Life & Work with Josh Harris of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Harris.

Hi Josh, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved making people laugh. It started as a way to cope.
I was born June 28, 1985, and raised in a mixed-faith household—Jewish and Christian—with two incredibly loving parents. When I was nine, they divorced. My mom was a PA who worked in elderly care; my dad was a journalist who often traveled for major stories. I spent weekdays with my mom, weekends with my dad, and often used humor to deal with the painful transition.

In high school, I discovered music—starting with drums. I formed a band, began writing songs and performing. Unfortunately, I also fell into addiction. What started with alcohol and drugs escalated quickly, and by my early 20s, I was on a dangerous path. Through God’s grace and a wonderful family, I entered recovery and have been sober since August 1, 2008.

I would soon learn that my worst day sober was infinitely more meaningful than my best in addiction. I found an incredible sponsor in a 12-step program who showed me the path to freedom.
Within that first year, I became a top ten finalist on NBC’s Stand Up for Diversity and performed two nationally televised comedy sets for TV One in Las Vegas. God didn’t give me my old life back—He gave me a new one.
Eventually, I joined a second 12-step group focused on freedom from lust. Through that fellowship, and another amazing sponsor, I’ve lived a life of joyful chastity since March 9, 2010. Helping others find freedom from addiction continues to be one of the most meaningful parts of my journey.

As my spiritual walk deepened, God kept opening doors where walls once stood. I performed another stand-up set on Bounce TV, briefly worked as a copywriter for Cartoon Network Online, and began teaching a stand-up comedy class in Atlanta.

In 2013, I started attending a local Protestant church. While reading a Bible my mom had given me, I had a profound experience of Christ’s presence. I surrendered my life to Him and was later baptized. My family—including my Jewish father—was there to cheer me on.

More blessings ensued, I released a musical comedy album that hit #3 on the iTunes Comedy chart and performed another nationally televised stand-up set on Trinity Broadcasting Network.

After a short stint in L.A., I moved back to Atlanta following the death of my grandfather. I constantly wondered if leaving California had been a mistake. One weekend, I joined my 12-step sponsor for Mass although I wasn’t Catholic. During the service, I felt an inexplicable peace, like God had pressed pause on my problems. I kept coming back.

Eventually, I entered RCIA (conversion course), sponsored by the same man who continued to walk with me in recovery. At the Easter Vigil, I received First Communion, drawing nearer to God than I thought humanly possible. The experience was transformative. I dove into parish life—co-leading a Bible study at a homeless shelter, helping more addicts, and serving on the Respect Life team. My faith wasn’t just a part of my life—it became the anchor. Daily Mass and adoration are now staples in my spiritual diet, along with 12-step meetings, which remain a wellspring of transformation.

In 2019, I also shared my testimony on the internationally televised EWTN show Catholics Come Home—spotlighting that God can turn even our lowest points into stories of hope.

Soon after, I signed a contract to headline cruise ships. Tracks from my follow-up comedy album were played on SIRIUS XM’s Pure Laughs. More importantly, I helped produce the Laughs for Life comedy fundraiser, which raised over $17,500 for the Pregnancy Aid Clinic—an organization helping women in crisis pregnancies choose life with unconditional love and support.

When the pandemic hit, live shows stopped. That’s when I was invited to co-host Shelter in Peace on Atlanta’s Catholic station AM 1160 The Quest. I later took a two-year hiatus to enter seminary, when I returned to entertainment, it was with a master’s degree and a fresh perspective.

My Christian music project, Joshua’s Giants, began to gain some momentum. The song “Love Won’t Let Me Go” (Acoustic Version), featuring Grammy winner Joe L. Barnes from Maverick City Music, hit #36 on the Billboard Christian charts and was added to Spotify’s Top 100 Christian Playlist for 2023. I had dreamed of making faith-based music back in 2017 with zero experience in the genre. After years of learning and growing, it’s been humbling to see those songs reach others.
I performed another nationally televised comedy set on the Huckabee show, where the featured guest that night was the lead actor from Sound of Hope. Then in September 2024, I began co-hosting The Morning Quest on Atlanta’s AM 1160. Every weekday from 8–9am, we help our listeners find joy in the journey.

Just before the show launched, I lost my dad, Art Harris. While many knew him as an Emmy Award-winning reporter, I’ll always remember him as my best friend, biggest fan, and a heroic father.

Over seventeen years ago, he arranged for a well-known comedian to call me onstage for my first stand-up set when I was too scared to take action. When addiction nearly ruined my life, he drove over 300 miles to bring me home and into recovery. Just weeks before he passed, we celebrated my 16 years of sobriety together.

I last saw him on Labor Day. My final memory is of us praying together. His head bowed, eyes closed—it looked like God had him in the palm of His hand. Our final words were, “I love you.”

Through daily Mass, adoration, 12-step meetings, and service, I’ve seen God bring more good from that loss than I could have imagined. It’s a currency exchange that only makes sense in Christ’s economy. In a moment that could have felt like hell, I caught glimpses of heaven.

Wherever you are, I hope you remember: God can work all things together for good. He can turn any breakdown into a breakthrough.

“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 1:6

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve faced a number of challenges throughout my life—starting with my parents’ divorce at nine, which led me to use humor as a way to cope. In high school and college, I battled addiction that nearly cost me everything. By God’s grace, the support of my family, and 12-step recovery, I’ve been sober since 2008. I’ve also lived with OCD, which brings its own challenges. Working with wise professionals and spiritual mentors has helped me face fear one day at a time—and through it all, I’ve learned to trust God more deeply and surrender what I can’t control. Grief has also shaped me. Losing my father—my best friend and biggest supporter—was incredibly painful, but even in that loss, I’ve seen God’s grace carry me through.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a professional stand-up comedian, radio host, and music producer who uses humor, song, and storytelling to uplift, evangelize, and encourage. My credits include NBC, Bounce TV, TBN, Sirius XM, and EWTN, and my comedy has reached over 10 million viewers online. I co-host The Morning Quest on Atlanta’s Catholic radio station AM 1160, where we blend faith and funny with live interviews, Gospel reflections, and saint spotlights—helping listeners find joy in the journey. My Christian music project Joshua’s Giants landed a Billboard-charting single, and I’ve helped raise thousands for pro-life and addiction recovery efforts through benefit comedy shows like Laughs for Life and Dry Humor.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
Likes:
Daily Mass and adoration, a strong comedy set that lands with both laughs and truth, helping others in recovery, playing piano, producing music, sweet potatoes, flavored peanut and almond butters, watching basketball and movies, and—unapologetically—cats and animal videos.

Dislikes:
Scrupulosity. Second-guessing myself. Wasting time online or on social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.FunnyJosh.com
• Instagram: @FunnyJoshHarris
• Facebook: @FunnyJoshHarris
• Twitter: @FunnyJoshHarris
• Youtube: @FunnyJoshHarris