Our lives seem to get busier by the day, but Jay Whittaker is just glad you made it. Many of us have overcome amounts of adversity both big and small, and he’s just glad you made it. However you survived your trauma, or accomplished your goals, or found his podcast and tuned in for just one episode, he’s glad you made it.
Each of those thoughts fit in their own way into the narrative that the title of Whittaker’s latest venture, the Glad You Made It podcast, represents. For Whittaker, the first half of 2022 was a gut check of sorts, and the second half was all about being in “hungry mode” for his stand-up career, as well as his offstage projects, and with the growth of the podcast, and the overall effect it’s had on listeners, that hunger has subsequently spilled into the new year, as he’s feeling like it’s just the right time to be bringing this perspective to the forefront of his creative vision.
And while he is happy with where is as a stand-up comic, his best inspiration has always come from connecting with others, and at the very foundation of the podcast, that’s what he’s doing week after week.
“I do all my best writing when I’m talking to people, so my best material on stage comes from interactions and exchanging experiences with people,” Whittaker tells Vanyaland. “At the end of the year, Spotify will give you a little wrap-up where it tells you how much Whitney Houston you listened to, and your favorite podcasts, and for me, a lot of the podcasts were wellness podcasts, or comedians talking about everyday things, or wellness, meditation, and survival experiences, and that’s what I’ve wanted to focus on with this one.”
The podcast so far has proven to be as fruitful as he had hoped, in terms of bringing positivity and fresh perspectives from all different types of artists and professionals. In addition to that, Whittaker is also quick to acknowledge how much it’s helped his own mental and physical well-being to get out and chat with people, which for a self-proclaimed occasional hermit and a comedian who draws inspiration from human interactions, is a W all around.
“There are some people that are great writers, great performers, or they can write quick bits or long stories, but for me, there are times where I want to be on stage but I know I haven’t lived enough, or interacted with enough people, and when I feel like I haven’t done that, I don’t want to be on stage, because I feel like I don’t have anything important to say, or any value to add,” says Whittaker. “People come out to comedy shows to have a laugh, but they also come out to hear different takes and different experiences, and for me, podcasting helps with that.”
Even as an Air Force veteran who has lived and been stationed all over the U.S. at different junctures in life, including Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, and Texas after growing up in California and living in Utah for 15 years, Whittaker still yearns for the thrill of connection and still feels that he hasn’t lived enough to feel content with with his perspective.
Furthermore, his current public affairs role in the Air National Guard has him doing what he does best with public speaking, photography, and so many other creatively-driven aspects. But still, he yearns to expand his horizons.
“I guess I feel like I haven’t lived enough because I consistently realize just how big the world is,” says Whittaker. “When you move to a place like Massachusetts after you lived in Salt Lake City for a long time, you realize that there is a lot of culture here, and it’s an honor to be a part of that. Like, when I found out what a ‘bubbler’ was, I realized that I needed to get out more. I still haven’t traveled enough, and I want to meet more people, hear different accents and see more shit.”
With “Taco Tuesday” as an unlikely source of inspiration for releasing it specifically on Tuesdays, Whittaker is excited for how big the show itself, as well as the ripple of his positivity, can get. With open arms, Whittaker is here to welcome everyone who wants to join in on “The Glad Gang” fun, and at the end of the day, just help people with their wellness during the week, one day at a time.
“What I hope people take away from the podcast when they tune is that I really just want them to know that whatever you’re going through, someone is going through something similar, easier or worse, and I want you to know that I’m with you and rooting for you, even if I don’t physically see you,” says Whittaker. “I see the stats of people listening in places like Georgia, Nebraska, and even New Zealand and Canada. We’re all just kind of pushing each other along through the day.”