Okay, hi. I’m Justin.

I’m 40 years old and I quit my toxic corporate job in advertising to start a business that spreads joy.

And now I’m 15K in debt, but still fighting forward because I have a really big idea that I think could kinda (maybe) change the world.

I make heart-centered art and writings on the internet to help people feel less alone.

But now I need help. I’m doing this weird thing called The Joy Drive—a  fundraiser that powers my company, SoCurious.

No venture capital. No brand sponsors.

Just real humans that believe Joy is the revolution.

Hopefully, people like you. 

What started as an uplifting email newsletter in 2019 has grown into a movement of radical joy.

My big, audacious, slightly ridiculous goal? To take it on tour—spreading joy across the U.S. with pop-up art events, surprise Joy Bombs (daytime dance parties, because I’m too sleepy to go out at night like that—I’m 40), and playful public installations.

The first one is Joy is the Revolution. 

Think: Instagram museum meets Hobby Lobby.

We drink mocktails. We laugh. We make art.

Also, there’s good music playing from a local DJ.

It’s mostly for adults, but yes, your kids can come too. 

I’m raising $10,000 to light up Austin this May with a pop-up art expericence. We need the funds by May 9th to make the dream a reality.

That’s very soon and I’m very nervous.

But this time I want the event to be what I really imagined.

Bigger installations. More connection. More chances to help people remember what it feels like to smile like they’re 8 years old and they’re eating pepperoni pizza while watching Hey Arnold on Nickelodeon. 

But my stretch goal? $150,000—so I can take this joy to 10 cities across the United States and share my philosophy with the communities that need it most. 

 

Here’s a recap of the first  Joy is the Revolution event. 

My 2024 Impact

💌

42 emails that made inboxes feel like a warm hug from an old friend

🌈

207 joyful posts sprinkled across different social media channels

🎨

1 immersive art experience hosted in Austin, TX (it was vibes)

😩

6 total meltdowns that ended with me saying: “Man f*ck this! I give up.”

🙌

389 store sales. Including hundreds of greeting cards that hopefully reconnected long distance besties across the US. (I’m very proud of this. But also, more please).

😄

And what I’m guessing are at least 10,879 smiles, but I don’t have a good metric to track for that yet. (Any ideas?)

Give Joy. Get Joy.

Pick your donation level and get something from a real life human artist in return. I’m like Basquiat, but somehow not like all those white dudes making drawings like Basquiat that are super famous.

💖 $10 — The Spark

“Joy is the Revolution” Sticker Pack
Cute stickers so you can decorate your emotional support water bottle.

✨ $16 — The Believer

Anonymous Joy
(9 Joy Bombs + a random inspirational letter from me)
It’s kinda like a tarot reading because very frequently, the message you need finds you. Save your favorite Joy Bombs. Share with a friend. Or leave for a stranger to find them. 

💌 $35 — The Joy Squad

8-Pack of Flat Greeting Cards and envelopes (with stamps)
It’s like sending a text, but it feels a lot more special because things that aren’t instant feel novel in a world that moves at the speed of light.  

🎨 $99 — The Ray of Sunshine

Custom Joy Bomb Mini Art Print
 Give me a word, theme, or vibe and I’ll turn it into a one-of-a-kind artwork. You’ll get a 4×6 mini print of your Joy Bomb to keep forever. (Note: I will maintain the license and ownership. Also, no revisions. I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my sh*t)

This will require a lot of stamps. Items will be available for pickup at the event and/or shipped out the first week of June. 

Note: If you are in a financial position to give a gift that is $500 or more, please email me at hello@socurious.co.

Why it matters

We’re here to reconnect our community, fight the loneliness epidemic, and remind people that joy is the revolution.

Your support helps us:

💫 Build meaningful and unique experiences. The kind that help humans connect with other humans IRL.


📦 Print + ship more Joy Bombs. I think we can disrupt the algorithm with more paper joy.


🎨 Pay artists and collaborators fairly. We vote with our dollars now. The artists, the writers, the poets, the creators deserve to be fiscally compensated for the healing they create with their gifts.


🌈 Stay small, weird, and incredibly us—’cause we’re not like them.