Josh Sundquist: Motivational Paralympian

Paralympian, cancer survivor, and bestselling author who transforms adversity into unforgettable lessons on resilience, creativity, and courage.

Quick Facts:

Highlights:
  • Childhood cancer to Paralympian
  • 1+ billion viral views
  • Emmy-winning Apple TV+ show

Formats: Keynote talks, motivational sessions, leadership conferences, virtual events

Audiences: Corporates, educators, healthcare, youth organizations, associations

Outcomes:
  1. Rekindle adaptability through humor and self-belief.
  2. Build resilience by celebrating incremental progress.
  3. Bring empathy to leadership through lived vulnerability.
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Santa Monica, CA
  • **Fee range: On Request

Talent Services

Keynote Topics:

Josh shares how his training motto—One More Thing, One More Time—carried him from cancer and amputation to Paralympic skiing, bestselling books, and Apple TV+. It’s a hilarious, heart-wrenching, and surprisingly practical exploration of what it means to be—and to thrive as—a human.

Part masterclass in resilience, part strategy session, Josh blends comedy, storytelling, and interactive moments to deliver a powerful message about “adaptive resilience” in the face of challenge. Josh delivers an unforgettable experience that will leave your audiences gasping for air—from laughter, from awe, from the sheer audacity of hope. Your team will be uplifted by hard-won insight and empowering humor. They will go home feeling connected to deep wells of inner courage, ready to conquer their own mountains.

Talent Short Bio

Josh Sundquist is a Paralympian, bestselling author, Emmy-winning Apple TV+ storyteller, and electrifying motivational speaker. At the age of nine, he lost his left leg to cancer, yet persisted to become a member of the U.S. Paralympic ski team. His best-selling memoir, Just Don’t Fall, and his memoir-based Apple TV+ series Best Foot Forward, chronicle his extraordinary journey with heart, humor, and humility.

Josh’s viral storytelling backed by over a billion views across platforms melds stand-up comedy with poignant reflection, earning him recognition as a leader in adaptive resilience. Over the years, he has addressed audiences ranging from The White House and Fortune 500 companies to schools, delivering customized keynotes under his mantra “1MT1MT” (One More Thing, One More Time). He delivers with warmth, laughter, and clarity, showing how courage and humor can transform adversity into opportunity.

Josh Sundquist is a Paralympian, bestselling author, and Emmy-winning Apple TV+ storyteller whose videos have generated over one billion video views. He inspires audiences to live by his mantra 1MT1MT (One More Thing, One More Time).

Your attendees will leave energized and equipped to:

  • Foster forward-thinking amid market volatility
  • Rebound from disappointment
  • Do 1MT1MT to embrace transformation
  • Keep a growth mindset—and a sense of humor

Josh collaborates closely with your planning team to customize each keynote to your audience, event theme, and company culture. He blends clean stand-up comedy with soulful storytelling and research-backed takeaways. Hilarious audience interactions are punctuated by moments of profound reflection. It’s a roller-coaster experience of laughter, insight, and inspiration.

Audiences leave with renewed resolve to overcome both personal and professional challenges. They gain a fresh perspective on grit, gratitude, and potential. Josh Sundquist’s message of 1MT1MT becomes a lasting internal mantra. Months and even years later, attendees quote the keynote and apply its lessons with their teams. It’s an experience they’ll never forget.

View All Speakers and follow us on Twitter

Talent Videos

Josh Sundquist – Motivational Keynote Highlights

Josh delivers a dynamic mix of humor and inspiration, weaving personal stories, resilience frameworks, and audience laughter into a keynote that sticks.

  • Humor & Creativity: Shares inventive Halloween costumes, proving that constraints spark creativity rather than limit it.
  • Resilience Mantra: Introduces his motto 1MT1MT (“one more thing, one more time”), encouraging audiences to keep pushing beyond setbacks.
  • Olympic Dream: Recounts his journey from amputation at nine years old to marching in the Paralympic Games wearing the red, white, and blue of Team USA.
  • Facing Change: Redefines setbacks as opportunities, framing them as “adaptive resilience.”
  • Humor About Hair Loss: Lightens the room with jokes about aging and hair loss, tying it back to gratitude for survival and growth.
  • Key Challenge: Encourages people to tackle their hardest tasks first—“worst first”—to build strength and momentum.
  • AI & Humanity: Explains how technology (like his AI-controlled leg) makes him more human, not less, because it makes him a better father.
  • Representation: Shares the importance of visibility for people with disabilities—being the role model he never had as a child.
  • Final Inspiration: Reflects on his childhood amputation and the advice he’d give his 9-year-old self: “No matter how many times you fall down, just keep getting back up.”

