Travel, Music, and Transformation: The World of Carlos Zatch Ep. #27

Summary

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Podcast Summary

In The Mix with Marvin Joles

Episode #27: Travel, Music, and Transformation — The World of Carlos Thatch
Date: April 13, 2026
Host: Marvin Joles
Guest: Carlos Thatch (Musician, Traveler, Content Creator)

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Episode Overview

This episode reconnects host Marvin Joles and guest Carlos Thatch after five years, diving deep into Carlos’s evolution from a globe-trotting content creator to a musician drawing inspiration from his travels. The conversation highlights themes of personal transformation, pursuing creative passions, appreciating the present, and the enduring allure of adventure—whether at home or abroad.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Reconnecting and Reflecting on Change

• Early Connection: Marvin recounts how Carlos originally caught his attention by living the travel experiences he captured online—taking authentic action, not just posting staged photos.
  • “What I really enjoyed was Carlos was most of the time in his photos doing the actual thing that was in the description… I was like, dang, I would love to…” (01:53)
• Transformation Over Five Years:
  • Both reflect on how their lives and careers have evolved since their first podcast in 2020.
    • Carlos: “Everything changes in life. You know, that is my motto. Todo cambia.” (03:29)
  • Growth from travel and content creation to creative projects (music for Carlos; public speaking and coaching for Marvin).

2. The Evolving Meaning of Travel and Home

• Shifting Perspectives:
  • Carlos shares that travel was originally an escape and a way to define himself. Now, he’s found value in appreciating his home life in Cabo—health, family, and local community.
    • “I don’t see the need to travel to be well with myself... Right now, I see life different. I appreciate my health, friends, family…” (09:53–10:37)
• Marvin’s Journey:
  • Finds joy in local experiences—sunsets, food, and family.
    • “To be at a sunset near the river and have just a great local food is almost just as good.” (08:28)
  • Balance between seeking adventure and embracing the present.

3. Music as a New Creative Chapter

• Carlos’s Music Journey:
  • Released his first single “Destination” in 2020.
  • Collaborates with a producer friend; stays authentic to his style rather than pursuing trends.
    • “I told him, I want to create music, but I want to be myself.” (14:05)
• Emotional Impact:
  • Marvin expresses love for tracks “Desert Wind” and “Me and You (Sped Up)”—adding them to his personal playlist.
    • “I have two on my playlist… I actually have ‘Me and You’ sped up. I like the sped up one.” (15:56–16:08)
• The Challenge of Starting in Music:
  • Carlos discusses needing belief in oneself and the right connections.
    • “First, you need to believe in yourself… then find the right people in your life.” (17:00)
  • Importance of networking for navigating both creative and business aspects.

4. Networking, Connection, and Community

• Networking as an Engine for Growth:
  • Marvin: “Your network is your net worth. For me, it’s always just been about connections.” (18:15)
  • Carlos: “Connections in life are the best investment… if you give, you receive.” (19:01)
• Building Authentic Brands:
  • Both agree authenticity is central to their public personas—what people see online mirrors who they are in person.
    • “Everything I do is on brand because I live what you see in here every day.” (35:14)

5. Travel Tales, Food, and Cultural Adventures

• Stories from the Road:
  • Marvin reminisces about recent trips to Maui and Key West; Carlos discusses his adventures across the Americas and Europe.
• Food as Connection:
  • Lengthy discussion about favorite eats—lobster rolls, deep-dish pizza, and local specialties in places like Key West, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
    • “The best lobster roll I tried in my life was in Washington, D.C., in Georgetown.” (38:38)

6. Inspiration, Letting Go, and Embracing the Journey

• Accepting Change and Divine Timing:
  • Carlos: “Life is a surprise. It’s a box of surprises. Everything… Maybe God has something more beautiful for you… you just have to be patient.” (28:49–28:58)
• Marvin on ‘The Alchemist’:
  • Shares lessons from Paulo Coelho’s book about trusting the universe and following omens.
    • “Now I don’t try to push so hard… allows me to enjoy a lot of the normal stuff, the moments…” (27:28)
• Embracing New Chapters:
  • Carlos reflects on always wanting to be an artist, even as a child, and celebrates finding fulfillment in music now.
    • “I always knew… that I was going to be in the entertainment industry… I always wanted to be an artist.” (32:14)

7. Brand Synergy and Team Support

• On Building a Team:
  • Both credit strong support teams (including girlfriends/wives) for enabling creativity and consistency.
    • “It’s always great to have a good team… the brand is just what we embody.” (33:31, 35:13)
• Brand Consistency:
  • Authenticity in content, music, and real-life encounters.

8. Current and Future Music Projects

• Latest Singles:
  • Carlos has just released “A Letter to New York City” and “For Seasonal Life.” (43:48)
  • Both singles will anchor his next album, expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
• Seasonal/Festive Music:
  • Considering a full Christmas album (44:19)
• Where to Find Carlos Online:
  • Website: carloszatch.com (45:30)
  • Instagram: @carloszatch
  • TikTok: @carloszatchmusic
  • All major streaming platforms

