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 while you are listening! You can find us on the following: iTunes Spotify LibSyn Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com THANKS!  TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!

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 & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE! *Credits:  Porcupine Singers - Lakota National Anthem (Flag Song) and Veterans' Song

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 LIFE!  

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. 42:30 - If I don't take my medication, everything hurts…….the world hurts. 44:00 – Meth abuse/use marked the steep downward spiral even though I was already spiraling out of control.  April 2015 I started using Meth. 45:00 – I had everything I needed in life but I still wasn't happy. 46:00 –  Why I started using Meth. 49:00 – Before, using Meth would hide my anxiety and PTSD but I was living a double life that would crash. 51:15  - It took two years for the wheels to fall completely off and I lost everything. 56:00 – Ugly time…….eviction. 1:00:00 – Had a bad episode and separated from his wife. 1:10:00 – Make gradual chance…..knows he has to stop using. 1:20:00 – Never thought I'd be a counselor. 1:23:00 – Super mundane things like house chores are a joy now! 1:31:00 – Wrap Up 1:39:00  - 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: iTunes Google Play Spotify Stitcher Libsysn Visit us at our website:  www.stepuptochallenges.com Or on Facebook:            @StepUpToChallenges THANKS!  TAKE ACTION & STEP UP TO CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE!