Host: Chad Benson

Recording Date: January 4, 2026

"It’s like Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell trying to take on a Terminator." Recording from his living room in Sioux City, host Chad Benson moves from the "Base Kid Mentality" to a surgical strike on Iowa’s fiscal failures. As the 2026 legislative session approaches, this episode pulls back the curtain on a system that has forgotten how to care for a child while becoming an expert at "doodling in the margins" of administrative compliance.

We dive deep into the $7 billion Medicaid machine—the largest line item in the Iowa budget. Chad breaks down the "Administrative Leakage" that sends over $1 billion annually to out-of-state boardrooms and shareholders while local therapists are forced to shutter their doors. By comparing Iowa’s 15% administrative load to Connecticut’s 3.8% model, we expose a system designed to pay contractors more for doing a worse job.

The recurring "Benjamins" segment returns to highlight the profit-over-people motives of Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)—[Audio Drop: "It's all about the Benjamins, baby"]. Chad contrasts a world that can successfully market fried-chicken-flavored toothpaste while making Iowa families wait 90 days for basic medical records.

The Doodle Metaphor: Why "performative compliance" is the greatest enemy of actual clinical care in Iowa.

The Connecticut Gold Standard: How a non-profit model reclaimed hundreds of millions for care by firing the corporate middlemen.

The "Silent 20" Crisis: An inside look at the redundant bureaucracy of care coordination meetings where "authorized decision-makers" are nowhere to be found.

The Natan Provision: A legislative proposal to end the "state secret" status of medical records with $5,000 daily fines for non-compliance.

Breaking the Shield: Why "Sovereign Immunity" must be revoked to hold the state accountable for administrative neglect.

The Lead Seat Rule: Mandating that any state meeting must include a decision-maker with a 48-hour "Yes or No" deadline.

District Sovereignty: Transitioning to seven district-led health boards to keep Iowa tax dollars in Iowa communities.

The 15% Recovery: Reclaiming $1 billion to fund a 25% rate increase for behavioral health providers and 300 new local "System Navigators".

The 24/7 Response: Redirecting funds to create mobile crisis teams so families in the middle of the night call clinicians, not the police.

"There is no fate but what we make for our families." It is time to stop the "what-ifs" and start the "right-nows." Join the unit as we push for the IHSA and demand a system that values human life over corporate dividends.

"A machine can learn the value of human life—maybe we can too."

Support the mission: https://gofund.me/775c60620

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Facebook: @LetsTalkIowa

Website: LetsTalkIowa.com

"Duty isn't a suggestion—it was the baseline." As we step into 2026, we aren't making resolutions—we’re establishing resolve. In this high-stakes deep dive, host Chad Benson pulls back the curtain on his own "operating system" to explain why he refuses to stay quiet about Iowa’s broken systems. As a Marine Corps brat who grew up "inside the wire" at Camp Pendleton, Chad analyzes the Iowa healthcare crisis through a lens of institutional competence, technical grit, and the unwavering belief that his word is a covenant.

We aren't just sharing a story; we are analyzing the blueprint of a "Third Culture" upbringing and applying it to the "minefield" of Iowa’s Managed Care Organizations.

The Line in the Sand: A firm stance against Stolen Valor and a clear distinction between growing up in the culture of service versus earning the title of a United States Marine.

Life Inside the Gate: Why growing up in a "city-state" larger than Rhode Island creates an expectation for systems that actually work—and why Iowa’s current "organizational incompetence" is a dereliction of duty.

The Professional Profile: A clinical look at the "Silent Rucksack" carried by mobile populations, exploring Mobility Stress, Hyper-Vigilance, and Attachment Disorders.

The Foster Care Parallel: Why failing to provide promised services to adoptive families is a "functional abandonment" that confirms the child's greatest trauma.

The Gold Standard: The technical, visceral reality of John Basilone at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima—the standard for clearing "stoppages" and probing minefields by touch to save the unit.

The "Benjamins" Rule: Highlighting the profit-driven motives of Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)—[Audio Drop: "It's all about the Benjamins, baby"].

Clear the Stoppages: Do not accept the first "No" from the MCOs— read the manual and use the technical appeals process to force care.

Map the Minefield: Document every "ghost network" and every two-year waitlist to make the systemic obstacles visible to our legislators.

