The Next Chapter

“It’s gonna get a lot worse.  People should be prepared and save the barf bags from the airplane,” says Phoenix based political strategist Marcus Dell’Artino. Dell’Artino and Democratic strategist Barry Dill both from the firm First Strategic join us for the Week In Review on a week when there were a lot of big stories.…

It may seem crazy. But then again dreams don't always make sense.

"This idea is three women who really didn't know that this was going to happen," says Christine Robertson, CEO of Luca Magazine.

With a background in fashion and branding, Robertson teamed up with Celestial Williams and Jennifer O'Bannon to launch Luca, a magazine that focuses on digital and social and has grown an audience of more than 50,000 followers in just a few months.

"We built this company on what we are promoting to teens and young adults," Robertson says of their branding, which is all focused on being inspirational and empowering. "Right now the world really needs an uplifting and motivating place for teens to see the good. There is joy in everyday life."

But Robertson admits she didn't always see it that way.

"Four years ago I went through a nervous breakdown and I am very open about it," Robertson shares. "My problem was, I didn't ask for help."

She had some deep rooted problems that had haunted her since high school.

Robertson says she was always seeking to please her family. Next came, as she describes, an abusive relationship.

"When I went through therapy I learned … everything that was thrown at me that was negative, I was carrying it," Robertson says of her recovery (that happened when she was 30 years old). "Think of it like a brick, and I was collecting all of those bricks in a bag. I didn't realize it at the time, but I had the choice to put the bag down and use the bricks to pave a path."

And she has surely been able to pave a path to an inspiring life: Happily married with three children, a very successful career as a businesswoman — and now the launch of a fast growing magazine.

One of the missions of Luca magazine is to share personal stories, not only of success, but also failure, pain and struggle. Really, the struggle is what makes us who we are today.

Luca magazine has teamed up early with social media stars like whippycake, Bella Weems and Pro Surfer Malia Ward — all incredible and inspirational success stories.

"We want it to be the teen voice, so we have a teen editorial staff," Robertson says. "It needs to be from the teen perspective. What we do is look for and showcase stories around the nation or around the world. They don't have to be a celebrity on the TV, but be a celebrity in your community."

Robertson hopes to inspire millions with the magazine and her own personal story. One that started with a crazy dream and turned into reality.

"Don't do the what ifs in life," she advises. "Make a call, talk to someone and inquire. You never know who you are going to meet on the other side."

The post The Building Of A Magazine: A Social Success Story appeared first on Inspired Media 360 TV - Inform | Inspire | Engage.

It may seem crazy.  But then again dreams don’t always make sense. “This idea is three women who really didn’t know that this was going to happen,” says Christine Robertson, CEO of Luca Magazine. With a background in fashion and branding, Robertson teamed up with Celestial Williams and Jennifer O’Bannon to launch Luca, a magazine…

"You come out for an hour a day, it's just almost like torture in a sense. You get a little crazy sometimes." Leslie Merritt Jr. is talking about his seven months in solitary confinement. The 21 year old was accused of being the I-10 freeway shooter in Phoenix, Arizona, arrested and locked up. His face splashed all over the news.

"You live in a small little box," he says. "It is like being in a dark hole that just keeps trying to close in on you."

In his first interview since getting out of jail, Merritt told me exclusively that he got through his days reading books, playing games and thinking about his kids, ages 5 and 7 months.

Merritt was arrested in September of 2015 in a Walmart parking lot.

"I went to Walmart to get some diapers and wipes for my daughter and came out and they told me to get on the ground," Merritt says.

He was accused of being a domestic terrorist — causing widespread panic on valley freeways. At the time, the fear level was so great, drivers avoided highways, and school buses took different routes. Signs were posted telling people to be careful.

"We set out to prove his innocence," says Ulises Ferragut, a member of Merritt's defense team.

"The reality is most defendants have to prove their innocence because our society is very suspicious of people accused criminally. We set out to prove his innocence and as we started peeling back the layers of the investigation by DPS, we came to the conclusion that not only is their investigation faulty, but upon doing our own investigation that there is no linkage [between Merritt, the gun he pawned and the shooting spree]."

Merritt says he repeatedly asked for a lie detector test when he was arrested and he has always maintained his innocence. A lie detector test was never given.

"It's weird because law enforcement put out some sort of info memo to pawn shops in the area trying to figure out if they could get a lead," Ferragut says. "Leslie Merritt's weapon that he had pawned turns up as one of these guns and all of a sudden law enforcement is focusing in on this gun and suggesting this gun may have been used in some of these shootings. A case based on ballistics."

But when the ballistic evidence fell apart, so did the case.