Key Moments

0:00 – 1:15: Creative Halloween costumes as a metaphor for reframing constraints
1:20 – 3:00: The 1MT1MT motto and Paralympic journey
3:05 – 5:30: Adaptive resilience + “worst first” principle
5:35 – 7:30: Humor about aging, hair loss, and gratitude for survival
7:35 – 9:00: Technology & AI leg → how tools enhance humanity
9:05 – 10:30: Representation and pride in being “the same sort of different”
10:35 – End: Emotional closing: advice to his younger self + audience testimonials

Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry

Speaker Contact Form

Enquiry Form

Talent FAQ's

A1. Uplifting, grounded in authenticity and unforgettable humor.

A2. Absolutely—his style inspires and connects across professional cultures.

A3. Yes—he bridges reflection, laughter, and strategy in accessible ways.

Talent Resources

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links
  • Music List
  • Podcast Shows
  • Courses
  • + more

You may be interested in...

  • (8)
Jason O. Harris 2

Lt. Col Jason O Harris is a highly decorated officer and seasoned pilot in the United States Air Force, recognized for his leadership, strategic vision, and commitment to excellence. With over two decades of military service, Lt. Col Harris has accumulated a wealth of experience that transcends the boundaries of conventional leadership. His dynamic approach […]

  • Travels from: Denver, CO
  • Military Speakers
  • (96)
DJ Cocoa Chanelle

DJ Cocoa Chanelle is a Black Girls Rock recipient, and award-winning Deejay / On-Air personality with over 16+ years of radio experience in the #1 market in the United States, New York City’s HOT 97, and 7 years of on-air experience with BET Networks as the Deejay for their popular talk show Teen Summit, Making Cocoa the first DJ in history hired as an […]

  • Travels from: New York, NY
  • Mobile DJ
  • (14)
Karin Hurt

Karin Hurt inspires courage confidence, and innovation. A former Verizon Wireless executive, she’s known for growing courageous leaders, building great cultures, and inspiring high-performance teams. She’s the award Winning Author of five books including Courageous Cultures, and was named as in Inc. Great Leadership Speaker for her highly-interactive keynotes and executive programs. Karin Hurt | Performance Leadership She […]

  • Travels from: Laurel, MD
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (38)
Mark Noon

Mark Noon is a distinguished speaker, executive coach, and author with over 25 years of expertise in military and civilian healthcare leadership. Renowned for his ability to inspire and empower leaders at every level, Mark has transformed organizations by equipping them with the tools and strategies needed for success. His career, which began as an […]

  • Travels from: Pensacola, FL
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (32)
Cirque Mirage

Cirque Mirage, LLC is a full service event entertainment company. We make it fun and easy to book event entertainment for your next event. We understand the importance of streamlining the process of hiring high level circus performers, Aerialists, Acrobatics and more. We  create custom Schedules, costumes, choreography, and management of the event entertainment. We pride […]

  • Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
  • Speciality Acts
  • (39)
James Lawrence

James Lawrence, widely recognized as the Iron Cowboy, stands as a testament to human endurance and the power of determination. Renowned for his astonishing feat of completing 50 Ironman-distance triathlons in 50 consecutive days across 50 states, James Lawrence transcends the boundaries of physical achievement. His journey from a humble beginning in Calgary, Alberta, to […]

  • Travels from: Lindon, UT
  • Adventure Speakers
  • (17)
  • (1)
Jeff Civillico Las Vegas

Jeff Civillico stands out as a unique blend of entertainer and inspirational speaker. His presentations are not just informative; they are interactive, engaging, and downright fun! With a background deeply rooted in entertainment, Jeff seamlessly incorporates humor and captivating routines from his acclaimed Las Vegas show, “Comedy in Action,” into his speeches. This fusion of […]

  • Travels from: Las Vegas, NV
  • Motivational Speakers
  • (29)
Chris-Waddell-2

Chris Waddell’s story is one of unimaginable resilience, boundless courage, and the relentless pursuit of possibility. After a skiing accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, Chris refused to let adversity define him. Instead, he redefined what was possible—not just for himself, but for millions who would come to be inspired by his journey. […]

  • Travels from: Park City, UT
  • Winter Olympians
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel

Speakers Inc Logo 2024
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.