In this eye-opening episode of Life-Changing Challengers, host Brad Minus welcomes Joshua Caraballo, an industrial-organizational psychologist and author of I'm Not Dead Yet: How I Turned Misfortunes Into Strengths. Joshua shares his deeply personal story of growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, struggling with his identity as a queer man, and overcoming years of internal conflict and societal pressures.

From childhood experiences of embracing strangers to suppressing his true self due to religious teachings, Joshua takes listeners on a powerful journey of self-acceptance, resilience, and personal growth. He discusses how psychology helped him unpack years of conditioning, the challenges of being authentic in a world that often seeks to categorize people, and the transformative power of embracing one’s true identity.

This episode is for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of personal reinvention, and finding strength in adversity.

Episode Highlights

• [10:00] – Moving to Florida and growing up in a strict Jehovah’s Witness household.
• [20:00] – Struggling with his identity and realizing he was queer at a young age.
• [35:00] – The internal battle between religious teachings and self-acceptance.
• [50:00] – The emotional toll of trying to suppress his true identity.
• [1:05:00] – Breaking free from societal and religious expectations to embrace his authentic self.
• [1:15:00] – The importance of personal reinvention and finding happiness through psychology and storytelling.

Key Takeaways

1. Self-Acceptance is a Journey – Embracing who you truly are takes time, courage, and resilience.
2. Religious Upbringing Can Shape Identity – Navigating faith and identity can be challenging, but personal growth comes from questioning and understanding.
3. The Power of Psychology – Understanding how the mind works can help break cycles of self-doubt and conditioning.
4. Authenticity Leads to Freedom – Living as your true self, rather than conforming to societal pressures, is key to happiness.
5. We Can Always Rewrite Our Story – Life is about growth and transformation, and it’s never too late to embrace change.

Links & Resources

• Joshua Caraballo’s Website: DrJoshSolutions.com – Learn more about his work and coaching.
• Joshua’s Book:
  • I'm Not Dead Yet: How I Turned Misfortunes Into Strengths – Available on Amazon.
• Follow Joshua on Social Media:
  • Instagram: @Dr_Josh_Solutions
  • LinkedIn: Joshua Caraballo

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