Meet Joseph Grable | Podcaster & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joseph Grable and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joseph, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m originally from La Pine, Oregon. A small little town about 45 minutes away from Bend, Oregon. My childhood was an interesting one to say the least. I was born with a heart condition called “Hypo-Plastic Left Heart Syndrome” meaning my upbringing was quite difficult. I’ve had more then 10 heart surgeries and having to overcome the many obstacles that come with that have been quite challenging. I spent most my childhood watching movies and observing the outside world because of this defect in my heart. Growing up like that has had a huge impact on my adult life. It motivates me to be the absolute best version of myself and I believe it’s given me a very unique perspective on life. It has kept me humble in every way possible and it has allowed me to constantly be reminded how grateful I am to live the life I live now. Not everyday is guaranteed, so it’s important to maintain Humble and Grateful for everything I have achieved thus far.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m most proud of my film career and my podcast “Searching For Happiness”. Being a filmmaker was something I dreamed of since I was a little kid, all I could do is watch movies because of my surgeries and my inability to do regular activities like sports or going outside and playing. My parents never prevented me from doing those things, but it definitely wasn’t easy to participate in those activities. My podcast is something I started because I want to make a difference in the world and show others that, through adversity, there’s another side to life that can be very beautiful if you give yourself the chance to heal and focus on the things you want in life. I’ve was diagnosed with depression at a very young age, especially after losing my older brother to cancer, so it’s so important to me to preach that it’s okay to not be okay and that it’s okay to talk about struggling with your mental health.

I got to this point in my life through taking risks, not being afraid to fail and having the help of others. I look at every opportunity given to me as a blessing, no matter how small or big it may be. I don’t take any opportunity for granted because I’ve been in way worse situations to day the least. Getting to this point in my life was not easy at all, I’ve lost a lot and there’s been a lot of “trial and error” moments that I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons from, especially the last 4 years. The 3 most valuable lessons I’ve learned as a Filmmaker & Podcaster is
1. You never truly know what someone is going through, so, be kind, even in the most intense situations, take a deep breath and just breathe.
2. You can’t be the hero in everyone’s story. What I mean by that is, no matter how hard you work or try, there’s someone out there that isn’t going to like you & that’s okay, just stay true to yourself.
3. Never compromise yourself to make others happy. That’s a big one that I’m guilty of doing a lot of. Focus on you and figure out what you want in life. You don’t have to be rude or selfish to do this either, there’s so many ways to approach this with kindness and empathy. People tend to take advantage of others so learn to say NO when you aren’t comfortable with something or something doesn’t seem reasonable.

I want the world to know that it’s okay to talk about your struggles and mental health. It’s a very difficult thing to discuss but seeking help is so crucial to living a happy and fulfilling life. I want my story to help encourage and motivate individuals who are currently struggling with their mental health. I want to devote my life to helping others achieve their dreams and to help them overcome their most difficult times, it’s why I began my Mental Health Podcast “Searching For Happiness”. Life is so hard for everyone, especially the last 3 years. It’s important to know you aren’t alone and their are people out there who truly care and want to help you.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first place that comes to mind is definitely the beach. This city has so many beautiful beaches surrounding it, like Santa Monica, Venice, Malibu & More. The beach is my top choice on places to visit. Now with that being said, there’s so much good food everywhere in Los Angeles, My favorite burger place is Stout, they aren’t the cheapest but the taste is great in my opinion. I love tacos just like everyone else so there’s just to many places to choose from, anywhere from all the amazing and hard working street vendors to the classy Mexican restaurants around the city, it’s hard to find a taco vendor or restaurant that isn’t good. I enjoying hiking with my friends a lot, we go to places like Runyon Canyon, Switzer Falls, Escondido Falls & any hike surrounding The Griffith Observatory!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost my number one supporter has always been my mom, without her I would be nowhere even close to where I am today. With that being said though I’ve met so many incredible people along the way that have pushed me beyond comfort zone, 3 of them being,

Joseph Reese, Salvador “Caziel” Moratillo & Bladimir Garcia.
Without these 3 men supporting me the last 4 years, I wouldn’t be the creative I am today. Forever grateful for their talent and friendships.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thejosephgrable?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephgrable

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@searchingfor.happiness

Other: Link tree: https://linktr.ee/josephgrable?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=4cbc49ad-7a84-4959-8295-d5b830df43e5

Image Credits
Dave Flores (Set Photos) Matt Marcheski (Headshots)