Joshua Lee As a child I grew up in an abusive home. I hung around gang types and was a teenage rapper. I was a felon after stabbing a guy in a fight at the age of 17. I went to juvenile hall several times. After completing criminal probation, I went back to court and a judge showed me mercy by lowering my felony to a misdemeanor before sealing it.
I was turned down by over 10 different law enforcement agencies before eventually getting hired on as a Correctional Officer. I was told to give up on trying to be a law enforcement officer because it was a pipe dream. I started two businesses. I earned a BS degree. I went through a police academy, two corrections academies, parole officer academy and some military training courses. I currently work as a Parole Officer.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- How to transform childhood abuse, juvenile crime, and personal loss into a career of service and leadership.
- Why doing the things you absolutely hate—like waking up early and running—forges unbreakable self-discipline.
- That failing forward through 10 rejected law enforcement applications can build the perseverance needed to finally succeed.
- How to use accountability to dismantle a victim’s mindset and stop passing toxic cycles to future generations.
- Why being the hero of your own story means refusing to let life break your spirit, no matter the hardship.
- That God’s purification through suffering prepared him to become his wife’s caretaker during her stage-four cancer battle.
- How to start two successful businesses and earn a degree while working full-time in law enforcement and raising a daughter.
- Why every person has an untapped inner beast waiting to be unleashed for a life beyond mediocrity.
- That listening deeply and helping others discover their self-worth can redirect lives away from addiction and despair.
- How to stay hyper-focused on your goals when life guarantees pain, suffering, and small glimpses of happiness.
about the show
America’s Authors is a television documentary series featuring authors, writers, storytellers, and creative entrepreneurs whose work has the potential to reach audiences far beyond the page.
Each episode takes viewers inside the story behind the book, exploring the experiences, ideas, challenges, and purpose that shaped the author’s work. Guests share why they wrote their book, what message they want readers to take away, and how their ideas can create impact in business, culture, entertainment, education, or personal growth.
The series highlights authors who have built meaningful stories, powerful frameworks, industry expertise, or life-changing messages through their writing. From business books and memoirs to self-development, leadership, fiction, and cultural commentary, America’s Authors gives writers a platform to bring their message to a wider audience.
The show also explores the connection between books, media, and screen adaptation, helping viewers see how a strong written idea can become part of a larger entertainment, education, or brand-building opportunity.
For featured guests, America’s Authors provides a platform to share their story, build authority, expand their reach, and show why their work deserves to be seen, heard, and remembered.
