Carlos Navarro is the host of the #1 iHeart Radio Show, Monsters in the Morning,, as well as an actor in shows like The Walking Dead and Marvel’s Hawkeye… with all of his success today, it’s hard to believe that he was once in jail. Carlos grew up a child of first generation immigrant parents, and while his life was difficult, he learned beautiful lessons in resilience and gratitude along the way. Through being a troubled youth, addiction, and early battles with depression and imposter syndrome, Carlos had to fight hard for everything he has… and just when he thought he had everything set up perfectly, life would deal him another devastating blow: the near death experience in his family that would change his perspective forever.

Tune in to hear about:

• His Cuban mother and the lengths she would go to emulate Lucille Ball… even while living beneath the poverty line in Central Florida
• The crazy reason he got fired from his first radio job… and the INSANE job he took next 
• How he went from alcohol fueled days on the couch… to starring as Alvaro in The Walking Dead
• The unexpected, life-altering medical near miss with his daughter… and what it taught him about life

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:13] Jamie introduces Carlos Navarro. 

[03:13] Carlos begins to talk about his Cuban upbringing in New York City and recounts what his mother was like. 

[07:52] Carlos describes the alcoholism and mental health struggles that his mother battled during his youth. 

[10:49] Carles opens up about the trouble of his own he fell into in his teenage years. 

[13:08] Carlos talks about his third arrest and how he managed to continue believing in himself and pursue his dream of becoming an actor . 

[17:26] Carlos describes the challenges of becoming sober and the ultimatum that shifted his mindset completely. 

[20:56] Carlos recounts the start of his acting career, booking gigs, and landing a role on The Walking Dead. 

[25:56] Carlos talks about losing the victim mentality and becoming a master of the “now”. 

[29:38] Carlos describes his scariest moment as a parent, recounting recurring E.R. visits for his sickly 3-year-old daughter.  

[33:39] Carlos talks about the personality and humor of his youngest daughter. 

[35:19] Carlos passionately stresses the importance of living in the “now” and being present for your loved ones. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

[15:42] Carlos talks about the meaning behind a saying he holds in the back of his mind that, “boys make choices, men make decisions”. 

[22:56] Carlos credits manifestation and his relentless focus on his dream that led to its actualization. 

[29:12] Carlos’ realization that what connects us to people is our failures rather than successes. 

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Make sure to follow Jamie @jamiehess on Instagram for news & updates, and visit our companion Instagram account @gratitudeology for a sneak peek into the personal moments discussed on the show.

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Thank you to Carlos Navarro for sharing your truth with us today. Follow Carlos on Instagram @tothetopcarlos and check out his website iamcarlosnavarro.com 

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The Gratitudeology Podcast theme music is by HYLLS, performed by Nadia Ali.

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Carlos’s Bio:

Carlos Alberto Navarro’s 23-year entertainment career spans the media spectrum, from radio, television, and film to commercials, video games, and stand-up comedy. His rise in acting is reflected in his roles on some of entertainment’s biggest cultural phenomena, including 'Bloodline,' 'The Walking Dead' (one of the most-watched cable TV series in history), 'Red Dead Redemption II,' 'Madden NFL 20,' ‘The Outsider,’ ‘Identity Thief,’ ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,’ and Marvel's 'Hawkeye' miniseries on Disney+, where he played the villainous role of Enrique in the Tracksuit Mafia.

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Carlos is one of few Hispanic actors to have been part of both "The Walking Dead" and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, two juggernaut comic book movie franchises.

 

Carlos is a radio personality on the #1-rated Orlando talk show “Monsters in the Morning” on iHeartRadio’s Real Radio 104.1, where he entertains for FIVE HOURS a day LIVE. In 2022, Carlos and the entire hosting team at the “Monsters in the Morning” were named to TALKERS magazine’s list of the “100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America” – a.k.a. “The Heavy Hundred.”

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Carlos is a family man with a beautiful wife and two daughters who are his inspiration in every endeavor he pursues. He understands and values the importance of cherishing the special moments with them each and every day.

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