First Phosphate CEO John Passalacqua on Onshoring the LFP Battery Supply Chain
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 upcoming DealFlow Discovery Conference (January 28-29, at the Borgata in Atlantic City) and the executives behind them. In this episode, Adam Torres interviews John Passalacqua, CEO of First Phosphate Corp, about the company’s mission to onshore a vertically integrated lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery supply chain for North America. John shares how a strategic pivot toward ultra-pure igneous phosphate positioned the company to support energy storage, data centers, robotics, and other fast-growing markets tied to energy independence. 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
Judi Jordan on Latino storytelling and her series A History of Blood
In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Judi Jordan, Writer, Producer, and Entertainment Journalist at Judi Jordan Productions, about AFM 2025’s resurgence and the current landscape for Latino creators. Judi also shares the development journey of her series A History of Blood, a globally scaled, culturally grounded project built to expand premium Latino storytelling on screen. This interview is part of our AFM 2025 Series. Big thank you to American Film Market ! 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
Award-winning Short Film JADE Makes FilmShortage Streaming Premiere
In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Luke Tennie and Noam Shapiro, Lead Actors, Producers & Writers at Dirty Coffee Pictures, about their award-winning short film JADE and its FilmShortage streaming premiere (January 14th). They share how they collaborated from a fast-writing process to a polished short designed as a calling card—and how they’re using the release to build momentum toward a potential series. About Luke Tennie Luke Tennie grew up in South Florida, the youngest of three. Upon graduating from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in 2016, Luke booked his very first film audition, Shock & Awe (alongside: Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson, James Marsden) with Rob Reiner at the helm. Since then, his career has become a steady crescendo as he’s gone on to star in Deadly Class (Benedict Wong, Lana Condor), Snowfall, Safety (Disney+), CSI: Vegas, Players (Paramount+), and most recently Shrinking, written by the Emmy-award winning team of Ted Lasso, Brett Goldstein & Bill Lawrence as well as Jason Segel, starring none other than Harrison Ford in his television debut on AppleTV+.” About Noam Shapiro Noam is a native New Yorker, currently based in the Bronx. He previously held a decade-long rap career, where he learned the basics of stage-craft, rhythm, and storytelling. Noam has worked on The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, The Kill Room (opposite Samuel L. Jackson & Uma Thurman), American Horror Story, Lady In The Lake (opposite Natalie Portman), Powerbook II: Ghost, and Let The Right One In.” Noam is an acting professor at AMDA NY. About Dirty Coffee Pictures Dirty Coffee Pictures, founded by Luke Tennie and Noam Shapiro, is an independent film production company. The company creates stories that allow it to navigate in the gray—focusing on the nuance of people’s experiences. Its stories are character-driven, humorous, and dramatic. Luke Tennie and Noam Shapiro deeply value collaboration. They encourage people to speak up when they have ideas and believe the best idea should always win, with the shared goal of telling the most compelling story possible. This interview is part of our AFM 2025 Series. Big thank you to American Film Market ! 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
Universal Pensions: Gautam Bhardwaj on Micro-Pensions and Financial Resilience
In this episode, Adam Torres and Gautam Bhardwaj, Co-founder of Universal Pensions (Singapore), from the Milken Institute Middle East & Africa Summit coverage in Abu Dhabi. Gautam explains how informal workers are excluded from traditional retirement systems and how flexible, digital micro-pension marketplaces can help prevent old-age poverty while unlocking long-term domestic savings for emerging economies. This interview is part of our Milken Coverage Series. Big thank you to Milken Institute! 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
J. M. Stelly on AFM, Within Madness, and Making Feature Films Without Permission
In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews J. M. Stelly, Writer, Director & Producer at Anatomica Films, about premiering Within Madness at AFM, his rapid-fire DIY production process, and how he’s shot three feature films since September. JM shares lessons on staying authentic, building community and industry fans, and why filmmakers must stop waiting for permission and start delivering finished work. 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