Shane Benson is a former firefighter from the state of New York. He was one of the 1st responders that was just steps away from the twin towers when the 2nd tower collapsed. His life's work has centered around helping and saving people.

Shane travelled to Phoenix from Virginia 12 days ago on a mission with a plan. The plan was to sell everything he owns and live on the streets of Phoenix with the homeless population in the pursuit of changing lives and making a difference in our community. 

He's now using his skills as a first responder and minister to give the homeless in our most dangerous and overrun tent city in Arizona -The Zone- hope, faith and as you'll hear in this episode much needed medical attention. You won't believe the results he's achieved in just 12 short days.

Yes it's OK if you still believe in heroes. They do exist!

Follow Shane
TikTok: @godsgrace38
Facebook: @expositorypreacher38

In Crisis, Call Shane
757-300-6275

The rise of Socialism as a viable economic system to create more equitable outcomes has been a hot topic in American politics in recent years. Politicians like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren,  Beto O'Rourke and Alexandria Cortez are trying to convince people that they need Big Government to take over the system in order for people to better their lives in the United States. They've infiltrated some of our most sacred institutions but none more dangerous than the indoctrination that is taking place today with our children.

Maria Bello and her family are legal immigrants to America from Venezuela, Today Maria works with the Dissident Project to educate and inform our youth on the dangers of Socialism from her family's personal experience. 

She sees many signs that our great country is following a very dangerous path that Venezuela began a little more than 20 years ago and is still living the nightmare today. Today Venezuelans are fleeing the country they love as Socialism has brought devastation, tyranny, oppression and authoritarianism to a country that was once one of the wealthiest Capitalist nations in the world per capita.  Perhaps the most dangerous sign among many alarming signs she sees is a current Democratic government, corrupt media and tech giants, corporations and educational institutions taking away or limiting freedom of speech and the ability to have open and honest conversations that they don't personally agree with. They silence real life experiences to make way for political narratives and personal points of view making way for a socialist government to take on more power.

Listen closely, Maria wants you to know that once you give total power to a government it is almost impossible to regain. If you want truth stop listening to corrupt institutions and politicians and listen to those that have experienced the real truth first hand,

Most importantly she warns if disparity from Socialism can happen in Venezuela, it can happen anywhere and America is no exception. 

In 2020 and 2021 as kids were locked out of schools and forced to learn on Zoom calls from home, parents started to take notice of alarming new teachings or at least we think they are new taking place in their children's schools. As a result, school unions, school boards and in some case teachers have become hot button issues for parents. As a result school board elections are now very much on the radar of parents not only in Scottsdale and Arizona but all over the country.

Andrea Keck is a long time Scottsdale resident, advocate for and educator of children and a phenomenal business mind.

In this episode Andrea goes in depth on the challenges Scottsdale schools face in our current environment. If you're a parent in Arizona of a child in public school, you don't want to miss what she has to say as these challenges are far from unique to the Scottsdale Unified School District. 

We discuss what the school board does, the importance of their work, why the schools are currently failing on many levels, what success looks like, how we can course correct and the importance of the upcoming elections and getting our schools back on a successful track.

If you're a parent and you haven't really been involved in what is going on, listening to Andrea will catch you up to speed on everything you need to know and will motivate you to get out and vote this November.

How do we determine who is the greatest athlete in the world?  Is it the strongest person? Is it the fastest person? Do they jump the highest, jump the farthest, hit a ball, throw a ball, catch a ball or kick a ball? Or is it just the person that the media obsesses over the most?  

Meet Anne Lorimor, quite possibly the greatest athlete in the world. What makes Anne an amazing athlete? She holds the world record for the oldest person to ever climb to the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro at the age of 89. Funny thing is Anne doesn't consider herself an athlete at all. She didn't grow up playing sports or competing in athletics.  She doesn't play sport for money or trophies or glory. She doesn't headline on ESPN every day or even seek personal media attention. In fact there is a good chance you've never heard of her and she is just fine with that. But she is emphatic and determined to get the word out and raise money for her non-profit.

Creating Exciting Futures is an organization that gives opportunity and hope to underprivileged youth. Climbing high dangerous mountains is just one way Anne finds opportunities to shine a light on this great cause. 

Anne is going to tell us all about Creating Exciting Futures - what they do and amazing success stories of ambitious kids that had little hope or opportunity and through Creating Exciting Futures turned new found opportunity into success and achievement. Their stories will touch and inspire you.  Perhaps the most impressive part is Anne's organization then teaches these young prodigies to pay it forward to help the next generation of youth.  

And of course she's going to share the story of her amazing climb as well as the adversity she faced while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and breaking the world record, not once but twice.

You can find out more about Creating Exciting Futures and please donate by going to:
www.creatingexcitingfutures.org

As parents, most of us hold ourselves to a high standard. We do our best to ensure that our kids are kind, confident, respectful, loved and have the best education possible. But is there more we can do to help them be the best version of themselves?  How can we help them grow to be responsible, respectful and successful adults.

This new generation of children is growing up much different than most of us parents. They are distracted by technology including smart phones and video games, they're often coddled, lack discipline and work ethic and many parents enable their children resulting in less than their very best. In pursuit of giving them the best many parents confuse "best"  with giving them everything they want to a point they feel entitled.

The reality is that even the best parent can learn new ideas to help their kids grow. We only get one chance so we need to make the most of the opportunity to raise great kids.

If that wasn't enough, we now fear destructive principals this new era government education system is introducing to our children. Since early 2020 our kids have been kept away from schools as Covid fear spread, have been forced to wear masks and social distance from one another among many other things. 

Amy Carney is a proud mother of 6 children and author of Parent On Purpose. The book gives valuable insight that helps parents recognize areas that we may be able to do just a little bit better.

