The Morning Brew with Chris Bennett

Motivational Monday: Ending the Year Strong & Ringing in Show Low’s New Year

• Chris Bennett • Episode 174

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Motivational Monday feels extra meaningful as we head into the final stretch of the year. We kick things off by checking in with Jineane Ford from our sister stations Majik 101.7 and iTalk 106.7, swapping Christmas stories, celebrating Addie’s holiday joy, and laughing about Chris’s latest addition to his ever-growing collection of wild shirts.

From there, we lean into end-of-the-year motivation — sharing quotes and reminders about finishing strong, reflecting with gratitude, and carrying momentum into the New Year.

The heart of the show features in-studio guests Myles Erdmann from City of Show Low TV and Show Low Mayor John Leech Jr. We break down everything you need to know about the City of Show Low’s New Year’s Eve Celebration, happening from 11 p.m. to midnight at the Show Low Library and City Hall. From the Deuce of Clubs card drop and fireworks to fire pits, hot cocoa, games, music, and a photo booth — it’s a free, family-friendly way to ring in the New Year together. Can’t make it out? The entire event will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook so everyone can be part of the moment.

We also look ahead to exciting upcoming events from Show Low Parks and Recreation, including new adult leagues, kids’ programs, and activities designed to keep the community connected well into 2026.

The calls bring the laughs and heart — Brian from Pinedale reminds us that time with family is the greatest gift, while Paul from Beaumont and his wife Rhonda close the show with a hilarious debate over whether Paul is actually a good gift-giver… even after surprising her with a new car.

Motivation, community pride, New Year plans, and just enough chaos — this episode captures exactly what The Morning Brew is all about.

If you enjoyed the show, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find the fun and the local stories that make mornings better.

SPEAKER_01:

From the Horn Auto Center Studios, Chris Bennett and the Morning Brew. Janine, you there? Yes, I am. And guess what? I have my granddaughter Addy with me today.

SPEAKER_03:

Addie, how you doing, best friend? Good. Good. How was your Christmas? Good. Good? What uh did Santa bring you anything? What was your favorite part of Christmas?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, Santa brought me a bike. Oh, dude!

SPEAKER_01:

And I'll tell you what, it's a beautiful bike. All the colors. Oh my gosh. Heck yeah. Turquoise and purple and pink and a beautiful bike.

SPEAKER_03:

Do you know how to ride it yet? Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, you do? Heck yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

Way to go.

SPEAKER_01:

Nice. She's a good bike rider, that's for sure. And her her old bike was just way too tiny. So Santa was smart.

SPEAKER_03:

What about you, Janine? What did Santa bring you?

SPEAKER_01:

I got so I was so spoiled. Santa brought me one of those. It looks like it's a light up kind of a long, those fireplace looking things with all the colors of flames. Because our for our bedroom, it's really yeah, it's kind of romantic. It's beautiful. And then, and then I got super spoiled by Clint. I mean, he was way over the top this year. Yeah. I mean, the favorite perfume, Gucci Guilty, all the different stuff. You need I was just so spoiled. Yeah, it was a beautiful Christmas. Yes, had the new grandbaby there, little baby Jackson was there. And Addie got Addie and her dad got Jackson the best present, huh, Addy?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. What?

SPEAKER_01:

What you get? So cute. Tell them about peekaboo.

SPEAKER_00:

Um, so we got him like a koala, and you press his foot and his ears, they cover his eyes and do peekaboo.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, it is the cutest thing I've ever seen. I couldn't stop playing with it myself. Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah, it's really cute. I made out like a bandit.

SPEAKER_03:

Did you? Oh my gosh. Soiled? Yeah, so you know I like to wear wild and crazy shirts. Yep. And my most favorite brand is this brand called Roosevelt's has like movies and SNL references on them and stuff. Uh-huh. And I got seven. Seven of these shirts. Seven! Whoa! I could basically wear a different shirt every day of the month, Janine.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, and you have the most wild.

SPEAKER_03:

What's your favorite one? What theme? Well, I'm wearing it right now. It's uh Chris Farley and Adam Sandler from his uh song on SNL he did called uh Lunch Lady Land. And uh Chris Farley's dressed as the lunch lady and uh funny and is hugging like a sloppy Joe, and so it's uh pretty awesome. And then I got some more office shirts. It was just a great uh great Christmas, and it was great spending time uh with my family because my oldest daughter was in town with her husband Beckett.

SPEAKER_01:

Nice, so you had the kids and everything.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh very sweet.

SPEAKER_01:

I love yeah, I love Christmas. It's it's you know, and I wouldn't even be I leave my decorations up late. I wouldn't even be taking my but my tree is as crispy as it gets. So I did we did start a little bit of that yesterday. I mean you touch it, and I swear you can hear that glass sound of it just shattering. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah. So crisp. All right, Janine. It is motivational Monday, and with the end of the year, right uh just a couple days away. Uh, I thought I would do some motivational quotes about finishing the year strong.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

Are you ready to end this year?

