We recently had the chance to connect with Jeremy Watson and have shared our conversation below.
Jeremy, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
On May 24, 2025, I had the profound honor of competing in the largest gospel competition in the United States — How Sweet the Sound. Out of countless gifted individuals, I was one of only three Spoken Word finalists selected to share the stage. By God’s grace, I was awarded the grand prize and named the winner of the Spoken Word category.
What makes this moment truly remarkable isn’t just the recognition — it’s the redemption in it.
To know that my story, once steeped in pain and silence, now resonates with others in a way I never could’ve imagined, is deeply humbling. Moments that once brought me to tears — moments I once carried with shame — are now being used to spark hope and awaken resilience in others.
The Bible reminds us that “all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord.” Through the art of spoken word, I am able to transform my testimony into healing — not just for myself, but for others who have walked similar roads. That is the power of truth: when we refuse to be destroyed by darkness, we begin to discover how even the most broken parts of our journey can shine with purpose.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Jeremy C. Watson is a proud St. Louis, Missouri native—husband, father of four, entrepreneur, spoken word artist, poet, and author. He made his literary debut in 2019 with If the World Was Without Color, a heartfelt exploration of imagination and identity. Since then, Jeremy has authored four more books, each lovingly dedicated to and inspired by his children—Zion, Zauryn, Ian, and Isreal—and his wife of over two decades, Carmelita.
Together with Carmelita, Jeremy co-owns By These Hands Designs, a small business known for its beautifully handcrafted items. His creative journey now leads him to the stage with the upcoming production of his first play, The Poetic Conversations of Ma, which will also be released as a book.
To learn more about Jeremy’s work, visit JCWat.com
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I used to believe I would always be broken.
That the trauma I experienced as a child would forever keep me tethered to a painful past. I thought the weight of what was would always haunt me — that freedom was something meant for other people, but never truly for me.
It wasn’t until I was 31 years old that I grew tired — tired of answering to a past that had held me captive for decades. There I was: a grown man carrying the brokenness of a wounded boy, standing in a running shower, weeping over a yesterday I couldn’t forget. The pain played on repeat, the trauma relived once again.
I will never forget that day, I stared at my reflection in the mirror and cried out to God, exhausted from the cycle of anguish. It’s wild how a moment that lasts just minutes can infect so many other moments, years and decades of your life. But it was in that moment I made a choice — to step out of the shadows of shame and finally tell my story.
And something changed.
The moment I began to speak those hidden truths aloud; they stopped haunting me. Shame lost its grip.
Yes, it took time. Healing isn’t instant. But I can say with confidence:
I am not that broken boy anymore.
My sixth book is titled The Complicated Reflections of Him, which is dedicated to that moment of reflection when I found my voice and no longer let fear of judgment keep me quiet. In addition to the book, I have created a stage production of the same title, The Complicated Reflections of Him. This live experience blends poetry, theater, and storytelling to bring to life the resilience I now feel. The stage production offers a powerful, immersive journey through the raw emotions and healing that define my story, inviting the audience to experience firsthand the complexities of trauma, growth, and freedom.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
While crying in the mirror one day, I asked God to show me myself.
I needed to understand my pain — how it shaped me, how it influenced my choices, and how shame and embarrassment had kept me emotionally imprisoned for so long. I desperately wanted to be free.
So, I did two things to confront the truth of my testimony — not to hide from it, but to finally face it.
First, I wrote a blog titled “Moment with a Monster.” In it, I shared — with complete honesty — the story of being molested as a young boy by a man I trusted. I held nothing back. I described the physical violations and the emotional wreckage left behind. It was raw, it was real — and it was necessary.
Then, I did something I had feared for years:
I picked up the phone and told my mother. I shared my truth with my brothers. I named the man who violated me so long ago.
I didn’t expect anything in return — no apologies, no perfect responses. But something unexpected happened anyway: I began to heal.
There’s something indescribable about what happens when shame is removed. It clears space for understanding. For peace. For freedom. For forgiveness.
Later, I wrote a poem titled “Scream” — a deeply personal piece about my experience. And every time I perform it, I witness its power. After nearly every recitation, men come up to me — many for the first time — and say, “Thank you.” Thank you for saying what I couldn’t. Thank you for helping me not feel alone.
That’s the power of pain when it’s transformed into purpose.
We can’t go back and undo what was done to us. But we can use our stories to help others heal from what’s been done to them. That is the power of our testimonies. That is the power of speaking the words—the courage to release them and not let the fear of what they mean trap us. It’s in the act of voicing our truth that we begin to break free, allowing ourselves to heal, grow, and ultimately become whole.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
As mentioned, I created a show inspired by my personal testimony — and by the stories of courageous men who trusted me to give voice to their own. Titled after my book of poetry, The Complicated Reflections of Him, this production is a poetic expression of the real-life struggles men face when navigating the lasting effects of trauma.
The show explores the hidden battles of men who have endured childhood trauma in its many forms — and how those experiences continue to echo through their lives. Through raw and honest poetry, it uncovers the deep reflections often left unspoken.
This is not just a performance — it’s a journey of healing, faith, forgiveness, and freedom. Featuring several poems from my book, the show aims to create space for men to confront the pain they’ve buried and find the courage to speak truth, release shame, and begin to heal.
My prayer is that this work gives voice to the silence many men carry. Because I know what it’s like to be that man — at 31, still reliving the trauma of the past, still held captive by what I never said out loud. But healing is possible. Freedom is possible. And God desires us to be whole — not a version of brokenness we’ve simply learned to survive.
My goal is to take this show on the road, bringing The Complicated Reflections of Him: A Poetic Journey to various communities, churches, men’s groups, and cities across the country. I want to show men that they are not alone in their struggles, that healing is possible, and that freedom exists.
If you would like to bring this powerful production to your church, men’s group, city, or town, please reach out. Together, we can create a space for reflection, connection, and transformation.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
At this stage in my life, I am fully walking in what I was born to do. Everything I give to the world flows from a place of purpose — rooted in a deep desire to help others and fueled by meaning that matters to me personally.
As a young adult, I often heard people say, “You have a calling on your life to preach the Gospel.” What I’ve come to understand is that this — my poetry, my storytelling, my transparency — is my ministry. This is how I preach the Gospel of Christ. Through spoken word, writing, and creative expression, I share His message of healing, hope, and redemption in a way that reaches hearts beyond the pulpit.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jcwat.com
- Instagram: @jeremycwatson
- Facebook: @jeremycwatson
- Youtube: @jeremywatson8538
