Discomfort Sparks Growth
Welcome. I’m Jose Franco, and if you’ve made it this far, it probably means you’re wrestling with something real—maybe even uncomfortable. I get it. My writing isn’t always easy to digest. I don’t package hard truths in feel-good slogans or cater to anyone’s desire for quick validation. I write to confront myself, and in doing so, I hope to encourage others to do the same. What you’ll find here isn’t about achieving perfection or status—it’s about examining your habits, challenging your assumptions, and questioning the stories you’ve grown too comfortable with.
Many people make decisions just good enough to get by—choosing comfort over clarity, distraction over depth. I used to do that too. But the moment I started embracing my own insignificance instead of trying to outrun it, things shifted. That’s the quiet work I invite you into: replacing performance with presence, excuses with responsibility, and fear with truth—even when it stings.
I’m not here to shame or impress you. I’m here to model what it looks like to stare into the mirror and stay there long enough to see past the surface. If my tone feels uncompromising, it’s because I believe too many of us are coasting through life, confusing numbing with living. This site, my essays, and everything I’ve built through Stoop Juice exist to challenge that. If you’re ready to grow, start where it hurts. That’s where I found peace. Maybe you will too.
Bridges Through Shadows: A Journey To Becoming
Release Date: November 2024
Bridges Through Shadows: A Journey to Becoming is Jose Franco’s powerful story of resilience, self-confrontation, and finding purpose. From growing up in the Bronx to learning lessons of agency, financial literacy, and human connection, Jose shares insights that empower readers to confront their realities and strive for growth. Through vivid stories and relatable reflections, this free e-book inspires inner-city youth and beyond to build bridges toward a life of meaning and self-discovery.
Balancing the Pendulum: Navigating Politics, Capitalism, and the Self
Release Date: November 2024
In this philosophical exploration, I examine the tensions between personal growth and societal change. Through reflections on capitalism, politics, and the self, I propose a path forward—one where love overcomes fear, and self-confrontation fosters resilience. Drawing on my journey, I advocate for balancing individual introspection with collective action, offering tools to navigate life’s paradoxes with courage and empathy.
Country Before Party: A Call for Civic Responsibility
Release Date: Sept 2024
This book challenges readers to prioritize civic responsibility over political partisanship. Through personal reflections and philosophical insights, I explore how self-confrontation can help us rise above ideological divides to address systemic issues. It’s a rallying cry for unity, empathy, and engaging in meaningful dialogue to build a stronger democracy.
An Ozempic-Free Lifestyle: Reclaiming Health Through Self-Confrontation
Release Date: 2023
This book is a guide to sustainable health—both physical and mental—without shortcuts. I share my own experience of losing 70 pounds and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through mindfulness, visualization, fasting, and self-reflection. Backed by scientific studies and practical steps, it’s a call to embrace self-accountability and confront the habits that hinder personal growth.
Mind Over Matter: The Power of Now in Baseball
Release Date: 2023 En Espanol
In this book, I use baseball as a metaphor for mindfulness and personal growth. Drawing on my experience as a coach, I share how staying present in the moment—both on and off the field—can lead to clarity, resilience, and improved performance. Blending philosophical insights with practical strategies, this work is a guide for anyone striving to improve in life, not just sports.
How to Get Better at Things You Don’t Think You’re Bad At by 2020
Release Date: 2019
A collection of my op-eds written between 2017 and 2019, this book reflects on the transformative power of self-awareness. From politics to personal development, I explore how changing your mindset can improve your life. These essays are letters to myself, intended to spark critical thinking and encourage self-improvement.
John McCain’s Ghost And My Campaign For Nothing
Release Date: July 2025
Hi, I’m Jose Franco. I wrote this pamphlet to understand myself better—and maybe help others do the same. It’s not a normal political book. I’m not trying to convince you to vote for someone or join a side. Instead, I’m sharing stories, questions, and honest thoughts about what it feels like to live in a world where people talk past each other instead of really listening.
A few years ago, I stood outside my juice bar in Brooklyn with a clipboard, pretending to run for president. I knew I wouldn’t win. That wasn’t the point. I wanted to see if people would stop and talk to someone who wasn’t rich, famous, or powerful—just real. This pamphlet is about what I learned from that experience and from years of writing essays that didn’t get published.
I talk about fairness, honesty, how we speak to ourselves, and how hard it is to connect with people who see the world differently. I admit where I’ve been wrong, where I’ve misunderstood others, and how I use writing to deal with that. I know not everyone will like my style. Some might find it too quiet or slow. But I believe thinking carefully still matters, even when it doesn’t get much attention.
This is my way of showing up—not with answers, but with questions. I call it a “campaign for nothing” because I’m not running for anything. I’m just hoping we can slow down and listen again.