Step Up To Challenges Podcast

We're Back! It has been almost two years since our last Podcast Episode and in that time the world has in utter turmoil!  Life has been extremely challenging with crime, poverty inflation, prices and more all going through the roof!  The feeling of being overwhelmed and helpless is felt by many of you.  Today we touch on the latest life issues facing all of us and how we all need to be the solution to our problems and not the source of our problems! Todays Show Sponsor:   Sacred Dancer Coffee   https://sacreddancercoffee.com/ At Sacred Dancer Coffee, our vision is to create a uniquely "Of The Earth" experience where we create our unique Native Inspired Coffee Blends side by side with our Artisan Roaster. Our goal is to bring you a unique and of the earth coffee experience. A'Ho! Native & Veteran Owned ======================================================== 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

We will be relaunching our Step Up To Challenges Podcast soon.  Look for our relaunch episode in the third week of May 2024!

A special clip from "Episode 22  – Chris Phillips - Operation Desert Storm Veteran". Chris shares with us getting shot at, coming face to face with enemy tank & Republican Guard during the war. 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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com THANKS!  TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

A special clip from "Episode 22  – Chris Phillips - Operation Desert Storm Veteran". Chris shares with us his scariest moment leading up to the War. 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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com THANKS!  TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

A special clip from "Episode 22  – Chris Phillips - Operation Desert Storm Veteran – War – US Army in Germany & Korea – Life Struggles – Brothers 4 Life" 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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com THANKS!  TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

In this episode Edward Leon and I will be discussing how the practice of Extreme Ownership can help today’s family and why many families of today are fractured and not living in harmony.  Many families also lack leadership and direction and how the phrase “There are no such things as bad teams, only bad leaders” can be applied to the family by saying “There are not such things as bad families, only bad parents/members”.  Enjoy! 0:00:00 – Beginning 0:01:00 -- Lakota & Crazy Horse Birth & Family * 0:13:30 – What is Extreme Ownership? 0:50:10 – Coffee shop break. 0:54:30 – Leadership/Parental Capital 1:38:45 – 4 Laws Of Combat & how to apply to family 2:12:00 - End of Episode 25   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: iTunes Libsyn Spotify Stitcher Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com  THANKS!  TAKE ACTION & ST

In this episode we sit down with John Lillis the owner of Lifeboat Coffee.  We will discuss the expansion and growth he is experiencing now at Lifeboat Coffee as well as the challenges and success he is experiencing during his expansion and growth.  We’ll talk coffee, business, entrepreneurship and much more!    Enjoy! 0:00 – Beginning / Introduction 03:00 – Origins of Lifeboat Coffee 11:00 – Expansion in Phoenix.  How about Napa? 36:00 – Talking Roasting & Coffee 42:00 – Coffee shop break. 54:30 – Prime Rib and Steak 1:01:00 – Heavy Cream in Coffee 1:14:00 - End of Episode 24 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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com THANKS!  TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

In this episode we honor and remember a hero.....a World War II Combat Infantryman who fought with the 8th Infantry Division in Germany.  Jesus Antonio Armendariz Sr was a special man who recently passed away.  We'll share some of his experiences and thoughts during the war, his early life before being drafted and his post war life as well.  Enjoy! 0:00 – Beginning / Introduction 01:22 - War, loss & guilt 09:00 - Youth years & growing up 14:30 - Drafted 16:30 - Shipping Out - Germany 22:30 - Reports to the front lines 28:00 - War is over & Discharging out of Army 43:00 - End of Episode 23 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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com THANKS!  TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

A special sit down with Chris Phillips who is Operation Desert Storm War Veteran.  We will cover Chris’s early life and challenges he faced growing up, through High School, playing HS Football, enlisting in the Army, going to Korea, being stationed in Germany & San Antonio and his War experience in the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm and his life post military. Enjoy!    0:00 – Beginning / Introduction 11:00 – Growing up in San Francisco 01:08:00 – Joining The Army 02:04:18 – Going to Korea 02:30:00 – Going to Germany 03:47:00 – Going to San Antonio 03:52:00 – War – Operation Desert Storm 05:21:00 – Out of the Army 05:41:00 - End of Episode 22   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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com THANKS!  TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR

Here we take a deep drive into Eduardo being awarded the Bronze Star for his actions in Iraq and his struggle with PTSD, depression and addition and how he lost everything to his climb back up the mountain of life. 0:00 – Beginning / Introduction 2:10 – Bronze Star Award 6:00 – Introduce Edward Leon 10:00 – US Army Bronze Star not Air Force 16:00 – Family didn’t know anything about the Bronze Star 19:00 – Air Force Leadership wanted to present Bronze Star to him with Air Force General 25:00 – Out of the Air Force 28:00 – Start to notice slight cracks in his life & mind 30:30 – Layoffs in 2011 made those cracks bigger.  Depression and went on prescription medication. 31:30 – Started therapy regarding the molestation and abuse during his childhood. 33:30 – Depression is causing him to skip work and over time the anxiety and worry increased. 36:00 – Bad transitions in life, work, time in service, family etc….triggered the PTSD to boil over. 39:30 – Hearing people screaming/making funny noises in his head. 42

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 Co

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 Fi

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

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? 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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher 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! 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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher 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 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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com 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!    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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com 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! 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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com 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.   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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher 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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com THANKS!  TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!