Amy has also been in the national news recently as one of many concerned parents that have had frustrations with the Scottsdale Unified School District and its President of the school board. She's going to share shocking details as to what the President did and why she has decided to run for the school board in 2022.

Amy will be releasing more info on her SUSD school board campaign soon.  You can follow her for more info here:
https://www.facebook.com/amycarney4susd

Buy Parent On Purpose  the book and check out other helpful parenting tips by visiting:
https://amycarney.com/

Amy supports Hope and a Future donating her book proceeds to benefit kids in foster care. You can donate here:
https://azhope.com/

Imagine you sacrifice everything - your health and mental wellness  knowing every day when you get dressed for work your life could be taken at any moment all in the name of community service as a 1st responder. You're overworked, underpaid and underappreciated.  Your final words, hugs and kisses with your spouse and kids could be the last.

Then one day it happens. It's sudden, it's tragic and it's absolute.  You're injured in the line of duty and unable to go back to work. You're left with an uncertain future. Or worse, you give your life to save another. Now your family is not only left to pick up the pieces but they have the mental and financial burden of planning and paying for a funeral. 

Then instantly an angel appears. She shows up at your home or next to your hospital bed. This angel has experienced what you're living through and is able to give the emotional support that few others would be able. More importantly this angel is carrying a significant check to help you with your immediate financial burdens. But this check has another significant meaning entirely. It represents the community finally giving you or the loved one you lost the proper appreciation they deserved even though you/they have never expected it or asked for it. 

Meet the angel, Angela Harrolle CEO of 100 Club of Arizona. I had the pleasure and honor to spend 90 minutes to listen to her story and have a very candid conversation about the dangers our heroes face daily.  To date we have lost 55 1st responders in Arizona in 2021, a staggering number and many more seriously injured.  The fatalities range from suicide to shot and killed in the line of duty. They all have amazing stories of heroism but more importantly they all have families left behind with heavy hearts and a mountain of burden.

Angela's story is one of tragedy turned to heroism, although she does not like to be referred to as a hero. After the passing of her husband Bruce Harrolle in 2008, Angela has dedicated her life to becoming a 1st responder to our 1st responders and their families in their most vulnerable time of tragedy and need. 

She does the work that few of us would do to help those that do the work that even fewer of us would do.  The 100 Club of Arizona needs our community to be in support in order to continue to provide this essential assistance. 

Today the 100 Club is experiencing far more need than they can raise money to contribute back.

Listen to learn a new perspective and please volunteer and donate using the website below. 

Donate or sign up to volunteer at a future event:
www.100club.org

Homelessness in Arizona is something most of us see on the streets of our cities and communities everyday. Yes we see it, but very few of us actually understand it. 

Who are the homeless?
Everybody has a story. How do they end up on the street?
Is the challenge getting better or worse?
What resources and services do we have available in the City of Phoenix to assist?
Should you personally play a role in assisting the less fortunate while keeping your streets safe and clean?
What is that role and what are some ways you can assist in an empathetic and compassionate way?
Most importantly, IS THERE HOPE?

This week Amy Schwabenlender, Executive Director at the Human Services Campus (a robust campus with almost 2 dozen services and 15 partners to assist the homeless in getting back on their feet) in downtown Phoenix joins the show to answer these questions and to give us optimism that homelessness can be defeated here in Arizona with a little focus and attention from all of us.

Important Links discussed during the Podcast
Website:  https://hsc-az.org/
Make a donation:  https://hsc-az.org/donate/
Downloadable "You Matter" Card:  https://hsc-az.org/you-matter/

It's time to Podcast!

Have you heard of Opportunity Zones but you're still unclear what an Opportunity Zone is and how it benefits the community as a whole.  Brion Crum, VP of Investments at Caliber Companies joins the show to tell you everything you need to know about Opportunity Zones. What are they? Who do they benefit? Are they working? 

Most importantly, he's going to discuss how Opportunity Zones are making a positive and immediate impact on Arizona communities all around the state.  From hotels to hospitals, Caliber has become a leader in the state of Arizona in helping to make lower income, high unemployment rate communities desirable places to live, work and thrive. 

Brion takes us through several examples of how Caliber has not only helped to bring valuable services and jobs to struggling communities but also how their projects have assisted municipalities in dealing with difficult issues like mental illness and homelessness.

Brion will also tell you how you may be able to put your investment dollars to work by assisting in the effort to make AZ a better place to live while benefiting from some amazing  tax benefits.

It's Time to Podcast!

To reach Brion direct:
Brion Crum
[email protected]
480.881.1906
www.Caliberco.com

Angela is a senior writer at the Phoenix Business Journal. She is the primary journalist covering all things residential real estate, healthcare, education and biotech.  As you can imagine she stays very busy. Angela gives us a behind the scenes look into what it takes to publish a great article that is relevant to the Phoenix Business Journal audience.

34 years experience and she is still one of the most trusted journalists in the valley writing fact driven articles. I'm going to ask her how she continues to keep her journalistic integrity in a time where opinion and emotion drive the news cycle for so many media outlets.

And if you listen closely she's going to give you an insider tip on the process of having an article written about your business or industry.  

It's Time to Podcast!

Former Deer Valley High School basketball star Lawrence Hill joins the show to talk about his days playing basketball at Stanford and professionally overseas and how this lead him into being a key leader in one of the largest youth sports programs in the Phoenix Arizona Metro. He talks about how he is able to inspire kids not only to be great athletes but great people through leveraging a team of volunteer coaches. 

And you don't want to miss the message he has for parents with advice on how you as a parent can lead and support your kids, empowering them to be the best they can be on the field. Ensuring they are ultra-competitive while paving the way for them to have a lot more fun in the process.