Joey Pearson

✈️ Always on the move lately, so here are my favorite to make flying smoother (and actually enjoyable):

1. Pack a big, cozy scarf: instant blanket and pillow.
2. Bring an inflatable camping pillow; just don’t fully inflate it before takeoff (altitude = more pressure).
3. Skip the doomscrolling. Try a short in-flight meditation instead.
4. Say yes to every round of water. Hydration is your secret weapon.
5. For long flights or time zone jumps, a little NyQuil magic goes a long way if you can't sleep the first night.
6. Delays happen — treat them as bonus time to slow down.
7. Remember: Travel itself can be the adventure when you choose to enjoy it.

What’s your favorite travel hack? I’m always looking for new ones.

✈️🌊 One of my favorite things about solo travel is how it stretches me. Whether I’m navigating airports or slipping beneath the surface on a dive, being on my own pushes me out of my comfort zone, sparks conversations with strangers, and opens space for reflection. I’m reminded again and again how vast and beautifully diverse the world is above and below the water.

Immersing myself in communities with different languages, cultures, beliefs, and ways of life humbles me. Solo travel in the U.S. and around the world—on land and at sea—teaches me to coexist with curiosity and practice compassion.

In a time when division feels louder than unity, these journeys ground me in the truth that we are one human family. 🌏 When we step outside our bubbles, it becomes easier to understand and appreciate one another, differences and all.

🌍 Folks ask me what I do when I’m traveling around the world for work. Honestly? One of my favorite things is stepping on stage to engage in thought leadership by leading sessions, sparking dialogue, and speaking at conferences on the topics that energize me most: human agency, student-centered learning, teacher professional growth, and the future of AI.

And after nearly every session, without fail, 2–3 people come up to me and ask if I grew up attending a Southern church. 😂 My presenting style is energetic, interactive, and full of collaboration (and yes, sometimes even a little singing 🎶).

On the eve of turning 34, I’m feeling nothing but gratitude for the opportunities to travel, connect, and create impact. And this is only the beginning. 🙏

Learning the art of stillness... For the first time in years, there’s no doctoral program looming overhead, no book manuscript to contemplate, no stressful life situation to solve—and I’m figuring out how to embrace that space. Disney days, a good book, and quiet moments outdoors feel like rest. The real work is learning how to just be.

Tonight, I’ll sing at Light Up the Cathedral—the launch of Pride San Diego where faith and justice unite in powerful harmony.

I invite you to help create music that carries the spirit of q***r sacredness, justice, and radical love into the world.

We just launched the fundraiser for my second spiritual album and are already 30% funded thanks to community support! We need your help to go the distance. Every dollar supports local musicians, singers, and producers.

Thank you for donating and sharing to bring this music to life. (Link in bio..)

You can call me Dr. Joey!

Amid constant screen time, I’ve found that setting aside time daily for mindful reading—with a physical book and a pen in hand—is how I recharge, sharpen my thinking, and engage deeply with ideas in a way e-readers can’t replicate.

I’m currently reading “The One Thing.” It’s helped sharpen my focus on adult professional learning—a powerful lever for strengthening our community and deepening impact at . What are you reading right now? And do you prefer physical books or digital formats?

After years away from yoga, I walked into the yoga studio I used to frequent this morning, glanced into the darkest corner of the “Personal Mats” section, and there it was—my mat, a little dusty but waiting patiently.

The things that nourish us—the practices, passions, habits, or moments of peace we hold dear—are there when we’re ready. Whether it’s yoga, travel, exercise, or simply slowing down, we can return to what fills our cup in our own time.

2025 is here, and so is my long-lost mat.

The mud caves in Anza Borrego Desert State Park is one of my favorite camping trips. This year marks the third year that I’ve gone between Christmas and the New Year! The desert silence after a busy holiday season is just what my heart and mind need to reset for the coming year.

This morning, I was honored to attend church at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his family. The music was extraordinary, and the message on the power of community was moving. After church, I was invited to the celebration of the 125th birthday of “Daddy King,” Dr. King Jr.’s father, where I sat beside his great-granddaughter and other family members. I am still in awe that I conversed with, shook hands with, and even embraced members of the King family!

Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock’s sermon reminded me that God is relation, and creation is the company God refuses to live without. This powerful truth reminds us that we are all connected; whether by blood or by love, we are better together. The King family’s legacy is one of justice, peace, and love, bound by this divine connection that unites us all. I am forever grateful for this moment and cannot wait to bring the message and spirit of today into my music and my work.