"The ballistic evidence was not just the center of the State's case, it was the only evidence in the State's case," says Merritt defense attorney Jason Lamm. "There wasn't a single eyewitness, there was nothing that put Leslie at the scene of any of these shootings so critical weight was put on the DPS criminalist who made that identification."

The State then brought in an independent expert who made two major findings, Lamm explains. "He said there was no way to identify Leslie's gun as having been the one that was used in the shootings. And secondly he delivered an absolutely fatal blow to the State when he said that he independently reviewed the work they did (… ) and he said it was insufficient to make an identification. He flat out said they were wrong in doing what they did and the way that they did it."

Judge Warren Granville reduced the bond from $1 million dollars to zero and Leslie Merritt Jr. walked out of jail. Not exactly a free man, though.

County Attorney Bill Montgomery dismissed the case "without prejudice" meaning he is leaving the door open that Merritt may once again face charges.

"Prosecutors are not afraid of the truth. In identifying areas for further investigation, it's a part of reviewing cases in preparation for trial. Wherever the evidence leads is where we go," Montgomery said in an April news conference.

Dismissing charges against Merritt may be interpreted by some as a sign of a botched investigation. "If people want to draw that conclusion at this point in time, they're certainly free to do so," Montgomery said.

For Merritt's part, he says he is trying to get back to life — as normal as it can be. He has resumed work as a landscaper and is spending time with his two children, although he says he is not allowed to pick up his son from preschool. Administrators, he says, have expressed concern about him being on campus and causing other parents to be uncomfortable.

When asked if he is nervous about the charges being refiled, Merritt says no. He's not worried.

"I know I didn't do it so I don't see any possible way for them to bring new charges against me."

Disclaimer: Carey Pena's husband is a member of Leslie Merritt's defense team. He did not see the questions in advance of this interview, nor was he given any editorial input or control.

The post Former 1-10 Shooting Suspect Speaks: EXCLUSIVE appeared first on Inspired Media 360 TV - Inform | Inspire | Engage.

“You come out for an hour a day, it’s just almost like torture in a sense.  You get a little crazy sometimes.”  Leslie Merritt Jr. is talking about his seven months in solitary confinement.  The 21 year old was accused of being the I-10 freeway shooter in Phoenix, Arizona, arrested and locked up. His face…

"Charm, communication and respect — showing people respect — just changes the atmosphere so dramatically," says Debora Black, Chief of Police in Glendale, Arizona.

Black defied the odds to get where she is today. She came up in a male dominated industry and rose up the ranks in a way that was unexpected — at least to her.

"When I was in fourth grade this didn't exist," Black says. "You did not see a woman in uniform. When I graduated the academy you didn't see a woman in a leadership position. I think it is important that we are visible and approachable."

Black was only the second woman in the Phoenix Police Department to ever be promoted to Assistant Chief. Nationally fewer than 2% of police agencies are led by women.

This week Black joins a panel of empowered and accomplished leaders at The YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix Women's Empowerment Series.

"Our entire goal is to get the word out about fabulous women in our community, in our nation, and really across the world that are doing work that is so impactful," says Regina Edwards, CEO of the YWCA Phoenix.

The organization's mission is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

In this most recent empowerment series, the focus is on "Women who Keep Us Safe".

Chief Black talks in this episode of Carey Pena Reports about what it was like to swim against the tide while maintaining a sense of who she is as a person. She also shares insight into what it is like today being a police officer when the public turns against you.

Through it all, she says she is empowered by doing what she loves.

"Peace, purpose and passion," Black shares. "It's there. Just dig for it, nurture it and empower it."

For more on the Empowerment Series you can visit http://ywcaaz.org/womens-empowerment-series

The post Empowering Women: An Interview with Two Leaders Who Shattered The Glass Ceiling appeared first on Inspired Media 360 TV - Inform | Inspire | Engage.

“Charm, communication and respect — showing people respect —  just changes the atmosphere so dramatically,” says Debora Black, Chief of Police in Glendale, Arizona. Black defied the odds to get where she is today.  She came up in a male dominated industry and rose up the ranks in a way that was unexpected — at…

"If you truly want to be successful and be a leader, own it," says Kathi Miller-Miller, author, blogger and career coach.

Recently, Miller wrote a blog reviewing an online course for Concordia University titled "How To Function Above Entry Level."

The course, she says, focuses on positive self talk and creating a plan for advancement.

"Some of us are great about speaking confidently and projecting that but not always when we have internal talk," Miller shares. "If you want to propel yourself past entry level, you have to master positive self talk. Manage the internal and external image."

Something Miller admits has been a struggle for her over the years as she has seen her own career journey take her from the corporate world where she was a coach, to the world of being an entrepreneur.

