Anthony Simeone is a speaker, writer, personal development coach, and self-described “hero advocate.” His mission is to show people how to use the hero’s journey as a framework to create a productive, engaged, and meaningful life every day.
He is the creator of Live The Hero, a program that provides a universal structure for approaching life as a dynamic, purpose-driven adventure. In addition to the primary inspiration of Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, Live The Hero incorporates aspects of the humanities, psychology, sociology, neurobiology, and other disciplines. Anthony has been inspired by the work of Carl Jung, Phil Zimbardo, Viktor Frankl, Martin Seligman, Charles Duhigg, and Dr. John Medina, among many others.
Anthony grew up in what he calls a “stereotypically dysfunctional working-class family.” He suffered mental and physical abuse both at home and at school, which set him on a path of self-destructive behaviors. By the time he was in his 30’s, he was struggling with undiagnosed bipolar disorder and stress-induced heart problems.
It was during this dark time that Anthony had what he calls his “enough moment,” analogous to the supreme ordeal of death and rebirth in Campbell’s heroic cycle. In desperation, he fell back on his decades of study in literature, philosophy, and the social sciences. During his search for answers and a new direction, he rediscovered the transformative power of mythology, and the hero’s journey in particular.Anthony now dedicates himself to helping others find their own heroic will to conquer the burdens of mental illness, trauma, and toxic stress. He firmly believes the path he used to defeat his demons can be walked by everyone, no matter their background.
A graduate of Rutgers University with a BA in English, Anthony lives in the shadow of the great city of Philadelphia. When he's not “edutaining” audiences or putting fingers to keyboard, Anthony spends quality time with his wife and kids, or in the nearest forested area, or with his nose in a book. Sometimes all at once.
