: Go to dosedaily.co/CARLOS and get 30% off your first month’s subscription! HIYA HEALTH: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/HUMANHOPE SHOPIFY: Go to shopify.com/CARLOS to take your business to the next level today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 from feel hopeful. Class is in session. Let's get curious! . . . . . Find Joon "J.S." Park on Instagram here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jspark3000/ ⁠ Order Joon's book here: ⁠https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/as-long-as-you-need/⁠ . . . . . 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  . . . . . FUNCTION: Join now! The first 1000 listeners to join get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com/CARLOSW to own your health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/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 30% off your first month’s subscription! AQUATRU: Get 20% off any AquaTru purifier! Visit aquatru.com and use the code CARLOS at checkout. SHOPIFY: Go to shopify.com/CARLOS to take your business to the next level today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.carloswhittaker.com/events  . . . . . HIYA HEALTH: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/HUMANHOPE FUNCTION: Go to functionhealth.com/CARLOSW to skip the waitlist and take ownership over your health today! AQUATRU: Get 20% off any AquaTru purifier! Visit aquatru.com and use the code CARLOS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 [email protected] 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.  Interested in advertising with us? Reach out here. Book me to speak.  . . . . . SHOPIFY: Go to shopify.com/CARLOS to take your business to the next level today. DOSE: Go to dosedaily.co/CARLOS and get 30% off your first month’s subscription! HIYA HEALTH: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/HUMANHOPE FUNCTION: Go to functionhealth.com/CARLOSW to skip the waitlist and take ownership over your health today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/events  . . . . . FUNCTION: Go to functionhealth.com/CARLOSW to skip the waitlist and take ownership over your health today! HIYA HEALTH: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/HUMANHOPE DOSE: Go to dosedaily.co/CARLOS and get 30% off your first month’s subscription! SHOPIFY: Go to shopify.com/CARLOS to take your business to the next level today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 CARLOS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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 30% off your first month’s subscription! SHOPIFY: Go to shopify.com/CARLOS to take your business to the next level today. FUNCTION: Go to functionhealth.com/CARLOSW to skip the waitlist and take ownership over your health today! HIYA HEALTH: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/HUMANHOPE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/adchoices

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  . . . . . DOSE: Go to dosedaily.co/CARLOS and get 30% off your first month’s subscription! LUMEN: Go to Lumen.me/Carlos and get 15% off your Lumen! SHOPIFY: Go to shopify.com/CARLOS to take your business to the next level today. FUNCTION: Go to functionhealth.com/CARLOSW to skip the waitlist and take ownership over your health today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices