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joshua@joshuatberglan.com
Your source for transformative content that dives deep into personal growth, authentic branding, and overcoming adversity. Explore powerful insights on storytelling, mental resilience, and building a meaningful legacy in the digital age, curated to educate, inform, and inspire your journey.
I recently had the honor of being a guest on LWN Productions, where I was given the space to share my story—raw and unfiltered. It was a conversation that went deep into the heart of what it means to build a legacy, not from a place of fame or fortune, but from the ashes of a life that was completely wrecked.
For those who don't know my past, I was a chemsex addict for over 20 years. I’ve been homeless, divorced, and incarcerated. By all conventional measures, I was a write-off. But every hardship, every trauma, and every rock bottom moment was not an end. It was a beginning. This is the core of my message: your life, especially the broken parts, is the raw material for your greatest purpose.
When people hear the word "legacy," they often think of celebrities or historical figures. But that’s not what legacy is. Legacy is what you leave behind that can bless generations to come. It’s taking your mess, your trauma, your hurt, and your abuse and doing something with it in a positive way that helps others.
"Life really does happen for us. It's just our mindset of what's happening... The bad things, the awful, the trauma, the hardship, the heartbreak... that actually led to something amazing."
If we are meant to overcome every obstacle in our path, it’s not just for our own survival. It’s a divine blueprint. God designs us to conquer our giants so we can turn around and teach others how to conquer theirs. The cancer survivor who shows others how to thrive, the recovering addict who guides another to sobriety, the person living with a disability who teaches the world about resilience—that is a living legacy.
Years ago, you needed a massive budget and a full team to have a voice in the media. Today, that barrier is gone. We are in the "storytelling economy," and the tools are free. Podcasts, book publishing, YouTube, Rumble—all these platforms are available to you right now, for free. You can become a one-person media organization with no money, no formal education, and no connections.
For everyone out there who feels trapped—by disability, by poverty, by a past you can’t escape—this is your fighting chance. You can use your story as the content to create endless revenue streams. This isn't just a business model; it’s a pathway to healing. I created my way to healing because there were no other options for me. This is your alternative to going back to addiction, crime, or a life without purpose.
You cannot succeed in the storytelling economy without one crucial ingredient: Truth. Your truth has the power to not only set you free but also to free the people who are keeping your secrets. For years, as I was building my audience, I was hiding key parts of my story. I hadn't told the full truth about my past with domestic violence or my HIV diagnosis.
God put it on my heart that I had to tell it all. It was terrifying, but it was the most freeing experience of my life. In a world where we are constantly being gaslit by media and political leaders who pit us against each other, our true, personal stories are the antidote. We need to stop regurgitating opinions and start sharing the truths of our lives. That is what will heal the world.
The world is being intentionally distracted. While people are fighting over political parties, they are being led into a digital prison. They want us at war with each other because when we're fighting, we can't see what's really happening. I challenge you to be a leader who wants to unite, not divide. And the simplest, most humble way to start is with the truth of your story.
I never quit loving cocaine or meth. I found something I love more: the purpose God created me for. That purpose is my anchor. It’s the reason I haven’t gone back to that life. My passion is to help you find yours. It starts with a desire, an intention, and the courage to tell your story.
This message isn't about agreeing with me. It’s about learning from each other and having an open mind. It's about finding the universal principles that can transform your life. I hope my journey inspires you to begin yours.