9. Looking Ahead

• Where Will Carlos Be in Five Years?
  • Personal milestones (hopes for a family), continued travel, and music creation.
    • “Probably with kids. I want to have kids… But my first baby is going to be like the Four Seasons baby…” (47:05)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Todo cambia. Everything changes.” —Carlos (03:29)
• “When you are younger… travel is a need to escape. Now, I appreciate where I live.” —Carlos (09:53)
• “Your network is your net worth.” —Marvin (18:15)
• “If you give, you receive.” —Carlos (19:01)
• “I always knew in the bottom of my heart that I was going to be in the music industry sometime.” —Carlos (32:14)
• “Everything I do is on brand, because I live what you see in here every day.” —Marvin (35:14)
• “Life is a surprise. It’s a box of surprises.” —Carlos (28:49)
• “Now I don’t try to push so hard… I really enjoy a lot of the little things and a lot of stuff now.” —Marvin (27:28)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:53] — Marvin recounts first discovering Carlos, authentic travel content
• [03:29] — Carlos reflects on life’s changes, “todo cambia”
• [09:53–10:37] — Carlos discusses his new appreciation for home and local life
• [13:18] — Carlos describes starting his music career, first single “Destination”
• [15:23] — Discussion of favorite tracks (“Desert Wind,” “Me and You”)
• [17:00] — Carlos on the importance of self-belief and connections in music & career
• [18:15] — Marvin shares “network is net worth”
• [27:28] — Marvin’s Alchemist analogy; embracing life’s journey
• [32:14] — Carlos’s early desire for a creative career
• [35:14] — The discussion on personal branding and team support
• [43:48] — New music releases and upcoming album announcement
• [47:05] — Carlos’ five-year vision
• [49:04] — Carlos suggests a future reunion/episode

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Where to Find More

• Carlos Thatch: carloszatch.com, @carloszatch on Instagram, @carloszatchmusic on TikTok, plus all music platforms
• Marvin Joles: marvinjols.com | Podcast @ In The Mix

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Summary

This episode is a vibrant, reflective, and honest look at growth—personal, professional, and creative. Carlos and Marvin’s shared philosophy emerges: embrace change, nurture authentic connections, let life take you where you’re meant to go, and find inspiration in both the journey and the moments of stillness. Whether you’re passionate about travel, considering a pivot into something new, or just in need of some authentic inspiration, Carlos Thatch’s trajectory—and this episode—will resonate.

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Transcript

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[Marvin Jols]

Today's episode of in the Mix is powered by Jobber.

[Podcast Narrator]

Welcome to in the Mix, paving the way to insight, education and entertainment in the asphalt industry. Your host, Marvin Joel's a best of web pavement award winner, knows the blacktop community and what it takes to win in this industry. Each episode you'll hear real stories, expert insights and road tested strategies from the people who make up the asphalt world and beyond. Whether you're paving parking lots, ceiling driveways, striping lines, or innovating asphalt tech, this is the podcast for pros who keep the industry rolling. Now here's Marvin.

[Marvin Jols]

Hey everybody. Welcome back to another episode of in the Mix. Obviously we have a wide variety of guests and today we have one of my guests from way, way, way back. And it's kind of when I started like searching on social media and whatnot, and I started going to some pretty cool places near the, near the equator and I started just looking at like where you would stay and what you could do and all these things. And I stumbled upon my friend Carlos Zach. And to be honest with you, the photos that Carlos would take were really what caught my attention. And we see a lot of like travel photos and stuff online, right? There's a profiles and blogs about travel, especially, you know, on the Caribbean and in the equator and in Central America. But what I really enjoyed was Carlos was most of the time in his photos doing the actual thing that was in the description and that is really what caught my attention because I was like, dang, I would love to be at the Four Seasons. I would love to be near Belize. I'd love to be in the Yucatan. I would love to be anywhere near the Gulf of Mexico or America, whatever they're going to call it now. And that's kind of how we connected, my friend. So it's really great to have you back. Since then, my life has taken a different trajectory and your life has totally taken a different trajectory because those photos now have music behind them and it's your music. So, you know, it's going to be great to, to get caught up. So kick us off with how you've been, man, because it's been a while.

[Carlos Thatch]

I'm already. And hi, audience. I'm very excited to have this opportunity to have this space to talk about my projects and life and how is everything going around. And I'm doing very well right now. How are you doing? You are doing really well too. And I can see our latest podcast was on 2020, like five years ago. And I was shocked when I saw that podcast just recently because it was like, oh my gosh, we together, all the fast change a lot, but I think we have the same, you know, experience, you know, the same soul and the same dreams, but in different situations because everything changes in life. You know, that is my, my motto of life. Everything changes. Total cambia in Spanish I'm very excited. Thank you so much for, for having me here. I'm very excited. It is really hot here because it's my, my brand new office and I am currently in Cabo, Cabo San Lucas. Where are you right now?

[Marvin Jols]

I'm in Wisconsin. In the U.S. i'm in the U.S. and yeah, so it's not cold, cold. It's like probably 70 or so Fahrenheit. But see, total cambia is lavardal. See, so see, so for us, it, it has a little bit too here, but just like the seasons, things change, right? So we're doing well. We're doing well. It's. It's a little bit of a balance because as you were saying, things kind of change and once you get really comfortable doing one thing, you all of a sudden feel confident to do another thing and not necessarily stop doing thing, but just kind of add on to it and that's really what's happening. Yeah, yeah, we add on. So for us, it did as well. We started with the podcast and then turned into a coaching group and then writing articles and I'm back doing speaking again and in the meantime, I'm still doing the businesses.

[Carlos Thatch]

Right.

[Marvin Jols]

Doing the. The asphalt work and stuff. So it's been kind of unique. But, man, you know, that's life, Carlos. That's life. It.

