I'm available for and enjoy speaking engagements on leadership, entrepreneurship, storytelling, communities, stewardship, and of course, Texas.
My speaking experience spans classrooms of students learning about social media, journalism and photography, to rooms packed with thousands of marketing folks and government officials looking who want to hear about the diverse experiences and career stops my journey has made along the way.
These talks are usually a mixture of audience involvement, pure storytelling, and sharing lessons from the road.
The stories I draw from come from very different chapters of my life, each teaching me something new about what it means to connect with people and build something meaningful.
I started as a commercial photographer shooting assignments for publications such as WIRED, Texas Monthly, and the Sunday Times of London in addition to clients like YETI, Southwest Airlines, and BMW
Getting my pilot's license in 2014 opened up new perspectives...literally.
In 2015, I flew a single-engine Cessna around Texas's entire 3,822-mile perimeter, shooting over 44,000 photos for Texas Monthly, a project that would go on to become a book called for my book A Mile Above Texas and a 6 month museum exhibit at the Bob Bullock State History Museum.
Then came my social media and retail days, where my wife Priscilla and I built the social media feed @TexasHumor from nothing into a 2 million-follower community and thriving business.
@TexasHumor started out as a meme account, that grew into an apparel line, which in turn evolved into Sauceda Industries, a direct to consumer logistics operation. We served brands like Tecovas Boots, Whataburger & William Murray Golf. As CEO, I learned to scale through strong communication. We hit 126 sq ft, 150 employees, and neared $15M in sales by the time we sold that business in 2021.
Most recently I joined Texas Monthly, where I became host and executive producer of Texas Country Reporter, stepping into Bob and Kelli Phillips' shoes for Season 53. It's been an incredible lesson in honoring tradition while bringing the show into a new era.
Since taking over, we’ve seen:
I’ve spent my life in Texas, and it’s shaped just about everything I value...hard work, hospitality, and a deep respect for the people who make this state an amazing place to live.
I grew up on the hard-working side of Houston, in the small town of La Porte, where refineries and salt air meet, and learned early that community isn’t just who you live near, it’s who shows up for you.
Texas has a way of grounding you in where you’re from while still calling you to explore what’s out there. It’s not just home, it’s the lens through which I see and tell every story.
Here's what some people who invited me to speak had to say:
"J.B. is a phenomenal storyteller with a super friendly and outgoing personality. Our audience loved J.B - he was fantastic! He's truly an outstanding Texan who loves what he does, and his stories can resonate with anyone. He was one of the very best speakers we have had in years.”
- Rick Ellis, AWBD
Whether you need a dose of authentic leadership, some real talk on entrepreneurial strategy, or a fresh look at perspective, my background brings practical lessons wrapped in compelling stories.