We’re looking forward to introducing you to Brandon S. Johnson. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Brandon S., we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Almost without fail, my 7 year old son will wake up while the house is still asleep, and says one of 3 things “Dad will you draw with me, read with me or play with me.” And tired or not, my response is usually the same “yup just give me 5 minutes” I know how limited this time is with my kids, so I try and take advantage of these moments. Once his sister is up it’s usually a blur of making breakfast with mom, packing lunches, and rushing off to school. I then do a quick walk or run at Balboa Park, and then head back to my home office, or favorite coffeeshop to start my day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Brandon S. Johnson — a storyteller and community builder who believes creativity can change lives. I wear a few hats — I’m the CFO at Project New Village, where we’re reimagining food justice and building spaces that feed both people and possibility. I also run BSJ Brands, where I get to blend my passions as a photographer, children’s book author, and financial literacy educator.
At the end of the day, everything I do comes back to the same thing — helping people,, see the power in their own story. Whether I’m behind a camera, teaching about money, or working in the community garden, it’s all about growth — showing that we can build something beautiful and lasting right where we are.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
It’s hard to point to just one moment that shaped how I see the world — it was really a series of moments that built on each other. Losing my mom in my teens changed everything. Later, I found myself at rock bottom — jobless, homeless, sleeping in my grandmother’s back room, trying to figure out what was next. My girlfriend (now wife) and I also lost our first child, and that kind of pain just… shifts you.
I remember thinking, wait a minute — I can figure this out. So I started small — saving six dollars a day. That little habit turned into a ticket that took me around the world, and eventual paid off debt, 800 FICO score, a healthy emergency fund, the ability to invest for the future, a family and many more countries under our belt.
Later, I wrote a children’s book to honor all those experiences — to show that loss and hope can live side by side, and that you can turn pain into purpose. That journey gave me a whole new lens from which I view the world.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I’d say the three deepest wounds I’ve had to heal are losing my mom unexpectedly, hitting rock bottom financially, and losing my son, August. My children’s book, August & the Wind, came out of that. It’s about a boy who loses his mother to the sky and goes on an adventure around the world on the wind, climbing the highest things he can find, trying to find her. Those places in the book are the same countries I actually visited on my own journey — so writing it was my way of honoring both of them. Reading it to my kids now keeps their memory alive in our home, and that’s something really special to me.
As for the financial side — I’ve been broke, unemployed, and at times completely unsure of my next move. But I was also full of dreams and goals. Learning about money, discipline, and mindset helped me rebuild, and now I use that same experience to help others — people who’ve lived through struggle like mine — understand personal finance in a way that gives them hope, not shame. Helping others heal financially has been part of my own healing, too.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Oh yes, I live by the values I publicize. The part people don’t know is I suffer from crippling ADHD and Anxiety, two words I never put much thought into my entire life until I became an adult and it became a constant beast. However I have a bag I tools to reach into to help when it get’s too bad.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely, I am very intrinsically motivated and even more so by personal goals and results. Accolades and praise can at times feel very unnatural to me. But a genuine message from someone who I’ve helped feel more beautiful or find real hope for their future. That lights me up in a way that isn’t always easy to describe.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.BSJCoaching.com and www.BrandonSJohnsPhoto.com
- Instagram: bsjcoaching.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsj/
Image Credits
Nic Roc, You Belong Here LLC
