In this powerful episode of the Agents of Innovation podcast, Joe Gallagher—founder and CEO of Apastioli and a former Grammy-nominated musician—shares his remarkable journey from rising rock artist to surviving a devastating car accident, spiraling into addiction, facing legal battles, and ultimately finding faith, sobriety, and a new entrepreneurial purpose. Joe recounts how a simple batch of his grandmother’s pasta sauce sparked the launch of Apastioli, a rapidly growing food and fragrance brand intertwined with his mission to help others in recovery. He also reveals his vision for a regenerative farm, upcoming film and TV projects based on his story, and why manifestation, service, and trusting God now guide his life and business.
Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/BrUi_wDB3ug
Learn more about him at: https://www.apastioli.com
Find him on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/joegallagherjr/
Follow the Agents of Innovation podcast on:
Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/innovationradio
X: / https://x.com/agentinnovation
Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/AgentsOfInnovationPodcast
You can support this podcast and our Fearless Journeys community on our Patreon account: www.patreon.com/fearlessjourneys
You can also join our network -- and our group trips -- through the Fearless Journeys community at: https://www.fearlessjourneys.org and subscribe to our free newsletter at: https://fearlessjourneys.substack.com
00:00 – Intro to Joe Gallagher and the Agents of Innovation podcast.
01:20 – Meeting Joe in Charleston
03:20 – The Fearless Journeys community & upcoming Chile–Argentina trip
04:24 – What is Apastioli?
04:59 – Grammy Nomination & The Car Accident
06:18 – Injuries, Recovery, and Identity Crisis
07:42 – Attempted Murder Charge
09:56 – DUI, Addiction, and Hitting Bottom; The downward spiral and legal consequences.
13:17 – Rock Bottom to Redemption.
14:30 – Pasta Sauce Sparks a Business; How feeding friends in recovery launched Apastioli.
21:41 – Packaging, FDA, and Scaling Challenges
23:10 – Vision for a Regenerative Farm
26:13 – Discovering the 1,700-acre Long Wing Plantation
27:38 – From Bars to Jars (the Book); Joe’s first book and the storytelling strategy behind it.
28:36 – Angel Studios Reaches Out
29:38 – Writing the Fictional Sequel; A future vision in book form
31:28 – The Power of Storytelling in Entrepreneurship; How Joe’s story builds brand connection.
32:14 – Angel Studios, The Chosen & Film Industry Insights
36:02 – The Apastioli Brand Expands to Fragrances; Moonshine lessons, oil extraction, and luxury fragrance development.
40:38 – Vision, Manifestation & Mapping the Future; Why Joe writes fiction to shape reality.
42:24 – The Letter to God That Came True; A year of manifestations unexpectedly becoming reality.
43:30 – How to Get Joe’s Book, "From Bars to Jars," and where to find it online.
44:21 – Apastioli: Products, Website & Trademark Story; Where to buy Apastioli sauces and fragrances.
45:44 – Joe’s Film/TV Development Team; Managers, agents, producers—full momentum ahead.
48:36 – The 1,700-Acre Farm Update: Why the owners are holding out for Joe’s project.
49:36 – Investment Opportunity; Joe is open to investors and shares potential ROI.
50:17 – Joe’s Message to Anyone Struggling: Why his phone number is public and how he wants to serve others.
51:30 – Closing Thoughts: Faith, manifestation, service, and Joe’s gratitude.
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In this powerful episode of the Agents of Innovation podcast, Joe Gallagher—founder and CEO of Apastioli and a former Grammy-nominated musician—shares his remarkable journey from rising rock artist to surviving a devastating car accident, spiraling into addiction, facing legal battles, and ultimately finding faith, sobriety, and a new entrepreneurial purpose. Joe recounts how a simple batch of his grandmother’s pasta sauce sparked the launch of Apastioli, a rapidly growing food and fragrance brand intertwined with his mission to help others in recovery. He also reveals his vision for a regenerative farm, upcoming film and TV projects based on his story, and why manifestation, service, and trusting God now guide his life and business.
Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/BrUi_wDB3ug
Learn more about him at: https://www.apastioli.com
Find him on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/joegallagherjr/
Follow the Agents of Innovation podcast on:
Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/innovationradio
X: / https://x.com/agentinnovation
Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/AgentsOfInnovationPodcast
You can support this podcast and our Fearless Journeys community on our Patreon account: www.patreon.com/fearlessjourneys
You can also join our network -- and our group trips -- through the Fearless Journeys community at: https://www.fearlessjourneys.org and subscribe to our free newsletter at: https://fearlessjourneys.substack.com
00:00 – Intro to Joe Gallagher and the Agents of Innovation podcast.
01:20 – Meeting Joe in Charleston
03:20 – The Fearless Journeys community & upcoming Chile–Argentina trip
04:24 – What is Apastioli?
04:59 – Grammy Nomination & The Car Accident
06:18 – Injuries, Recovery, and Identity Crisis
07:42 – Attempted Murder Charge
09:56 – DUI, Addiction, and Hitting Bottom; The downward spiral and legal consequences.
13:17 – Rock Bottom to Redemption.
14:30 – Pasta Sauce Sparks a Business; How feeding friends in recovery launched Apastioli.
21:41 – Packaging, FDA, and Scaling Challenges
23:10 – Vision for a Regenerative Farm
26:13 – Discovering the 1,700-acre Long Wing Plantation
27:38 – From Bars to Jars (the Book); Joe’s first book and the storytelling strategy behind it.
28:36 – Angel Studios Reaches Out
29:38 – Writing the Fictional Sequel; A future vision in book form
31:28 – The Power of Storytelling in Entrepreneurship; How Joe’s story builds brand connection.
32:14 – Angel Studios, The Chosen & Film Industry Insights
36:02 – The Apastioli Brand Expands to Fragrances; Moonshine lessons, oil extraction, and luxury fragrance development.
40:38 – Vision, Manifestation & Mapping the Future; Why Joe writes fiction to shape reality.
42:24 – The Letter to God That Came True; A year of manifestations unexpectedly becoming reality.
43:30 – How to Get Joe’s Book, "From Bars to Jars," and where to find it online.
44:21 – Apastioli: Products, Website & Trademark Story; Where to buy Apastioli sauces and fragrances.
45:44 – Joe’s Film/TV Development Team; Managers, agents, producers—full momentum ahead.
48:36 – The 1,700-Acre Farm Update: Why the owners are holding out for Joe’s project.
49:36 – Investment Opportunity; Joe is open to investors and shares potential ROI.
50:17 – Joe’s Message to Anyone Struggling: Why his phone number is public and how he wants to serve others.
51:30 – Closing Thoughts: Faith, manifestation, service, and Joe’s gratitude.
Riley Kaminer is the Founder of ClearCritical, a team of storytellers and strategists helping VCs amplify their vision. They turn investment theses and portfolio successes into compelling narratives that engage LPs and elevate their firms' brands.
An experienced tech journalist, Riley’s research and writing has appeared in Forbes, The Times (UK), Rest of World, Cities Today, Refresh Miami, and many more. Through his coverage of 400+ startups – and ghostwriting for dozens more – he is keenly aware of what gives stories long-term impact. Riley leverages his experience as a journalist to empower startups to build their own media ecosystem. His bespoke content strategy will enable you to become a thought leader and spread your ideas at scale. Ultimately, this content creation helps your company gain credibility, lock down leads, and drive sales. As a founder, your insights can change the world. But these ideas won’t go anywhere unless you create content. Work with Riley and unlock your inner thought leader.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/XZaLosM6V2k
You can learn more about Riley Kaminer at: https://rileykaminer.com
Find his company ClearCritical at: https://www.clearcritical.com
Follow the Agents of Innovation podcast on:
Instagram: / innovationradio
Twitter: / agentinnovation
Facebook: / agentsofinnovationpodcast
You can support this podcast and our Fearless Journeys community on our Patreon account: www.patreon.com/fearlessjourneys
You can also join our network -- and our group trips -- through the Fearless Journeys community at: https://www.fearlessjourneys.org
0:00 Episode Intro
1:47 Introduction of Riley Kaminer
