Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Bloke
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I had absolutely no intention at all of moving to Atlanta until about 5 years ago in a musty motel room in Lancaster, CA! Originally from North Carolina, my former roommate, Lex, and I were destined for a place different from what we were used to. She is from Siler City, NC and I am from Henderson, NC…Yeah, nowhereland indeed! We initially planned a move to California, but things didn’t quite work out with that. You can discover this full story and all of its glory on my podcast, Story of My Black Gay Life; however, to make a funny, but daunting, story shorter, she ended up mentioning that maybe we should move to Atlanta. I had so many reservations because all I had heard about “that place” was that the girls–the gworls–were just out here dipping and doing and shaking and moving all over! I dared not to be a part of any of that! I wasn’t too happy at the time, but she ended up dragging me here and boy, that was the best thing that could’ve ever happened. I am forever grateful to Lex for doing that because I’ll never forget where I come from, but to pursue this dream of mine, I had to leap and leave my small town. And, after I got here, I didn’t quickly get focused on my comedy career either, but like I said, check out the podcast! Regardless of my past, I can confidently say that I am a proud writer, comedian, actor, and content creator, and I AIN’T AFRAID TO SAY IT! Forget the folks who say, “Oh, but does that pay your bills?” Yes, it actually does…now what? It may be my fast food restaurant note, but it’s paying for something and we all have to start somewhere. This isn’t easy!
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?
Just like my derrière, sometimes things are nice and smooth, but sometimes things get thorny. I constantly juggle a schedule that is truly otherworldly! When I’m not making people laugh on the internet, I am an event bartender, so you can imagine how inconsistent that schedule is. Trying to make a consistent creative schedule (writing, filming, editing, posting, etc.) is not an easy feat, but I certainly am doing a damn good job at it with what’s in front of me. I’ve always been a resourceful gwora (gworl, for those that don’t get it)! In addition, I recently discovered that alcohol was a constant catalyst in not achieving certain goals; as soon as I dropped that bad habit–108 days and counting at the time of this verbiage, I started reaching certain goals that I dreamed about years ago! I’ve had 3 different videos on TikTok reach over 100K views, and I even gained access to TikTok Live where I am now able to share my gift with the world more easily. I did have a show called “Bloke Alchemy” on YouTube that was about me comically crafting my very own cocktails, and those videos are still available for the up-and-coming bartender and for people who just want to laugh, but “Bloke Alchemy” is taking a turn for the better! So make sure you catch me on TikTok Live almost every night throughout the week (@joshuabloke)! There, we play games and laugh about life, and you will also get to witness firsthand the creation of my very first fragrance from start to finish beginning October 28, 2024! The series will be called “Watch Me Create My Own Fragrance in 30 days.” And, please check out my YouTube as well for some laughs (YouTube.com/c/joshuabloke)! “Bloke Alchemy” still serves a purpose for others, so the videos will remain public for now. Go watch while you can!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love to consider myself a writer first because it all starts there for me! There are times when I’m laughing to myself in the corner, and people run away from me because they think I’m about to commit arson or something–I don’t know what they think, but it’s me constantly creating scenarios and jokes in my head. I truly never stop thinking and I guess that could be a good thing or a bad thing, but I won’t talk to you about that–I’ll talk to my therapist about that; the bottom line is that I am a writer before all things. Also, I am a comedian! I love to laugh, and I love to make other people laugh! It makes me feel good that I made someone else feel good! Who doesn’t love a good jokey-joke?! I post a bunch of comedy content all over Instagram and TikTok, consisting of mainly skits surrounding customer service experiences. Please check them out if you need a good belly chuckle–no, really, they’re hilarious! I also strongly consider myself an actor. After doing background acting for years, I decided to finally take it seriously around the summer of 2023! I’m so glad I did because I started getting auditions for things that seemed impossible! I even booked my very first lead role in a feature film. Working with writer and director Yvonne Winfrey and the production company, The UNCollective Productions, was truly an unforgettable experience. Yvonne Winfrey herself even made sure that little old me from Atlanta, GA made it all the way to Santa Clarita, CA for filming! I would say playing my character “Gale” in the movie, “White Vinegar,” is one of my proudest moments ever! The movie is set to be released sometime in 2025, so please look out for that or just follow me for updates on Instagram @joshuabloke, or The UNCollective Productions on Instagram @the_uncollective_prod. They are always working on something! And, speaking of working, I believe that’s what sets me apart from others. My ability to be resourceful is something I am skilled with and I am continuing to master it over time. My ability to persevere also sets me apart from others; I work very hard, and those who know me know that I typically find myself doing 15 different things at once. Multitasking can be a great thing, but it can also prevent me from focusing on one thing at a time or having enough energy to complete each project; however, isn’t that why caffeine exists?
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I will always credit TS Madison for encouraging me to be my authentic self and for posting myself online in general; she is my biggest inspiration when it comes to this industry because she’s always been unfeigned and genuine! As aforementioned, I am excessively grateful to my former roommate and my friend, Lex, for traveling the country with me and for finally getting me to Atlanta, GA! I’d like to express my gratitude to my favorite photographer, Dezirae OzMarie of DO Photography (@do_photography) for always getting my headshots together, and she has taken every photo that you see in this article! I am grateful to Yvonne Winfrey for taking a chance on me being an inexperienced actor, casting me for a lead role in her feature film, “White Vinegar,” and for all that she has done to support me and my career! I am also grateful for the connection I have fostered with my friend, Elijah or @Adorelotus on all platforms; it’s a newer connection at the time of constructing this article, but it’s most definitely a lasting one. Elijah has taught me so much as it pertains to social media and how it works just when I thought I had it all figured out! I actually wouldn’t have had my very first collab or sponsored content post without Elijah and I would like to make that known to the world! I also appreciate all of the support I receive from people who don’t even really know me who happened to be scrolling and stumbled upon my silly, silly self! Lastly, and most importantly, I would not be here, truly, if it wasn’t for my mother, Charlotte. All jokes aside, realizing the sacrifices she’s made and the perseverance my mother harnessed allowed me to recognize my purpose. My mother deserves the world, and I am determined to hand it to her!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@joshuabloke
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuabloke
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090427393462&sk=reels_tab
- Twitter: https://x.com/joshuabloke
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/joshuabloke
- Other: https://joshua-bloke.printify.me/
Image Credits
Dezirae OzMarie Photography
