The Morning Brew with Chris Bennett

Holiday Giving, Good News & A Little Chaos on the Morning Brew

• Chris Bennett • Episode 147

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It’s a full house on today’s Morning Brew with Chris Bennett & Best Friends—and we’re serving up community joy, comedy, friendly chaos, and good news from across the White Mountains.

We start by checking in with Jineane Ford on our sister stations Majik 101.7 and iTalk 106.7, where she shares some wonderful news: she’s fully healed and back on her feet after her horse injury. From there, Chris recaps his performance as Robin Williams in the “Dead Comedians” show—voices, energy, and all.

Then we spotlight the generosity happening right here at home with updates on the Annual Fast of Compassion and the Light the World Giving Machine. Organizer Sydette Berges joins us live to break down everything you need to know about the Giving Machine that officially opened today in Show Low, plus details on tonight’s 5:30pm launch celebration. From chickens to bedding to sports physicals for local kids, every donation makes a real impact.

Paul from Beaumont calls in with another hilarious and inspiring weight-loss update thanks to his “fat shot,” and things get competitive fast when he faces off against Sydette in Are You Smarter Than a Redneck? After we say goodbye to Sydette, Kirk Nurmi jumps in to stir the pot—questioning whether the Giving Machine has an option to keep Paul off the radio. (Spoiler: Chris says absolutely not, and he definitely sees what Kirk is doing!)

It’s everything you expect from the Morning Brew: heart, humor, hometown pride, and a whole lot of fun.

If you love hearing good news and local voices from the White Mountains, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review so more neighbors can tune in.

SPEAKER_00:

From the Horn Auto Center Studios, Chris Bennett and the Morning Brew. Janine, you over there?

SPEAKER_05:

Yes, I am, Chris. Good morning. Holy moly, it's been a long time.

SPEAKER_00:

I know. How are you? I miss your voice. I know. I missed yours. Uh, how have things been with you? Are you all healed up from your big horse kick injury months ago?

SPEAKER_05:

You know what? Yes, it's been three and a half months, and Chris, I'm happy to report, yes, I am all good. I am doing so well. Yes, skin graft held. I have a cute little weird scar on my calf, but you know, there you go. There you go.

SPEAKER_00:

Did you learn your lesson? Are you never gonna go horseback riding again?

SPEAKER_05:

I'm gonna stop biting the horses and kicking out. Yeah, no, it was all my fault.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, awesome. I haven't talked to you since I went down to the valley for those uh Halloween theme shows where we did dead comedians and I did Robin Williams. How did that go? It was a lot of fun. It's really weird doing someone else's material, and it kind of allows you to be a little bit more free on stage because it's not really your material. You're not like emotionally attached to it. But it was a lot of fun. Uh, the best show was probably there were three shows, was the second one, and my mom and dad came to it, and I was so nervous for that. And I told him, I go, You guys can't say anything mean, and then afterwards, my dad goes, That was the best I've ever seen you. And I'm like, Oh, that is awesome! Like, well, I didn't do any of my own jokes. Oh, he's like, use other people's materials. Much better. But uh yeah, that was a lot of fun, and uh uh I threw away the uh chest hair I used. I was gonna keep it as a souvenir, but ended up uh tossed it, tossed it or lost it. Somebody's gonna find it somewhere.

SPEAKER_05:

Squirrels are gonna find it now, yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

All right, Janine, on this talk about something good Tuesday. Uh, we actually have some good news to talk about here on the White Mountains. You want me to go first?

SPEAKER_05:

Yes, go ahead.

SPEAKER_00:

All right, well, it is time for the 13th annual Sholo Community Fast of Compassion. This is such a cool annual tradition that happens here in the White Mountains. 100% of all funds donated uh for this go to help local families in need over the holidays. And what they're asking people to do, Janine, is to uh fast a lunch or any meal and then donate the cost of one or two meals or more if you choose during this week and uh donate that to help those in need living in our community. And you can uh make your donations at the Sholo City Hall, National Bank of Arizona, Chase Bank, Arizona Central Credit Union, or go to Sholocommunityfast.org. This is going on uh all week, and then they always conclude the community fast uh at the Sholo School District Auditorium on Sunday. It's gonna be at 5 p.m. They're gonna do a community fast celebration where they'll have musical numbers from school, church, and community group groups, and you'll hear accounts of how last year's donations blessed neighbors' lives. It's such a cool thing. It is the annual community fast of compassion. That's something good to talk about. All right, Janine, I'm ready for your good news on this talk about something good Tuesday.