Miller wrote a book called "Your Journey From Fired To Hired" and now focuses on her website www.kathimillermiller.com where she blogs about career success and offers online coaching.

She says one of the biggest hurdles for people in advancing their careers is mastering emotional intelligence. This was a big part of the Concordia University course on how to propel past entry level.

"If you look at successful leaders," Miller says, "they are in control of their emotions. They don't fly off the handle. They don't storm out of a meeting and slam the door. If you want to control your life, it starts with your emotions and how you react to positive, negative and challenging stimuli."

Miller encourages people to find ways to be notable, solve problems and add value. Doing the job, she says, just isn't enough. "Don't sit back and wish," she advises, "have a plan, take it to a strategy and then to action."

Also, align your passion with your purpose.

It's worked well for Miller. At age 50, she is just getting started.

After leaving Corporate America, Miller has crafted a career doing all of the things she loves — coaching, writing, connecting with people — and growing her own personal brand along the way. "It was a big risk and I am not a risk taker," she says. "Oh my gosh what a wonderful reward. I am passionate in all phases. I feel truly blessed at the ripe age of 50 I have found what I am passionate about."

The post Get Beyond Entry Level And Become A Leader with Author Kathi Miller-Miller appeared first on Inspired Media 360 TV - Inform | Inspire | Engage.

“If you truly want to be successful and be a leader, own it,” says Kathi Miller-Miller, author, blogger and career coach. Recently, Miller wrote a blog reviewing an online course for Concordia University titled  “How To Function Above Entry Level.” The course, she says, focuses on positive self talk and creating a plan for advancement.…

"It was the first time I had been knocked down so hard by life I wondered if I would ever be able to get up again," says Eileen Laird of waking up in excruciating pain.

It was 2012. Laird, age 43 at the time, was hit almost overnight with the sudden onset of rheumatoid arthritis and saw her whole world turn upside down. One day she was out hiking and enjoying the outdoors, the next she could barely walk across her kitchen.

"I didn't know how I would survive it — except you don't have a choice," Laird says. Feeling helpless and overwhelmed, she also found herself determined to find a way forward.

On her website, www.phoenixhelix.com Laird writes:

The conventional medical treatment frightened me as much as the disease, so I sought another option. I am eternally grateful to the internet for putting information at our fingertips and allowing me to read about the GAPS , Paleo & Wahls diets. They taught me how to use food as medicine. Before then, I had daily joint flares that were excruciating, disabling and frightening. After just one week on the diet, my flares began to lessen. 1 year later, my flares were gone.

She now focuses on the paleo lifestyle and has written an e-book called: A simple Guide to the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol.

The protocol includes:

-No processed foods.

-Raw honey is the only sugar used.

-Grain-free.

-No legumes.

-No soy

-No dairy

-No refined cooking oils.

Laird eats huge quantities of vegetables and says healthy fats were essential in her healing process. Also, Laird puts heavy focus on foods that aid in digestion like kombucha.

She also writes a lot about attitude, self-love, and sleep — something that has been getting quite a bit of press recently. Arianna Huffington, Editor-in-Chief of the Huffington Post has a new book out titled, "The Sleep Revolution" and has been traveling the country encouraging people to make sleep a priority. Huffington says it will help keep you productively focused during the work day so you can enjoy every moment of downtime while bettering your mood.

"It is such perfect timing for her to have that book out," Laird comments. "I think she can't be more right. Research is very clear that sleep is directly related to inflammation. And it makes sense, our bodies regenerate, heal and repair while we are sleeping. So the less we are sleeping, the less we are giving our bodies a chance to do that."

All of this, for Laird, was part of putting together the pieces of a healing puzzle in the days and months that followed the onset of her autoimmune disorder.

"You are stronger than you realize," she says. "One thing that automatically happens when you go through something really hard, whether physical or emotional, it is incredible strengthening. That's why I have the Phoenix on my website."

She is careful, however, not to say that she is cured of rheumatoid arthritis — rather she refers to it now as a whisper in the body as opposed to a scream.

But it is remarkable to think that four years ago Eileen Laird awoke in a state of panic. She describes moments where she was crawling on the floor sobbing, wondering if she would ever again function without pain.

By educating and empowering herself, Laird has managed to turn it all around — one day at a time, one meal at a time. "I have a wonderful life now, even though is not the same one I had before."

Laird has grown an audience through blogging, writing and sharing what she has learned on her journey using food as medicine. She lives in a small town in North Carolina, but has built a global community of like-minded people who focus on the paleo lifestyle. Her "tribe" as she calls them.

"I'm in a touch with a global community of people doing the same thing. By starting my blog and podcast, I got to get in touch with thousands of people who are doing it. And it makes you feel a lot less alone."

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