Mission Matters Business Podcast with Adam Torres

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Sarantos, CEO of Sarantos Melogia, LLC, about his first American Film Market experience and his journey as a high-output creator. Sarantos shares how screenplay contests and professional feedback helped refine his scripts, how he connects music and film through storytelling, and why he’s focused on getting his award-winning screenplays produced. About Sarantos Melogia Sarantos is a Chicago-based nerd, retired superhero, and international DIY music rebel with a relentless monthly release schedule that hasn’t slowed down in over a decade. He's a multi-genre, multi-award-winning solo artist who’s topped charts across the globe—#1 iTunes in multiple genres like Rock, Country, Christian and Singer-Songwriter. And believe it or not, he does it all without a professional studio. With a staggering number of albums and original songs released, Sarantos is committed to continuing to release a new song, lyric video, music video, book chapter, poem, and behind-the-scenes video every single month. Every year, he also drops a new CD and book each November—plus a surprise album, just because. But Sarantos isn’t just about the numbers—he’s about connection. He writes for the misunderstood, the nerds, the loners, and the dreamers. His music has been featured on shows like The Young & the Restless and spun on radio stations from the BBC to top indie charts, featured in Billboard Magazine, as well as often cracking the Top 200 in U.S. airplay with zero label backing. He is an official member of The Recording Academy—the renowned institution behind the GRAMMY® Awards. He also hosts The Songwriter Show, broadcast live on the #1-ranked Reality Radio with listeners in all 206 countries. The show is syndicated on over 60 platforms including iHeartRadio, Spotify, and iTunes. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Golsa Sarabi, Actor & Producer at The Persian Rug LLC, about her film The Persian Rug and her experience attending the American Film Market. Golsa discusses women’s empowerment, cultural identity, portraying multiple roles across generations, and her mission to create meaningful, purpose-driven films that give voice to untold stories. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Mission Matters, ⁠⁠Adam Torres⁠⁠ interviews ⁠⁠Alan Bagh⁠⁠, CEO, Producer, Writer & Actor at Bagh Films, about his first American Film Market experience and what it takes to keep moving forward in independent film. Alan discusses pitching feature projects and pilots to distributors and sales agents, staying resilient through industry ups and downs, and his mission to create films that entertain, inspire, and connect with audiences. About ⁠⁠Alan Bagh⁠⁠ Alan Bagh (born May 30, 1985) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the character "Rod" in the horror film Birdemic: Shock and Terror, Birdemic 2: The Resurrection, and Birdemic 3: Sea Eagle. He currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: ⁠⁠https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠https://missionmatters.com/⁠⁠ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Mission Matters episode, Adam Torres interviews Melissa Faith Hart, Founder & CEO of eBodyGuard, about building a privacy-first “electronic bodyguard” that uses voice activation and high-accuracy location to help deliver critical emergency information to first responders—supporting safer communities and smarter cities. About Melissa Faith Hart Melissa Faith Hart is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of eBodyGuard®, creator of the eBodyGuard personal safety, evidence, and wellness technology, including the eBodyGuard Safety Card™ and eBodyCam™, available in the App Store and Google Play. These tools are core components of the vendor-agnostic eBodyGuard Smart Discovery Platform, designed to integrate discovery both within and beyond criminal justice IT systems. With more than 20 years of experience working alongside law enforcement and District Attorneys, Melissa helped pioneer the first criminal eDiscovery system in the United States. She spent 17 years in corporate America, primarily at Xerox, and later served on the Pink Tax on Mobility initiative sponsored by New York University. She also collaborates with NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) to improve transit efficiency and passenger safety. Guided by her Six Sigma certifications, Melissa applied rigorous process improvement principles to the criminal justice system, partnering with experts from Xerox PARC to address long-standing inefficiencies. She later served as Executive Director of a program that automated criminal discovery, integrating 363 law enforcement agencies to enable evidence sharing within 72 hours. Melissa believes personal safety is a primal human right and remains committed to transforming systems and technologies to better protect and support communities. About eBodyGuard eBodyGuard is a personal safety technology company on a mission to keep people safe wherever they are™ and to enable Smart, Safe Cities by combining innovative tools with secure data practices. At the heart of its offering is the My eBodyGuard Program™, an integrated ecosystem that includes the My eBodyGuard Appt™, My eBodyGuard Portal™, and My eBodyGuard First Responder Portal™, designed to streamline emergency response, evidence capture, and communication with first responders in real time.  