3:04 Growing up with an international mindset
5:58 Attending College in the UK / Scotland
8:54 Studying abroad in Madrid
10:18 Comparing to U.S. college experience
13:10 Degrees in Business, Spanish, and Latin American Studies
14:58 Becoming a Writer Requires Collecting Experiences
16:18 Working for a Film Distributor in the UK
18:00 Moving to Spain with a Digital Nomad Visa
18:59 Living and Working in South Florida Post-Pandemic
23:03 Writing about Tech for Refresh Miami
25:17 Freelance writing for a variety of publications
25:48 First job develops work ethic
28:12 What sparked early interest in journalism
31:58 Founding ClearCritical to tell stories in a different way
35:21 Repurposing your skills in a rapidly changing economy
39:59 How ClearCritical can help you
41:28 The importance of repetitive storytelling
47:52 Choosing to live and work from Madrid
51:48 Personal benefits of entrepreneurship
Agents of Innovation
In this powerful episode of the Agents of Innovation podcast, Joe Gallagher—founder and CEO of Apastioli and a former Grammy-nominated musician—shares his remarkable journey from rising rock artist to surviving a devastating car accident, spiraling into addiction, facing legal battles, and ultimately finding faith, sobriety, and a new entrepreneurial purpose. Joe recounts how a simple batch of his grandmother’s pasta sauce sparked the launch of Apastioli, a rapidly growing food and fragrance brand intertwined with his mission to help others in recovery. He also reveals his vision for a regenerative farm, upcoming film and TV projects based on his story, and why manifestation, service, and trusting God now guide his life and business.
Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/BrUi_wDB3ug
Learn more about him at: https://www.apastioli.com
Find him on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/joegallagherjr/
Follow the Agents of Innovation podcast on:
Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/innovationradio
X: / https://x.com/agentinnovation
Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/AgentsOfInnovationPodcast
You can support this podcast and our Fearless Journeys community on our Patreon account: www.patreon.com/fearlessjourneys
You can also join our network -- and our group trips -- through the Fearless Journeys community at: https://www.fearlessjourneys.org and subscribe to our free newsletter at: https://fearlessjourneys.substack.com
00:00 – Intro to Joe Gallagher and the Agents of Innovation podcast.
01:20 – Meeting Joe in Charleston
03:20 – The Fearless Journeys community & upcoming Chile–Argentina trip
04:24 – What is Apastioli?
04:59 – Grammy Nomination & The Car Accident
06:18 – Injuries, Recovery, and Identity Crisis
07:42 – Attempted Murder Charge
09:56 – DUI, Addiction, and Hitting Bottom; The downward spiral and legal consequences.
13:17 – Rock Bottom to Redemption.
14:30 – Pasta Sauce Sparks a Business; How feeding friends in recovery launched Apastioli.
21:41 – Packaging, FDA, and Scaling Challenges
23:10 – Vision for a Regenerative Farm
26:13 – Discovering the 1,700-acre Long Wing Plantation
27:38 – From Bars to Jars (the Book); Joe’s first book and the storytelling strategy behind it.
28:36 – Angel Studios Reaches Out
29:38 – Writing the Fictional Sequel; A future vision in book form
31:28 – The Power of Storytelling in Entrepreneurship; How Joe’s story builds brand connection.
32:14 – Angel Studios, The Chosen & Film Industry Insights
36:02 – The Apastioli Brand Expands to Fragrances; Moonshine lessons, oil extraction, and luxury fragrance development.
40:38 – Vision, Manifestation & Mapping the Future; Why Joe writes fiction to shape reality.
42:24 – The Letter to God That Came True; A year of manifestations unexpectedly becoming reality.
43:30 – How to Get Joe’s Book, "From Bars to Jars," and where to find it online.
44:21 – Apastioli: Products, Website & Trademark Story; Where to buy Apastioli sauces and fragrances.
45:44 – Joe’s Film/TV Development Team; Managers, agents, producers—full momentum ahead.
48:36 – The 1,700-Acre Farm Update: Why the owners are holding out for Joe’s project.
49:36 – Investment Opportunity; Joe is open to investors and shares potential ROI.
50:17 – Joe’s Message to Anyone Struggling: Why his phone number is public and how he wants to serve others.
51:30 – Closing Thoughts: Faith, manifestation, service, and Joe’s gratitude.
