Ep. 298: John Joseph on Destroying Monsters - Addiction, Redemption, and Hardcore Healing
PLANTSTRONG Podcast
Rip Esselstyn
4.8 • 2.3K Ratings
🗓️ 24 April 2025
⏱️ 83 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Rip Esselstyn sits down with John Joseph—author, musician, and former frontman of the iconic hardcore punk band Cro-Mags—to explore a story of survival that defies belief.
John’s journey takes us far below rock bottom: addiction to crack cocaine, pills, and alcohol; a life of crime on the streets of New York; time spent in foster care and juvenile detention; and the devastating loss of loved ones to violence and substance abuse. But somehow, against all odds, John fought his way back—and now lives a life centered on service, discipline, and purpose.
Today, he’s a sober, plant-based IRONMAN triathlete, motivational speaker, and the author of the powerful new book Destroying Monsters.
John shares how the straight edge punk rock scene and the Hare Krishna movement helped transform his life, and how Destroying Monsters offers real tools for those battling their own demons.
He discusses:
- His descent into addiction and the dark underworld of crime
- How punk, spirituality, and service saved his life
- The power of discipline and Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)
- How his plant-based lifestyle fuels his endurance training
- Why Destroying Monsters is more than a memoir—it’s a guide to transformation
Whether you’re facing your own struggles or simply need a dose of no-holds-barred inspiration, this conversation will light a fire under you.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I'm Ray Besselston, and you're listening to the Plan Strong podcast. |
| 0:05.0 | People don't often make change until they hit rock bottom. |
| 0:10.0 | Well, for author and musician John Joseph, his life went well below rock bottom. |
| 0:17.0 | Addiction to crack cocaine, pills, and alcohol, a life of crime in New York, murder and the death |
| 0:25.1 | of family members, homelessness. It's almost inconceivable that anyone could recover. But |
| 0:32.4 | John Joseph did, and his new book, Destoring Monsters, will give you the tools to slay your own demons. |
| 0:39.9 | We'll have his story right after this word from Plan Strong. |
| 0:45.3 | You know, every once in a while, |
| 0:48.7 | we get an email to hello atplanstrong.com |
| 0:52.6 | that just stops us in our tracks and reminds me and the team |
| 0:59.2 | why we do this work. For example, Maddie from Chicago writes, I finally feel in control of my |
| 1:06.0 | eating plan. Because of Planned Strong foods, my pantry is stocked with quick meals that I can make in minutes. |
| 1:12.8 | And my grocery shopping is just a quick breeze around the perimeter to pick up fresh produce. |
| 1:18.9 | My partner and I spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the benefits of convenient, healthy meals. |
| 1:26.3 | Maddie, thank you. |
| 1:28.6 | Notes like this mean everything to me and the Plan Strong team |
| 1:31.6 | because this is exactly what Planned Strong is all about. |
| 1:36.1 | We are on a mission to make powerfully whole, |
| 1:39.9 | plant-based favorites for real life. |
| 1:43.0 | Foods that are convenient, clean, and built to help you |
| 1:46.7 | live your strongest life. If you're ready to feel more in control of your eating and spend |
| 1:52.5 | less time stressing in the kitchen, then it's time to stock that pantry and your life with real |
... |
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