An Inspired Chat with Justin Ford of Phoenix

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Justin Ford. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Justin, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ince breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Absolutely. I’ve had a few moments lately that made me laugh and feel proud at the same time—which is kind of the sweet spot for me. One that stands out: I watched one of the kids I mentor absolutely light up while reading a book they wrote through the program I created – JustinTIME 4 StoryTIME Build-a-Book program. They stood there so confidently, reading aloud to a small group like they’d been doing it forever. Everyone clapped, and they beamed.

I felt this deep sense of pride, like this is what it’s all about—helping kids find their voice, own their story, and have fun doing it. Moments like that remind me I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey there! I’m Justin Steven Ford—author, storyteller, and founder of the JustinTIME 4 StoryTIME Build-a-Book Program. My work lives at the intersection of creativity, literacy, and identity. I’m passionate about helping kids, especially those who don’t always see themselves in stories, realize they belong in books—on the pages and behind them as authors.

Through my company, JustinTIME 4 StoryTIME Build-a-Book Program, I work with young writers to help them write, illustrate, and publish their very own books. It’s more than literacy—it’s empowerment, representation, and education through storytelling.

My own story involves leaving a high-control religious group, navigating the loss of my entire family, and choosing to rebuild a life rooted in authenticity and joy. Everything I create now is driven by that mission: to show others—especially kids—that their voice matters, their story matters, and their light can never be dimmed.

Right now, I’m expanding my literacy programs into schools and libraries, publishing more inclusive children’s books, and building a movement that blends storytelling, mental health, and mentorship. It’s a wild, beautiful ride—and we’re just getting started.

Beyond the books, I’m co-leading a program with former pro soccer player Channing Chasten that blends soccer and storytelling, helping kids build both confidence and literacy skills. I also speak openly about my own story—about grief, resilience, and liberation—through my YouTube channel Becoming Justin and in communities that need honest conversations about healing and hope.

At the end of the day, I just want people to know they’re not alone. That their story, no matter how messy or magical, has value. And that it’s never too late to live the life you were meant for.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is the one I have with me. And to be real, that relationship didn’t start off strong. For a long time, I only saw myself through the lens of a belief system that told me who I could be, how I had to live, and what parts of me were acceptable. I spent years trying to earn love by shrinking myself, silencing my truth, and conforming to something that never felt like mine.

But when I finally walked away from that—when I left the Jehovah’s Witness religion, came out as gay, and started to unpack the trauma—I realized the most important relationship I’d ever have was the one with the person in the mirror. I had to learn how to rebuild that connection from scratch. I had to grieve who I thought I was supposed to be, and slowly start embracing who I actually am.

Now, that relationship is everything. It’s taught me how to show up fully, how to protect my peace, how to honor my truth, and how to love without condition—starting with myself. And because I’ve done that work, I’ve become a better friend, a better creator, a better human. My self-relationship is still evolving, but it’s the most honest, liberating, and grounding one I’ve ever known.

That relationship didn’t just shape how I see myself—it saved me.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Some of the defining wounds of my life stem from growing up in a religion that taught me love was conditional and authenticity was dangerous. I spent years suppressing who I truly was—my curiosity, my creativity, my queerness—just to be accepted. When I finally made the decision to leave, I lost everything: my family, my community, my sense of belonging. That kind of loss doesn’t just hurt—it shatters you.

But in the aftermath of that pain, I discovered something powerful: the freedom to rebuild from scratch. And I’ve done that with intention. I leaned into healing through therapy, deep reflection, and creativity. I began turning my wounds into stories—and those stories became bridges to others.

That’s how my literacy program, JustinTIME 4 StoryTIME, was born. I now help children from all walks of life write, illustrate, and publish their very own books—so they learn early on that their voice matters. My first children’s book, I SEE ME, was written to help kids recognize their worth, even in a world that might not always see them clearly.

And I’m currently finishing There Is a Monster in the Sink, a story about facing your fears and realizing that the things we’re most afraid of often aren’t as scary as they seem. It’s a reflection of my own journey—learning to sit with fear, look it in the eye, and not let it keep me from stepping into the light.

Every project I take on is rooted in that mission: to help people—especially kids—feel seen, heard, and brave. I may carry scars, but they’ve become a source of strength. I’ve learned that healing doesn’t mean erasing the pain—it means transforming it into something meaningful. And that’s exactly what I try to do, every single day.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes.
The public version of me is the real me. That hasn’t always been the case, though. For a long time, I was performing—trying to be what I thought people needed, what I thought would keep me safe, accepted, or loved. But that version? It wasn’t sustainable. It wasn’t fulfilling. And it sure wasn’t free.

Since leaving the religion I was raised in and stepping into my truth, I’ve made a commitment to show up fully as myself, no matter the setting. The version of me you see—the one speaking, creating, laughing, showing up in the world—is not a character I play. That’s me. It’s the same person who’s up at 2am wrestling with ideas, dreams, fears, and healing. The same one who’s rebuilding a life from scratch with joy, purpose, and curiosity.

I don’t believe in the idea that we need separate versions of ourselves to function. I believe in integration. I believe in being real, even when it’s vulnerable. And I believe that the most powerful thing I can offer the world is myself, exactly as I am.

So yeah—the public me is the real me.
And every day, I’m working to make sure that never changes.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell about me when I’m gone is one of light—real, resilient light. That I lived freely, fiercely, and unapologetically, not just for myself, but for every person who never got the chance to. That I turned my pain into purpose and my losses into lessons, and that I used my voice and creativity to make room for others to do the same.

I hope they say I was a bridge—a connector of people, ideas, and healing. That I made folks feel seen, heard, and deeply valued. That I wasn’t afraid to go first—whether that meant being vulnerable, stepping outside the lines, or choosing authenticity over acceptance. I want to be remembered as someone who told the truth, even when it was hard, and loved hard, even when it wasn’t returned.

I hope they say I created more than just programs or books—I created moments. Safe spaces. Chances for kids to see themselves as authors of their own story. Opportunities for people to feel like they belonged, no matter where they came from or what they carried.

I hope the story sounds something like: “He showed up. He poured in. He didn’t just change lives—he reminded people of their own power to rewrite their narrative.”

And if nothing else, I hope they say, “Because of him, I saw myself differently—and I started to believe that maybe I could shine too.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fordpublishinghouse.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becomingjustin/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-ford-63365535a/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@justinisbecoming
• Other: https://www.gofundme.com/f/diverse-stories-matter-bring-this-childrens-book-to-life?attribution_id=sl%3Afd3cb7fa-b2fd-4a54-926a-e302f4e136d8&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaexPYhDcCSUAFVgUyO4-1E2YhUwicx_zon3BdfeBvee4CsTEnwXkx9aUIZzfg_aem_eclWlJbnuter9QxL7kqO8A

Image Credits
All photos are mine and I give permission for use