About the Author

Oh gosh, it’s Josh.

By Joshua Janusiak

(Updated 10/10/2024)

Welcome to Running for the Mind! This blog started off as a place where I could share my experiences and passions for running and philosophy, and it has developed into a place to discuss those things and more, including herbalism, holistic and natural health, DIY projects, culinary experiments, and sustainability. I also have begun creating all-natural products that I research and make to my own personal highest standards, which I am currently selling on my Etsy shop, PhilosophicalFolia. I write because of everyone who cares about the things I write about, and because it is SO wonderful to engage with others on the topics I care most about. Don’t be a stranger… subscribe if you want to be updated with the latest posts!

I am currently living in Iowa City, Iowa, an area I have come to love. I graduated summa cum laude from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin with my bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and Spanish (if you’re interested in my full list of college courses, I’ve attached them at the end of this article).

I have worked as a legal assistant, an Americorps reading tutor, a copyeditor with Grammarly, an assistant to our high school athletic director, as a retail associate at Performance Running Outfitters, as a personal trainer, a freshman orientation leader, and as a Spanish/English tutor and translator. I did a public health internship in North Carolina in 2018 with Wake Forest Baptist Health where we traveled around the state to talk to Spanish-speaking farmworkers and get health data to learn about living conditions and the health effects of pesticides on farmworkers, which was quite an illuminating experience. I was part of Greenfire in college, which was the environmental sustainability club, and I have helped with various projects related to the environment, such as planting trees throughout Wisconsin, landscaping, and studying algae growth in college. I have been fortunate enough to travel to most US states, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Belize, Norway, and Italy on trips with friends, family, or school.

I am a huge fan of cooking, herbalism and foraging, and I am currently working on an herbalism certification. I often brew my own wines, grow various types of edible mushrooms, and make all-natural remedies and products for online shop after doing very thorough research and a lot of experimentation. I have done and have a passion for many types of creative projects related to sustainable living and ‘homesteading,’ including making candles, medicinal tinctures, nature-themed art, drying my own spices, etc.

I love reading about philosophy, plants, science, and nature primarily, but also love fiction on occasion. I have an adorable lop named Hugi MooMoo Cande who genuinely provides me with invaluable emotional support and cuteness. My family is wonderful and so supportive of everything I do, and they have exposed me to so many amazing experiences. My friends (past and present) are so valuable to me, even when I have difficulty keeping up with them. I love listening to music, especially pop, house, 00’s, tropical, remixes, and, of course, Taylor Swift. I love watching SNL skits and enjoying funny content on TikTok and Instagram. Hiking in nature, photography, and gardening are other ways I enjoy spending my free time.

I grew up in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, running distance since I was in eighth grade. At South Milwaukee High School, I finished 9^th at the State XC Meet, and I was All-American at Lawrence University for track (10k) and cross country (8k). My best 10k in college was a time of 30:17 at the Gina Relays. I ran my first (and so far, only) marathon at the Lakefront Marathon in Milwaukee with a time of 2:41, placing 15^th overall. I still run often, although not often enough, and I hugely believe in the positive effects of this sport for general well-being, mindfulness, and enjoyment. Running as a means of exploring new places is one of my all-time favorite activities, and it can be a fully magical experience.

I so deeply appreciate you taking the time to visit my blog, read what I have to say, and participate in all these exciting conversations with the readers of this blog (via comments), friends and family members, and me (email me at runinthezone@gmail.com). There is always more to learn. It is always possible to change and grow if you keep your mind open, practice positive habits, and build positive relationships. Thank you for your support!

College courses from Lawrence University
4^th Semester Spanish CAPP
Advanced Spanish Grammar
AP English – Language/Composition
AP English – Literature/Composition
AP Calculus BC
AP Biology
Freshman Studies (x2)
ANTH: Biological Anthropology
ANTH: Cultural Anthropology
ART: Intro to 2D Art
BIOL: Cells to Organisms
BIOL: Botany
HIST: Native American Empires
HIST: Religion, Magic & Witchcraft
HIST/PHIL: Plato & Aristotle
HIST/SPAN: Visions of Conquest
MATH: Elementary Statistics
PHIL: Intro to Philosophy: Problems
PHIL: Science Fiction & Philosophy
PHIL: How to do Things with Words
PHIL: Metaphysics
PHIL: Symbolic Logic
PHIL: Value Theory
PHIL: Epistemology
PHIL: Intro to Biomedical Ethics
PHIL: Philosophy of Sex and Love
PHIL: 17^th & 18^th Century Women Philosophers
PHIL: Topics – Relativism
PSYC: Principles of Psychology
PSYC: Health Psychology
PSYC: Cognitive Psychology
RLST: Rationality & Religious Belief
SPAN: Latin American Visual Art
SPAN: Introduction to Film
SPAN: Topics – Jorge Luis Borges
SPAN: Gender & Nation – 19^th-20^th Century Lit.
SPAN: Cervantes – Don Quijote
SPAN: Space as Text
SPAN: Intro to Spanish Linguistics
SPAN: Contemporary Film & Fiction