Modern Arizona

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In the latest episode of the Modern Divorce Podcast, host and attorney Billie Tarascio welcomes Lalani Hunsaker, a first-time political candidate running for the Arizona State House in Legislative District 14. As a party outlier running on the Republican side, Lalani kicks off the conversation explaining why local residents are seeing controversial campaign signs featuring an unflattering personal photo, used without her consent, and clarifying her role in public policy rather than lobbying for the American Leadership Academy (ALA).

Lalani reflects on her early political experience as an intern and later a staffer for Senator Harry Reid. Despite her lifelong Republican stance, she recounts her valuable learning experience working for a Nevada Democrat and addresses how her opponents have misrepresented this part of her history. Lalani expresses her commitment to addressing local issues such as safety, border security, and water resource management, emphasizing her goal to bring common sense solutions and fresh conservative leadership to the Arizona State House.

Lalani elaborates on her candidacy, mentioning her 19 years of residence in Gilbert and her decision to run as a Republican for an open seat in the district. With early voting starting at the end of June and the primary election on July 30th, she emphasizes the importance of voter participation, particularly since all candidates in her race are Republicans, making the primary election a decisive event.

The conversation delves into Lalani's background with ALA, addressing accusations and smear campaigns related to her professional affiliations and her time working in public policy. She refutes claims of being a lobbyist and discusses her role in implementing a kindness campaign across ALA campuses to combat violence and promote safety among students. This initiative involved collaboration with local law enforcement, school administrations, and student bodies to create a supportive and safe educational environment.

For more information about Lalani and her campaign go to VoteLalani.com.

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In this episode of the Modern Arizona Podcast, host Billie Tarascio interviews Laura Metcalfe, a candidate for Maricopa County School Superintendent. Laura shares her extensive experience in Arizona's education system, including her past role as a small schools administrator and her work with the Accommodation District. Together, they discuss the responsibilities of the county school superintendent, the challenges facing Arizona’s public education system, and Laura’s plan to address the financial crisis plaguing the county’s Accommodation School District.

Throughout the conversation, Laura explains how the superintendent’s office supports school districts, oversees elections, and manages grants. She also highlights the mismanagement that has led to a $10 million debt for the Accommodation District and outlines her strategy to restore fiscal accountability if elected. Laura emphasizes the importance of transparency, ensuring that Maricopa County taxpayers understand how their money is spent and what actions are being taken to fix the current financial issues.

Timeline Summary:

[1:00] - Laura Metcalfe introduces herself and explains the role of the Maricopa County School Superintendent.
[3:30] - The superintendent’s office: supporting school districts, managing elections, and overseeing grants.
[6:45] - Laura’s experience working with rural schools and her role in the Accommodation District.
[9:00] - How financial mismanagement has led to a $10 million debt for the Accommodation District.
[15:00] - Laura’s plan to address fiscal accountability and ensure transparency in the superintendent’s office.
[20:00] - The challenges facing Arizona’s education system and how Laura aims to improve it.

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about Laura Metcalf’s campaign here.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast. Don’t forget to share it with friends and stay tuned for more conversations about the future of Arizona!

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What makes for an abusive marriage? In this episode of the Modern Divorce podcast, host Billie Tarascio welcomes Belle Blake Phillips, a divorced mom, domestic violence survivor, and recent internet sensation who shares her shocking stories and the red flags of an abusive relationship. While she was taken by surprise by sudden online fame, she found her stories connecting with legions of domestic violence survivors.

Her internet fame began with a simple video about her engagement ring, highlighting the emotional manipulation she faced from her ex-husband. Belle emphasizes that abuse isn't always physical; it often starts with emotional, psychological, and financial control. She recounts the progression from verbal abuse to physical violence, culminating in a shocking incident where her ex-husband tasered her while she was pregnant. Her resilience shines through as she describes how she eventually escaped the abusive environment, secured an order of protection, and rebuilt her life.

A significant part of the discussion focuses on Belle's advocacy for the Address Confidentiality Program, also known as Safe at Home, which helps protect domestic abuse survivors by providing them with a decoy address to keep their real location confidential. The program has been instrumental in her own safety and she strongly encourages other survivors to consider it.
For more information, find Belle Blake on TikTok and on Instagram.

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It’s hard to talk with an ex under emotionally charged circumstances, yet moms and dads still need to coordinate schedules for the kids while keeping down the drama. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were some kind of tool to keep everyone on track and still civil?

In this episode of the Modern Divorce Podcast, host Billie Tarascio is joined by Tracy Krall, a former family law attorney and current representative of Our Family Wizard, an innovative app designed to make co-parenting easier by streamlining communication and reduce conflict.

Tracy details the app's multifaceted features, including the journal, Infobank, and calendar tools. The app allows parents to share memories, store essential information like insurance details, and manage schedules. For parents still dealing with legal issues, tracking everyday activities and behaviors of both parties can be an important element.

For instance, the app includes a reimbursement system and the innovative Tone Meter feature, which helps co-parents communicate more effectively and respectfully. The discussion also covers the app’s customizable notifications and GPS check-ins, which provide additional layers of accountability and transparency.

Billie and Tracy also discuss the app's cost and its fee waiver programs, ensuring that financial constraints don’t stop families from benefiting from using its features. For more information, check out OurFamilyWizard.com/modernlaw

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Ever wonder why some serious crimes, especially those involving teens, seem to result in light sentences like probation or misdemeanors? In this episode of the Modern Arizona Podcast, host Billie Tarascio talks with Tamika Wooten, a longtime prosecutor, defense attorney, and judge who’s now running for Maricopa County Attorney. Tamika pulls back the curtain on how criminal cases are really handled, diving into everything from teen violence cases to the frustrating gaps in the justice system. If you’ve been confused or outraged by what you’ve seen in local headlines, this conversation will help you understand why things play out the way they do.

Tamika shares her perspective on the issues voters are concerned about, and high-profile cases, including the Gilbert Goons, where teens were involved in group assaults and still walked away with minimal consequences. She explains the challenges of prosecutorial discretion and how it impacts everything from sentencing to public safety. This episode doesn’t just stop at the problems—it’s also about solutions. Tamika talks about how the system can be improved, especially when it comes to dealing with mental health, addiction, and making sure justice is actually served.

Whether you’re a voter trying to make sense of the justice system or a concerned community member who wants to know why violent offenders sometimes get off easy, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Tamika’s experience from all sides of the courtroom gives her a unique perspective on what’s broken and how it can be fixed.

If you want to learn more about Tamika Wooten and her campaign for Maricopa County Attorney, visit her website at tamika-wooten.com.