Jonathan Newton on finding drive and direction out of a Bronx upbringing

The Invisible Men

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Jonathan Newton — the pastor at Jordan River Ministries, an attorney for the federal government, and an adjunct professor at Howard University. Jonathan discusses his journey from the Bronx to Harvard Law School, and ultimately the Environmental Protection Agency, where he served as an attorney for nearly twenty years. An upbringing in the Bronx gave Jonathan the drive and desire to build a better life. However, it wasn’t until Jonathan completed Army training and reconnected with the church during a brief sabbatical from college that he found the direction to channel his drive and guide him toward a fulfilling career.

Later, Jonathan shares what he has learned from his recent battle with a stroke. Jonathan’s journey of recovery over the past few years has inspired him to advocate for greater awareness among black men around the risks of stroke and lifestyle changes that can minimize a person’s risk of stroke. Chief among these lifestyle changes is sleeping more. When Jonathan was a student at Harvard Law School, it seemed perfectly normal to only sleep a few hours each night — but Jonathan has since learned that such a small amount of sleep is not nearly sufficient. Today, Jonathan is a strong believer in getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Jonathan’s story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.”