The Podcast Lane

What happens when a parent realizes that the families who need a voice the most aren't always represented at the table?

In this episode of The Podcast Lane 10 in 10, host Tish Times sits down with Jason Smithson, a small business owner, father, and special education advocate who is running for the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board.

As the father of a son on the autism spectrum, Jason's personal experience navigating special education opened his eyes to the challenges many families face. After his son's diagnosis, Jason dove into special education laws, began attending school board meetings, and quickly recognized a need for greater parent involvement and advocacy.

His decision to run for the school board grew from a desire to give families a voice and help parents better understand their rights.

Giving Parents a Voice

One of Jason's biggest priorities is helping families understand that they have rights when it comes to their children's education.

He advocates for families at no cost, particularly helping families who may face language barriers or may not understand the laws and protections surrounding special education.

His goal isn't simply to speak for families, but to help them become confident advocates for themselves and their children.

Looking Beyond Political Labels

School board races are nonpartisan, but Jason says he has been surprised by how often voters focus on political labels.

For him, the conversation should remain centered on students, families, educators, and the future of public education.

He believes people can have different political perspectives while still sharing the same fundamental goal: wanting the best possible education for children.

A Personal Journey of Resilience

Jason also opens up about a deeply personal part of his story. He is a three-time cancer survivor, adding another layer of resilience and perspective to his journey as a father, advocate, business owner, and community member.

His experiences have shaped the way he approaches challenges and strengthened his desire to serve others.

About Jason Smithson

Jason Smithson is a small business owner, father, and special education advocate running for the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board. As the father of a son on the autism spectrum, Jason has experienced both the successes and shortcomings of the public education system firsthand.

Those experiences sparked a passion for advocating not only for students with disabilities, but for every child, educator, and family in Mesa.

His campaign is built around the belief that every student deserves an excellent education, parents deserve a genuine voice, and taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability.

Jason is known for asking tough questions, working across political lines, and focusing on practical solutions that strengthen public schools while rebuilding trust between the district and the community.

Connect With Jason
Website: jasonformesaschools.com
Email: [email protected]

Jason Smithson, Mesa Public Schools, Mesa school board, special education advocacy, education advocate, autism and education, parents and education, school board, public education, special education rights, English language learners, education advocacy, Mesa Arizona, Arizona education, parent advocacy, public schools, The Podcast Lane 10 in 10

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This episode, features David Cooke, consultant, business advisor, coach, and creator of Living Rogue Today, for a conversation that goes far beyond career success.

David works with high performing professionals who have climbed the ladder, built successful careers, fulfilled their responsibilities, and yet quietly find themselves asking:

“Is this all there is?”

At 69, David brings decades of career experience, wisdom, and perspective to a conversation about what happens when success no longer feels like enough.

He shares why he created Living Rogue Today and how he helps people reconnect with the voice underneath the titles, expectations, responsibilities, and stories they have created about their lives.

This conversation explores what it means to:

• Recognize when something feels missing, even when life looks successful from the outside
• Reconnect with your inner voice
• Give yourself permission to ask, “What is possible?”
• Reprioritize your time and energy
• Navigate career transitions and the later stages of professional life
• Find meaning beyond climbing the next rung of the ladder
• Create a life that feels authentic and aligned
• Stop performing and start being

David’s message is not about blowing up your life or walking away from everything you’ve built. It’s about slowing down enough to think it through, talk it out, reconnect, and redirect.

For anyone in mid-career or approaching the next chapter who has ever wondered what comes after success, this conversation may give you permission to ask a different question:

What if there is still more possible?

Meet David Cooke

David Cooke is a consultant, business advisor, coach, and creator of Living Rogue Today. Throughout his career, he has helped leaders and professionals strengthen communication, build trust, navigate complex challenges, and create meaningful change.

Today, his work focuses on helping successful people who feel disconnected, unsettled, or quietly unhappy reconnect with who they are beneath their roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Through coaching, reflective conversations, and his Permission Slip Ups podcast, David invites people to stop performing, start being, and create a life that feels more authentic, aligned, and fully their own.

Take notes. Get inspired. Think bigger. And give yourself permission to explore what comes next.

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What if starting over at 55 isn’t the end of a chapter, but the beginning of your boldest one yet?

Starting over can feel exciting, scary, messy, and everything in between. But one thing is certain: staying cozy won’t make it happen.

In this episode of Her Fifth Chapter, Denise Mehr shares her personal journey of making brave moves in her 50s, including packing up her life and moving to Scottsdale without knowing anyone.

Her story is a powerful reminder that the life you want may be waiting on the other side of one brave decision, one conversation, one leap, or simply taking the next step outside your comfort zone.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to move forward.

Meet Denise Mehr is the founder of Her Fifth Chapter, where she coaches women in midlife to remember who they are, make brave choices, and create a life that feels like their own.

Her journey has taken her from attorney to sales executive, stay-at-home mom, competitive bodybuilder, and entrepreneur. She went on to build seven Stretch Zone franchises across Arizona, Nevada, and California.

Then, at 55, Denise made another bold move. She packed up her life, moved to Scottsdale, and started over, knowing no one.

Today, she uses her experiences, humor, honest conversations, and practical coaching to encourage women to think bigger and embrace what comes next.

Her message is simple:
You don’t need to become someone new. You need to stop abandoning the woman you’ve always been.

Take notes. Get inspired. Think bigger.

And most importantly, ask yourself: What is your bold brave move?

Follow Denise and @herfifthchapter for more inspiration and conversations for women creating their next chapter.

Contact Denise: 
www.Herfifthchapter.com and email:
[email protected]

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Stretch Zone Franchise Owner
Northern California, Reno, NV & Phoenix, AZ 

Stretch Zone Franchise Owner

Northern California, Reno, NV & Phoenix, AZ

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“Helping people live a pain-free life one stretch at a time”!

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In this episode of The Podcast Lane: 10 in 10, host DJ Barton sits down with transformational coach and retreat facilitator Linda Joy for a powerful and eye-opening conversation on self-mastery, healing, and purpose-driven living.

Linda shares her journey into the transformational space and how global shifts like COVID deepened her mission to serve others at a higher level. With a background rooted in science, education, neuroscience, and epigenetics, she brings a unique blend of logic and spirituality to her work—helping clients break through fear, trauma, and limiting beliefs.

She dives into her role as an experiential transformational coach, explaining how modalities like guided ketamine integration, retreats, and energy work (including Reiki) can support individuals in accessing deep states of healing and clarity. Linda emphasizes that true transformation doesn’t stop at the experience—it’s the integration process that creates lasting change.

Whether working one-on-one, in group settings, or through immersive retreats, Linda’s mission is clear: to help people reconnect with who they truly are, release what’s holding them back, and step into a life filled with intention, joy, and purpose.

About the Guest: Linda Joy

Linda Joy is a transformational coach and founder of Joyful Living Health. With a diverse background in instructional science, organic chemistry, higher education, personal training, NLP, psychotherapy techniques, neuroscience, and epigenetics, she brings a deeply integrative approach to personal growth and healing.

She is a well-known facilitator of plant medicine and ketamine-guided integration journeys, helping individuals work through depression, PTSD, addiction, and emotional blocks in safe, supported environments. With over a decade of experience in international retreats, Linda is passionate about creating transformational experiences that lead to lasting change.

Her mission is to help others unlock their highest potential, reconnect with joy, and live with intention—whether through a breakthrough healing experience or simply embracing more presence in everyday life.

IG: @joyful_living_health

If you’re feeling stuck, carrying emotional weight, or searching for deeper meaning in your life, this episode will expand your perspective on what’s possible. Linda offers insight into powerful healing modalities and reminds us that transformation is available when you’re ready to step into it.

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In this episode of The Podcast Lane: 10 in 10, host Rachel Martin from The Event Talks Podcast sits down with Rayven Brackeen, an Employee Benefits Producer in the insurance industry, for a powerful conversation on confidence, credibility, and carving your path in male-dominated spaces.

Rayven shares her journey from a background in payroll and HR finance into the world of employee benefits consulting—where she now partners with executives and HR leaders to drive engagement, retention, and organizational success.

With honesty and insight, she opens up about navigating rooms where she wasn’t always expected to lead—and how she learned to own her expertise, control conversations, and earn her seat at the table.

This episode is a must-listen for women looking to grow their careers, build influence, and step fully into their power—without losing grace along the way.

