Five Things I Took From My Conversation with Josiah Smith
I don’t usually bring my kids into an interview, but this one felt different from the start. Josiah Smith is the kind of person you want your kids to meet. Thoughtful, grounded, joyful in a quiet way. He’s a college student, a musician, and co-author of Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key, with his father, S.D. Smith. Jack Zulu is a story that pulled my family in. Getting time with Josiah felt like striking gold. So I hit record with the whole crew in the room!
We talked about art, faith, family, calling, and creativity. It was full and human and warm. These are the five things that stayed with me.
1. Creativity Can Be a Shared Inheritance
When Josiah was twelve, he started building a world in his imagination. A fantastical place called the Wayland, full of portals and mystery. His first vision was a TV series. Later, his dad—author S.D. Smith—took one of Josiah’s imagined scenes and wrote it as a novel chapter. That moment changed everything. “It was the first time I realized it could be real,” Josiah told me.
The two of them began collaborating. Josiah brought the story and structure. His dad brought experience and craft. Together, they built something new, and fresh, and compelling. Their creative partnership isn’t just a project. It’s a picture of what happens when one generation believes in the next.
2. Art Comes from Imitating the Creator
When I asked why he creates, Josiah answered with clarity. “We’ve been created, so we create,” he said. “We want to be like our Dad.” He talked about (Tolkien’s?) term “sub-creators,” and how everything from architecture to food to stories can be an echo of the first act of creation. That foundation runs deep.
3. Awe Isn’t Optional
Josiah lights up when he talks about beauty. Nature, music, and great films move him. But the deepest awe, he said, comes from knowing Jesus and watching his redemptive work unfold. “The walk of being a Christian … brings me to tears,” he said. You can tell that the love of Jesus is woven into Josiah’s soul. His longing for redemption and his awe towards his Creator is reflected in his craft.
4. A Nurtured Childhood Can Launch a Vision
Josiah didn’t grow up in a pressure cooker. His parents didn’t demand that he perform or push him toward a specific outcome. Instead, they handed him tools and space. “Growing up felt like a sandbox,” he said. “They gave me pencils and paper and let me explore.” His family is full of creatives: dancers, writers, athletes, gardeners. Each person encouraged to be fully themselves. That kind of home culture gives kids a foundation to build from.
5. He’s Still in the Middle of the Story
Even with a published book and a growing audience, Josiah is still sorting through what comes next. He’s about to graduate from college with a degree in multimedia communications. He’s teaching music. He’s writing. But his biggest dream isn’t flashy. “I want to have a family. I want to be a good husband, a good dad, and keep telling meaningful stories.” That kind of clarity isn’t common. It comes from knowing who you are and what really matters.
By the end of our conversation, I was moved—not by his accomplishments, though they’re impressive—but by the way he holds them. With gratitude, with humility, and with both feet on the ground. He’s just getting started, but already walking in something that feels both timeless and needed.
Submit your poetry, visual art, music, or any other creative work to Johnny at johnny@superpowerquest.com. All kinds of art are welcome!
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