Step Up To Challenges Podcast

Part 2 of our special sit down with John Lillis who is the Owner/Skipper of Lifeboat Coffee Co located in Phoenix Arizona (Lifeboatcoffee.com) . If you haven't listened to Part 1 please do so first and then listen to Part 2!

In Part 2 of Episode 20 we will talk about John's days in the US Coast Guard, moving & working around the country, building Christian Radio Stations & Starting Lifeboat Coffee. Enjoy!

Visit Lifeboatcoffee.com for Special Discount for our listeners & subscribers:

• Special Limited Discount Code for $2 off any order or 2lbs or more: #64
• Extra Lifeboat Coffee Benefits: https://lifeboatcoffee.com/discount/%252364

0:00 – Beginning / Introduction

1:32 – Coast Guard

11:00 – VRIF (Voluntary Reduction In Force) Discharging from Coast Guard

13:33 – Broadcasting

15:50 – Meeting his wife

19:00 – Heading to Omaha Nebraska – Oversee Operation for Radio & Television – Making due

25:00 – Doing his thing and builds Catholic Radio Stations

28:00 – Live Radio Show

30:00 – Lifeboat Coffee is Born – Early Struggles

35:00 – Move to Phoenix

40:00 – Coffee Shop opens in Phoenix – Hard work, Early Struggles, Success

50:00 – Reflection

1:00:00 – Wrap-Up

1:11:00 - End

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THANKS! TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

A special sit down with John Lillis who is the Owner/Skipper of Lifeboat Coffee Co located in Phoenix Arizona (Lifeboatcoffee.com) . John was a classmate and teammate of Rich and a Veteran. We'll talk about John being abandoned at birth, growing up in San Francisco, Football at City College of San Francisco and more. This is Part 1 of 2 with our sit down with John. Enjoy!

Visit Lifeboatcoffee.com for Special Discount for our listeners & subscribers:

• Special Limited Discount Code for $2 off any order or 2lbs or more: #64
• Extra Lifeboat Coffee Benefits: https://lifeboatcoffee.com/discount/%252364

0:00 – Beginning / Introduction

5:46 – Welcome John Lillis

6:23 – Reminiscing about San Francisco

14:45 – Abandoned at Birth – Bruce Nixon

17:21 – Troy's legs fall off!

23:00 – San Francisco is not what it used to be.

32:40 – Family – Drifting apart & Passing of Loved ones

38:20 - Podcasting & great conversation – Long content & discussions.

42:00 – Football at Sacred Heart

47:00 – 63 Yard Field Goal

50:00 - City College Football

56:50 – What's John going to do with his life.

57:46 – Coffee Break

1:01 - End of Episode 20 Part 1

TAKE ACTION.....STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE & subscribe to the show and while you are there hitting the subscribe button go ahead and leave a review while you are listening! You can find us on the following:

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THANKS! TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

Iraq war veteran Eduardo Leon joins us today to talk about his early life growing up poor and in a traditional Mexican family, multiple deployments, getting IED, his post military struggles with depression, anxiety and substance abuse and how he pulled himself out from the darkness.

0:00 – Beginning / Introduction

6:42 – Eduardo Leon – Air Force Veteran

9:04 – Born in Hayward CA and early life.

12:00 -Now living in Salinas

23:00 -Wanted to be a Cop and SWAT

30:00 -Joined the Airforce & shipping out

40:00 -Air Force Security Forces Academy

49:00 -Back home from training – August 2001 a month before attacks on Sept 11, 2001

50:00 -1st Reserve Drill weekend. Unit activated 2 days later.

1:01:00 – Dec 2002 – 1st Deployment to Kuwait

1:18:00 – Back home but volunteers for deployment to Kyrgyzstan in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

1:26:00 – Finally Deploying to Iraq to Camp Victory…..Route Irish, Abu Grave, Green Zone & more

1:44:00 – Surviving an IED Blast as a Turret Gunner.

2:06:00 – Coming Home from Iraq – Last one from Unit/Detachment to leave

2:08:00 – Starting to feel my mental cup getting full while working back in the civilian world.

2:12:00 – Life is quickly unraveling.

2:17:00 – 1st used Meth to mask depression and problems.

2:25:00 – Negative consequences begin. Losing job, getting evicted and being separated from family.

2:31:00 – Out of desperation he finally goes to Beacon House for help.

2:51:00 - Closing Remarks & Gratitude

TAKE ACTION.....STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE & subscribe to the show and while you are there hitting the subscribe button go ahead and leave a review while you are listening! You can find us on the following:

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THANKS! TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

For Veterans and War Fighters....War is Hell.....but so is coming home and trying to fit back into society after being away at way. Our current War Fighters & Veterans have been at War for the past 20 years! Today, Sept 11, 2021 marks the 20th Anniversary of the attacks on this county on Sept 11, 2001. At what cost and price did those War Fighters & Veterans pay for this 20 year war that ended in disaster for this country due to the decisions and lack of Extreme Ownership by the current President and his Administration? Many broken veterans......suicide, substance abuse, depression....etc.......all for what?

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Visit us at our website: www.stepuptochallenges.com

THANKS! TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

WELCOME BACK!

The world has been and still is CRAZY and all of our lives have been and continue to be turned upside down! Covid, Politics, Fires, Afghanistan.....and more. We at SUTC got blindsided by all of this and we let it get to us like many of you. We didn't Step Up To Challenges and power though it........we were off the air for over a year but we are back! In this Episode we talk about what to focus on and how to get back on track!

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Visit us at our website: www.stepuptochallenges.com

THANKS! TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

Special Education & Special Need Students during the Shelter In Place......what should parents do and expect during these uncertain times regarding school, services etc......

Rich Fernandez talks with Special Education Teacher & Administrator Herman Wilson where the discuss and share some guidelines and ideas.

List of Companies Offering Helpful Learning Services:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/191Q1ouxlWhsDGzMP6RcemE8_fGzenEQQet2pq1KbW4A/edit?usp=sharing

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THANKS! TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

In Episode 15 we breakdown who you can trust in Special Education. You have to education yourself and prepare for one of the toughest battles you're going to face! We'll give you information and share with you our own personal experiences so you can prepare yourself to be an advocate for your child!

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THANKS! TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

When did you know you were an advocate?

In this clip from Episode 13 - Having Siblings with Autism & Special Needs - We ask our daughter when she realized she was an Advocate for her brother!

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THANKS! TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

In Episode 14 my wife Lydia joins me for a discussion on what's it like being parents of a special needs child. We share some insight into how we handled the diagnosis and how we strengthened our determination and resolve over the years in making our son one of our top priorities.

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Visit us at our website: www.stepuptochallenges.com

THANKS! TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

What is it like to have a younger or older sibling who has Autism and Special Needs? If you have ever thought about how different their lives are and what sorts of challenges they face then this is an episode you should not miss. Here my wife Lydia interviews our daughter Jasmine and together they peel back the layers on what it is to have a sibling with Autism & Special Needs!

TAKE ACTION.....STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE & subscribe to the show and while you are there hitting the subscribe button go ahead and leave a review while you are listening! You can find us on the following:

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Visit us at our website: www.stepuptochallenges.com

THANKS! TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!