What if your biggest setbacks were actually setting you up for the life you were meant to build?
Today, I sit down with Josh Hissong—designer, restaurant owner, and co-founder of HDG Architecture—to talk about the long road to personal growth, leadership, and finding purpose.
From battling addiction in his early 20s to building some of the Inland Northwest’s most iconic spaces, Josh’s journey is proof that reinvention takes courage, community, and a relentless commitment to growth.
This conversation is full of heart, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom—only on Navigating No.
Show Flow:
00:00 Embracing Failure and Overcoming Hurdles
00:41 Introducing Josh Song: A Journey of Reinvention
01:55 From Addiction to Architecture: Josh’s Early Struggles
04:54 Finding Passion in Customer Service
14:03 The Turning Point: Rehab and New Beginnings
18:09 Learning and Growing in the Restaurant Industry
32:34 The Birth of HDG Architecture
37:27 Diving into Design
38:52 Learning Through Immersion
39:25 Teaching Kids Confidence
40:42 Workplace Attitudes and Hiring
41:41 Mentorship and Belief
42:37 Parenting and Kindness
46:58 Adapting in Business
50:25 Hyperfocus in Business
56:14 Challenges and Overcoming Adversity
01:05:02 Team Building and Collaboration
01:09:01 Wrapping Up