About the Guest: Rayven Brackeen

Rayven Brackeen is an Employee Benefits Producer at USI, where she helps organizations design strategies that enhance employee experience, engagement, and retention. With a strong foundation in HCM and payroll solutions, she brings a unique perspective to aligning business operations with people-first strategies.

She is passionate about relationship-building, empowering women in business, and creating meaningful connections across industries. Outside of work, Rayven is actively involved in the Phoenix community, supporting organizations like Ronald McDonald House and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Instagram: @imsorayven

If you’ve ever felt underestimated in your career or questioned your place at the table—this episode will remind you that you belong there. Rayven’s approach to leadership, confidence, and collaboration offers a blueprint for rising with both strength and authenticity

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In this episode of The Podcast Lane: 10 in 10, host DJ Barton sits down with financial empowerment coach Leann Coakley for a candid and eye-opening conversation about money, mindset, and the truth behind why so many Americans are still living paycheck to paycheck.

After spending over 20 years in the medical field, Leann witnessed firsthand how a lack of financial literacy impacted families during some of their most vulnerable moments. That experience sparked a powerful career shift—one rooted in education, empowerment, and helping people take control of their financial future.

Leann breaks down the real issue: it’s not just about income—it’s about awareness, habits, and avoidance. She shares how many people simply don’t know where their money is going, and how facing the numbers head-on can be the first step toward real change.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to stop guessing, start understanding, and finally build a solid financial foundation—no matter where they are in life.

About the Guest: 

Leann Coakley is a financial empowerment coach with Universal Wealth, dedicated to helping families and business owners secure their future through tax-advantaged strategies, retirement planning, and wealth-building solutions.

With a background in the medical field, Leann brings a unique perspective to financial planning—understanding not only the numbers, but the real-life impact of being unprepared when life happens.

Her mission is simple yet powerful: educate, empower, and ensure no family is left behind financially. She is committed to reaching and educating at least 10,000 families on financial literacy in her lifetime.
IG: @gurloffinance

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, avoided looking at your finances, or wondered why it feels so hard to get ahead—this episode will challenge your perspective and give you the clarity you need to start making smarter financial decisions.

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In this episode, Rachel Martin from The Event Talk, sits down with Karla Blanco, an internationally recognized leadership expert, executive coach, and transformational speaker whose work spans over 50 countries and multiple industries.

Karla brings a rare blend of behavioral science, leadership strategy, and human potential development to the conversation—sharing what truly separates high-impact leaders from those who remain stuck despite talent and resources.

From Fortune 500 boardrooms to global stages, Karla has observed consistent patterns: the most successful leaders don’t just manage strategy—they master themselves.

She dives deep into the role of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and science-based frameworks like DISC to explain how leaders can better connect with their teams, build trust faster, and create cultures that drive both performance and innovation.

This episode challenges traditional ideas of leadership and reveals what organizations must do today to develop resilient, future-ready leaders in a rapidly changing world.

If you're ready to elevate your leadership, influence, and impact—this conversation is a must-listen.

About Karla Blanco

Karla Blanco is a globally recognized Business Consultant, Executive Coach, Bestselling Author, and Transformational Leadership Facilitator. With experience spanning more than 50 countries, she specializes in leadership development, human potential, and behavioral science.

She is a former Fortune 500 global leader, a 3X TEDx speaker, and has been recognized by Forbes as one of Central America’s most powerful women. Karla is also an Aspen Institute Fellow, Harvard Business Review Advisory Council member, and has trained at world-renowned institutions including Stanford University.

Through her work, Karla has helped thousands of professionals and organizations unlock clarity, elevate performance, and accelerate growth.

She is the creator of the proven 7-Step Unleash Your Career Potential™ process, designed to help professionals gain direction, develop actionable strategies, and achieve career advancement—often within months.

Her mission is simple but powerful: to help leaders transform from the inside out so they can lead others with purpose, impact, and authenticity.

Connect with Karla Blanco

Instagram: @karlablancocoach

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What’s behind the “blue serum” trend taking over skincare right now? In this episode of The Podcast Lane 10 in 10, Pete the Peptide Guy sits down with skincare expert Ashley Hines to break down the science, the hype, and the real results behind GHK-Cu—also known as the “beauty peptide.”