[Carlos Thatch]

That's. Life changes. It's adventure. It is exploring new things. It's. Even if you are not physically traveling, I can say life is a trip. It's traveling. It's a lot of things coming and going and in and out, and I think that is part of the fire of our lives. So I am very happy and to be here right now, maybe present, be healthy, grounded, connected with God and moving forward with my projects.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

And how do you find having this podcast these days? You. Do you interview a lot of people and personalities I can see. And do you. Do you think that is more. I don't know, it is more personal to have a podcast nowadays? An interview? Yeah, right.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah, I think nowadays, you know, after. When I first started doing it, I imagine it's a lot like music. When you first start doing it, you're kind of doing it, and then all of a sudden you get confident, you practice a lot, and then it just becomes second nature. So for me, I've been traveling a lot this past year. I went to some pretty cool places. I'm not gonna lie. I was pretty close to, like, your realm. I stayed. We went to Maui. So I. Maui, I was there for a large conference.

[Carlos Thatch]

Wow.

[Marvin Jols]

And then we just got back from Key west, so what? Had a wonderful time there and took in a lot of great food, a lot of the great beaches and a lot of that great stuff. So I did my thing. I unbuttoned my shirt down a few buttons like you do. I sat on the beach, took some good pictures, grabbed some great sun photos. Right. And I took in some good music and stuff, too. So it, you know, it's been. It's been interesting. I think now I'm more comfortable. But also, I'm here in Wisconsin now in the. In the United States, and I'm, like, directly north of you. If you go right before Canada, that's where you're going to find Wisconsin. Okay, great. North of Cabo. So I'm up here quite a ways, but I. I agree with you. I feel like now I don't have to travel so much to get that sense of adventure or to feel like I'm living the good life. I feel like more and more, the older I get and the more I realize what's really important, that's more impressive and makes me feel more wealthy than if I'm traveling. Like when we went to Key west, we were on jet skis out in the ocean, right. And there were dolphins and stuff with us, which is fantastic. It's a great experience. But to be honest with you, to

[Ad Host]

be here in the home, we're in

[Marvin Jols]

a beautiful part of Wisconsin. To be at a sunset. Yeah, to be here at a sunset near the river and have just a great local food is almost just as good. And I don't have to bar and I don't have to go through it. But don't get me wrong, when we stayed.

[Ad Host]

Where do we stay?

[Marvin Jols]

We stayed at the Grand Wallet in Maui. Don't get me wrong, I love that experience as well, but I'm getting to where I find joy in both. So are you starting to see that a little bit as. As we get older, as we, as

[Carlos Thatch]

we spoke five years ago, I was like, I want to explore. I want to travel this month to a new destination. I want to get out of here. I want to. To see the world, to know that I was 20, 21 and I am 26 right now. But I don't want to say that I don't like to travel. Of course I love travel. But right now, maybe my mind changed it a little bit, you know, like, okay, what about if I appreciate the place where I live? So I live in Cabo, as you say. You live in Wisconsin. I live in Cabo San Lucas. And it's beach town is very small. It's very, very small. And we have many tourists from the US Here and. But yeah, there is not much to do here. But

[Podcast Narrator]

you.

[Carlos Thatch]

I, I got to the point that I said, okay, I complete my university studies. I have a career now. I have this and this and this and. But I don't see. I don't see the need to travel to be well with myself, you know, because when you are. When I was younger, when I started traveling around the world, it was like I needed to escape from my. My reality, my place where I lived. Yeah. Right now I see life different. You know, I appreciate my health. I appreciate having friends in my town. I appreciate having an office where I can do everything.

[Ad Host]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

Having my family close to me. So maybe travel. Yeah, it is. It is that you get comfortable. When I travel to a Four Seasons, the first thing that I do when I land in a Four Seasons is to get into bed and use the slippers. Yeah, the slippers are the best.

[Marvin Jols]

And I seen it. I've seen a piece of content you put out where you were like, I really Enjoy being in my room now. Like, I just, I love being in my room when I'm at the hotel. Like, I seen a piece of content where you're like, I just like to be in my room and feel the vibe.

[Carlos Thatch]

My room.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah. And just feel the vibe and relax and relax and know that I'm here. And I feel like, I feel like earlier on with the podcast, right when I, when I started, it was the thing, but now I kind of use that as inspiration to do my other things. Like, I draw from the conversations I have in the podcast and the places, the conferences I go. I really use those to do my creative stuff. So my writing, my ideas on. Yeah, so for me it's like, okay, that I thought that this was the thing, but it's not the thing. It's actually what fuels and what motivates me and where I draw inspiration from to do the actual creative thing. And that's okay, right? So I take, I just took lesson that's like, I don't, that's not my identity. That's just something that I do. This is actually what I'm focused on and doing right now. And I feel like, I feel like this also could be the thing at some point that motivates me and inspires me to do the next thing. And that's okay, right? Like, I don't need my identity wrapped up in that whole big thing right. Right now. So, you know, it was really cool to, to have your, your team reach out and be like, hey, Carlos wants to hang out and do some conversation. Because I seen that you made a big change and I'm like, cool. He's kind of doing the same thing I did where we thought it was this thing and now we're using it as motivation to do the next thing. So I imagine you, you concur. That's kind of what from listening to your music. It gets to be inspired from a lot of your travel. If you've been in asphalt long enough, you've probably said, there's gotta be a

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[Marvin Jols]

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[Marvin Jols]

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[Carlos Thatch]

Talking about Right now about music. My first single that I. That I created was in 2020 and it is called Destination. You can. You can research it and it is very, very popular. And at that time, I didn't realize I loved music. And I love combining music and travel.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

And after two years, I had that feeling of, oh, I want to. I love music, but what can I do? What can I do? So my best friend Danny. Danny, he's a producer. He produced music for Maluma. You know, Spanish music. Maluma. J Balmy.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah. J Balvin.

[Carlos Thatch]

He helps to create the tracks, the music, the melody. So for those kind of artists. And I was like, oh, but that is not my vibe. Maybe that is dragged on. But I reach out my best friend and told him, like, oh, but I want to create music, but I don't want to leave my sense, you know, my. My what I am. So I told him, I want to create music, but I want to be myself. Yeah. Told me, okay, let's find your style. And then we started dropping singles and then I created my first EP that is called this is Carlos. That. That I have it here. Yeah, it's on physical CD too, and it is with Ben. Then what's that feel like?

[Marvin Jols]

What's it feel like, Carlos? Because, like, I seen a. I've seen a post in April of you at a store with that CD hand. You're like, yeah, yeah. You're like, oh, my God, here's my CD actually in the physical. I listen to all your stuff on I, by the way.

[Carlos Thatch]

But we are going to send you one physical cd, so please give. Give us. Yeah, we are going to send you one copy of this.

[Marvin Jols]

Will you sign it? Will you sign it for me?

[Carlos Thatch]

Yeah, of course. Of course. I put Marvin here.

[Marvin Jols]

Perfect. I can't wait. I can't wait. Yeah, you know the. I really love Desert Wind. Yeah. Yeah. I think at first I was like, oh, I love this track. I just loved the music first. And then all of a sudden when you came in and your lyrics were going along with kind of what I was imagining in my mind when I was listening to the music, I was like, all right, I get it. I get it now. And this one fits. So I really enjoyed that one. I have two on my. On my playlist. I think I have.

[Carlos Thatch]

Oh, thank you.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah, I have me and you on there.

[Carlos Thatch]

Oh, me and you stop by.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah. And then I have. Yes, Desert Wind. Yeah, I like that. I actually have Me and you sped up. I like the sped up one.

[Carlos Thatch]

The sped up.

[Marvin Jols]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

Yeah, so use it on your TikToks and everything. It is very tick tock.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah, yeah. I need to, I need to. I will. We'll pull a clip and I'll put it on there. But let's talk about that a little bit because like you said, you, you kind of want to do music and wasn't how bad was the learning curve of being like, hey, I'm gonna do this because to be honest with you, it's something that I've entertained quite a bit. I play guitar, I play a little bit of piano, I write.

[Carlos Thatch]

Okay.

[Marvin Jols]

Like I went and did some sessions with some producers and stuff and I put music out on, on Instagram of me just playing guitar and singing and stuff. But it's always seemed like this huge, monumental task of like, if you're gonna do this and you don't know what you're doing, it's good. It's a huge leap. So tell me a little bit about that. When with your jump, I know you had your, your friend who produces, but even then there had to be some typ, I'm guessing, correct?

[Carlos Thatch]

Yeah, exactly. I think if you are going to be an artist and you want to fully dedicate to this career, you need to have the first, you need to, to be. To believe in yourselves and then you need to find the right persons in your life. You know, you have to explore, you have to, to be with friends. Like aid there is any chance, you know someone that works at, I don't know, Spotify or you know someone that, that knows certain playlists.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

That you can have my music on or do you know anyone? Yeah. To move forward. Because when you just land your music to get the, the streams, to get everything, it is a, a big, big process. So if you have the right thing and you have the right people in your life, that is going to be, I don't want to say easy because it is not easy. Nothing is easy in life. But maybe it is going to be more smooth. You know, you are moving more, more, more forward like fish in the river.

[Marvin Jols]

Do you feel like I'm a big fan? We have a saying here. I don't know if they have it there, but it's called your network is your net worth. Which really means the more hands you shake, the more money you make. But for me it's always just been about connections. I never really cared so much about making money or my net worth or anything being big. But I realized that the people you meet and that are your friends or people you know, create opportunities because you know, somebody who, How. Who can help you that is in that spot. And that's how it's been for me a lot throughout my career. So people always ask me why I go to a lot of the conferences and I have to travel to get there and do these things. But that's because I meet the person who later on is the connection to help me do this thing and that thing. Yeah. So. So it's like. No.

[Carlos Thatch]

Yes.

[Marvin Jols]

I go there, like open mind.

[Carlos Thatch]

Connections. Connections and life in life are the best investment. You know, if you have good friendships, keep them because. And find a way to. To. To help them too. Because if you give you receive, you know, I think it's like this in life. You give you receive. Yeah. Moving, go, going to events. I've been fortunate to travel a lot and meet a lot of people from. From hotels, from the restaurants, from the tourism boards.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

That now they are helping. Helping me to connect the dots in my music career.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

Right now I have my. My best friend who is my producer, and we work together making this project and the more projects that we have everything here on Apple Music, Spotify and everything. And actually, yeah, you can find my music on. On all the streaming platforms.

[Marvin Jols]

I listen on itunes.

[Carlos Thatch]

On itunes. I love Apple music.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah. Yeah, Apple Music. I have a beach playlist because we go. My wife Nikki loves to go to the beach. So we have a beach playlist and I got a couple of singles of yours on there. It's a legit vibe, a nice breeze in the sun. Now it's a vibe and a nice. I like Miami Vice, but I prefer, you know, I have a nice Miami Vice on the beach and vibe out and just feel that ocean breeze. It's been, it's been. It's been good, man.

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[Marvin Jols]

Do you like traveling more or do you like doing music more? I'm gonna guess music right now.

