May 27, 2021
Mental health advocate Joel Relampagos was born in Manila, Philippines, on January 25, 1982. Decades before Asian hate shockingly gripped our nation, he moved to the US on his 6th birthday. As a Southern California resident, he grew up in a strict, Catholic/Filipino home and dealt with the parental expectations of their son becoming a Doctor.
At the age of 19, Joel opened up about his sexuality on MTV’s “True Life: I’m Coming Out.” After being featured on Advocate Magazine and getting national recognition from the LGBTQ+ and AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) community, Joel decided to pursue a career in entertainment instead of becoming a doctor. In an interview he stated, “There’s more than one way to save a life; and telling our stories of struggle can help save the lives of others.”
Joel produced shows such as FOX’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and quickly became a young Executive Producer for NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” He worked with production companies in the Philippines and China to launch their own version of the hit weight loss competition series. After 10 years with “The Biggest Loser,” Joel continued to Executive Producer shows such as ABC’s “Boy Band” and the student debt series “Going From Broke” Executive Produced alongside Ashton Kutcher.
In his early 30’s, Joel began to battle with depression, anxiety and an alcohol addiction. He made the decision to spend 50 days away from entertainment so he can seek help in a rehabilitation facility in Ventura, CA. That experience not only helped Joel recover from his struggles with addiction but he also fell in love with mental health.
Joel then launched a free mental health program called Change Your Algorithm. It gained a community of thousands across the globe especially since many were seeking free mental health support during the pandemic. “CYA” offers its services online on changealgorithm.com where mental health classes are lead by certified therapists. Its services were quickly recognized across the globe which led to partnerships with the Silicon Valley education technology company Chegg as well as Ameriprise Financial Firm. CYA has been featured on FOX, ABC and Forbes.
As a partner with Chegg, Joel also hosts their student mental health show titled “Breaking the Stigma” where he interviews everyday students to discuss their struggles with mental health. Today, Joel is an Executive Producer for LeBron James’ SpringHill Company as they work on launching a special on Stop Asian Hate. The project, titled “Recipe for Change,” will be released on June 16th through YouTube Originals.
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Joel Relampagos & Change Your Algorithm Online:
Web: https://changealgorithm.com
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/changeyouralgorithmLA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changealgorithm/
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