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Mindful Living

How Angel Studios Is Disrupting Hollywood and Letting Audiences Choose What Movies Get Made

The Joy of Living Podcast with Barry Shore

What if you had a say in what stories the world gets to see?

In this power-packed conversation, Barry Shore sits down with Jeffrey Harmon, co-founder of Angel Studios and one of the legendary Harmon Brothers, to explore how faith, family, and film can reshape culture from the ground up. From potato fields in Idaho to the top of the U.S. box office, Jeffrey shares the wild, unlikely journey of building a movie studio that puts power back in the hands of the people.

Together, they dive into why distribution matters more than ever, how Sound of Freedom became a global phenomenon, and why Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin is the right story for this moment in history. You’ll learn how the Angel Guild, a 440,000+ member community, is helping to amplify light in an industry too often controlled by a narrow few.

This is more than a story about movies—it’s a movement. And you’re invited.

Tune in to discover:

  • Why culture is upstream from politics—and how media shapes your worldview
  • How Angel Studios turned a rejected film into a global box office hit
  • The role of sorrow and suffering in crafting timeless, soul-stirring art
  • Why democratizing content is the antidote to Hollywood gatekeeping
  • How YOU can vote on which films get made through the Angel Guild
  • The spiritual mission behind filmmaking and storytelling
  • The rise of a new generation of creators unafraid to tell the truth

Sponsors:

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Show Notes:

[00.00] The Power of Purpose, Positivity, and Perspective

  • Barry Shore kicks off the show with infectious energy and the core message that you are making the world a better place just by tuning in.
  • He shares his definition of a “good-looking person” as someone who looks for and finds the good in life.
  • Barry lays out the three fundamentals of life: purpose, making a difference (MAD), and uncovering the power of everyday words.
  • He reframes WWW as “What a Wonderful World,” introducing gratitude and perspective.
  • Barry shares his personal story of becoming paralyzed overnight, highlighting the power of resilience and positivity.
  • His use of “SMILE” as an acronym for “Seeing Miracles in Life Every day” becomes a mantra.
  • A child’s reframe of SMILE as “Seeing Miracles in Everyday Life” drives home the creative, perspective-shifting theme.
  • Barry explains that even waking up and having the basics in life is a miracle worth celebrating.

[10.53] Mindset, Micro Goals, and the Path to Transformation

  • Don Mann joins the show and immediately affirms Barry’s contagious energy and transformational message.
  • Don shares how his life philosophy is grounded in two pillars: goals and mindset.
  • He emphasizes the importance of setting massive, seemingly impossible goals to unlock your potential.
  • Micro goals are presented as essential stepping stones to achieving the bigger vision.
  • The physical act of writing goals on paper is described as a key to bringing the unseen into the seen.
  • Don reveals his habit of generating ideas during long bike rides and immediately writing them down.
  • Barry reinforces the idea that writing connects the inner world with the outer reality.
  • Both speakers highlight the importance of rethinking and shifting perspective as central to transformation.

[16.21] Becoming a SEAL: Purpose, Pain, and the Pursuit of Excellence

  • Don recounts the life-changing moment when a Navy recruiter introduced him to the SEAL program.
  • He describes watching a video of SEALs in action and knowing instantly, “There’s nothing I want more than that.”
  • Don outlines the path from SEAL Team 1 to 2 to the elite SEAL Team 6, emphasizing the selection process and global readiness.
  • He explains the intense bond between teammates and the personal cost of the lifestyle—including being away 300+ days a year.
  • The difference between personal ego and mission-driven service is explored through Don’s story.
  • Barry and Don delve into the “combat mindset,” not as aggression, but clarity, purpose, and duty.
  • Don powerfully frames the SEAL’s mission as eliminating evil and protecting the innocent.
  • Their discussion underlines the inner strength and moral clarity required to serve at the highest levels.

[27.10] Sheep, Sheepdogs, and the Wolves Among Us

  • Don introduces the powerful metaphor of sheep (civilians), wolves (threats), and sheepdogs (protectors).
  • He honors military, law enforcement, and first responders as the guardians of peace and order.
  • The acronym DOGS is shared: Doing of Good Successfully, capturing the essence of a sheepdog’s mission.
  • Barry presses Don about the potential for women in the SEALs, and Don respectfully explains the physical and structural challenges.
  • They reflect on the harsh realities of combat, from personal loss to the emotional toll on veterans.
  • Don shares the heartbreak of seeing 45 friends lost and the devastation of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
  • He contrasts his generation’s level of combat with that of today’s soldiers, many of whom have lived through decades of nonstop war.
  • The mental toll and continued readiness of the sheepdogs are highlighted as vital to national security.

[40.58] CIA, Internal Threats, and the Role of Everyday Sheepdogs

  • Don breaks down the purpose of the CIA as global intelligence gatherers with deep, complex missions.
  • He explains the evolution from international focus to awareness of domestic sleeper cells and internal threats.
  • Don discusses the “sleeper cell” problem in the U.S., especially post-Afghanistan withdrawal.
  • Barry and Don stress that America is under attack from both outside forces and internal polarization.
  • They reflect on the 2025 assassination of Charlie Kirk as a wake-up call that ignited a national movement.
  • Don emphasizes that attempts to silence truth often amplify the message instead.
  • He encourages every citizen to find their inner sheepdog—to be more aware, more protective, and more engaged.
  • The episode closes with Barry urging listeners to live exuberantly and go MAD: Make A Difference, reminding us that everyone can be a force for good.

Important Links:

About Jeffrey Harmon

Jeffrey Harmon is the primary architect of the social network marketing strategy that made Orabrush a global online sensation as the world’s best tongue brush. Jeffrey’s entrepreneurial roots began early and run deep. As an enterprising fifth grader backed by a supportive family, Jeffrey funded his own private school education by selling Idaho

potatoes door-to-door to unsuspecting Utahns. In the process, he seized control of his education and career, which he would never relinquish.

As CMO for Orabrush, Jeffrey brings his considerable powers of persuasion to bear for the company and its stakeholders. His primary expertise includes web-focused architecture, copy writing and wireframing, corporate and direct sales and search engine optimization. While serving as CEO for Orabrush in late 2009 through August 2010, Jeffrey envisioned the Orabrush YouTube campaigns that brought Orabrush more than 30 million views in less than a year. He recruited an all-star management team for Orabrush, including the company’s CEO, COO and CFO. Prior to his Orabrush experience, Jeffrey served as CEO for a retail company, Pixlin Journal Smart; as the social media and marketing manager for FamilyLink; and in a variety of sales and marketing jobs. Jeffrey has pursued a variety of educational opportunities, with a clear bias toward useful knowledge rather than theoretical strategies. Beginning in high school, he began to take college coursework at the College of Southern Idaho at night, then continued to pursue business coursework at LDS Business College and most recently earned a business degree in marketing at Brigham Young University. He also earned a degree in international business at Brazil’s prestigious Fundação Getulio Vargas.