KEYNOTE SPEAKER · RETREAT FACILITATOR · OFFICIANT
When Joe speaks,
people lean in.
From living rooms of 15 to stages of 1,000+. Joe speaks on death, grief, resilience, faith, and the audacity of being fully alive — and audiences remember it long after they leave the room.
“When Joe speaks and listens you know it’s from a real place of understanding — and because of that, people respond.”
TALK TOPICS
Real talks. Real stories.
No fluff, no filler.
Every talk is built around Joe's lived experience — not theory. He customizes each one for your audience.
TOPIC 01
Death, Dying & How to Face It With Grace
As a Trauma/ICU Chaplain who performs over 100 funerals a year, Joe brings an unusual combination of raw honesty and deep compassion to the hardest conversation humans have. This talk dismantles the fear around death and gives audiences a framework for living more fully because of it — not in spite of it. Appropriate for hospice organizations, medical teams, faith communities, and general audiences.
TOPIC 03
Faith Without Religion — Spirituality for Skeptics
Jewish. Cool with Jesus. Meditates like a Buddhist. Eats like a Hindu. Sings like a Baptist. Joe has been punched in the face by religion — and has done some punching himself. This talk is for the "spiritual but not religious," the burned, the skeptical, and anyone who wants a bigger God than the one they were handed. Honest, irreverent, and deeply human.
TOPIC 02
Mental Toughness & The Gift of Suffering
Drawn from Joe's experience as a marathon swimmer, Rim-to-Rim hiker, and recovering addict, this talk explores what it really means to suffer well — and why the hardest moments are often the ones that define us. Built for athletic teams, endurance communities, corporate leadership groups, and anyone who's ever been pulled from the water at 2:30am and had to decide what to do next.
TOPIC 04
Failure, Recovery & Getting Back in the Water
Joe was pulled from the Catalina Channel at 2:30am. He's an addict in recovery. He was married for a long time and now he's not. He has failed more times than he can count — and kept going anyway. This talk is about what it looks like to get back in the water when everything in you says to stay on the boat. For anyone who's ever failed publicly, personally, or professionally.
WHY JOE
He doesn't give speeches.
He has conversations with rooms.
A natural storyteller
Joe connects through story — personal, raw, and specific. Audiences don't leave with bullet points. They leave with something that changed in them.
Meets every audience where they are
Whether it's a corporate retreat, a faith community, a sports team, or a memorial service, Joe reads the room and adjusts — while staying fully himself.
Credibility that can't be faked
30 years as a chaplain. Solo open-water swimmer. Recovering addict. Divorced dad of four. He's lived what he speaks. Audiences feel the difference immediately.
No religious agenda
Joe is deeply spiritual and completely non-sectarian. He won't make anyone feel excluded — which means his talks land with religious and secular audiences alike.
M.Div., Princeton Theological Seminary — graduate theological training in pastoral care and spiritual direction
Trauma/ICU Chaplain — active hospital chaplain; performs 100+ funerals annually
Solo Catalina Channel swimmer — completed 8/16/22; also pulled at 2:30am on a prior attempt. Both stories matter.
Rim to Rim to Rim — Grand Canyon, in a day. Understands suffering and perseverance firsthand.
Recovering addict — in recovery and takes it seriously; speaks openly when appropriate
La Jolla 10-mile open water swim — endurance athlete and coach
EVENT FORMATS
Joe fits the room — whatever room that is.
Keynote
45–90 minute keynote address for conferences, leadership summits, and large-scale events. Joe customizes every talk for your theme and audience.
Memorial Services
Thoughtful, personal, and deeply human memorial services that honor the person who died and hold space for everyone in the room.
Retreat Facilitation
Half-day or full-day retreats for teams, faith communities, or organizations. Interactive, experiential, and built around your group's needs.
Weddings
Not the quick religious service — the real one. Joe creates ceremonies that are fully unique to the couple. All couples, all backgrounds, welcome.
Athletic Teams
Mental toughness, resilience, and spiritual grounding for athletes. Joe has worked with endurance athletes, team sports, and coaches at all levels.
Private & Intimate Events
Some of the best conversations happen in a living room. Joe is as comfortable with 15 people as he is with 1,000.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
People remember how Joe made them feel.
"I have known Joe Cole for many years. His love for people is contagious. When Joe speaks and listens you know it's from a real place of understanding — and because of that, people respond. I have seen God use Joe to change the lives of countless people in some very difficult situations."
— Debbie"Joe seemed to show up at just the right time. In the worst loss and in the face of death, Joe always had enough hope for all of us. He's the most authentic person I've ever met and genuinely cares for people."
— Christy"Every time I meet with Joe I know he is not trying to fix me, rather he provides real and honest feedback. He is a breath of fresh air, a good listener and someone I trust."
— JohnBOOK JOE
Let’s talk about your event.
SPEAKING FEES
Fees vary based on event size, format, and travel. Joe believes in making his work accessible — reach out and let's find something that works. No one with a worthy event gets turned away.
TRAVEL
Based in Carlsbad, CA (North San Diego County). Available to travel nationally and internationally for the right events.
CUSTOMIZATION
Every talk is tailored. Joe will connect with your team before the event to understand your audience, your theme, and what you need the room to feel when it's over.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Joe is easy to work with, deeply prepared, and always authentic. He shows up early, stays late, and genuinely cares about your people long after the event ends.