[Carlos Thatch]

Yes. It's a very good question, but I don't know. Combining both. Both things. Yeah.

[Marvin Jols]

Do you still have that feeling? Car. Like, I, I, I need to get away. I need to go somewhere.

[Carlos Thatch]

I need to go somewhere. Yes. I love this village.

[Marvin Jols]

I do, too. I do too. I feel like even here locally, like, if you could just travel within a couple hours, you can get some really cool destinations to get some cool food, the culture, the sunset. And if I go about a month, I'm like, okay, I have to go somewhere. I have to do something. I have to unplug and get away from. And I feel like.

[Carlos Thatch]

And drive.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah, I'll drive sometimes, but a lot of times I'll drive and used to go just by myself now Nikki goes with me. But your wife? My wife, yeah. And I just, I just try to unplug completely. Even now if I go into the mountains or anywhere in Tennessee. Oh, I was going to tell you. We have a place outside of Nashville, Tennessee now. So I get to see, be. See a lot of music because Nashville is huge with country music and all music in general. But we went to the mountains. Yeah. And, and I just shut my phone off. Like, on Friday, I'll shut my phone off and I'll put it in the truck. I won't touch it until Monday because I want to completely unplug. Feel the vibe. Like you say, build the vibe. Yeah. And just get my thoughts back to myself and be like, okay, this is what I need to do now. I feel like the music or the travel is important, but I don't feel that it's everything. And I feel like for you, at one point, like, it was everything. And so that was why I asked the question.

[Carlos Thatch]

Yeah.

[Marvin Jols]

You'll feel the need sometimes and be like, okay, we gotta go somewhere. Because you, you have a song, right? A letter to nyc, to New York City. And I seen you, you were in the New York Public Library. Like, there had to been a need to be like, okay, we gotta get out of here at some point and go, Go and have some fun.

[Carlos Thatch]

Actually, this song, A Letter to New York City, it is a very old song that I wrote lots of years ago, and I just recently make a little changes to it. So it was inspired when it was Covid in 2020. 2020, and when I met you in the podcast. But I Didn't know that I. Because I do journaling. I write a lot of things. I have a lot of notebooks where I write a lot of things. And at that time, I didn't know that I was going to be in the music industry, but I had that feeling to write things. So I wrote this song, a Letter to New York City, which is an inspiration. When I lived there and I started filmmaking and I was exploring the city. I was 21 years old, you know, it was amazing. It was a big city for me. It was a dream. I was planning to live in New York City because I wanted to live there. Sadly, the pandemic came exactly the point when. When I. When I was in New York and I was studying and I got my student visa, so I had to return back to Mexico and unlock my dream. But I am sure I am going to be. I'm going to live in New York. I don't know when, but I really want to live there. And yes, we are promoting this song, by the way. We are traveling to New York very soon, Very, very soon and going to New York and we are attending a film festival. Oh, how is life that five years after that I am going back to New York and I am attending a film festival. I am promoting this single that I wrote five years ago. So this is very special to me. And I'm going to post everything on my socials, on my Instagram, and when. Yeah, you know, Marvin, life is good if you believe in yourself. If you just believe and let things flow.

[Marvin Jols]

Yes, I believe.

[Carlos Thatch]

I don't think in God.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

So I think if you leave your things to God and you. And you believe in yourself and you say, oh, I have these dreams. Please make them true. Put the right people on my path and put the right things on my path, and I will take them and I will take the opportunities. I think life just keeps you on that path if you believe in your trust.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah, I think so, too. There's a book I called the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and it's so good. And it's. It's literally. It's the same thing, you know, it highlights this young man named Santiago who wants to go to the pyramids because there's a treasure there. And he goes on this journey and it takes him across the sea and he gets robbed, and then he has to work at a store. And then he eventually gets to go across the desert and he gets misled, goes to the pyramids, gets beat up there and has to go back home. But when he's at the pyramids. The guys tells him that he's a fool for believing in treasure because somebody told him that there would be a sycamore up in. In Spain in. In Andalusia. And he starts laughing because he knows where the sycamore tree is. It's at the very beginning of the book. He goes home, digs underneath the tree, and finds the treasure, right? And all he. And he was just going very hard to try to make this thing happen. And the whole time, God in the universe was like, I'm. I'm getting you to where you're supposed to go. Like, you're going against the grain. Just enjoy it. Enjoy the ride. And for me, I feel like that's kind of where we're at. Of, like, I just. Now I don't try to push so hard for what I'm like, yeah, I'm

[Ad Host]

gonna make this happen.

[Marvin Jols]

I don't really do that. I'm just like, hey, I really enjoy a lot of the little things and a lot of stuff now. And if my path takes me on that way, because I obviously pray, and it's like, if my path takes me on that way, and that's what he wants. Cool. But now it allows me to enjoy a lot of, like, the normal stuff. The moments, like seeing that photo of you grab your album at the store, that made me smile really big because it was like, here's this. Yeah, it's like, here's this completely different trajectory from where we were. And you're totally excited about it, and you're very happy about it. And it's like, what if Covid wouldn't have happened and you wouldn't have had a trajectory change? We wouldn't even. I wouldn't be able to have your music on my iTunes playlist, which would really stink. Right. But I would still be enjoying your photos. Right. And doing this whole complete other path. But I don't know that we know what's best for us or where we're really going all the time. But you have to keep going forward and doing something and seizing opportunities because there's a reason why they're being in front of you. Right? So in the book, the Alchemists, they're called omens. And he's like, just follow the omens, you know, like, if that's what you're supposed to do, do it. It's really unique just to see, like, where our lives go and where. Where they go and how they lead,

[Carlos Thatch]

you know, life is a surprise. I think it's a surprise. It's a box of surprises. Everything.

