A Wild Ride Called Life™ The Podcast

Annette Whittenberger
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

A Wild Ride Called Life™ – The Podcast Hosted by Annette Whittenberger Veteran | Storyteller | Mental Health Advocate | Founder of A Wild Ride Called Life™ Life isn’t always picture-perfect — it’s raw, beautiful, heartbreaking, and healing all at once. A Wild Ride Called Life™ – The Podcast takes you behind the highlight reels and into the real conversations that remind us we’re not alone on this journey. Hosted by Annette Whittenberger, a retired U.S. Army Major turned entrepreneur, storyteller, and mental health advocate, this podcast is where authenticity meets purpose. Each episode dive

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    The one with Chris McPhee

    Beyond the Uniform: Leadership, Legacy & the People Who Shape Us | Christopher J. McPhee Who are you when the uniform comes off? In this episode of A Wild Ride Called Life, Annette sits down with longtime friend Christopher J. McPhee, a retired Green Beret, author, entrepreneur, podcaster, photographer, husband, father, mentor and co-founder of the BLK OPS Foundation. Chris and Annette first connected through the military community years ago, but what began as networking became a lasting friendship built on mentorship, collaboration, curiosity and a shared willingness to keep growing. This conversation goes far beyond Chris's military accomplishments. Chris shares how being raised by a single mother helped shape his discipline, the teachers and mentors who helped redirect his path, and why presenting his mother with his first Bronze Star became one of the most meaningful moments of his career. They also talk candidly about marriage, divorce, parenting, sobriety, failure, relationships, military transition and learning that the uniform can be an important part of your story without becoming your entire identity. Chris shares the philosophy behind his book, Follow Me: Leadership Lessons from the Shadows That Shape Extraordinary Leaders, the documentary work that helped inspire it, and the mission of the BLK OPS Foundation to inspire and mentor youth through storytelling. Throughout the conversation, several lessons continue to surface: • You don't have to do life alone.• Relationships matter more than networking.• Leadership begins with learning to lead yourself.• Sometimes not helping someone is actually helping them grow.• Treat people with kindness whenever you can.• Stop spending all your energy discussing the problem and start looking for the solution.• Keep learning—and pass what you've learned to someone else.• The military may have shaped you, but it does not have to define everything you become. Most importantly, this is a conversation about legacy—not simply what we accomplish, but what people remember learning from us after we're gone. 🎙️ Guest: Christopher J. McPhee📚 Follow Me: Leadership Lessons from the Shadows That Shape Extraordinary Leaders🌐 BLK OPS Foundation: blkopsfoundation.org🌐 Green Beret Media: greenberetmedia.com🔗 Find Christopher J. McPhee on LinkedIn and on Instagram under @greenberetmedia All proceeds from Follow Me support the BLK OPS Foundation and its work with youth.

  2. Aug 12

    The one where we talk about North Bay Honor Flights

    Description:What does it mean to finally receive the welcome home you should have gotten decades ago? In this episode of A Wild Ride Called Life, I sit down with Cynthia Hermosillo, Claudio Calvo, and David Mohle to talk about the mission behind North Bay Honor Flight and the powerful impact these trips can have on veterans and their families. Claudio, a Marine Corps Vietnam combat veteran, shares what it was like to return home from Vietnam without the recognition so many veterans deserved—and how an Honor Flight helped bring healing decades later. Cynthia shares why she plans to accompany her father, a U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran, on an upcoming Honor Flight and why creating those memories together matters so much. David Mohle shares how civilians and business owners can support veterans through volunteering, fundraising, community involvement, and simply showing up. We also talk about: 🇺🇸 The meaning of “Welcome Home”❤️ Healing through connection and recognition🎖️ Why many veterans stayed silent about their service👨‍👧 The bond between veterans and their families✉️ The emotional tradition of Mail Call🚌 What the Honor Flight experience includes🤝 How volunteers and businesses can help💙 How eligible veterans can get involved We may not be able to change the homecoming many veterans received decades ago, but we can change how we honor them today. Learn more at northbayhonorflight.org.Veterans outside the North Bay area can find a local hub at honorflight.org. #AWildRideCalledLife #NorthBayHonorFlight #HonorFlight #VietnamVeterans #VeteranStories #WelcomeHome

