Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Dunham.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Where does the story of Joe D… Joseph Dunham start and how did we get here. Of course with God so perfectly having my story written and being chosen, the alpha and omega.
My story and its origin has several nexus points, I’d say it all started back in Dayton Ohio where I’m from. A middle child with a mind of his own, determination and certainty of self, a radical curiosity about how to get to where he is going but how to help as many people along the way and a tenacity for life and love that fueled my spirit to go get it.
The leader of his siblings, the pattern breaker for his family, the first of many for his family. From being a college graduate to having a corporate role to having a financial adviser to serving within the community to being a business owner and podcast host.
We are here. Through the trials and tribulations, the challenges and character development of this critically acclaimed life, we are here.
I had always been told by my teachers, friends parents, professors I’d be/do 1 of 5 things in my professional career… Be in sales (have been in tech the last 10), I’d be in front of the camera or behind the camera (2 & 3, currently both with The Good Service Podcast and other projects), CEO & Founder of a business or organization (4, The Good Service Podcast & Kozy Brand) and lastly I’d be the president of the United States (5, if God has this for me then so be it! I owe my life to the people and to serve in such a capacity, I’d be honored!).
I’ve always loved serving people, problem solving the most complex issues, working as a team with others to achieve a common goal, giving back in any capacity I could. My heart for service matched with my yearning to build & lead the right ways while impacting those around me and helping them be there best versions of themselves is what led me to where I’m at today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No it has not been a smooth road to get here. Nor has it been an easy road. It has most recently been a lonely journey, rewarding and gratifying in ways I’m forever indebted for. Would I change it for anything else? Absolutely not.
I went through a lot of professional/corporate betrayal and trauma that helped me learn the game and see things, people and businesses for what they really are. A resource, not my source. These challenges and unique set of obstacles and circumstances laid before me, allowed me (as I believe God intended) to be where I’m at today. No previous version of myself without those significant experiences could handle what I do today and for that I’m grateful.
Another struggle experienced range from having a clear vision, energy and excitement about the vision & dream you have but as you share it with loved ones (friends and family) and they don’t see it or shut it down, maybe because they are scared (due to their own self limiting beliefs), never done it before, don’t know the version of you that is capable of doing IT, have little to no knowledge of the THING you are excited about building and doing. So understanding this will happen and it is okay, is a tough reality and also makes for a lonely road. The key is to keep God first, plan the work, work the plan and allow for the fruits of your labor to provide shade and fruit.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Good Service Podcast & Kozy Brand. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m fortunate to be the Founder & Host of The Good Service Podcast (nonprofit podcast & platform) and part owner of Kozy Brand (Clothing & Lifestyle brand).
God gave me the vision and idea for The Good Service Podcast following my time working underneath one of my childhood bestfriends Asante Hill (S/O to my brother!) and his nonprofit organization here in Atlanta, Valor Academy. I was in prayer and having conversations with God about where he wanted me to serve and how to use my God given gifts… The Good Service Podcast was born October 1st, 2022, your source for wholesome stories, inspiring stores and good news. Where nonprofits and other service based organizations are given their flowers for the work they are doing to positively impact their communities and make the lives of those around better!
I’d say we specialize in stroytelling, restoring hope in humanity and uplifting others through love, education and entertainment. These are things we are known for 30+ episodes and hundreds upon thousands to come! There’s no platform or podcast like ours (trust me i’ve checked) truly 1/1 in how we give these amazing organization and their leaders their flowers. At TGSP we are a family, we lead with love and we lean on love. I’m proud that the platform has a loyal family, we are a family at TGSP from the guest and their organizations to our audience and community. For the time being we offer our podcast stories and episodes but much more is coming for our Good Service family!
Now, Kozy brand – it’s how life should feel, kozy! Where to begin! My bestfriend and brother Mo Sherif started Kozy with one of his bestfriends, college roommate and brother’s Jordan Collins. After being in business 2 years they asked me to join the team to help take things to the next level. A brand I already believed in, supported heavily and was a part of the community and saw the vision? Absolutely, let’s make something great even greater! It’s going on 2 years now being a part of the team and I love it.
We specialize in clothe, home good and fostering community, Our pieces range from core t-shirts, socks, hats/beanies, sets of all sorts (thinking matching hoodie and sweat pants) and candles for our new home goods line. Kozy is about being komfortable, konfident, kalm, kool, kollected, D all of the above as you’re in our pieces. It is about being connected to something greater and much being than self as well. Being a part of a community, a family. I believe the quality of our pieces sets us a part but even more so how mission and how tapped into the community we are. We partner with mental health & suicide prevention and domestic violence organizations to help them with merch and volunteering support among many other ways we give back, I’d say that’s what I’m most proud about is that this is truly about using the brand to be change in the world we live.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Atlanta, Chicago is my favorite city in the US to visit especially in the summer… undefeated truly, but Atlanta is something special. There truly isn’t a place like it that I’ve been in all my travels.
What I like best about my city, I’d say the access. Access is multifaceted here, access to people of all statuses, walks of life, ways of thinking, experts of their fields. Access to entertainment, whether that’s a sporting event, a concert, history and culture to art. There’s so much to be offered in Atlanta and the ability to access it all is something special. It is unlike anything I’ve seen in other cities.
What I like least about Atlanta… the easy answer is THE TRAFFIC! But I’d say the rate of gentrification and the displacing of the people in the city. I don’t believe you have to displace people to make a place look nicer if you truly care about it. The Atlanta look and feel is being bulldozed and gentrified by the day. It is tough to see, yes I’m all for evolution and things reaching their maximum potential but not this way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thegoodservicepodcastwithjosephdunham.buzzsprout.com & www.staykozy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegoodservicepodcast/ & https://www.instagram.com/_staykozy/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-dunham-115069101/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-good-service-podcast/?viewAsMember=true
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegoodservicepodcast
Image Credits
To my brothers @thejordanstudios & @thewilliamjordan and @imahomecook_ for a capturing some of these dope moments.
