JOSHUA JOHNSON
EMBRACE CONNECTION.
ERASE CONTEMPT.
I used to think that conflict threatened connection. The real threat is worse: contempt. Transformative connection requires navigating conflict with a shared purpose and without dehumanizing our opponents. We do it by building our skills, handling our emotions, and reimagining what's possible. It's not too late to reconnect. Let's make it count.
WATCH JOSHUA'S 6-MINUTE TED TALK
BIO
JOSHUA JOHNSON is a veteran broadcaster, journalist and moderator. He has earned a reputation for compelling conversation and unique insight, helping people connect in respectful and transformative ways.His latest independent media project is The Resolution, focused on persuasion, debate and conflict navigation. Its centerpiece is an original role-playing game where debaters take on personas to persuade judges and an audience.In 2026 Joshua delivered his TED Talk, "Idiots Are Everywhere". Its humor and practical advice earned 100,000 YouTube views in its first week.He is also a comedic actor, playing anchorman Dwight Richmond on the satirical Onion News Network. ONN won a 2025 Webby Award.During his 25-year news career, Joshua helped create & host several national programs: most notably, the live NPR talk show 1A. The program reached more than three million people a week on 375+ NPR stations.He then joined NBC in New York, launching The Week with Joshua Johnson, a primetime weekend newscast on MSNBC (now MS NOW); and NOW Tonight, a nightly newscast on NBC News NOW.Teaching and training have been a longtime passion. He was a Lecturer at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, teaching an Advanced Audio course in podcast production and development.Joshua graduated from the University of Miami, which named him its 2024 Communicator of the Year. He is a native of West Palm Beach, FL and lives in Chicago.
JOSHUA'S SIGNATURE KEYNOTE
YOUR BEST TAKE: What Live Broadcasting Taught Me About Conflict and Connection
Social media and AI have reshaped our interactions, but deep connection is more like live broadcasting: one shot, on-the-record, and anything can happen. Our conversational “outtakes” can break friendships, estrange families and divide communities. How do you prevent an unscripted conflict from fueling contempt? I’ve learned how during my 25-year career: from hosting on NPR to anchoring for NBC News and performing satire with The Onion. When conflict emerges, the right responses change everything: on-air and in person. Let me equip you with battle-tested skills to build connection with kindness, credibility and clarity.
TESTIMONIALS
"Joshua Johnson's voice is one that is necessary as we continue to navigate today's political climate. His take on everything from political debates to popular culture oftentimes causes me to have a driveway moment. Through years of listening to Joshua on NPR as well as MSNBC, I have learned (still learning) to find my own voice."
— Dee Dotson
Substack Subscriber
"Your work… demonstrates it's possible to learn from someone without feeling taught, to call BS without being abrasive… to be professional yet relatable. Thank you!"
— Joseph Ortiz
Substack Subscriber
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Higher Ed (Convocation / FYE) "civil discourse keynote speaker for universities", "campus free speech orientation speaker", "speakers on bridging divides for college students"
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