[Ad Host]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

And we can't plan anything. You know, five years ago I was like, oh, when I was 25 or when I was 26, I am going to have this, this house or I'm going to have this property, this, this thing. But no, life is not that. Maybe God has, has something beautiful, more beautiful for you. And you don't. You just have to be patient. So yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Marvin Jols]

I think life, it is. I think, I think what ends up happening really, Carlos, is like somehow we think that we are in control and if we just do these things, it's going to happen. And as soon as you have that thought, it seems like everything that happens is to remind you that you don't have control. So then you're just like, well, then I'll just let whatever happens happens. And when you do that, you end up kind of doing some stuff that you never thought you would do. That's a lot of fun. That makes your heart happy, put smiles on your face and may lead you to places that you may have never gotten if you didn't switch up the trajectory.

[Carlos Thatch]

Yeah, but exactly.

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[Marvin Jols]

Guess where those came from?

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[Marvin Jols]

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[Marvin Jols]

See the area or whether you're paving

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[Carlos Thatch]

It is new, but it is not new. Because I always say to everyone, when I was a child, I have a photo of me here. When I was a child, I have photos of me when I was a child here in my office. When I was a child, I. All the times new. This is very cute. They gave me this for. For. I don't know if you celebrate this, this day in the United States. Child's Day.

[Marvin Jols]

Oh, no.

[Carlos Thatch]

To celebrate Child's Day.

[Marvin Jols]

No, we don't do that. No, there's Mother's Day. Father's Day.

[Carlos Thatch]

Mother's Day. Father's Day.

[Marvin Jols]

No, Children's Day. No, they didn't. We did. We only just celebrate their birthday. Yeah. We're like, you have a birthday and you get stuck. So that's enough. We're not giving you your own. I really like that. I know.

[Carlos Thatch]

We celebrate here on April 30th. Yeah. On April 30th, we celebrated children Day. And my mom gave me these photos of me when I was a child. But by the way, when. When I was a child, I always knew that I was going to be in the entertainment industry. And I went. I always wanted to be an artist, but I didn't know exactly what type of artist I was going to be, you know, and when I was growing up, I just realized, like, okay, I love traveling, I love photography, I love filmmaking, I love music right now. So I didn't. I always knew in my. In the bottom of my heart that I was going to. To be in the music industry in any time of my life. So I am glad that that time arrived and I am enjoying. I enjoy creating music, publishing, everything, and making the marketing, making the photos, everything. Everything related to. To a. To a new release. And I am very glad that right now I have a team working with me. She's the best. She's my girlfriend, too.

[Marvin Jols]

Wow. Right? Don't. Don't get mixed up. Nikki helps me out quite a bit, too, on my end. She's not, like, officially part of the team. If I was like, saying, this is the team. But she's big. She's a bigger part as anybody else. You know what I mean? But she's like, ah, I just do. I just do it because I love you. But, yeah, I think it's always great. It's always great to have a good team. Even here on the podcast, we have a producer, we have somebody who helps me out with social media. We have a videographer. And then, of course, you know, I couldn't do all of it without the team. And I, I think you, where you and I say everything, they're everything. And I think, I think where you and I connect a lot is we have a brand and the brand is just what we embody like it. My brand is who I am. And when the team kind of gets to know you and they understand what you hope for and how to represent you really well, it really helps build the overall brand. So it doesn't. For me, it wasn't a big shift to see Carlos the travel blogger switched to Carlos the music maker. Because this matches this, right? The type of music. Great. Matches this and then matches that. The photos that I see from you when you're traveling and doing your stuff match the music, right. And then to see your style, your style is how I would imagine you being dressed if you were seeing the songs in front of me or if I met you at a four season somewhere. And I feel like with me people get that. I, I, you know, when I, when I speak to people, when I go to events and they finally get to meet me, I love taking photos with people. I love when they come up and talk to me. I signed some autographs in St. Louis this year at the World of Basketball Conference.

[Carlos Thatch]

Wow.

[Marvin Jols]

Which is crazy. But one of the best compliments everybody gets is like, dude, you're the same person in real life. Like, you're the exact same person. Then I'll be like, well, let's go get some food and hang out. Like, oh, we get to hang out with you. Right? It's like, yeah, I'm just a guy like anybody else. And I feel like there's an expectation that it's not going to be that way. But everything I do is on brand because I live what you see in here every day. Right. So, yeah, the content I make is on brand because that's just who I am every day. And I feel like with you, that's why you and I connect well. Because that's how you are. I would expect it. If I showed up, hey, if I came to Cabo and said, let's hang out, I would imagine you're going to be. We can hang out there. Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

We can go and get margaritas. We can go and get margaritas here at the Menelau Beach. Yes. That was amazing.

[Marvin Jols]

We, when we were in Key West. When we were in Key West, I'm going to, I'm going to tell you I had a. And I've had them before, but I've never had them as well. I Love. I love being able to sit on the beach with a drink. And we did the same thing. We had some margaritas. Had some really good ones there at. At the beach. But I also had a lobster roll, which is.

[Carlos Thatch]

Oh, my gosh. Oh, my favorite. Oh, Carlos, Recently.

