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JP

@johnpugh.films

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🎥 Video Creative / Editor @q29video
🎙️ Co-Host @whothoughtwedbeherepod👇🏼

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Got pretty damn high in Colorado ⛰️

The biggest thank you to my lady @_vips for planning the most badass trip and best birthday I’ve ever had 🤠 by @johnpugh.films

We all know what “I’m better off the cuff” means 🤷 by @johnpugh.films

Hell of a month by @johnpugh.films

2016 started as the best year of my life.

After graduating college in 2015, I landed a job at a reality TV production company. By January 2016, I’d already been promoted and offered an unreal opportunity, traveling across Alaska with a film crew for The Science Channel.

I was surrounded by elite cinematographers and producers, exploring one of the most beautiful places in the world. I couldn’t believe this was my life.

The first two months were surreal. I hung out of a Chinook helicopter with a camera strapped to me and landed on a glacier, sailed around Kodiak Island on a Coast Guard rescue boat, heard near-death stories from the crew of Deadliest Catch, rode in military tanks that fired rockets, and saw the largest boat lift in the world. At 23, I felt unstoppable and believed I had a limitless career ahead of me.

Then things changed.

I got lazy. I stayed out late drinking and getting high instead of preparing for shoot days. I missed call times. I forgot critical gear. I became more invested in my “cool life” than doing my job, and had no clue the wake up call that was coming.

One of my responsibilities was logging and backing up footage each night. While rushing to meet the crew who was already out partying, I accidentally deleted footage from that day. I told myself it was only ten minutes of B-roll, that no one would notice.

3 days later, I was on a plane back to New York while the rest of the crew stayed in Alaska. I had been fired from my dream job and I had no one to blame but myself. It took years to stop playing the victim and finally take responsibility for my mistakes.

What followed were years of alcohol and substance abuse that made me unrecognizable. I worked restaurant jobs I hated, too afraid to pursue a creative career again, terrified of losing it all twice.

Today in 2026, video production is my full-time career. But more importantly, I’m a far more honest and responsible person, personally and professionally because of what happened to me in 2016.

If you read this whole story, thank you and take this lesson with you -

Mistakes are inevitable. What you do after they knock you down is what truly matters and defines you.

-JP by @johnpugh.films

Arrivederci 2025 (Lieutenant Aldo Raine voice) by @johnpugh.films

If you’re rebuilding your life, questioning your path, or choosing growth —— you’re not alone.

🎧 This is Who Thought We’d Be Here?
A podcast about recovery, mindset, and becoming who you never thought you’d be.

🎙️ Follow for weekly content, new episodes and more!

#WhoThoughtWedBeHere #wtwbh #podcast #recovery #mindset by @johnpugh.films

“Where’s my arc?”

#thesopranos #chrismoltisanti #sopranos #tonysoprano by @johnpugh.films

Life’s been good lately … Thank you Sensai by @johnpugh.films

Those 2 guys in the last slide could truly never imagine what we’ve created with the Who Thought We’d Be Here? Podcast.

Two years ago today, we posted our very first episode on YouTube. At that point in my life, I couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to listen to me and my best friend share our stories, let alone that others would be brave enough to sit beside us and share theirs.

This podcast has been one of the greatest teachers in my life. It’s shown me pieces of myself I didn’t know were there, and it’s given me the rare gift of looking back and seeing how far I’ve come. I’ve made plenty of choices in my life that I’m not proud of — but this podcast? This is something I’m so proud of. Something I’m honored to share with the world.

To each and every listener who pressed play, thank you for letting us into your lives, your support is the reason this podcast exists in the first place.

To all our guests, your courage and honesty have left a permanent mark on me. The wisdom you shared has shaped not only this podcast, but my personal life as well.

Big thanks to @q29video for helping us turn this show into what we always dreamed it could be. You’ve given this podcast a true home that we’re incredibly proud to be a part of.

And to my cohost and brother for life @_itssteve__ , I could have never done this without you.
Our audience only sees what we post online, but the most immense value of this podcast for me has come from the countless conversations and meaningful inner work that happens every single day behind the scenes. Thank you coming along on this wild ride of starting a podcast with me, and for being a true inspiration of what can happen when someone decides to rewrite their own story.

For anyone out there who’s scared to take a leap in their life, whatever it may be, take that first step. I promise on the other side of fear is something more meaningful than you could ever imagine.

Thanks for coming to my Ted talk. Comment🍍if you got this far. by @johnpugh.films

Who Thought We’d Be Here? We did.

This week’s guest @michaelchernow Founder of @kreaturesofhabit

Monday August 11th, Links in the Bio 🔗 by @johnpugh.films

There is a balance to clout. Utilizing certain clickable elements of your story to turn around and provide undeniable value to the consumer has its risks.

I got a chance to get real af about the definitions of success, fear of failure and social media marketing for today’s changing viral economy with my friends Steve and JP on @whothoughtwedbeherepod by @johnpugh.films

Lotta things changed 👀

Stay tuned tomorrow for a whole new look to your favorite Mental Health and Wellness Podcast.

#mentalhealth #wellness #sobriety #podcast #whothoughtwedbeherepod #wtwbh #q29 by @johnpugh.films