PODCAST #486 - MARA BENSON - BLISS REALTY

December 10, 2025 Jose Acevedo

We sit down with Mara Benson, owner and lead realtor at Bliss Realty, to explore her journey in real estate and the vision behind her business. Mara shares how she got started in real estate, what inspired her to launch Bliss Realty, and how she builds trust and relationships with clients through integrity, communication, and genuine care.

Connect with Mara Benson :

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marabensongroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/marabensonazrealtor/

Connect with the Finding Arizona Podcast:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@findingarizonapodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findingarizonapodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findingarizonapodcast

Website: https://www.findingarizonapodcast.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finding-arizona-podcast/

Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/findingarizona

PRODUCTION:

Ready to start your own podcast? Found-House powered by The Finding Arizona Podcast is your best find!

Want to be a guest or a sponsor of the show?

Send us a message on the https://www.findingarizonapodcast.com/contact

SPONSORS:

SeatGeek: Get a $20 discount on your tickets with code FINDINGARIZONA at seatgeek.com.

PODCAST #485 - VACATION OWNERSHIP CONSULTANTS

November 29, 2025 Jose Acevedo

In this episode of the Finding Arizona Podcast, host Jose Acevedo sits down with Jeremy Russo- CEO of Vacation Ownership Consultants, a Scottsdale-based timeshare-exit firm that’s been operating for over 11 years. Jeremy shares how his early career in travel and vacation rentals exposed him to countless timeshare owners stuck with unwanted contracts- a pattern that inspired him to build VOC to provide honest, guided solutions. The conversation digs into the complexities of timeshare ownership: why contracts are often written to favor the resort, why fees like annual maintenance keep rising, and why many owners find themselves trapped financially even if they never use the timeshare.

Connect with Vacation Ownership Consultants

Website: https://vacationownershipconsultants.com/
Phone:: 1-866-507-1289

Connect with the Finding Arizona Podcast:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@findingarizonapodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findingarizonapodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findingarizonapodcast

Website: https://www.findingarizonapodcast.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finding-arizona-podcast/

Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/findingarizona

PRODUCTION:

Ready to start your own podcast? Found-House powered by The Finding Arizona Podcast is your best find!

Want to be a guest or a sponsor of the show?

Send us a message on the https://www.findingarizonapodcast.com/contact

SPONSORS:

SeatGeek: Get a $20 discount on your tickets with code FINDINGARIZONA at seatgeek.com.

PODCAST #484 - ARIZONA COSTUME INSTITUE

November 23, 2025 Jose Acevedo

In this episode, we meet with the 2025–2026 Executive Committee President of the Arizona Costume Institute (ACI), Donna Johnson, and dive into how this fashion-forward nonprofit has grown, evolved its mission, and built a vibrant community around fashion preservation and design. From discussing how ACI became part of the Phoenix Art Museum ecosystem to exploring what drives its members, what makes it unique in the Arizona arts scene, and how the organization continues to elevate fashion education, this conversation covers it all. Don’t miss out- join ACI at their annual Holiday Luncheon on Monday, December 8, 2025, at the Arizona Biltmore to support fashion exhibitions, acquisitions, and education programs, and secure your seat today.

Connect with ACI:

Website: https://www.arizonacostumeinstitute.org

Holiday Luncheon: https://www.arizonacostumeinstitute.org/2025-holiday-luncheon

Connect with the Finding Arizona Podcast:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@findingarizonapodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findingarizonapodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findingarizonapodcast

Website: https://www.findingarizonapodcast.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finding-arizona-podcast/

Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/findingarizona

PRODUCTION:

Ready to start your own podcast? Found-House powered by The Finding Arizona Podcast is your best find!

Want to be a guest or a sponsor of the show?

Send us a message on the https://www.findingarizonapodcast.com/contact

SPONSORS:

SeatGeek: Get a $20 discount on your tickets with code FINDINGARIZONA at seatgeek.com.

PODCAST #483 - EvolvedMD

November 15, 2025 Jose Acevedo

We meet with Sentari Minor, Executive Vice President of evolvedMD, whose mission is to re-imagine behavioral health by integrating mental health support directly into primary care settings. On this episode, we discuss embedding master’s-level clinicians within primary care teams, improving collaborative care, addressing the whole patient, and creating immediate access to mental health resources. We also explore how this innovative model is improving patient outcomes for anxiety, depression, and other behavioral health concerns, and why integrating therapy into routine healthcare is crucial for modern medical practice.

Connect with EvolvedMD

Website: https://evolvedmd.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolved_md

Connect with the Finding Arizona Podcast:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@findingarizonapodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findingarizonapodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findingarizonapodcast

Website: https://www.findingarizonapodcast.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finding-arizona-podcast/

Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/findingarizona

PRODUCTION:

Ready to start your own podcast? Found-House powered by The Finding Arizona Podcast is your best find!

Want to be a guest or a sponsor of the show?

Send us a message on the https://www.findingarizonapodcast.com/contact

SPONSORS:

SeatGeek: Get a $20 discount on your tickets with code FINDINGARIZONA at seatgeek.com.

PODCAST #482 - SENATOR ANALISE ORTIZ

November 9, 2025 Jose Acevedo

In this engaging conversation, Senator Annalise Ortiz shares her journey from journalism to politics, emphasizing the importance of community advocacy and the role of social media in modern campaigning. She reflects on her upbringing in a family of educators, her passion for storytelling, and the challenges of navigating the political landscape as a senator. Ortiz discusses the transition from the House of Representatives to the Senate, highlighting the increased responsibilities and the influence of lobbyists. Throughout the conversation, she underscores the significance of personal stories in shaping public policy and the need for active civic engagement. In this conversation, the speaker discusses the innovative use of TikTok for political engagement, the challenges of communicating complex political issues, the impact of social media on public perception, the ongoing housing crisis in Arizona, and future goals for community engagement and representation.

Chapters:

00:00 From Journalism to Politics: A Journey of Advocacy

18:38 Navigating the Political Landscape: House to Senate Transition

23:50 Engaging the Public through TikTok

30:04 Challenges of Political Communication

31:01 The Impact of Social Media on Politics

36:54 Housing Crisis in Arizona

45:11 Future Goals and Community Engagement

Takeaways: