🎙️ 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 why his business is more than a company—it’s a ministry.

If you’ve ever felt hopeless, stuck, or wondered if God could use your broken story for something greater, this episode will speak directly to you.

Episode Highlights:

✅ John’s journey from addiction and incarceration to entrepreneurship and faith ✅ The pivotal moment when he lost his job—and how it led to starting Soldier Glass ✅ How naming his business was inspired by scripture and his commitment to Christ ✅ The role prison played in saving his life and introducing him to Jesus ✅ Why vulnerability is the key to healing and long-term recovery ✅ Building a business as a ministry and mentoring others through adversity ✅ The ongoing struggle with control, fear, and learning to fully surrender to God ✅ How pouring into other men has been essential to his sobriety and calling ✅ Practical advice for anyone struggling to take the first step toward change

🔥 This episode is packed with faith, grit, and hope. Whether you’re battling addiction, navigating entrepreneurship, or simply looking for encouragement in your walk, John’s story is proof that God can take the ashes of our lives and build something beautiful.

👉 Listen now on Ashes to Apex and be inspired to keep fighting for your own redemption story.

Soldier Glass Website: https://soldierglass.com/

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 lessons that shaped his identity and mission.

Joe opens up about taking over his late mother’s security company, losing nearly everything during the pandemic, and building a multi-million dollar credit business—all while pursuing a deeper calling to teach, protect, and lead. With wisdom forged through adversity and a passion rooted in faith, Joe offers valuable insight for entrepreneurs navigating seasons of uncertainty.

Whether you’re grinding through your next pivot or questioning your path, this episode is a reminder that your "why" is your anchor—and your greatest asset.

Episode Highlights:

🎤 Joe’s early start in entrepreneurship: First business at 10, first employee at 13

📚 Balancing business with calling: Why teaching and leadership ultimately shaped his path

💼 The story behind taking over his mom’s security company, 24/7 Security & Investigations

💔 Losing his largest client and rebuilding during the 2020 pandemic

💡 “If you can’t step away, you didn’t build a business—you built a job.”

🔥 The danger of perfectionism in entrepreneurship vs. speed-to-market

🙏 How Joe’s faith and sense of purpose sustained him through crisis

💸 Losing an $800k opportunity—and finding peace anyway

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How entrepreneurship impacted his family and marriage

🥋 Martial arts, self-discipline, and Joe’s lifelong fight against bullies

💬 Advice for entrepreneurs in crisis: Start with your why and seek God first

🧠 Mindset shift: “We only control one thing—our response.”

✝️ Using business as a vehicle for creating kingdom-minded environments

📈 Lessons in leadership, letting go, and preparing for growth

🔁 When to stay the course, when to pivot, and how to discern the difference

Listen now to hear how Joe turned pain into purpose, crisis into clarity, and built a business legacy rooted in faith.

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 success stories.

Through candid conversations, guests share how they rose from the ashes, rebuilt their lives, and found a higher purpose beyond the bottom line. More than a business podcast, Ashes to Apex is a powerful reminder that personal growth often comes through pain—and that triumph is sweetest after the toughest climbs. Whether you’re an entrepreneur fighting your own battles, or simply seeking authentic stories of grit and rebirth, you’ll find inspiration, solidarity, and hope here. Join us as we explore what it truly means to turn setbacks into a new apex.