J.R. Jamison is the award-winning and bestselling author of the memoir Hillbilly Queer, and host of the NPR podcast and radio show The Facing Project (recorded and produced at Indiana Public Radio). He is also a founder of the national Facing Project network, a nonprofit in 20 states and over 100 communities that creates a more understanding and empathetic world through stories that inspire action, where he serves as president of the organization.

J.R. has written for The Huffington Post, Pangyrus, Writer’s Digest, and various other print and web publications. His work has been covered by outlets such as The Guardian, Harlem World Magazine, PBS, Runner’s World, and The Statesider, among others. In addition, his memoir received starred reviews from Library Journal and Foreword Reviews Magazine, and was selected as one of the “Top 10 Best Audiobooks of 2023” by Library Journal (which was narrated by J.R.). Currently, he is writing his debut young adult novel.

J.R. is a two-time graduate of Ball State University with a B.S. in Cultural Geography and Creative Writing and an M.A.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration. He lives in Muncie, Indiana, with his husband Cory and their loveable and always ready-for-the-camera Boston-Pit mix, J.J.

When not writing and recording, J.R. can be found long-distance running, sipping coffee in a deck lounger, catching up on his favorite NPR shows (This American Life, American Routes, and You Bet Your Garden), or binge watching Netflix, Hulu, and Showtime (currently, his favorite shows include Yellowjackets, Stranger Things, and Under the Bridge).

If you are interested in inviting J.R. to speak or to collaborate on a project, please go here.