We’re looking forward to introducing you to Julio Garcia. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Julio, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Honestly, I feel like I’m being called to speak up and share my story publicly in a way I never had the courage to before. For a long time, I stayed in the background, helping others grow their businesses and platforms, and I still love doing that. But now, there’s this strong pull to step into the spotlight, not for recognition, but because I know my testimony can help others.
Growing up as an immigrant, being a DACA recipient, starting businesses from scratch with limited resources, and navigating through family struggles, faith, and fatherhood, these were things I used to hide or downplay. I was afraid of being too vulnerable or misunderstood. But now I see that everything I’ve been through has a purpose.
So I’m leaning into that fear and turning it into fuel. Through my platform, Foodies Forward, and my personal brand, Julio The Foodio, I’m sharing more openly, about entrepreneurship, family, faith, and the ups and downs behind the scenes. I’m even recording more content where I pray over local small businesses, because I truly believe God put me here to be a light in this space.
It’s scary sometimes, being so open. But I know I’m being called to serve others by being real. And if my voice encourages even one person to keep going, to start something, or to believe in themselves again, then it’s all worth it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Julio Garcia, and I’m the founder of Foodies Forward, a movement and platform dedicated to uplifting small, family-owned restaurants, especially the hidden gems that don’t always get the spotlight they deserve. I’m also known as Julio The Foodio, where I create bilingual content (in English and Spanish) showcasing these businesses, praying over them, and sharing their stories in a way that connects with the community.
I’m a proud husband, father of three, and DACA recipient. I came to the U.S. when I was 11 years old, and like many immigrant families, we had to work hard and sacrifice a lot. I’ve worked two jobs, built businesses from scratch, and now I’m using everything I’ve learned to pour back into others, especially small business owners who are often overlooked.
What makes Foodies Forward special is that it’s more than just reviews or content, it’s a full ecosystem built to support small restaurants. We offer affordable digital marketing, website design, online ordering systems that let restaurants keep 100% of their profits, and a business resource center where I teach everything from marketing to taxes in a simple, real-world way.
We also launched a nonprofit branch that brings catered meals to senior centers and homeless shelters through local restaurants, so supporting one business can bless an entire community. That’s the heart behind everything we do: impact through love, food, and faith.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding the platform, building our podcast, and growing a community where business owners and food lovers can come together. I truly believe we’re creating something bigger than Yelp, something that celebrates real people, real food, and real stories.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that constantly played it safe and waited for the “perfect” time that part has served its purpose, and it’s time to let it go.
For a long time, I told myself I had to be fully prepared, fully qualified, or fully funded before I stepped out in faith. Whether it was launching a new service, sharing my personal story, or simply asking for help, I always felt like I needed to have everything perfectly lined up first. But what I’ve learned is that sometimes obedience comes before clarity, and God doesn’t always call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
That cautious version of me was trying to protect myself from failure or judgment, but it also kept me from growing faster. It slowed down the impact I could’ve been making. So now I’m releasing that version of myself, the one that hesitated, that questioned everything, that let fear talk me out of opportunities.
I’m choosing boldness. I’m choosing faith. I’m choosing to move even when I’m unsure, because I’ve seen what happens when I trust the process and let God lead. Every time I’ve taken a step forward with purpose and intention, even without all the answers, the doors have opened. And that’s the pace I’m walking in now.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the most defining and painful moments in my life happened recently, during what should’ve been a celebratory time, the third year of our family business, Doña Jacky. I had poured my heart and soul into that business. It was my parents’ dream, but it became my mission to grow it, promote it, and do everything I could to make it successful. It felt like my baby.
But behind the scenes, something happened that shattered everything. I was put in a position where I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life, to protect my child and my younger sister from something deeply traumatic, something that no one should ever have to experience, especially within their own family. That decision meant involving the law and ultimately putting my own sister and her husband in jail.
The emotional toll of that moment was beyond words. I walked away from the business with nothing, no money, no ownership, and a mountain of debt from the loans I had taken out to keep it afloat. Even after the business was sold, I was left alone to carry the weight. There were days I questioned everything: my loyalty, my love for my family, my future. But I never questioned my responsibility to protect the ones I love.
Healing has been slow, and some wounds still sting. But I’m healing, through God’s grace, through prayer, through the unwavering support of my wife and kids, and by staying committed to doing what’s right even when it’s painful. I’ve learned that sometimes protecting your peace and your people comes at a price, but I’d pay it again without hesitation.
What the enemy tried to use to destroy me, God is now using to refine me. I’m still rebuilding, still paying off debt, still navigating healing, but I’m not broken. I’m stronger, more focused, and more surrendered to God’s plan than ever before.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes! what you see is what you get. The public version of me is the same person behind the scenes. I made a decision early on that I never wanted to build something that required me to put on a mask. If I’m showing up on social media, on a podcast, or at a restaurant, I want it to be with the same heart I carry at home with my wife and kids.
That doesn’t mean I show everything, I think there’s wisdom in protecting certain parts of your life. But when it comes to who I am, my faith, my mission, the way I speak about business and family, and especially how I pray over the people I meet, that’s 100% real. I don’t do it for likes or views. I do it because that’s who I am.
The version of me you see online is someone who’s been through real pain, made real sacrifices, and still chooses to show up with purpose. I’m not perfect, but I am consistent. And I’d rather be known for being real than being polished.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think the biggest misunderstanding about my legacy might be that people will assume it was all about me, my content, my brand, my projects. But the truth is, none of this has ever been about building a name for myself. My legacy isn’t about followers, platforms, or even the businesses I’ve created. It’s about the people I’ve been able to help along the way.
Everything I do, from creating free content for small businesses, to building the Foodies Forward platform, to praying over restaurant owners, it all comes from a place of service. I want to be remembered as someone who showed up for others, not for clout or recognition, but out of obedience to God and love for people.
Some might think my story is about “success against the odds,” and while that’s part of it, the deeper truth is that I’ve failed, I’ve fallen, and I’ve had to rebuild more than once. And yet I never stopped believing that my story could help someone else stand back up.
My hope is that long after I’m gone, people realize my legacy wasn’t about attention, it was about intention. It was about using my voice to uplift others, especially those who felt unseen, and creating something that could outlive me and continue blessing others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juliothefoodio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliothefoodio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliothefoodio
