Eight years later and through a series of remarkable life events, a bad economy, and mixture of collegiate and self-education; Joshua reinvented himself as an international public speaker, author, playwright, curriculum developer, educator, marketing consultant, and arts entrepreneur. See his professional bio for details, and his book The Gospel According to Josh: A 28-Year Gentile Bar Mitzvah for the full story.
Heʼs a mixture of creative and logic, business and pleasure, local-centric and global minded. As a public speaker his primary focus is on suicide prevention, mental health, diversity/inclusion, and anti-bullying; speeches and seminars on his experiences as a survivor of loss, an attempt survivor, an abuse survivor, and youth suicide prevention—often (but not always) paired with his one-man show Kicking My Blue Genes in the Butt (based on his book The Gospel According to Josh). His mental health based curriculum, Changing Minds, is a six module series that combines lecture, storytelling, group discussion, and improv theatre to enhance emotional development—providing hope, help, and providing life saving skills. Modules include: The Basics of Mental Health, How to Develop Coping Skills, The Importance of Storytelling and Support Systems, Living With a Mental Health Condition, Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Anti-bullying/Diversity and Inclusion.
Through Artful Coaching Resources, he aims to help small business owners and artist entrepreneurs build their careers and businesses to profitability and to the size and style they prefer. Through his partnership with Skookum Hill, a publishing, consultancy, and theatre production firm that creates and acquires entertainment through film, print, and theatre—he creates content that inspires, educates, entertains, and transforms. As founder and executive director of The i’Mpossible Project, he provides advocacy, entertainment, seminars, and peer-to-peer education on suicide prevention, mental health, storytelling, and diversity.
He has previously served on the board of directors for the New York City chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and is currently an advisory board member for Elijahʼs Journey: A Jewish Response to Suicide Prevention.
Fun Facts about Joshua:
- Heʼs been singing since the age of 6.
- He used to serve in the Civil Air Patrol in 6th and 7th grades, and nearly became a pilot till he discovered his fear of heights.
- He has spoken professionally in 38 U.S. states, 3 Canadian provinces, England, and Australia.
- He loves reading blogs on marketing and business
- Bacon is his favorite food group