From Bars to Jars: A Saucy Redemption Story with Joe Gallagher EP24
Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
Release Date: 07/15/2025
Is Love A Feeling Or A Decision With Jessica Rueger Ep. 53
Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
Summary In this conversation, Melanie Wakelin and Jessica Rueger delve into the multifaceted nature of love, exploring whether it is a feeling or a choice. They discuss the expectations placed on romantic relationships, the importance of personal responsibility, and the impact of loneliness and self-love. The dialogue also touches on the concepts of power versus force, the role of shame in authentic expression, and the journey towards unconditional love. They emphasize the significance of inner conflict and how it manifests in relationships, as well as the collective experience of...
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Year In Review With Melanie Wakelin
Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
Episode summary Melanie Wakelin celebrates one year of Activate and Illuminate with a recap of the first 50 episodes. She shares why the show exists, what Activate and Illuminate means, and highlights the guests and themes that shaped the season. The thread through it all is ordinary people living unordinary experiences, with conversations spanning health, mindset, spirituality, entrepreneurship, sovereignty, creativity, and resilience. In this episode, you will hear: -Why Melanie started Activate and Illuminate and what activation means to her -The behind-the-scenes origin story,...
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People Over Profit: Scaling Without Selling Out
Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
Summary In this conversation, Melanie Wakelin interviews Vanessa Marshall, the founder of Jack 59, an indigenous and women-owned haircare company. Vanessa shares her journey of creating a sustainable brand that prioritizes environmental responsibility and employee well-being. The discussion covers the challenges of maintaining values in business, the importance of community, and the personal experiences that shaped Vanessa's vision for Jack 59. The conversation highlights the impact of small changes in consumer behavior and the significance of aligning business practices with ethical...
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What Every Entrepreneur Should Know With Harvey Conner
Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
In this episode, Melanie Wakelin interviews Harvey Conner, an author and entrepreneur, who shares his journey from growing up on a farm to becoming a successful businessman. Harvey discusses the importance of having a purpose, the role of desperation and inspiration in motivation, and the significance of integrity in business. He also talks about his experiences in network marketing, the lessons learned from failures, and his innovative approach to publishing using blockchain technology. Takeaways: Harvey Conner emphasizes the importance of having a clear purpose in life. ...
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Navigating The Big C With Love With Cheryl McCartney
Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
Summary In this conversation, Cheryl shares her profound journey through life, marked by synchronicities, personal growth, and the challenges of facing cancer. She discusses the importance of authenticity, courageous conversations, and finding meaning in everyday experiences. Cheryl emphasizes the power of relationships and the choices we make in navigating life's challenges, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of love and healing. Takeaways Cheryl's life has been filled with synchronicities that shaped her journey. Facing cancer led Cheryl to have courageous conversations...
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Near Death Experience Or Divine Intervention? With Amalia Kovach
Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
Summary: Amalia shares her near-death experience and spiritual transformation, discussing her journey from trauma to awakening. Melanie Wakelin interviews Amalia, exploring themes of identity, soul contracts, and multidimensional existence. Amalia recounts her miraculous recovery, the impact on her family, and her mission to awaken others to their spiritual potential. Key topics covered The accident story and near-death experience The “field” experience and coming back Severe injuries and unexpected recovery Memory gaps, identity change, and third-person perspective Walk-in...
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The Kind Of Art You Don't Recover From: Autumn Sky
Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
Summary: In this enlightening conversation, Melanie Wakelin speaks with artist Autumn Skye about the profound impact of art on self-discovery and healing. Autumn shares her journey as an artist, the role of creativity in navigating emotions like grief, and the importance of authenticity in artistic expression. They discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the creative world, emphasizing the value of the creative process over the final product. Autumn encourages listeners to give themselves permission to explore their creativity in everyday life, highlighting that creativity...