  3. Feb 25

    The one with Allison Burton

    In this powerful and unfiltered episode of A Wild Ride Called Life™ – The Podcast, Annette Whittenberger sits down with author, advocate, and speaker Allison Burton to unpack the invisible emotional labor carried by military spouses and families. Allison shares the heart behind her upcoming book Silent Ranks, Loud Burdens, a bold exploration of identity erosion, chronic stress, resentment, resilience, and the silent weight many spouses carry behind the scenes. Together, Annette and Allison dive into the realities of being “the strong friend,” the loneliness at senior ranks, food insecurity in military communities, mental health stigma, and why naming what we carry is the first step toward healing. This conversation is raw, honest, and necessary. It’s about giving language to the weight, validating the unseen, and reminding military families: you are not alone. As shared in the episode , this podcast exists to get real about mental health, transitions, music, and the work we do in our communities — because your voice matters and your story matters. A Wild Ride Called Life™ – The Podcast is a space for raw conversations about mental health, life transitions, advocacy, healing, and purpose. Through storytelling and courageous dialogue, we amplify voices that challenge stigma, bridge the military-civilian divide, and empower others to turn their mess into a message. If this episode resonates, please follow, rate, and share to help us continue elevating these important conversations. 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠https://allisonburton.co⁠⁠🔗 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-burton-a1b23117a/⁠⁠📘 Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/allisonburtonauthor⁠⁠📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allisonburton_author_speaker/⁠⁠🎵 TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/allison.burton33⁠⁠ 🎙 Podcast: A Wild Ride Called Life™ – The Podcast🌐 Website: ⁠⁠https://awildridecalledlife.com⁠⁠📸 Instagram: @awildridecalledlife🔗 LinkedIn: Annette Whittenberger📘 Facebook: A Wild Ride Called Life🎥 YouTube: A Wild Ride Called Life Subscribe so you never miss an episode — and remember: if we don’t say it out loud, nothing changes. 🎙 About the Podcast📚 Connect with Allison Burton🌿 Follow & Connect with Us

  4. 12/23/2025

    The one with Douglas Berry

    There Is No Expiration Date on Creativity: A Conversation with Douglas Berry Creativity doesn’t follow a timeline—and Douglas Berry is living proof of that. In this episode of A Wild Ride Called Life, host Annette Whittenberger sits down with Douglas Berry, a U.S. Air Force veteran, children’s book author, and songwriter whose journey defies traditional expectations. Douglas’s story is not about overnight success—it’s about persistence, curiosity, and the courage to try, even when the outcome is uncertain. Douglas grew up working on his family’s poultry farm before serving 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. Like many veterans, creative passions took a back seat to responsibility, structure, and service. It wasn’t until later in life that creativity resurfaced—this time with clarity and purpose. The inspiration for Douglas’s Jasper and Friends children’s book series came from a simple family moment when his son rescued a baby rabbit and named it Jasper. What started as a single story intended for friends and family quickly grew into a beloved series, opening the door to larger dreams of animation, storytelling, and legacy. During the conversation, Douglas shares a mindset that has guided him through every chapter of his life: there is no failure—only learning. From trying out for the Cincinnati Reds at age 30 to working as a mechanic on NASCAR teams, he emphasizes that success isn’t defined by outcomes, but by the willingness to show up and try. Douglas also discusses his musical journey, including the release of his second album, Barefoot Radio. The album captures beach-inspired, feel-good storytelling designed to offer listeners an escape from everyday stress. For Douglas, music—like writing—became another way to tell stories, connect with others, and embrace creativity without pressure. At the heart of this conversation is a powerful reminder: creativity doesn’t expire, and life doesn’t demand that we stay in one box. Douglas’s journey shows that it’s never too late to begin, restart, or reinvent. 🎧 Listen to the full episode of A Wild Ride Called Life on all major podcast platforms📺 Watch the full interview on YouTube under A Wild Ride Called Life🌐 Learn more about Douglas Berry at https://douglasberryauthor.com/