SPEAKER_05:

Well, I am super excited because the Light the World Giving Machine is on, everyone. It is on for tonight, and that's gonna be that's just gonna be the best thing ever. And basically, the Light the World Giving Machine, you can go and donate to these great local charities, Corporal Joe McCarthy Foundation, Round Belly Cares, White Mount Coalition Against Homelessness, and then you have some state charities, Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, Hope Women's Center, UNICEF, Lifting Hands International. You can buy a sheep, you can buy all kinds of stuff, and this is all going to be, Chris, at the barn there at the meadows. You know, you've been passing the big lit-up sign that says Light the World with a big star.

SPEAKER_06:

Yep.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, it's gonna be there through to tonight through December 2nd. So that's gonna be yes, and it's so fun. Take the family, they're gonna have different uh carolers and different things going on at six o'clock each night. It's gonna be manned from nine to nine. But you can go walk up to the giving machine and you can donate anytime. So yeah, 24-7. Very cool.

SPEAKER_00:

It's so cool, and I believe we're gonna be talking to Sadett Burgess uh today on my show and your show about the giving machine, and they're having uh a big event today to uh kind of kick things off.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, big kickoff. Yes. Okay, Chris.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, some great good news happening here in the White Mountains. We love you, best friend. Have a great day. Love you too, Chris. Talk to you later. Bye-bye. And now it's time for Chris's wife to give us her Christmas Hallmark movie reviews. All right, my love. What Hallmark Christmas movie from the 2025 season are we reviewing today?

SPEAKER_02:

We'll be reviewing a Christmas Angel Match.

SPEAKER_00:

A Christmas Angel Match. Here's what I think this one's about. I think a public access show did a dating game that was Christmas themed, and it was a match. And these two people matched, and it turns out they were cousins, and and uh big lawsuit ensued. Is that what this one is about?

SPEAKER_02:

No, uh, not at all. Gosh dang it. Uh that that started off strong.

SPEAKER_00:

Um yeah, then the wheels fell off the bus a little bit. What's this one really about, and what's your review?

SPEAKER_02:

Um so this one is about um Christmas angels that are they're like humans, their job is to bring Christmas like people together at Christmas time to make matches. And Christmas. I don't know who the heaven I guess is getting crazy, and so they have to work together to bring this really important match um fruition. And um, so they they end up being successful, but then it turns out that they were actually also the angels that were having to work together, they were also matched. Oh, a little spoiler, I guess, but I mean it's pretty predictable.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, awesome. Uh so this one sounds kind of cheesy. Uh what uh uh how many uh cups of cocoa do you uh give this one? And do you recommend uh that people uh spend an hour and a half of their time watching?

SPEAKER_02:

You know, I I gave it two and a half cups of cocoa. It wasn't bad. There was nothing terrible about it, but it wasn't very exciting either.

SPEAKER_00:

And I've never seen a show where angels uh end up dating.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, uh, I mean, that's that was what it was.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, my wife says a Christmas angel match. Skip it if you don't have time, only two and a half cups of hot cocoa. Thank you so much for uh your review, my love, and we'll talk to you tomorrow. Okay. It is talk about something good Tuesday, and Janine uh touched on this, and I'm so excited to have a guest in studio, Sadette Burgess, here to talk about the giving machine that's happening for the first time in Sholo starting this year. We have a uh big launch event happening uh tonight at the Sholo Meadow. Sadette, tell us what is the giving machine?

SPEAKER_01:

So the giving machine is basically a reverse vending machine. So instead of putting money in and getting a candy bar or chips out, you put money in that goes directly to a charity, um, to a good or a service that that charity provides to people. And um a hundred percent of what you donate goes to that specific item and that specific charity.

SPEAKER_00:

And uh I've been to the launches for the past couple of years that's been in Snowflake, and it's so cool that it's right here in Sholo, and it's benefiting more than just the Sholo uh community. Obviously, there's national charities, and we have uh a bunch of local charities from around the mountain that people can donate to. What are some of those charities?

SPEAKER_01:

Right. Well, so our giving machine in Sholo actually will benefit five different cities. It will be Sholow, Payson, Pinetop Lakeside, St. John's, and Round Valley. We'll all be participating in our giving machine. So our local charities are the Corporal Joe McCarthy Foundation, they're out of St. John's, the Round Valley Cares Um Foundation, and they are out of Round Valley, but they help all of Apache County. And then we have the White Mountain Coalition Against Homelessness right here in Sholo.

SPEAKER_00:

A lot of great charities. When we come back, we're gonna talk about some of the items you could buy from the Giving Machine. Uh, but tonight is the big launch event. It's happening at the Sholo Meadow. It starts at 5 30. Are people invited to come and what can they expect?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, so at 5 30, we are going to have a program where you can, the charities are all going to introduce themselves. We've got a children's choir coming to sing this little light of mine. We've got some other special musical numbers. Mayor Leach is going to be there.

SPEAKER_00:

Heck yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

And so we're super excited. We'll get our first donors officially set up there tonight.

SPEAKER_00:

It's gonna be a lot of fun. I'll be there, so come on out for the launch event for the giving machine and uh uh start a great holiday tradition with your family by uh giving back this holiday season with the giving machine. So that are some of the items people can buy in the giving machine?

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, well, so you mentioned our local charities. With our local charities, the Corporal Joe McCarthy Foundations, they help support veterans and children in need. So you can buy a veterans flag, a grave wreath, um, a holiday mill for a veteran's family, but you can also help um pay for a sports physical for kids or a sports program that they want to participate in. We have White Mountain Coalition Against Homelessness, who helps people um get set up in a tiny home for a bit of time when they're in need. And so you can buy a personal care kit, kitchen utensils, bedding. You can even help donate to building one of those tiny homes, which is really exciting. We have Round Valley Care. You can provide um canned food items, a holiday turkey, or you can also help somebody with some monthly utilities, families in need that can't make their bills that month.

SPEAKER_00:

The uh giving machine is happening now till or actually starting today at 5 30.

SPEAKER_01:

It's open today. Oh, it is the machines are up and running. We have our big kickoff event this evening, but it's open.

SPEAKER_00:

It's open, so you can go and make your donations. If you're feeling down in the dumps, you know how you can make yourself feel better by giving. And uh, what's so cool about the giving machine is a hundred percent, if you give twenty dollars, a hundred percent of that twenty dollars goes towards that item you're getting and uh the charity.

SPEAKER_01:

So absolutely, it's a great way to go and and fill that Christmas spirit.

SPEAKER_00:

The launch event is tonight at 5 30. Come join us for that. And uh the giving machine is live and active, it's up and running, we got it running. So go ahead, it's gonna be there for two weeks. Go ahead and donate to either national charities or local charities. And you're also saying uh throughout the whole two weeks they'll be there. Every night there's gonna be uh great events, live uh live music. What's gonna be happening?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, so right there inside the bo barn, we've got posted every night what's going to be happening. Um, we've got different things. We've got musical performances, we've got crafts for kids, just caroling. Um, and then Thanksgiving evening, come join us for a choir and pie. Everything is free and open to the public. And then November 29th and December 1st, we actually have a live nativity coming. Live animals, live Mary and Joseph. It's gonna be fantastic. We just really want to have a place where people can come and fill the Christmas spirit.

SPEAKER_00:

Yep, the uh it is right around the corner and uh getting the Christmas spirit starting today. Join us tonight at the Giving Machine launch event. And if you can't make it uh tonight, it sounds like for two weeks, it's just gonna be a great place to go with the family, share some great memories, and also uh give back.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, absolutely. Woo! That's Bob Londe!

SPEAKER_00:

Yay! Yay, yay! It's everyone's favorite redneck from Beaumont, Texas. It's Paul from Beaumont. Uh, we got an update yesterday on your fat shot journey. It's been three weeks since you've taken uh the fat shot. You are down over 35 pounds. Is that right? Yeah. Nice. So are you done? Are you done taking the shot or are you gonna keep trying to lose weight? What's your ultimate uh ultimate goal?

SPEAKER_04:

Nah, I I think I'm gonna do just like I did this last time and give it about two, three weeks between shots. Yeah? Well, I'm doing pretty good. You ain't really gained that much. You know, once Kurt didn't know what he was talking about, might not take the shot or you're gonna get fat again. Yeah, that didn't happen. And uh it's all it's all mind over matter.

SPEAKER_00:

It's mind over mind over matter as long as you're taking the shot. Yeah. Right, because you yeah, it sounds like you're gonna have to take the shot the rest of your life to maintain.

SPEAKER_04:

Well, wow, man. Look, look, here's the deal. Start off two, three weeks, do that for a little while, then slowly back out. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00:

What's uh question of cone dark? What's the uh ultimate goal weight for you? And is Rhonda? My wife sometimes gets jealous when I go on a weight loss journey and I lose weight easily. How's Rhonda handling the uh weight loss?

SPEAKER_03:

Hey, you trying to impress?

SPEAKER_00:

That's what she says to you? Wasn't it her idea to get you on the shot? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you need to get on the shot, you need to get on the shot because you're bad.

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

It is now time for Are You Smarter Than a Redneck? Today, Paul, you are going up against our guest, Sadette Burgess, who's in today to talk about the giving machine and the big launch event happening tonight. It is uh National Princess Day. So uh Sadette picked Princess Trivia, Paul. If you know the answer, say your name. That's your buzzer. Are you two ready? Sure. I'm ready. All right, here we go. This is an easy one. The princess ruined her shoe at a party, left early, and goes. Paul, he's fast, right? Paul?

SPEAKER_01:

He gets fast. I gotta get quick.

SPEAKER_00:

It is Cinderella. Holy moly, he's up 1-0. All right. This one is a newer princess. We'll see how you do. The princess saw a frog, kissed it, and somehow that was still better than most modern dating apps taking place. I believe this took place in New Orleans.

SPEAKER_06:

I know this one.

SPEAKER_00:

Any three, two, one. Any answers? You both got it wrong. It's Tiana!

SPEAKER_06:

Tiana.

SPEAKER_00:

Tiana, all right. Uh, Paul is just one question away from winning. You gotta get one to keep alive. This princess hair routine rec requires a ladder, a grappling hook, and at least a sedette.

SPEAKER_01:

Rapunzel.

SPEAKER_00:

Here we go, Paul! It is down to the last question. Pick a number from four to ten. Uh seven. Seven. Okay. Whoever gets this right's the winner. Known for her strong communication skills, mostly with raccoons, hummingbirds, and the winds. Sadett. Snow white. Is it Snow White? No, the wind, the wind, the wind is the big hint. Paul, is it Pocahontas, Frozen Xanna, or Belle? Pocahontas. There we go. You are smarter than Sadette today, Paul. Sorry, Sadette. Sadette. You are not smarter than a redneck, but there's always tomorrow. Paul, we love you, best friend. Have a great day. All right, buddy. Y'all please. It has been so much fun uh today hanging out with Sadette Burgess. Thank you for joining us uh this morning.

SPEAKER_01:

It's been great to be here. Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_00:

We've been talking about the giving machine that is in Shol this year for the next two weeks, starting today at the Sholo Meadow. Have the uh big launch event happening tonight at 5:30. Make sure you join us. And uh you said you guys have an Instagram and Facebook where people can uh follow along and see what events and activities are happening.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. Um, so Instagram is at Giving Machine ShoLo. We're gonna post every night what what the event is. You can you can watch as we put up the machines yesterday. We posted that yesterday on our Instagram page, and then it's at our Facebook is ShoLow Giving. So so follow along and be in the know of what's happening.

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely. Make sure you give them a follow and make sure you stop by and uh check out the giving machine for yourself and feel the uh the Christmas spirit already in November here in the White. Starting early, starting early and giving back to the community, and it's never too early for that. So stop by the uh giving machine. I'll be there tonight for their launch event starting at 5 30. Come by, say hi to me, and uh make sure you make a donation at the giving machine. And thank you so much, Sadet. Thank you, Chris. Good morning, it's the morning brew with Chris. Who's this? Good morning, Chris. It's your best friend Kirk Nermi. Heck yeah, it is Kirk Nermi, our uh best friend, gritty true crime correspondent, and uh the morning brew pot stir. He loves to stir the pot. What do you got for us today?

SPEAKER_03:

Well, yeah, Chris, I was a little disappointed. You know, that uh gaming machine sounded like a great idea, but you didn't ask me the most important question of all. What is that? How much to keep uh Paul off the radio for 2026?

SPEAKER_00:

I could never do that. Would you really not want Paul to be on the radio? How much would you be willing to pay for that?

SPEAKER_03:

Oh, I I'd chip in. Maybe we can get a community fundraiser around it and uh probably uh probably build uh housing for all their population, all the homeless population in Arizona with that kind of money.

SPEAKER_00:

You just love to poke and prod him.

SPEAKER_03:

Am I wrong, Kirk?

SPEAKER_00:

No, I don't, I think you're wrong. I don't think anyone would donate money to keep him off the air. I think he's almost more popular. Oh, Kirk Derby, you're the best. They do not have that in the giving machine this year. But you can buy some chickens.

SPEAKER_03:

Uh maybe next year. Maybe next year. Let's think about it. All right, you're the best.

SPEAKER_00:

All right, buddy. Love you. Bye. All right, bye. Uh, it's time for me to go. Thank you so much for everyone that tuned in and had fun with us today. And uh, hopefully I'll see you tonight at the giving machine launch event at the Show Low Meadow. For the morning brew, I've been Chris Bennett, reminding you to be nice to yourself, be nice to others, and don't be jerk. And for the morning brew, we say bye.

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Chris Bennett

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