The My eBodyGuard App empowers users with features like direct 911 connection via voice activation or one-tap, GPS location accuracy, and secure audio/video evidence capture, all with strict compliance to FBI CJIS, HIPAA, COPPA, and FERPA data privacy standards.  eBodyGuard works with community stakeholders including law enforcement, 911 centers, city planners, and victim advocates to bridge gaps in emergency communication and public safety, ensuring privacy-protected information helps save lives and strengthen communities.  Watch Full Episode on ⁠Youtube⁠. --- Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: ⁠https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/⁠ Visit our website: ⁠https://missionmatters.com/⁠ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Aleksandar Adzic, Writer, Director & Producer at Sunlight Productions, about his first American Film Market experience and his approach to building creative momentum. Aleksandar discusses writing 11 feature screenplays, his documentary The Lions Within (now on Amazon Prime), and his mission to champion powerful stories that deserve wider recognition. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Lena Jenkins-Smith, Executive Producer & President of Goldstrand Media, about her first AFM experience and the power of purpose-driven storytelling. Lena explains how Goldstrand creates wholesome, legacy-minded content while expanding representation—especially for women and youth—and shares upcoming projects across vertical dramas, educational kids programming, and teen series designed to entertain while addressing real-life challenges. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Daniel Talbott, Screenwriter, Director, Producer & Film Curator at Orphan Andy Films, about his AFM experience and why filmmakers should engage the business side of Hollywood. Daniel shares his mission to elevate untold queer American stories—especially from underrepresented communities—while building sustainable, micro-budget models that help those films reach audiences and thrive. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As part of our official DealFlow Discovery Conference Interview Series, produced by Mission Matters, along with our partner DealFlow Events, we’re showcasing the innovative companies presenting at the DealFlow Discovery Conference and the executives behind them. --- In this episode, Adam Torres interviews Obie Strickler, Founder & CEO of Grown Rogue, ahead of the Deal Flow Discovery Conference (Jan 28–29 in Atlantic City). Obie shares how Grown Rogue built a cultivation-first strategy focused on delivering low-cost, high-quality cannabis while navigating state-by-state regulations. The conversation covers operational discipline, what differentiates Grown Rogue in a competitive market, considerations for investors evaluating cannabis companies, and the company’s growth plans—highlighted by expansion into Minnesota in 2026. About Grown Rogue Grown Rogue International Inc. (CSE: GRIN | OTC: GRUSF) is a flower-forward cannabis company rooted in Oregon’s Rogue Valley, a region known for its deep cannabis heritage and commitment to quality. With operations in Oregon, Michigan, and New Jersey—and expansion underway in Illinois— Grown Rogue specializes in producing designer-quality indoor flower. Known for exceptional consistency and care in cultivation, our products are valued by retailers, budtenders, and consumers alike. Watch Full Episode on Youtube. --- This interview is part of our effort to help investors discover compelling companies ahead of the event — and to help CEOs introduce their story to the 1500+ conference attendees. Learn more about the event and presenting companies: ⁠https://dealflowdiscoveryconference.com/ Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Jason Dallas, Producer & Director at 3KM Productions, about leveraging the American Film Market to build long-term industry relationships rather than chase funding. Jason shares lessons from 25 years in filmmaking, his collaborative directing philosophy, and his mission to create meaningful, true-story-driven films that inspire audiences while empowering creative teams. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Andrew de Burgh, Founder & Filmmaker at Sacred Ember Films, about his AFM experience, his upcoming feature The Demons, and how he’s building a boutique production company while developing new projects for 2026. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices