Exploring With Josh

Early Life and Background

Josh, known online as Exploring With Josh, was born on March 20, 1993, in Rhode Island, United States. Of French Canadian and Ukrainian descent, he grew up in a working-class family alongside two brothers, with his mother, Mary, playing a significant role in his upbringing. At age 15, Josh moved with his family to London, which marked a period of adjustment as he missed his childhood friends. As a child, he developed a passion for breakdancing, which later influenced his early YouTube content. Little is known about his educational background, though sources indicate he graduated high school but dropped out of college to pursue his YouTube career. His early interests in dance, photography, and exploration shaped his creative path, leading to his unique niche in urban exploration and paranormal content creation.

Rise to Fame

Josh launched his YouTube channel, “Exploring With Josh,” on August 18, 2013, initially to share breakdancing videos with his crew. Disenchanted with dance content, he pivoted to vlogging travel and exploration experiences, starting with a video titled “Florida Session.” His channel gained traction after he began documenting explorations of abandoned places, such as asylums, schools, and banks, with a viral video of an abandoned asylum sparking significant attention. By 2015, he created a secondary gaming channel, “JustJoshing” (later Gaming With Josh), and expanded his main channel’s focus to include global adventures in countries like Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, and the United States. His shift to ghost hunting and paranormal investigations in recent years further boosted his popularity. As of 2025, his main YouTube channel has over 4.6 million subscribers, with additional followings of 331,000 on Instagram, 76,300 on Twitter, and 863,000 on Facebook.

Streaming Career and Content Style

Exploring With Josh is renowned for his urban exploration and paranormal vlogs, which often feature him navigating abandoned buildings, theme parks, banks, and other eerie locations. His videos, typically 40 minutes to an hour long, are characterized by custom thumbnails with bold text and arrows to attract viewers. Popular videos include “ABANDONED Federal Gold Exchange BANK,” “ABANDONED DRUG DEALERS MANSION,” and “(Abandoned School) Satanic Ritual Part 2 Ghost Slams Door Shut,” many of which have millions of views. Josh’s content blends adventure, suspense, and storytelling, appealing to fans of horror and exploration. Beyond YouTube, he is a breakdancer, photographer, and entrepreneur, selling apparel and prints through his Rise Above Shop. His gaming channel, though less active, features content like Minecraft and Fortnite. Josh’s engaging personality, willingness to explore unsettling locations, and global travels have solidified his niche in the YouTube community.... Show More

Early Life and Background

Josh, known online as Exploring With Josh, was born on March 20, 1993, in Rhode Island, United States. Of French Canadian and Ukrainian descent, he grew up in a working-class family alongside two brothers, with his mother, Mary, playing a significant role in his upbringing. At age 15, Josh moved with his family to London, which marked a period of adjustment as he missed his childhood friends. As a child, he developed a passion for breakdancing, which later influenced his early YouTube content. Little is known about his educational background, though sources indicate he graduated high school but dropped out of college to pursue his YouTube career. His early interests in dance, photography, and exploration shaped his creative path, leading to his unique niche in urban exploration and paranormal content creation.

Rise to Fame

Josh launched his YouTube channel, “Exploring With Josh,” on August 18, 2013, initially to share breakdancing videos with his crew. Disenchanted with dance content, he pivoted to vlogging travel and exploration experiences, starting with a video titled “Florida Session.” His channel gained traction after he began documenting explorations of abandoned places, such as asylums, schools, and banks, with a viral video of an abandoned asylum sparking significant attention. By 2015, he created a secondary gaming channel, “JustJoshing” (later Gaming With Josh), and expanded his main channel’s focus to include global adventures in countries like Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, and the United States. His shift to ghost hunting and paranormal investigations in recent years further boosted his popularity. As of 2025, his main YouTube channel has over 4.6 million subscribers, with additional followings of 331,000 on Instagram, 76,300 on Twitter, and 863,000 on Facebook.

