Episode 71: How Do We Stay Human When The Headlines Are Trying To Steal Our Empathy?

The Carlos Whittaker Podcast

That Sounds Fun Network

Society & Culture, Personal Journals

5 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 12 June 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This is a personal episode, but it’s also a very public episode, as what we’re talking about has been all over the news and social media. Today I’m addressing what’s going on in LA right now. As the son of immigrants, this isn’t theoretical for me, but I’m not pretending to have all the answers. I want to help us ask better questions, because when we ask better questions, we hear better stories. And when we hear better stories, we become better humans. This isn’t a hot take, and I’m not pushing an agenda. I truly believe that curiosity is more powerful than certainty. And proximity is more powerful than politics. . . . . . 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 . . . . . ACORNS: Head to ⁠acornsearly.com/carlos⁠ or download the Acorns Early app to help your kids grow their money skills today. AQUATRU: Get 20% off any AquaTru purifier! Visit aquatru.com and use the code CARLOS at checkout. HIYA HEALTH: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/HUMANHOPE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey friends, it's Carlos Whitaker.
0:05.2	Thursday, June 12th, 2025.
0:09.3	Today is going to be a bit of a heart-heavy episode.
0:16.7	It's personal.
0:18.7	It's deeply human.
0:23.4	And I want to invite you in.
0:25.7	So I was about seven years old when I first felt what it meant to be other.
0:34.5	I was in a grocery store with my mom, and she was speaking Spanish to me, like she always did.
0:40.2	Carlitos, Benica. And out of nowhere, a woman behind us, she raised her voice. And I'll never forget.
0:48.5	She literally said, I could hear her right now. This is America. Speak English.
0:58.7	I'll never forget I watched my mom, my beautiful mom shrink just a little.
1:00.7	Her voice got quieter.
1:02.3	Her eyes dropped.
1:06.2	And in that moment something in me changed.
1:17.0	That day, I learned that to some people, love of country meant rejection of people like us.
1:19.9	Now I say some people because I know that's not everybody.
1:26.1	But as a seven-year-old, it's hard to not lump every people into some people. That little boy, he still lives in me. And so this week with
1:31.7	what's happening in Los Angeles, that little boy in me has been a little bit louder than usual.
1:39.2	Now, listen, I know this is complex. And I'm not here to hand you a hot take.
1:44.7	I'm not trying to change your policy stance or push an agenda.
1:48.0	But what I am here to do is to invite you into something deeper.
1:53.5	Because I believe that curiosity is more powerful than certainty.
	...

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