206: B.A.R.E. Truth with Joseph Bradford III
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206: B.A.R.E. Truth with Joseph Bradford III
Episode 206: Show Notes
In this week’s episode of The Light Watkins Show, we revisit Light’s conversation with Joseph Bradford III about how the challenges of his childhood led him to dedicate his life to helping the homeless.
Joseph started a non-profit called B.A.R.E. Truth, an organization that provides mentorship, independent living assistance, and wellness services to impoverished individuals and families. By helping them attain healthy, purpose-driven lives, Joseph ultimately changed the economic and living conditions of communities.
Their conversation begins as always, with Joseph’s upbringing, and he tells a story about being born to a very young mother, the oldest of his siblings. He talks about the responsibilities placed on his shoulders to look after those more vulnerable than himself, even as a kid. This sparked an early tendency in Joseph to be caring and to see that the people around him were safe before he thought of his own well-being.
We hear about Joseph's many challenges through school and college before he finally wound up in California and began to help the homeless after giving away half his dinner one night. Joseph talks about consistently trying to lend a hand and how this process slowly scaled up to the point where he started B.A.R.E Truth.
Light and Joseph spent the last part of their conversation focusing on good approaches to helping the homeless, the work Joseph does to keep his non-profit running and the centrality of his desire to care keeps him motivated each day.
Key Points From This Episode:
What childhood was like for Joseph growing up in the projects of Kansas City.
How basketball helped Joseph feel free and escape being the oldest sibling.
The feeling of responsibility that Joseph had as a child with no father figure.
Lessons Joseph learned about the value of taking care of others as a child.
The many people in Joseph’s family who died after his father did.
Joseph’s relationship with his neighbor and his early definition of success.
How Joseph offset being teased for being dark-skinned by being good at school.
Life and responsibilities for Joseph in different shelters after his house burned down.
More wealth and big changes for Joseph and his family after his mom got a boyfriend.
How Joseph sold drugs during his struggling phase and why he stopped.
Work and college for Joseph after high school and his mom and her boyfriend separated.
Why Joseph wishes he encouraged his siblings more.
Joseph’s opinion on drugs and alcohol and why he abstained.
New challenges Joseph faced through different moves after finishing college.
A desire Joseph developed to feed the hungry after giving a homeless person half his meal one night.
How receiving help would have made Joseph’s life better and how this influenced his choice to help others.
How Joseph learned property management with the goal of providing housing to the homeless.
Joseph’s core desire to help people and how this feeds into his work with B.A.R.E Truth.
The role Joseph’s mother played in keeping him motivated to achieve his dream.
Connections Joseph built up as he secured food and spoke to different people.
How Joseph straddled his job while also handing out food at night.
Joseph’s explanation of the words that make up the name B.A.R.E Truth.
Advice from Joseph regarding a good approach to helping the homeless.
The houses Joseph opened up and how he keeps them supplied and furnished.
How to get involved in volunteering with Joseph and supporting his org in other ways.
Quotes:
“I used to promote clubs in Hollywood, so we ended up going out every night and I ended up giving a guy half of my meal. I then just started thinking, ‘Damn, he doesn’t want half a meal, let me get him his own meal.” — Joseph Bradford [0:51:35]
“I just saw somebody that needed help and that correlated with my life because I feel like all along my life would have been better if people helped me.” — Joseph Bradford [0:52:41]
“Now this became my job and I got infatuated with it because my natural desire is to help people.” — Joseph Bradford [1:00:22]
“Most people don’t know what the problem is. That is why I will invite you out and you can walk around the streets with me and you will get to see who these people are and what they are talking about versus just driving past them and saying, ‘Ugh.’” — Joseph Bradford [1:20:16]