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The Pyramids. Fact Or Fiction? With Dr. Sam Osmanagich
Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
In this episode, Dr. Sam Osmanagich discusses the mysteries of the Bosnian Pyramids, challenging conventional archaeological narratives. He explores the pyramids' construction, purpose, and the advanced knowledge of ancient civilizations, offering insights into their potential as energy amplifiers and their connection to cosmic harmony. Keywords Bosnian Pyramids, Dr. Sam Osmanagich, ancient civilizations, energy amplifiers, cosmic harmony Takeaways Pyramids are built all around the planet on all six continents. Not a single pyramid in Egypt contains a mummy. The Bosnian Pyramid Project has...
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Harnessing Numerology For Business Success
Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
In this episode, Melanie Wakelin and Cindy Van Arnam explore the transformative power of numerology in personal and business contexts. Cindy shares her journey from addiction to becoming a successful entrepreneur, highlighting how numerology helped her find her true calling. They discuss the importance of understanding one's personal and business numerology charts to unlock potential and create authentic connections. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in personal development and the significance of energetic cycles in planning for the future. Keywords numerology, business...
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The Art & Language Of Love With Jessica Rueger
Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
In this episode, Melanie Wakelin interviews Jessica Rueger, an accomplished author and coach from the East Coast of the United States. They discuss Jessica's journey of self-discovery, her transformative experiences in relationships, and her approach to coaching. Jessica shares insights on self-love, creating personal freedom, and the power of intentional living. The conversation also touches on Jessica's book, her coaching practices, and her vision for future projects. Keywords Jessica Rueger Self-discovery Coaching Self-love Personal freedom Intentional living...
info_outlineIn this inspiring conversation, Joe Gallagher shares his tumultuous journey from a troubled childhood marked by addiction and violence to a life of redemption and purpose. He recounts his struggles with alcohol, the chaos of his early life, and the pivotal moments that led him to seek change. Through music, personal challenges, and a deepening faith, Joe illustrates how he transformed his life and now aims to help others facing similar battles. His story is a testament to resilience, the power of faith, and the importance of community support in the journey of recovery and personal growth.
Guest Bio:
Joe Gallagher Jr.—better known to sauce-lovers as Chef Giuseppe—is a former rock-and-roll front man turned redemption-driven entrepreneur. After a near-fatal car crash and the spiral of addiction that followed, Joe rebuilt his life one recipe at a time, launching Apastioli, South Carolina’s first home-grown Italian-sauce brand. What began with six cases in a single Piggly Wiggly now fuels a statewide demand that’s pushing him to create Apastioli Farms, a 1,700-acre regenerative food hub and retreat for veterans and people in recovery.
Joe chronicles that journey in his memoir From Bars to Jars: A Saucy Redemption Story (Barnes & Noble, 2025) and its forthcoming sequel The Harvest—books already sparking interest from Netflix and Angel Studios. Drawing on his years in sales, his stint as a moonshine developer, and his deep Christian faith, Joe speaks candidly about resilience, purpose, and the power of second chances.
Today he splits his time between scaling Apastioli, mentoring entrepreneurs in recovery, and playing guitar on the worship team at Nexus Pointe Church. Joe’s story activates hope and illuminates the truth that, in God’s economy, nothing—including a jar of sauce or a shattered past—ever goes to waste.
Episode References:
Subscribe to the Activate & Illuminate Newsletter (for BONUS content and more): LET’S GET ACTIVATED
Purchase Joe’s Book from Bars to Jars! https://a.co/d/e6ChE0o
Connect with Joe:
Website: www.joegallagherjr.com / www.apastioli.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joegallagherjr / https://www.instagram.com/apastioli
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joegallagherjr / https://www.facebook.com/apastioli
Connect with Melanie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/activateandilluminate/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/activateandilluminate
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@activateandilluminatewithmel
Website: https://activateandilluminate.com/
Contact Us: pr@melaniewakelin.com
Melanie’s Businesses:
LifeVantage Representative: http://protandimcanada.lifevantage.com/