Closer to home, he’s inspired some friends, including Kent Speakman, CEO of Papa Joe’s employer KNEKT-TV. Speakman, who has hiked with Papa Joe at Griffith Observatory and Runyon Canyon, recalled one hike with Papa Joe “that was supposed to be easier” had them climbing through caves.
Papa Joe also changed his eating habits, which included drinking a 2-liter bottle of Mountain Dew every day. Late-night binges included one or two Big Macs, two large fries, a family-size bag of Doritos and a whole chocolate cake.
“I’m an emotional eater,” Papa Joe said. “I was slowly killing myself with food.”
His first step was to clear the kitchen of candy, soda and cookies and to add fruits, vegetables and water. His daily calories fell from more than 8,000 to 1,500. Now, breakfast might be oatmeal; lunch is a tuna salad.
In 2013, Papa Joe won the AHA’s Lifestyle Change Award and he’s an AHA Life Ambassador. In April, AHA gave him a You’re the Cure award after he shared his story at AHA’s National Walking Day event in Sacramento, and visited with state lawmakers in support of a California bill that encourages walking and biking.
“I feel like a brand-new person,” he said.
Today, he has his own production company and clothing line, is a KNEKT producer and has started acting again. He’s also the host of his own show “Cooking With Papa!” on KNEKT, which is scheduled to premiere Aug. 1.
Along the way, there have been a few bumps. In 2014, a car hit Papa Joe while he was bicycling, busting his knee. And he still occasionally craves a Big Mac.
But Papa Joe, who now weighs 198 pounds, perseveres. “It’s a lifelong endeavor,” he said.