Josué Cardona is an engineer turned mental health therapist turned science communicator.
He uses technology and media to create content and experiences that increase understanding.
Why I Do What I Do
I believe that the science and tools exist to help everyone live a better life. Most people just haven’t figured out how to do it yet.
So whether it’s through podcasts, videos, writing, lectures, coaching, or design research, my goal is to help people figure things out, see things more clearly, and find solutions for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals. Then I help them remember how to tap into those solutions for when they need them most.
My Story
I’ve done a variety of things throughout my career and they have all involved helping people figure things out.
In high school, a psychology class really changed the way I saw the world and although I wanted to pursue it, I was really good at math and science and was encouraged to study engineering. I was inspired by the Human Genome Project so I studied mechanical engineering, then electronics, and eventually held the title of Biomedical Engineer. During my time working in medical technology, my job depended on clearly explaining how to do things, why an operating room needed that new equipment, or why one device was better than another.
I had the opportunity to work with many clinicians and nurses and I realized that many of the reasons why we seek medical attention, definitely not all but many, can be avoided through behavioral change. I wanted to do something about that so I went back to school. I decided to rekindle my old love of psychology and studied Mental Health Counseling. After lots of training and practice in a variety of settings, including training at the Albert Ellis Institute in NYC, I ran my own psychotherapy and coaching practice for two years.
While working in mental health I had a very hard time with the feedback loop involved. The problem I found was that people were rarely coming to me or following up when it was most beneficial to them. I realized that if I saw my clients as students and became a better teacher, we could solve problems more effectively. I believed the key was in education.
My research into education led to a belief that advances in educational technology could make a difference in my work by allowing people to improve in a more affordable, timely, and effective way. I decided that instead of jumping right into another degree right away I would get some experience working in education. I’ve since taught middle/high school, college, and professionals in some capacity, always integrating what I’ve learned from my research in education and educational technology.
Today, I integrate the behavioral sciences with education and technology to develop ways to help people figure things out and increase understanding as a design researcher.