# Josh Hasty

Joshua Bryan Hasty (/heɪsti/ HAY-stee; born July 19, 1987) is an American entrepreneur, media executive, filmmaker, and producer. He is the co-founder and CEO of Relavox. Hasty began his career in the horror entertainment industry, creating immersive seasonal attractions, collaborating with Rob Zombie, and writing and directing the cult-favorite film Candy Corn. Hasty has brokered intellectual property licensing deals tied to his film projects, producing lines of toys, costumes, action figures, and collectible media.
Josh Hasty is a published thought leader in media and entertainment for his commentary on leadership, business, finance, technology, and industry trends. He advocates for mental health in the media and entertainment industries and hosted weekly meditation sessions with the David Lynch Foundation for creatives worldwide from 2020-2024.

## Early life

Joshua Bryan Hasty was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He grew up aspiring to have a career in entertainment and media but never attended school or formal education.

## Career
### 2012–2014: Freelance and passion projects

Hasty’s career began in the independent horror film and entertainment industries. In 2012, he opened Scaredown, a seasonal Halloween event in Waynesville, Ohio, combining haunted attractions with live performances.
During this time, Hasty began making independent films. Without funding or resources, Hasty would handle most aspects of production, including making wardrobes and props, set design, operating the camera, music, and editing. These projects include A Mannequin in Static, Judith: The Night She Stayed Home, and Honeyspider. Despite being no-budget passion projects, Hasty's early films received attention from the horror industry trades and media. Judith: The Night She Stayed Home is a tribute to John Carpenter’s Halloween and was shot at The Myers House North Carolina, a life-size replica of Michael Myers’ house in John Carpenter’s classic film. Honeyspider was released by Brain Damage Films on DVD and streaming and won the award for Best Horror Film at Mad Monster Party.
In 2013, Hasty started a freelance career in video production. He worked with tech startups, real estate firms, and public speakers, using the moniker Relavox. His understanding of business and marketing, combined with his skill for storytelling with video, quickly made him a well-known content creator in the industries he worked.

### 2015–2019: Early career and worldwide recognition

In 2015, Rob Zombie hired Hasty to co-produce, direct, shoot, and edit a feature-length documentary about the making of Zombie’s film, 31. The documentary, In Hell Everybody Loves Popcorn, was released globally, with Lionsgate distributing digitally and alongside the film’s Blu-ray. An exclusive 4+ hour version of the documentary was released on iTunes. A condensed version of the documentary was released theatrically by Fathom Events. In a review by Forbes, Hasty was credited with capturing the "unfiltered chaos" of the film's set, which Forbes noted was essential to the documentary's impact. The review emphasized Hasty's ability to craft a compelling narrative about the making of 31, giving viewers a rare glimpse into independent filmmaking's intense and often unpredictable nature.
In 2016, Hasty began production on his next feature film, Candy Corn in which he wrote, directed, produced, and co-composed. Produced for $250,000, Candy Corn managed to attract notable actors and achieve global distribution. The film’s cast includes actors Tony Todd, P.J. Soles, and Courtney Gains. P.J. Soles stated that she came out of retirement to be in Candy Corn after a phone call with Hasty, and working with him reminded her of working with John Carpenter. Entertainment Weekly released the exclusive first look at the film. Epic Pictures acquired Candy Corn for worldwide distribution. The film was released in the U.S. by Dread and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment internationally. Hasty co-composed the film's score, which was pressed on vinyl at Abbey Road Studios and released by Burning Witches Records. Hasty's intellectual property licensing deals led to merchandise lines featuring toys, costumes, props, clothing, and collectibles, which are sold by major retailers. Candy Corn received mixed reviews, with most negative reviews noting its obvious low budget and positive reviews calling it a Halloween classic. In 2023, Fangoria named Candy Corn as one of their favorite horror movies taking place on Halloween.

### 2020–2022: Hiatus and transition

Hasty has been open about his struggles with burnout and depression. In a 2019 interview with the Transcendental Meditation Blog, Hasty explained how meditation had become a vital tool for his mental wellbeing, stating, "It's this little sidekick that goes in and clears the clutter from my brain." In 2020, Hasty partnered with the David Lynch Foundation in Los Angeles to host weekly mediations for creatives worldwide struggling with mental health issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meditations happened weekly for over four years and occasionally featured intimate conversations with Hasty and notable figures such as David Lynch and Twin Peaks actors. In August 2020, Josh Hasty posted was hospitalized for unknown health concerns and misdiagnosed with lymphoma. Hasty said this experience changed his perspective on life and inspired him to create work that promoted positive change and mental and physical health. In 2021, Hasty produced and directed an educational film project with South African Psychologist Susan David, Ph.D., based on her bestselling book and viral TEDTalk Emotional Agility.

### 2023–present: Focusing on business growth

In November 2023, Hasty began developing Relavox’s commercial advertising business. In its first year, Relavox produced international broadcast and online commercial campaigns with global brands Hilton, Burlington, Nestlé, and NBC Universal. In episdode one of Relavox's podcast, Throwing The Switch, Hasty announced the company's first hires, Matt O’Neill and Michael Brooker, who run Relavox’s Commercial/Film and Digital Content divisions, respectively. Hasty announced his transition to CEO, stating, "My role as a co-founder has evolved over the last decade. I refused to give myself the title CEO when it was just Lindsey and me; I thought it would be weird that I was the CEO of myself and her. As we started building and hiring people, it made sense to not only take that title but take on that position and everything that comes with that responsibility."

## Thought leadership and industry impact

Hasty has consistently shared insights on the evolving entertainment and media landscape, particularly the rise of technology and shifts in media production. He underscores the importance of creating high-quality, audience-focused content, even during industry disruptions, and advocates for innovation beyond traditional media hubs.

## Professional affiliations

Josh Hasty is a Producers Guild of America member.

## Personal life

Josh Hasty was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio to Robert Hasty and Pamela Socha (née Hutton). He currently lives in Ohio with his wife, Lindsey Hasty, who is also co-founder of Relavox.