Agents of Innovation
The Agents of Innovation podcast features interviews with entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and artists.
10
Episode 170: Joshua Evarts, Author, If Jesus Smoked Cigars
What if the most valuable currency in business isn’t money, influence, or technology — but relationships? In this episode of the Agents of Innovation podcast, host Francisco Gonzalez sits down with entrepreneur, author, community builder, and longtime technology executive Joshua Evarts to explore a career that has taken him from building and selling tech companies to working alongside U.S. forces in Iraq, revitalizing historic downtown Meridian, Idaho, and creating The Vault, an experiential cigar lounge built around authentic relationships. Joshua shares how curiosity and a willingness to walk into unexpected rooms helped shape his entrepreneurial career, what his time in I...
Episode 169: Jess Yescalis Has Traveled to 192 Countries ... and counting
What does it take to visit 192 countries, work alongside democracy activists on the front lines of history, and build a career around adventure and purpose? In this episode of the Agents of Innovation Podcast, host Francisco Gonzalez sits down with longtime friend Jess Yescalis, President of Yescalis Campaign Strategies, political strategist, fundraiser, and one of the most well-traveled people in the world. Jess has spent decades helping raise hundreds of millions of dollars for free-market causes while advising political leaders and pro-democracy movements across the globe. Along the way, he's worked with dissidents in Myanmar, trained parliamentary candidates in Egypt...
Episode 168 Jeral Poskey, Swyft Cities
What if the future of urban transportation isn't more roads, more trains, or even flying cars—but an on-demand network of autonomous vehicles gliding above traffic? In Episode 168 of the Agents of Innovation Podcast, host Francisco Gonzalez sits down with Jeral Poskey, Founder & CEO of Swyft Cities, to discuss a revolutionary approach to urban mobility that could transform how people move through cities such as Miami, Los Angeles, and beyond. A former transportation executive at Google with degrees from the Stanford University and the University of Texas at Austin, Poskey explains why traditional solutions—including additional road lanes, autonomous cars, subw...
Episode 167 Judge Roy Altman, Author, Israel on Trial
In Episode 167 of the Agents of Innovation podcast, host Francisco Gonzalez sits down with Roy Altman, a United States District Judge and author of Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law. Judge Altman brings a unique perspective to one of the most complex and emotionally charged geopolitical issues of our time. Drawing from his experience in the courtroom, he explains how the same truth-seeking methodology used by juries—scrutinizing incentives, examining objective evidence, and weighing expert testimony—can help everyday people better evaluate claims about Israel and other global events. The conversation dives into how misinformation spre...
Episode 166 Luke Mickelson, Founder, Sleep In Heavenly Peace
In Episode 166 of the Agents of Innovation podcast, host Francisco Gonzalez sits down with Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace — a nonprofit dedicated to building and delivering beds to children in need. What started with one act of service in a small Idaho town has grown into a nationwide movement, with hundreds of chapters and hundreds of thousands of beds delivered to kids who would otherwise sleep on the floor. Luke shares the powerful story behind the organization, the lessons he’s learned about leadership and purpose, and how anyone — regardless of background — can make a meaningful difference. This con...
Episode 165 Ryan Doyle, Founder & CEO, Doyle Marine Management,
In this episode of the Agents of Innovation podcast, Francisco Gonzalez joins Ryan Doyle aboard Amigo, a 1937 classic wooden Wheeler and sister ship to Ernest Hemingway’s famed Pilar, at the Riviera Beach Marina near West Palm Beach. Ryan shares his journey from a horse farm in Connecticut to the U.S. Coast Guard, maritime academy, and eventually a career in yachting that led him to founding Doyle Marine Management, the Vintage Boat Club, and the new Admiralty Marine Center. He explains what makes classic wooden boats so special, why he sees himself as a steward of maritime history, and ho...
Episode 164: Joe Gallagher, A Recipe for Redemption and Entrepreneurial Success, Charleston, SC
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...
Episode 163: Mod Cardenas, The Art of Being an Entrepreneur, Guatemala City
Mod Cárdenas (b. Guatemala 1982) is a contemporary visual artist and pioneer of Guatemalan street art. Alongside his art, Cardenas pursued a career in Clinical Psychology, that has informed his approach to art from a research and observational base. Cardenas has exhibited extensively around the world with 14 solo exhibitions and several group shows, in addition to his murals and public art installations locally and abroad. His work has received numerous honors including the Highly Commended Award from SAP in Australia, Honorific Mention by Fundación Rozas Botrán in Guatemala, and a finalist position at GAA in Dubai. He was als...
Episode 162: An Update from Matt Stone, Elvis Presley Tribute Artist
Matt Stone was a previous guest on Episode 117 of the Agents of Innovation (October 2022). You can revisit that episode for Matt's story before 2022 here: https://youtu.be/eF_lJ03STrc?si=L4Ry0Yl9CHF0RPbP In this episode, we catch up with him since so much has happened in his life and career. A husband and now father of a 2-year old, Matt has taken his Elvis tribute show all over the United States and even internationally. He has met Priscilla Presley and even played Elvis' piano in RCA Studio B. This episode will teach you how one young...
Episode 161: Francois de Neuville, Founder, Man Uncharted; Author, The Illusion of Time
Francois de Neuville is the founder of Man Uncharted and author of "The Illusion of Time: 11 Lessons How Not to Suck at Life." Francois is a survivor of the 2018 tsunami and 7.5 earthquake in Indonesia. He was an officer and platoon leader in the Belgian military and trained as a commando-paratrooper. Through his adventures around the world, François brings a unique perspective and depth of knowledge to his work as a high-performance coach, speaker, and author. François is dedicated to sharing his insights with others and empowering people to show up in a way they’ve never done before to a...