[Marvin Jols]

Oh, good. They're so good. And it's dangerous because they're expensive. But the. Yeah, the bread, they. They slice it and they toast it, and then they put just lobster on it with butter. Ridiculous how good it is. You can eat it with a fork. You can try to grab it. Good luck. But Key west had some amazing ones. And it was that lobster. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

You are close to Washington, D.C. no,

[Marvin Jols]

I'm right around the middle. I'm right in the middle. Yeah. So we're in the middle.

[Carlos Thatch]

Close.

[Marvin Jols]

I'm by Chicago.

[Carlos Thatch]

Oh, Chicago.

[Marvin Jols]

Which. If you ever come to Chicago, I'll go with you. There's some great food.

[Carlos Thatch]

I'm looking at the map.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

Okay.

[Marvin Jols]

I'll take you. We can tour the river. The. There's a lot of great hotels there. There's some beautiful Hill. Hilton's there. They have a pier and they have some great restaurants. We could. They have a kind of like a Broadway where. There's a theater there. I took my children to see okay. Story a couple years ago. It was fantastic. So there's a lot. And I. I watch soccer. The Chicago Fire MLS team plays there. So there's a lot in Chicago. And it's really affordable. It's the closest thing to me that I'm like, I was telling you, if I drive within two or three hours in a loop, Chicago's really three hours radar. Yeah. It's like three hours to drive. Yeah. And okay. It's fantastic. The. The. There's some really great places that look.

[Carlos Thatch]

I think just one. Just once. Yeah. Like three years ago, I. I went to Chicago.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

I stayed at the Four Seasons as my new single. And it was amazing. The food was amazing. The pizza, you know, you have this.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

The deep pizza is very. They did this. And the lobster roll. The best lobster road that I tried in my life is. Was in Washington, D.C. yeah. Yeah, yeah. Washington, D.C. that is why. Yeah.

[Marvin Jols]

On that.

[Carlos Thatch]

Georgetown. In Georgetown.

[Marvin Jols]

Yep. From. From Maine to about Maryland. That coast has the best lobster. And it's fresh catching on the coast. They bring it in and you know that it's real lobster because the whole entire claw is like. It's out of the shell but resting on it. And you're like, this is real, real lobster. And I love Them we're sidetracking on a food item. But they were my favorite thing. Nikki was like, you're eating lobster rolls twice a day. Because I would have one for lunch and have one.

[Carlos Thatch]

Really?

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah. Because I was. I wanted to try all of them at different spots because I was just in love with them. And we were, we were there like four or five days and I really had some. We had some great Mexican food while we were there as well. And just some really good, I don't know, tropical Caribbean food. Yeah, it was fantastic. It was fantastic. And. But Chicago is completely underrated. I feel like it has this image and then when you get there, it has some great stuff going for it that not a lot of people take in. So I try to highlight that and, and really enjoy it.

[Ad Host]

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[Marvin Jols]

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[Marvin Jols]

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[Marvin Jols]

For me, travel is always going to be an essential thing. I still have that feeling you were talking about of adventure and I want to go and I want to see. We were in. When we were in Maui, like I said, we stayed at the Grand Wallet, which was fantastic. It's so beautiful.

[Carlos Thatch]

That is amazing.

[Marvin Jols]

But after two or three days I was like, okay, I need to, like, I need to travel the island. I need to see what's going on.

[Carlos Thatch]

Yeah.

[Marvin Jols]

I need to walk on the lava fields and go swim on the beaches and do these things. And there was an experience there when I was looking out in the water. I could see water, like, shooting in the air. And I'm like, I think those are whales. And I asked somebody, and they're like, yeah, the whales are up here. They're breeding. And we went to the water, and when I put my ears under the water, you could hear, like. And I was like, whoa. I was like, I'm. I'm, like, completely out of my element, because where I'm from, there's cows and deer and raccoons and fish. And when I was there, I was like, whoa, I'm seeing. You know, I had my goggles on, too. So when I put my head in the water, there were turtles and tropical fish and all these other things, and then I could hear the whales speaking, and I was just like, I'm living. Yeah. I feel like I felt like I'm Carlos Thatch right now. Like, I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm living Carlos Thatch's life. But it was just fantastic. And I feel like it's. It's necessary to make you feel human to explore the world and get to meet the people and speak with the people that fill the world up. And I feel like I get to do that a little bit. When I watch your content, even though I'm not in the places that you are, I still feel like I'm experiencing it a little bit, and it really makes me want to travel again. I feel like it's just going to be a constant thing in my life.

[Carlos Thatch]

Travel is the best thing, and I am going to do it, I think, all my lives, because I love traveling and exploring, and I'm going to pair my music and my travels together and try to make more albums, more content. And I am continuing because I love staying at good hotels. Four Seasons, Ritz Carton. But sometimes there are these small boutiques, hotels that are beautiful, too. And I also stayed there. And, yes, I am going to continue the next month. I have very good adventures in my. In my calendar. So I'm very excited because June is going to be amazing. So you have to follow me on Instagram and. And everywhere, because it's going to be a good month. And I am very excited and also I'm very excited for this new single just. We just released today. Yeah. Letter to New York City is out now on all the streaming platforms. Also, for seasonal life. That. This is the photo of the single.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

Was the first single that we released this month and it was released on my birthday. On my 26th birthday. It was released May 11th. I'm very excited because these two singles are part of my upcoming album that is coming by the end of 2025 or starting the 26th. Yeah, we are working on the album. We have.

[Marvin Jols]

When we get another. When we get another Christmas song. We have another Christmas song on there. Because you did.

[Carlos Thatch]

Oh, closely.

[Marvin Jols]

Okay.

