Workforce Culture Keynote Speaker

Helping organizations create workplaces people love, cultures people trust, and experiences people remember.

Certified Speaking Professional • Author • Sword Swallower • Circus Owner

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Build Trust. Strengthen Connection.

Joshua Routh, CSP • Author • Sword Swallower • Circus Owner

Give your audience practical tools to lead with sincerity, turn complaints into collaboration, and stay human in the age of AI.

Joshua combines humor, memorable demonstrations, and experience leading a creative business to help leaders and teams put those ideas to work.

For HR, workforce, hospitality, and association events, his keynotes connect the message to the people in the room.

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EXPLORE KEYNOTE PROGRAMS

An accomplished author, Joshua's books share secrets that change organizations and people's lives for the better.

Joshua is a true entertainer who has performed globally. He is one of less than 100 sword swallowers in the world.

Joshua doesn't just speak on leadership, he owns a circus and leads a team of 50 performers.

Corporate Speaker Joshua Routh testimonial — "My boss is still talking about you! You were such a hit at the Team Event! Are you available to present at our Board Event?"
EMILY AMOS
Meeting Planner, Jenner Ag

Keynote Speaker Joshua Routh testimonial — *"He was hilarious, human, and deeply practical—our attendees left with language and tools they could use immediately."*
Barry Draper
GBTA Leadership Conference

Corporate Meeting Speaker Joshua Routh testimonial — "Joshua captivated my team with his wit! He is a great resource to make your team feel connected!"
DAVID BLACKBURN
CEO, Southern Rock Restaurants

Educator Conference Speaker Joshua Routh testimonial — "We have booked Joshua for many years and his sessions are consistently standing room only!"
LARA CORVERA
Speech and Theater Association of MO

University Speaker Joshua Routh testimonial — "Joshua gave an amazing and hilarious presentation. He is a true professional."
HEATHER ROBINSON
Lincoln University

College Speaker Joshua Routh testimonial — "Joshua was fabulous with our diverse group from all over the country. He taught us skills for our work and also for our lives."
SHEILA KATZ
Hillel - Ask Big Questions Conference

Team meeting Speaker Joshua Routh testimonial — "His keynote elevated the entire event and played a big role in making the conference a huge success."
Tye Kuyper
South Dakota State SHRM Conference

Association Speaker Joshua Routh testimonial — "Joshua's Complaint Free World presentation was a fantastic way to leave our conference on a high note!"
KOURTNEY SHAW
St. Louis MPI

OUT NOW!

THE S WORD

Wielding Sincerity in a World of Performance

"I swallow swords for a living. Real swords—I'm one of about 100 people in the world who do this. It requires complete honesty with yourself, because steel doesn't care about your ego.

That same honesty is what's missing in most workplaces. We've gotten so good at performing authenticity that we've forgotten how to actually be authentic.

The S Word is a practical guide to sincerity—not as a soft skill, but as a competitive advantage. Through the SWORD Framework™ (Self-Awareness, Witness, Openness, Repair, Debrief), you'll learn how to build the kind of trust that turns teams into communities and customers into advocates.

Part personal stories from over 25 years in entertainment and leadership, part hands-on toolkit you can use Monday morning."

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Certified Speaking Professional (CSP)

Joshua is one of just 4% of professional speakers from around the world who have earned their Certified Speaking Professional designation. The designation is the highest earned honor in the speaking industry and limits risk for event professionals and event organizers looking to work with a professional speaker. The National Speakers Association created the designation, and the rigorous standards needed to earn it, to limit risk for organizations who want to hire speakers for their professional development events.

FIND OUT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A CSP

SHRM Recertification Provider

Joshua is an approved SHRM Recertification Provider, a designation that recognizes organizations offering qualifying HR education aligned with the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge. For HR professionals and event organizers, that means less guesswork and more confidence: eligible programs can be awarded preapproved Professional Development Credits (PDCs) that count toward SHRM recertification. SHRM created the Recertification Provider program to help certification-holders identify trusted sources of professional development and to help organizations deliver high-quality, relevant HR programming with recognized educational value

FOR HR PROFESSIONALS

YES, JOSHUA SWALLOWS SWORDS...

He is an expert in cultural transformation and one of the few people alive to master a skill most believe impossible. Joshua's talks are as unforgettable as they are impactful.

SEE THE POINT

Top 4 Reasons To Book Joshua

Here are the simplest and best reasons to hire Joshua Routh for your next event.

Certified Speaking Professional

Vetted and Certified

The designation of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) is the highest earned honor in the speaking industry and limits risk for Event Professionals and Event Organizers looking to work with a Professional Speaker.

Audiences Love Him

Entertaining

Joshua has not only been professionally speaking for over a decade, he has graced the stage and screen for over 30 years as a professional entertainer.

He brings joy everywhere he goes.

Awesome Add Ons

Additional Offerings With Real Impact

Every presentation Joshua gives includes a free comprehensive summary that is unique to your event, not a standard pdf. Plus Joshua has other add ons that elevate and enhance!

Easy To Work With

He Makes His Clients Look Good

He is so easy to work with. From beginning to end you will receive custom white glove service that will make you look good to your team, staff, leadership and attendees.

JOSHUA OWNS A CIRCUS

Joshua Routh literally runs a circus.

