Enjoy a few laughs while revving up your resilience and problem-solving skills. I’m Josh Martin: a cancer survivor, author and motivational speaker with a focus on overcoming obstacles. For more than a decade, I’ve been sharing the  lessons I’ve learned from life’s awesome and absurd moments. (I like to think of it as self-help with a sense of humour.)

Over the years, I’ve delivered keynote presentations to national organizations. I’ve facilitated professional development workshops for educators and taught online classes for the Canadian Mental Health Association. And I’ve partnered with therapists and other wellness experts across the country to share free resilience resources.

More than your typical talk

My services go beyond the traditional talk. When you book me for your next event, your group will receive:

Funny stories. Good advice. Oodles of doodles.

Whether you’re looking for a 20-minute motivational talk, an hour-long skills-building workshop or a half-day interactive program, I’m here to help make your next event awesome. Below, you’ll find details about a few of my more popular talks.

Cartoon cancer monster lurking over unsuspecting man

More than a coin flip: What my so-so odds at survival taught me about overcoming obstacles

From tight deadlines to conflicts with co-workers, obstacles come in all shapes and sizes. In this presentation I draw on my personal journey with cancer to explore what it takes to tackle life’s prickly problems. It’s all about stocking your team’s resiliency toolbox! 

Cartoon man stitching merit badges onto a sash

Misadventure merit badges: Lessons in resilience from life’s awesome and absurd moments

If you prefer a presentation that doesn’t include stories about my experience with leukemia, no problem at all! In my Misadventure Merit Badges talk, I share a variety of funny stories from my childhood and what those experiences taught me about getting through tough times.

Happy cartoon woman and man dancing to music

Staff and volunteer appreciation

Looking for a fun way to say thanks to your team? Give them a few laughs and a healthy dose of gratitude with my presentation about the importance of teamwork.

Wellness webinars and other resilience resources

Cartoon man holding a red balloon that is lifting him into the clouds

UpLift: Cultivate wellness in your team with a self-directed webinar series featuring 16 motivational modules and a slew of recommended resources.

In 2022, the Durham branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association invited me to create an online course about overcoming obstacles based on my latest book. The result was UpLift: a 16-part wellness webinar series. Each self-directed module features entertaining stories from my many misadventures, advice about tackling adversity and a collection of practical resources.

Man with a party hat and birthday cupcake standing next to an IV pole

Simply Blunderful: A cancer survivor’s illustrated guide to flaming tennis balls, camping catastrophes and the many obstacles life throws our way

This handbook is packed with laugh-out-loud true stories, as well as practical advice to help you through whatever challenge you might be facing. Find out what duct-taping a duffel bag to my brother’s back taught me about quick fixes. Or what digging wells in Africa taught me about getting to the root of a problem. Or what multiple run-ins with Bill Clinton’s security detail taught me about adaptability.

Cartoon grim reaper standing next to a man flipping a coin

The Overcoming Obstacles Handbook: Free online resilience resources

Prickly problems demand well-equipped problem solvers. And my experience with cancer taught me a lot about tackling adversity. Inspired by that journey, I created the Overcoming Obstacles Handbook. Here, you’ll find a free collection of stories, inspiration and advice about getting through tough times — from broken legs and broken hearts to money troubles and more.