[Carlos Thatch]

We have actually, we have one related to Christmas song and. But we are considering creating a Christmas album. So maybe until things are going to.

[Marvin Jols]

All the hotels really do themselves up for Christmas time. You know, there's Christmas trees and lights and I feel like it would be a cool vibe if I walk into the lobby and I hear Carlos. That's his Christmas songs on there.

[Carlos Thatch]

Yeah. Holy, holy jolly Christmas.

[Marvin Jols]

I remember that's what I said. I kind of like Holly jolly Christmas. It's not just yours, just that song in general is about a 6 out of 10 for me. But you do really well with it. I like the. I don't know. I. I'm not big on like the. I like the chill vibe, elegant Christmas stuff. Not necessarily the, you know, it's Christmas. You know, I'm more of like they fearful. Yeah. Yeah. I'm more of like the peaceful like, you know, hallelujah or Silent Night or that type of stuff. Like, I'm cool with those type of night.

[Carlos Thatch]

It's.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, where can we find you online? I know it's @carlosatch on Instagram, but where can we follow along?

[Carlos Thatch]

Yeah, my website, where everything that is happening is there is WWT, WW point Carlos@.com and we have everything there. And also you can find me on Spotify.

[Marvin Jols]

Yep.

[Carlos Thatch]

Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, DSER, Pandora and all the streaming platforms. You can find me. You can find me on Instagram, Carlos Edge, Facebook, Carlos Edge everywhere Carlos Satch, TikTok. TikTok. I have a TikTok that is Carlos Satch music. So everything together. I have a lot of TikTok accounts because I forgot my passwords for another account.

[Marvin Jols]

I've done that.

[Carlos Thatch]

Yeah. So you too?

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah, yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

Because I was like, okay, I use Tick Tock a lot. I delete the app and when I try to get lost three months after of that, I forgot the. I don't know, everything. So. Yeah, yeah. But my official TikTok is Carlos Hatch music. You can find me there.

[Marvin Jols]

And.

[Carlos Thatch]

But my main lab is Instagram. I love Instagram, you know, it's. It's everything when is where. Where I started and I have everything there and you can stream my. My music on YouTube. YouTube. You can hear me. YouTube channel.

[Marvin Jols]

Cool.

[Carlos Thatch]

That is performing really well.

[Marvin Jols]

Well, where will we see you in five years, Carlos? If five years took you from there to there, where can I imagine Carlos Thatch in five years?

[Carlos Thatch]

Probably with kids. I want to have kids. Okay, maybe five years.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah. Well, enjoy your travel. Enjoy your travel now then.

[Carlos Thatch]

Yeah, I know, but I think my first baby is going to be like the Four Seasons baby. Do you saw this baby that went viral, the Four Seasons baby?

[Marvin Jols]

No, I didn't.

[Carlos Thatch]

Four Seasons baby. You have the surge because it's a baby that he. His parents take him to the Four Seasons worldwide and he went viral because she said, the mom said, oh, who is going. Who wants to go to the Four Seasons in Florida?

[Marvin Jols]

Yes, I do. Yeah, yeah, something like that. Yeah. She's like, yeah, the baby said, I do. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I seen that. Well, that good.

[Carlos Thatch]

Yeah, I think, I think took the baby worldwide.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah.

[Carlos Thatch]

To Hawaii and, and everything. So maybe my first baby is going to be.

[Marvin Jols]

Fair enough, fair enough. As we say earlier, you never know where life is going to send you. You just play the hand that you're dealt and you know, it's a. It's a cool thing. So, yeah, I would be great. I would be great to see that and I think, you know, you know what's important. You're learning what's important and whatnot. So it'd be great to see. See that from you as well, going forward with, with, with family and, and how to share your experiences with them. So that's very exciting. Well, my friend, it's been a pleasure speaking with you. Congratulations on the music. It's fantastic. And congratulations on the new single and congratulations on Johanna as well as it seems like you guys are having a great time together. I really, really appreciate you joining me and letting us get caught up today.

[Carlos Thatch]

Thank you so much, Marvin, for these conversations. It's are the best for me. And let's do another podcast later in the year or.

[Marvin Jols]

Yeah, next year.

[Carlos Thatch]

Don't. Don't miss connection together.

[Marvin Jols]

That sounds like.

[Carlos Thatch]

Let's move forward.

[Marvin Jols]

That sounds like a plan.

[Carlos Thatch]

Hopefully I see you in, in Chicago. I want to go to. To Chicago with Joanna maybe this year. Yeah. I will reach out to you.

[Marvin Jols]

Sounds like a plan. If you go, just let me know and Nikki and I will join you down there. We'll have some dinner and really have a good time.

[Carlos Thatch]

Would love to thank you so much for teaching space and thank you for everyone watching. Don't forget to listen to my music and I hope you like it. Thank you so much Marvin.

[Marvin Jols]

Thank you so much Carlos. So for myself here in it's not quite tropical Wisconsin, but for myself here in Wisconsin, Carlos, who is in hot Cabo San Lucas, it looks like once again we really appreciate you joining us and for being in the the mix with us and for staying for the duration of this conversation. We'll talk to you soon. Peace.

[Podcast Narrator]

Thanks for hanging out with us on in the Mix. For more on the world of Blacktop, head over to marvinjols.com and don't forget to follow Marvin on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for extra content, behind the scenes looks and industry insights. Be sure to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. And if you got value from today's show, leave us a well worded five star review. It really helps more asphalt pros find us. Catch you next time on in the Mix.