As the founder of Circus Kaput, one of the largest variety artist agencies in the United States, he manages a team of more than 50 performers who deliver over 950 events each year. Building and leading a creative team at that scale has given Joshua a unique perspective on what truly makes people connect, collaborate, and perform at their best.

In his keynote presentations, Joshua shares the practical tools and insights that have helped individuals and organizations strengthen connection, build trust, and create cultures people genuinely want to be part of.

The stories he shares are drawn directly from his life—training with Chinese acrobats, serving as a forest firefighter, and navigating the real-world challenges of building and leading a high-performing creative company.

Alongside these personal experiences, Joshua also brings the latest research from respected sources such as Gallup, Forbes, and leading human resources researchers, blending storytelling, data, and practical strategies audiences can apply immediately.

The result is a keynote experience that is both engaging and deeply practical, leaving audiences inspired and equipped with tools to create stronger connection in their organizations and communities.

When Joshua is standing before your group, the audience always leans forward.

CONNECT WITH JOSHUA

FAQ

What makes Joshua different from other keynote speakers?

Joshua combines the credibility of a Certified Speaking Professional with the energy of an entertainer, the insight of a culture speaker, and the real-world experience of a business owner. He is also an author, sword swallower, TEDx speaker, and founder of Circus Kaput, one of the largest variety talent agencies in the country.

Is Joshua Routh a Certified Speaking Professional?

Yes. Joshua Routh has earned the Certified Speaking Professional designation, the highest earned designation in the speaking industry. The CSP credential helps event planners identify professional speakers with a proven record of excellence, reliability, and client satisfaction.

What types of events does Joshua speak at?

Joshua speaks at association conferences, corporate meetings, HR events, hospitality and service industry conferences, healthcare leadership events, professional development programs, annual meetings, leadership summits, and conventions.

Is Joshua a SHRM Recertification Provider?

Yes. Joshua is an approved SHRM Recertification Provider. Qualifying HR-focused programs may be eligible for preapproved Professional Development Credits for SHRM-certified attendees.

What does Joshua Routh speak about?

Joshua Routh speaks about workplace culture, sincerity, engagement, human connection, complaint-free communication, leadership, service culture, and staying human in the age of AI. His keynotes help organizations create workplaces people love, cultures people trust, and experiences people remember.

Does Joshua customize his keynotes?

Yes. Joshua customizes his programs to fit the audience, industry, event theme, and goals of the organization. His keynotes can be adapted for HR professionals, hospitality leaders, healthcare teams, association audiences, service-driven organizations, and leadership groups.

What are Joshua’s most popular keynote topics?

Joshua’s most requested keynotes include The S Word: Wielding Sincerity in a World of Performance, A Complaint Free Workplace: Turning Complainers into Collaborators, Wielding Humanity: Staying Human, Trusted, and Connected in the Age of AI, and Creating an Atmosphere of Joy.

Does Joshua offer more than a keynote?

Yes. Depending on the event, Joshua can also provide breakout sessions, leadership workshops, emcee support, entertainment, conference committee sessions, volunteer engagement programs, post-event debriefs, and customized takeaways

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WATCH JOSHUA IN ACTION

About Joshua Routh

Joshua Routh helps organizations create workplaces people love, cultures people trust, and experiences people remember.

A Certified Speaking Professional, author, entertainer, and founder of Circus Kaput, Joshua brings a rare combination of business insight, stagecraft, humor, and real-world leadership to every audience he serves. His keynotes help leaders and teams move beyond performative culture and build environments rooted in sincerity, connection, trust, and collaboration.

Joshua has worked with organizations including Google, Wells Fargo, Edward Jones, and Bayer, and has appeared at TEDx St. Louis, the Smithsonian, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not. He is also one of the few sword swallowers in the world, but it is his message about sincerity, leadership, and human connection that audiences remember long after the applause.

Workforce Culture Keynote Speaker

Build Trust. Strengthen Connection.

Give your audience practical tools to lead with sincerity, turn complaints into collaboration, and stay human in the age of AI.

Joshua combines humor, memorable demonstrations, and experience leading a creative business to help leaders and teams put those ideas to work.

For HR, workforce, hospitality, and association events, his keynotes connect the message to the people in the room.

"My boss is still talking about you! You were such a hit at the Team Event! Are you available to present at our Board Event?"

EMILY AMOSMeeting Planner, Jenner Ag

"He was hilarious, human, and deeply practical—our attendees left with language and tools they could use immediately."

Barry DraperGBTA Leadership Conference

"Joshua captivated my team with his wit! He is a great resource to make your team feel connected!"

DAVID BLACKBURNCEO, Southern Rock Restaurants

"We have booked Joshua for many years and his sessions are consistently standing room only!"

LARA CORVERASpeech and Theater Association of MO

"Joshua gave an amazing and hilarious presentation. He is a true professional."

HEATHER ROBINSONLincoln University

"Joshua was fabulous with our diverse group from all over the country. He taught us skills for our work and also for our lives."

SHEILA KATZHillel - Ask Big Questions Conference

"His keynote elevated the entire event and played a big role in making the conference a huge success."

Tye Kuyper South Dakota State SHRM Conference

"Joshua's Complaint Free World presentation was a fantastic way to leave our conference on a high note!"

KOURTNEY SHAWSt. Louis MPI