Ashley explains how this naturally occurring copper peptide supports collagen production, improves skin elasticity, and accelerates healing. From microneedling recovery to everyday skincare routines, this ingredient is quickly becoming a must-have for anyone serious about skin health and longevity.

They also dive into what makes certain formulations more effective than others, why concentration matters, and how this powerful peptide works alongside popular treatments like Botox and med spa procedures.

If you’ve been seeing the “blue goo” everywhere and wondering if it actually works—this episode gives you the clarity you need.

About Ashley Hines

Ashley Hines of Routine Skin is a clinical skincare educator focused on skin health, recovery, and performance-driven skincare. With a specialization in GHK-Cu, she brings a clear, practical approach to understanding how ingredients support optimal skin function.

Ashley’s background spans clinical, aesthetic, and consumer skincare spaces, allowing her to translate complex science into approachable, results-focused education. She has worked with a wide range of audiences—from longevity and wellness professionals to everyday consumers—helping them make informed decisions about their skin.

Her philosophy is simple: the skin already knows how to heal when properly supported. Through education and intentional product formulation, Ashley empowers people to work with their skin, not against it.

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In this episode, Jessica Benevento sits down with Wulf Trigo, founder of Sovereign Assets, to unpack the truth about money, wealth, and why the traditional financial system may not be designed for high-income earners to truly win.

Wulf breaks down the gaps in conventional financial advising and shares how his firm helps entrepreneurs and professionals build smarter, more strategic wealth. From increasing cash flow to reducing tax exposure and protecting assets, this conversation dives into what it really takes to create financial freedom without relying on outdated systems.

You’ll also hear the mindset shifts and strategies that separate those who earn money from those who actually keep and grow it.

If you’re making good money but feel like you’re not getting ahead, this episode is for you.

About Wulf Trigo

Wulf Trigo is the founder of Sovereign Assets, a private advisory firm helping high-income entrepreneurs and professionals build tax-efficient, control-based wealth strategies outside of Wall Street’s traditional system.

With nearly a decade of experience, Wulf specializes in advanced life insurance structures, private equity positioning, and alternative asset design. His approach is rooted in helping clients increase income, minimize taxes, and protect assets through customized strategies—not cookie-cutter financial products.

Wulf works with individuals who are ready to think bigger, move smarter, and stop playing small when it comes to building real wealth.

Connect with Wulf Trigo

Instagram: @wulftrigo
Phone: (805) 405-1469
Email: [email protected]

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Welcome to The Podcast Lane 10 in 10, where real conversations unlock real opportunities.

In this episode, Jessica Benevento sits down with Lisa Rehurek, a powerhouse entrepreneur and expert in government contracting, to break down one of the biggest missed opportunities for small businesses—winning RFPs.

If you’ve ever wondered why incredible companies lose out on massive contracts, Lisa reveals the truth: it’s not about how good your business is—it’s about how well you position it.

Lisa shares how most businesses approach RFPs completely wrong, why they’re losing to bigger competitors, and what it actually takes to stand out, win bids, and secure long-term, high-value contracts. She also dives into her innovative platform, RFP Success® Express, designed to give small businesses a real shot at competing—and winning.

With a proven track record and a 76%+ win rate through her agency, Lisa has helped clients secure over $500 million in government contracts. This episode is packed with strategy, mindset, and practical insights that could completely change the trajectory of your business.

If you’re ready to stop leaving money on the table and start winning bigger opportunities—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

About Lisa Rehurek

Lisa Rehurek is the Founder & CEO of RFP Success® Express, an innovative SaaS platform designed to streamline and enhance the RFP response process for small businesses bidding on state and local government contracts.

She is also the founder of The RFP Success® Company, where she leads her team using a proprietary, proven framework that has achieved a 76%+ win rate and helped clients secure over $500 million in government contracts.

A 2x Inc. 5000 CEO, 10x author, and award-winning podcaster, Lisa is a recognized leader in business strategy and growth. Beyond her companies, she is deeply committed to her community—serving as President of the Board for The Singleton’s, supporting single-parent households dealing with cancer, leading the Women in Business Council for the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, and serving on multiple advisory and leadership boards including WBEC-West and Enterprising Women. She was also recently elected to the Tempe Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Lisa’s mission is clear: give small businesses the tools, strategy, and confidence to compete—and win—at a higher level.

Take notes, get inspired, and think bigger.

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