What does it really mean to trust the process—especially when the stakes are high, the path is unclear, and fear is loud?

In this episode, ILA Radio welcomes Joshua Onysko, founder and CEO of Pangea Organics and Alpine Provisions—two trailblazing companies redefining what it means to create with integrity. From building a plant-based cosmetic empire to exploring the role of fear, imagination, and instinct in decision-making, Joshua brings raw honesty and grounded wisdom to every turn in the conversation.

We talk about:

• The real reason most products on the shelf aren’t what they claim to be
• Why intuition matters just as much as intellect when building anything worthwhile
• What it takes to launch bold ideas—and what happens when you let them evolve
• How to stay aligned with your truth, even when it’s uncomfortable

This episode is for anyone navigating fear, dreaming big, or trying to build something real in a world that profits off illusion.

🎧 Listen in and remember: you don’t have to know exactly how it’s going to unfold—you just have to begin.

For more on Joshua, visit https://www.joshuaonysko.com/

LISTEN HERE

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ASTROLOGY SNAPSHOT

Joshua is an emotionally attuned visionary (Cancer Sun) with a deeply empathetic inner world (Pisces Moon). He communicates with care and intuition (Mercury in Cancer), dreams of expansive, purpose-driven impact (Neptune in Sagittarius), leads with creative authority (Saturn in Leo), and transforms through his commitment to balance and justice (Pluto in Libra).

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HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW?

JO: “That is a unique proposition that occurs inside of you every time you hear something new.”

JO: We’ve never had more access to information in human history—but we’ve also never had more misinformation.

Honestly, it’s astounding what people believe just because they saw it on social media. They don’t realize that anyone can say anything and make it sound scientific. It’s false, it’s convincing, and it’s terrifying—truly terrifying.

Just like birds tilt and triangulate their heads to get a clearer 3D picture, we need to start triangulating our sources. You can’t just latch onto something because it fits your belief system or feels good to hear. That kind of uncritical agreement is dangerous.

Personally, I would never repost something just because it aligns with my worldview unless I know it’s true—and when I say “know,” I mean I’ve actually researched it. I’ve checked the facts. Because right now, most people sharing information online are doing it for attention, for money, or to build a brand around a particular ideology—regardless of whether it’s real.

INTUITION & INTELLECT

LA: “How do you define intuition?”
JO: “There is a certain point where the study of information ends and the adoption of gut instinct has to begin.”

JO: “Life is a cultivation of all your experiences. Everything that you’ve observed through the five senses creates a vehicle within yourself to have intuition.”

JO: “Imagination is your ability to think and dream of something. Intuition is the part of your brain and your nervous system that convinces you that it’s a good idea or not a good idea.”

THOUGHTS ON EDUCATION

LA: Was there ever a time where you ended up loving school?

JO: I had an art teacher I really liked—really inspirational—because I’m an artist too, so we saw eye to eye. But overall, I think the education system, especially in elementary and high school, is pretty outdated. In my opinion, about 80% of teachers don’t have any real passion for what they’re doing, which makes it a big waste of time for a lot of people, especially today.

This was 25 years ago, but now? You’re born with a supercomputer in your hand. If you really want to learn—about the world, how to make a difference, or how to make money—you’re way better off doing your own research than sitting in a classroom.

LA: How could we do better in education?

JO: You know, the thing about kids is that they have a child’s mind—they’re naturally curious and inspired by so many things. I think it’s really important to honor that and use that time in life to move through choices without the fears that adults often carry.

A lot of people get stuck in the fear of, “What if I choose the wrong thing?” But in my opinion, there is no wrong thing. The only real mistake is not choosing at all—being stuck in the handcuffs of indecision. And unfortunately, most people spend their entire lives there, in that limbo of what if.

I think most entrepreneurs would tell you that what they started with is never what they ended up with. The path from point A to point B is full of pivots, surprises, and new decisions. But you’ll never experience any of that if you don’t begin—if you don’t start doing something that isn’t the status quo.

LEARNING FROM NATURE

JO: Every part of my life has been centered around plants. I’m vegan—I only eat plants. I grow them, I extract them, and every product I make is plant-based. My entire life has been deeply influenced by a belief in the power of plants.

I started Pangea because I realized that most products on the shelves either weren’t actually using real plants, or if they were, they weren’t using them properly. Plants are incredibly powerful, but the way they’re extracted and formulated in most mainstream products doesn’t honor their true value.

LEARNING FROM AI

JO: Being able to use AI to streamline literally every part of your business is incredible. For anyone entering the workforce today—especially aspiring entrepreneurs—there has never been a better time in history to start a company. The amount of streamlining you can do with large language models is unreal.

Like any technology, it all comes down to how you use it. Every tool can be used for good or bad—it’s about intention. For me, it’s about staying connected to nature while using modern tools to support and deepen that connection. I have apps on my phone that allow me to identify any plant instantly. I spent a year traveling the world, and while I was in the Amazon, I used my phone to identify plants that even a local elder didn’t recognize—because there are millions of species there.

Technology also helped me find incredible nonprofits working to regenerate the Amazon—groups I never would’ve found 20 years ago without the internet or AI. It’s a powerful time to be alive if you know how to use the tools available to you.