Josh Sundquist

50% Chance to Live

At age nine, Josh Sundquist was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and given a fifty percent chance to live. He spent a year undergoing chemotherapy, and his left leg was amputated. By age thirteen, doctors declared him cancer-free, but Josh’s story was only beginning.

After losing his soccer dream, he found another. Just a few years later, Josh began ski racing, training relentlessly for five years until he earned a place on the 2006 U.S. Paralympic Ski Team, representing the United States at the Paralympic Games in Turin, Italy. He later continued competing internationally as a member of the U.S. Amputee Soccer Team.

Josh’s journey gives him a rare kind of credibility onstage. He doesn’t speak about resilience as a concept, he’s lived it. His story shows audiences what it means to adapt, persevere, and keep moving forward when life changes in an instant.

A Storyteller with Humor, Heart, and Reach

Josh’s message has resonated far beyond the stage. He is the author of multiple books, including the National Bestselling memoir Just Don’t Fall, the memoir We Should Hang Out Sometime, the young adult novel Love and First Sight, and Semi-Famous, a sharp and timely exploration of fame and mental health. His books have been published internationally and translated into multiple languages.

He is also an executive producer and writer on the Emmy Award-winning Apple TV+ series “Best Foot Forward,” a heartwarming comedy inspired by his childhood and adapted from Just Don’t Fall. The show brought Josh’s story to an even wider audience, showcasing his gift for blending vulnerability, optimism, and humor.

That same blend defines his keynote speaking. Josh is a high-impact speaker who mixes light-hearted comedy, soulful storytelling, and memorable takeaways into an experience audiences genuinely connect with.

Viral Creativity and Cultural Impact

Online, Josh is known to millions as a wildly creative digital storyteller. His videos have generated more than 1 billion views, and he has built a social media following of more than 4 million people. He is perhaps best known for his viral Halloween costumes, which turn physical limitation into a brilliant creative advantage.

People Magazine named him to its 2017 Social Media Power List, and he has partnered with major brands including Apple, Meta, Tommy Hilfiger, Chase, Chevrolet, and AT&T.

What makes Josh’s digital success especially meaningful is that it reflects the same quality audiences experience live: a perspective that is inventive, self-aware, uplifting, and unmistakably original.

Service, Advocacy, and Personal Life

Josh is also deeply committed to service. As an ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, he regularly appears at events and in the media to help raise support for children’s hospitals across the country. His advocacy for the amputee community has earned national attention, including a memorable appearance on the back of Doritos Spicy Nacho bags.

He has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, NPR, and CNN. Josh earned his undergraduate degree in business from the College of William & Mary and a master’s degree in communications from the University of Southern California.

Today, he lives near the beach in California with his wife, Ashley, and their son.