Check Your Rucksack: Recognize that hyper-vigilance is exhausting; find your support "unit" so you don't carry the weight of advocacy alone.

The First 100: We are currently at 25 followers; we need to reach our first 100 this month to strengthen our collective voice at the Capitol.

"Fighting" doesn't have to be a massive undertaking. Whether it's hitting that 'Follow' button, sharing this episode with one person who needs to hear it, or documenting your family's struggle, it’s time to stand your post.

"John Basilone didn't leave the beach, and neither will we."

Support the mission: https://gofund.me/775c60620

Follow & Subscribe:

Facebook: @LetsTalkIowa

Instagram: @lets_talk_iowa_podcast 

Website: LetsTalkIowa.com

"Hope is not a strategy." With just three weeks until the gavel drops on January 12, 2026, the halls of the Iowa Capitol are quiet—but the War Room is just heating up. In this high-stakes deep dive, host Chad Benson sits down with Representative Brian Lohse (R-Bondurant), Chair of the Justice System Appropriations Subcommittee and a "System Parent" who has lived the nightmare of Iowa’s broken behavioral health system firsthand.

We aren't just playing soundbites; we are analyzing intelligence. From the "Texas Shuffle" that ships Iowa’s children halfway across the country to the "Custody for Care" crisis, we are pulling back the curtain on how the machine works and building the roadmap to fix it.

The Character Witness: Discover why Rep. Lohse—the son of a 40-year teacher and a legendary "scary" school custodian—is an ally Iowa families need right now.

The Spreadsheet Fact: The mainstream media won't tell you that 85% of Iowa’s bills are bipartisan. We reveal the path to the 51 votes needed for meaningful change.

Action Item: HF 873: We break down the "Ultimate Betrayal"—the practice of forcing parents to relinquish custody just to access mental health care. We highlight the tireless research of Nina Richtman, whose roadmap is the ammo for passing this critical legislation in 2026.

Action Item: Adoption Reform: Why families shouldn’t face a $3,000 "cover charge" to rescue a child from foster care.

The Travel Standard: Why Iowa's current system is a "catastrophic failure" compared to the professional 30/30 rule (30 miles/30 minutes) for community care and the 90-mile rule for regional hubs.

End "Custody for Care": Pass the successor to HF 873 and stop punishing parents for system failures.

A Watchdog with Teeth: Real-time fines for MCOs that deny life-saving care.

Actual Beds: Iowa is 51st in the nation for state psychiatric beds; we need brick-and-mortar solutions, not "study committees".

End the Immunity: Strip away the "King's Robes" and hold the state accountable when they intentionally harm children to save a budget line.

"Fighting" doesn't have to be a massive undertaking. Whether it's a two-minute phone call, an email during your lunch break, or a donation to fuel our boots-on-the-ground advocacy, it’s time to pick up the fight.

Join the War Room. Support the mission: https://gofund.me/775c60620

Enough thinking. Enough waiting. We’ll see you in the lobby.

Follow & Subscribe: * Facebook: @LetsTalkIowa

Instagram: @lets.talk.iowa

Website: LetsTalkIowa.com

Keywords

mental health, Iowa, managed care organizations, MCOs, healthcare, advocacy, family support, bureaucratic challenges, accountability, reform

Summary

In this conversation, Chad shares his personal struggles with the mental health care system in Iowa, particularly focusing on the challenges posed by Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). He discusses the emotional toll of navigating bureaucratic obstacles while seeking care for his son, highlighting the power dynamics and conflicts of interest inherent in the MCO system. Chad emphasizes the need for transparency, accountability, and advocacy to demand better care for families facing similar challenges. He provides practical tools for families to disrupt the status quo and fight for their rights within the system.

The emotional burden of seeking mental health care is immense.

"MCOs break spirits and hearts."

00:00 The Weight of Mental Health Challenges

Summary

In this episode of Let's Talk Iowa, Chad shares a raw and unfiltered account of his struggles with the Iowa legal system regarding his son's mental health needs. He discusses the hypocrisy of the system, the burdens of navigating the CINA process, and the lack of legal representation. Chad highlights the emotional and financial toll on foster and adoptive families, the exploitation of compassionate citizens, and the systemic failures that lead to trauma. He calls for action and solidarity among Iowans to demand accountability from the state.

Chad expresses frustration with the hypocrisy of the Iowa system.

"This isn't just a personal injustice."

00:00 Introduction: A Grumble Session

Keywords

Iowa, CINA, foster care, adoption, systemic failures, legal representation, qualified immunity, mental health services, parental rights, advocacy

Website: Https://www.LetsTalkIowa.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/Lets_Talk_Iowa

In this episode, Chad Benson interviews Ryan Adams about his journey from Norway to San Francisco, his work in residential care, and his efforts to strengthen family resource centers in Iowa. They discuss the challenges of the foster care system, the importance of community-based solutions, and the need for a paradigm shift in policy to support families more effectively.

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Our guest is Ryan Adams, the President and CEO of the Iowa Family Resource Collaborative. Drawing from his extensive experience in children's behavioral health and his time as a foster parent, Ryan is a passionate advocate for the belief that healing happens through connection and community. He champions a model where children and families are in the driver's seat of their own healing journey. His unique background also includes serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay and spending over two years in monastic Zen practice, all of which informs his dedicated work supporting Iowa's most vulnerable youth.

Key Takeaways:

residential care, foster care, community-based solutions, family resource centers, policy change, iowa, iowa mental health, mental health, mental health care, iowa policy

#FamilyEmpowerment #CommunitySolutions #FosterCareReform #PolicyChange #FamilySupport #CommunityStrength #InnovativeCare #ChildWelfare #FamilyResourceCenters #HopeForFamilies

Websites:

1. https://www.nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org/

2. https://momsconnectdbq.org/

3. https://www.iowafrc.org/

4. https://www.LetsTalkIowa.com

What if the state agency responsible for children's mental health had a secret "Bigfoot Division"—specializing in blurry photos and anecdotal evidence of services that are always just out of reach?

For too many Iowa families, this frustrating search for care is a daily reality. Despite a landmark court settlement promising comprehensive mental health services for children, the gap between policy and people seems to be widening. To understand why, we go straight to the state capital.

Host Chad Benson sits down with State Senator Mike Zimmer, a 40-year veteran of public education turned legislator, for a candid look behind the political curtain. In this critical conversation, they discuss the real-world impact of the state budget, why Iowa has one of the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in the country, and the devastating link between our mental health shortcomings and the crisis in juvenile justice. This isn't just a discussion about numbers on a spreadsheet; it’s about the political will—or lack thereof—to fulfill a promise to Iowa's most vulnerable kids.

#MentalHealth #IowaPolitics #CommunityAction

Link to Resources: https://letstalkiowa.com/resources

Senator Zimmer’s Legislative Page: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=91&personID=37960

After a long silence, host Chad Benson returns with the deeply personal story of his own family's grueling battle with Iowa's Health and Human Services. In this raw and emotional episode, Chad shares his firsthand experience navigating the state's "ghost network" of care and questions the sincerity of the landmark C.A. v. Garcia settlement. He's then joined by State Representative Ken Croken (D-Davenport), a former healthcare executive and county supervisor, for a candid discussion about the systemic failures plaguing Iowa. They dive deep into the link between inadequate mental health services and the juvenile justice crisis, the state budget decisions that leave families behind, and what true accountability looks like.

In this episode, Rep. Robert Henderson joins us to talk about Iowa's growing mental health crisis and the impossible position schools have been placed in. With services lacking, teachers are expected to  be mental health providers, disciplinarians, and caregivers- on top of educating. Henderson discusses the urgent need to shift responsibility back to a system of community-based care, holding the state accountable in the wake of the C.A. v. Garcia settlement. He reflects on policy gaps, systemic failures, and what real reform could look like for kids, families, and educators alike.

What happens when a parent does everything right—and still hits a wall? In the premiere episode of Let’s Talk, Iowa!, host Chad Benson speaks with Nina Richtman, a mother who was forced to transfer legal custody of her son to the state just to access the mental health care he needed.

Together, they explore the impossible choices Iowa families face, the impact of trauma and attachment issues, and how a system built to protect often leaves parents blamed and alone.

This episode tells the truth about Iowa’s broken mental health and child welfare systems—and it’s a truth too many are living in silence.