118: Joshua Rivedal I'Mpossible project

Josh Rivedal moved from New Jersey to New York City at the age of 21 to tackle the world of fame, fortune, and the Broadway stage...in what he thought would be a stepping stone to Hollywood and a star on the walk of fame.

Eight years later and through a series of remarkable life events, a bad economy, and mixture of collegiate and self-education; Josh reinvented himself as an international public speaker, author, playwright, theatre producer, educator, marketing consultant, and arts entrepreneur. See his professional bio for details, and his book The Gospel According to Josh: A 28 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; speeches and seminars on his experiences as a survivor of loss, an attempt 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) He also speaks on diversity, mental health, arts marketing, small business marketing, (arts) entrepreneurship, and resiliency paired with improv theater. 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 Josh:

• 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 32 U.S. states, 2 Canadian provinces, England, and Australia.
  
• He loves reading blogs on marketing and business
• Bacon is his favorite food group