Ashes to Apex Podcast

On this Ashes to Apex episode, Dr. Mark Mayfield—licensed professional counselor and assistant professor at Colorado Christian University—joins Joshua to unpack the mental health realities entrepreneurs face: loneliness, burnout, anxiety, and the pressure to "have it all together." Drawing from his new book The Mental Health Handbook for Ministry (and themes from The Path to Wholeness), Dr. Mayfie...

Ashes to Apex — Jeremy Bran: From Hustle to Surrender Entrepreneur Jeremy Bran built—and rebuilt—more than a few careers: from launching a wedding photography company with his wife, to sourcing multifamily deals in Montrose, to co-founding a construction firm serving restaurants and retail across TX/LA/MS/OK. But after a costly project, high-interest loans, and the weight of payroll, Jeremy hit a...

Entrepreneur and investor Josh Lowrey sits down for a raw, funny, and deeply honest conversation about winning, losing, and why your mindset is your most valuable asset. From leaving his family business out of sheer grit to scaling a portfolio of companies that once hit 1,800 employees, Josh unpacks the seasons of ambition—chip-on-the-shoulder beginnings, hard resets, faith, and the discipline it...

When does sobriety end and recovery begin? Clinical mental health counselor and addiction specialist Christopher White joins JB to unpack the daily "marathon" of recovery, the traps entrepreneurs fall into, and why purpose—not perfection—keeps us moving forward. From Fifth Ward roots to building a practice that serves athletes, founders, and families, Chris blends science, faith, and hard-won wisd...

In this episode of Ashes to Apex , Joshua Belland sits down with Amanda, a former journalist turned PR strategist, whose story is nothing short of remarkable. With 20 years of journalism experience—working with outlets like Reuters and Dateline—Amanda transitioned into the world of public relations, where she's handled high-stakes political campaigns and legal communications. Amanda shares how she...

In this episode of Ashes to Apex , Joshua sits down with JD Shipley—husband, father, man of faith, and owner of Starting Strength Gyms. JD opens up about his remarkable journey from a stable career in oil and gas to discovering his true calling in strength coaching and entrepreneurship. What began as a personal quest to get stronger quickly grew into something far greater, as faith guided him towa...

In this powerful episode of Ashes to Apex , host Joshua Belland sits down with Army veteran, entrepreneur, and family man of faith, Jay Fudickar . From his early days growing up in Katy, Texas, to joining the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, enlisting in the Army, and serving in Iraq, Jay shares a candid and inspiring journey of resilience, leadership, and purpose. He opens up about facing life's low...

🎙️ Ashes to Apex presents an incredibly raw and powerful episode with John Reed, founder of Soldier Glass. John's story is one of true redemption—rising from the depths of addiction, prison, and brokenness to become a husband, father, business owner, and servant leader. In this conversation, John shares how God met him in his lowest moments, how faith became the cornerstone of his recovery, and wh...

In this powerful episode of Ashes to Apex, host Joshua Belland sits down with longtime friend, serial entrepreneur, and worship leader Joe Orsak for a raw and heartfelt conversation about purpose, perseverance, and staying grounded in faith. From launching businesses as a child to weathering catastrophic losses, Joe shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey, revealing the hard-won l...

Welcome to Ashes to Apex, the podcast where resilience takes center stage. Hosted by Joshua Belland, this show delves into the raw, unfiltered journeys of entrepreneurs who've stared down life's darkest valleys—addiction, burnout, divorce, devastating setbacks—and climbed their way back to the summit. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the mental health struggles too often hidden behind succes...