Streaming Career and Content Style

Exploring With Josh is renowned for his urban exploration and paranormal vlogs, which often feature him navigating abandoned buildings, theme parks, banks, and other eerie locations. His videos, typically 40 minutes to an hour long, are characterized by custom thumbnails with bold text and arrows to attract viewers. Popular videos include “ABANDONED Federal Gold Exchange BANK,” “ABANDONED DRUG DEALERS MANSION,” and “(Abandoned School) Satanic Ritual Part 2 Ghost Slams Door Shut,” many of which have millions of views. Josh’s content blends adventure, suspense, and storytelling, appealing to fans of horror and exploration. Beyond YouTube, he is a breakdancer, photographer, and entrepreneur, selling apparel and prints through his Rise Above Shop. His gaming channel, though less active, features content like Minecraft and Fortnite. Josh’s engaging personality, willingness to explore unsettling locations, and global travels have solidified his niche in the YouTube community.

Achievements and Recognition

Josh’s YouTube success is marked by his channel’s growth to over 4.6 million subscribers and 45 million total views by 2025. He was nominated for a Shorty Award in the Travel category, making the shortlist, though he has not won major awards. His influence extends to social media, where he maintains an active presence, particularly on Instagram, with 331,000 followers. Josh has collaborated with creators like Sam and Colby, appearing in projects such as Childhood Thoughts (2015), Sam and Colby: The Paranormal (2015), and Sam and Colby Present: Hell Week (2021). His entrepreneurial ventures, including merchandise sales, have bolstered his brand. Fans on X praise his dedication, with posts highlighting his “insane work ethic” and ability to captivate audiences with paranormal content.

Controversies

Josh’s career has faced scrutiny, with some critics accusing him of staging locations or exaggerating the authenticity of his explorations. Detractors have called his content “fake” or “staged,” claiming certain abandoned sites are manipulated for dramatic effect. Others have labeled him as “obnoxious” or “arrogant,” though these criticisms are often overshadowed by his loyal fanbase. Despite these allegations, Josh has not been embroiled in major scandals and maintains a relatively clean public image. He has addressed criticism indirectly by focusing on creating more engaging content, particularly in the paranormal genre, to counter claims of repetition or lack of originality.

Personal Life

Josh keeps his personal life private, particularly regarding romantic relationships. Sources indicate he is single, with no confirmed past relationships or public appearances with partners. His focus remains on his career, and he has expressed a desire to keep his love life out of the spotlight. Josh is close with his family, occasionally mentioning his mother, Mary, and two brothers in videos or posts. He resides in the United States, though his exact location is undisclosed due to his frequent travels. Outside of YouTube, Josh enjoys photography, gaming, and collecting Dragon Ball toys, as showcased on his Twitter. His physical appearance includes green eyes, brown hair with blonde tips, and a fit build, though specific measurements are unavailable.

Net Worth and Impact

Josh’s net worth is estimated between $800,000 and $5 million as of 2024, primarily from YouTube ad revenue, merchandise sales, and sponsorships. His main channel generates significant income, supplemented by his Rise Above Shop, where he sells apparel and prints. Josh’s impact lies in his ability to transform a childhood passion for dance into a global exploration brand, inspiring fans to embrace adventure and curiosity. His shift to paranormal content has tapped into a growing audience interest, ensuring his relevance in a competitive space. Posts on X celebrate his resilience, with one user noting, “Josh’s ability to reinvent himself with ghost hunting is why he’s still killing it.” His travels to diverse locations and fearless exploration of the unknown have made him a trailblazer in urban exploration and paranormal vlogging.

Legacy and Future

At 32 years old, Exploring With Josh continues to captivate millions with his daring adventures and paranormal investigations. His evolution from a breakdancer to a YouTube star reflects his adaptability and creative vision. Despite controversies, his authenticity and passion resonate with a dedicated fanbase. With ongoing projects, international explorations, and a growing focus on ghost hunting, Josh is poised to expand his influence further. His story—from a Rhode Island kid with a love for dance to a global explorer—underscores the power of following one’s passions. As he continues to uncover the world’s forgotten places, Exploring With Josh remains a compelling figure in the digital age, blending adventure, mystery, and storytelling for a new generation of viewers.