  5. 12/09/2025

    The one with Dr. John King

    Dr. John A. King is an Australian-born, indigenous (Warumungu) author, speaker, and survivor-advocate based in Texas. He founded the Give Them A Voice Foundation to champion male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and to combat human trafficking. John translates hard-won recovery into practical, brotherhood-driven frameworks that help men rebuild discipline, purpose, and relationships. His work has been featured in award-winning documentaries (Stopping Traffic and Light in the Darkness) and across podcasts and stages serving law enforcement, veterans, and community leaders. He’s currently publishing #DEALWITHIT: Duct Tape for the Soul and building The Phoenix Collective, a performance-mindset platform for people who have experienced trauma and those who support them. Contact Dr. King: ⁠drking@nextfoundation.org Website: www.drjohnaking.com Linkedln ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnaking/ Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/drjaking Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjohnaking//⁠ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjohnaking

  6. 12/02/2025

    The one with Joe Yurick

    Meet Joe Yurick, US ARMY Veteran. He worked with the PATRIOT Missile system in the Air Defense Artillery and deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom\Operation Enduring Freedom. He shares his story of self-medicating with alcohol for years to the point where he almost lost everything. He is now going on 3+ years sober, and is on a mission to normalize sobriety with Veterans who are using and abusing substances in a harmful self-medicating way. He uses. He has created a platform to spread this message with his podcast titled "This Sober Vet Podcast". It is now available on all major platforms. Contact Joe: thissobervet@gmail.com Website https://thissobervet.com/ Linkedln https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-yurick-78654842/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567537590503 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thissobervetpodcast/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@thissobervetpodcast Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@ThisSoberVet

  7. 11/18/2025

    The one with Peyton Jones

    Peyton Jones is a rising Texas country singer-songwriter, whose evocative storytelling and heartfelt performances are quickly building buzz across the Lone Star State. Based just south of Waxahachie, Peyton’s journey over the last two years has seen him release deeply relatable singles and hit the live circuit with a blend of honesty and charm. In 2025, Peyton debuted two standout tracks—“Overthinking” (May 16, 2025) and “Poisonous Love” (early 2025)—that have resonated with streaming audiences for their emotional sincerity and lyrical clarity. From small fields in Ennis to streaming playlists, Peyton Jones is weaving universal themes of love, doubt, and vulnerability into something distinctly Texas. With a growing catalog and live momentum, his music reflects not just where he’s from—but where he's headed. Find his newest single "Don't Trust Myself" at: https://peytonjonesmusic.com/

  8. 11/13/2025

    The one with me introducing the new launch

    Welcome to the launch of my new podcast. I am excited to share this journey with you. In our podcast, we will talk about all the things. This is a community and safe space for us to use our voice to talk mental health, music, transition, real life heartaches, heartbreaks and everything in between. This is for us and I am so honored to be your host. Keep following along on the website www.awildridecalledlife.com and all social media platforms @awildridecalledlife.

  9. 11/13/2025

    The one where I talk about the holidays

    I made this episode with all of us in mind. I also made this in my car because the reality is, as soon as I walk into the house, I will forget. You will always get real, raw and authenticity from me, even in the car. Let's talk about the real emotions we get during the holidays. It is not the same for everyone but the conversation should be had. I would love to hear from you.

  • 9 Episodes

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A Wild Ride Called Life™ – The Podcast Hosted by Annette Whittenberger Veteran | Storyteller | Mental Health Advocate | Founder of A Wild Ride Called Life™ Life isn’t always picture-perfect — it’s raw, beautiful, heartbreaking, and healing all at once. A Wild Ride Called Life™ – The Podcast takes you behind the highlight reels and into the real conversations that remind us we’re not alone on this journey. Hosted by Annette Whittenberger, a retired U.S. Army Major turned entrepreneur, storyteller, and mental health advocate, this podcast is where authenticity meets purpose. Each episode dive

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