SPEAKER_01:

I'm so ready to end this year. I I told you about the run. I want everybody to look this up. The Rhonda Rousey remember the fighter, she got herself pummeled there at the end, and she's and they did a meme. It says, How I feel about 2025 going. She goes, It's been a rough year, but next year's gonna be so much better. It's gonna be wonderful. And she's all like just bloodied out because of my horse kick and all the I'm ready for this.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, here's some motivational quotes for you about finishing the year strong. Here's our first one. Vince Lombardi says it's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up. Okay. Okay. Uh, this is from Unknown. The last mile is always the toughest, but it's the one that counts. Great reminder, the final push matters. Uh, next one is uh uh from another unknown. What you do at the end of the race matters just as much as how you started. Finish strong. Then we have the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra that's from Jimmy Johnson, famous Dallas Cowboys coach. And last one from another unknown. End the year stronger than you began it. You didn't sound too impressed with today's quote.

SPEAKER_01:

I no, I I like um, I like number two, that last mile. Oh the number two. Yeah. I like that. The other one, just as important as the way you start. Nay, is it this? You always start strong, but that last mile one, what was that? Who is that, the number two? Is that an unknown?

SPEAKER_03:

That is from Unknown. Today's motivational quote for the week is the last mile is always the toughest, but it's the one that counts.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, it does. Finish strong. Finish strong, everyone.

SPEAKER_03:

Heck yeah. Well, sweet. Well, Janine, thanks so much for having fun with us this morning, and we'll talk to you tomorrow.

SPEAKER_01:

All right.

SPEAKER_03:

Thanks, Chris. Bye. I am so excited to have some guests with me in studio this Monday morning. My best friend Miles from the City of Solo TV, and the mayor of Sholo, and perhaps the best mustache on the mountain, John Leach Jr. Thanks for joining me.

SPEAKER_04:

How are you this morning, Chris?

SPEAKER_03:

Doing awesome. How was uh your Christmas, Mayor?

SPEAKER_04:

It was awesome. We had the family together, we just stayed home. I I cooked for everybody, and it it was it was fun.

SPEAKER_02:

Heck yeah. Relaxing. And what about you, Miles? Oh, it was great. It was great. The uh my girls are always filled with joy around Christmas. It's just great to watch. Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's so much fun.

SPEAKER_04:

And he's got the cutest little daughters. Yeah. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, Christmas time with uh little kids is always a lot of fun. And uh, you guys are in studio today to uh promote an awesome event happening, New Year's Eve night. What do we got going on?

SPEAKER_04:

We're gonna drop the deuce of clubs at midnight. I gotta make sure I say drop the deuce of clubs.

SPEAKER_07:

We're not doing something else.

SPEAKER_04:

You know, it's funny because Flagstaff does a pine cone. Right. And and then I think that Chandler somewhere does a boot, Sholo does a card, the Deuce of Clubs.

SPEAKER_03:

And we that's how we got our name, so it's perfect, but it's the Deuce of Clubs card drop.

SPEAKER_04:

You know, one of the photographers that used to work at the White Mountain Independent came up with that years ago. Uh-huh. And it stuck. And I believe now he's in Flagstaff, but he always sends me a message saying, Thank you for keeping the tradition alive.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, well, it's cool. It's really cool. We dropped the Deuce of Clubs at midnight, and the city of Sholos having an event from 11 p.m. to 12 p.m. And it's hosted. Who's it hosted by?

SPEAKER_04:

No, there's some radio celebrity that we that we brought up from the valley. I think.

unknown:

No!

SPEAKER_03:

No, we're staying local.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh, we're staying local, of course.

SPEAKER_03:

I get to be show's version of Dick Clark or Ryan Seacrest. Back to back. Back to back. So excited to uh host the festivities from 11 to 12. Join us in downtown Sholo at the City of Sholo Library and City Hall. We're gonna have fire pits, we're gonna have concessions with hot cocoa. I'm gonna be spinning some music and doing my favorite thing, talking into the microphone. And also the City of Sholo is gonna have uh a little booth set up with some games to play as well. And uh we also have a photo booth. Uh-oh. Yeah, heck yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

Bring your warm clothes and take a picture.

SPEAKER_03:

Bring your warm clothes. Good thing you hired the most manly man in Sholo because I could handle a little cold. Uh, but uh Mayor and uh Miles, I am just honored to uh be able to ring in the new year for the City of Sholo. Thank you for letting me be a part of it.

SPEAKER_08:

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03:

And uh I hope you all can make it out. It's a free event, fun for the whole family. So get your butts down to the uh City of Sholo Library at 11 p.m. to midnight, and then at midnight, right after, fireworks. Can't think of a better way to ring in the new year.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, that's gonna be so exciting.

SPEAKER_03:

Good morning. It's the morning brew with Chris and special guest Miles Erdman from the City of Sholo TV and mayor of Sholo, John Leach Jr. Who's this?

SPEAKER_06:

Good morning, champion Chris Bennett.

SPEAKER_03:

Heck yes! Holy moly, it's Brian from Pinedale. Did you hear about how I am hosting the City of Solo's New Year's Eve drop from 11 to midnight on Wednesday, New Year's Eve?

SPEAKER_06:

Yes, I did.

SPEAKER_03:

Heck yeah. Are you coming out?

SPEAKER_06:

Uh no, I can't hang that late. I'm like you, I'm in bed at 8, 9 o'clock.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, I'm gonna take it. What's so this is like a great thing for you to take the whole family to. It's definitely a family-friendly event. And what's so cool is I've seen on a bunch of uh social media posts, like people are like, hey, the top four places to ring in the new year. And uh the drop in the dude, the City of Sholo's New Year's Eve event is always on that list. And so uh yeah, you're gonna miss it, buddy. But guess what? Uh, Miles and the uh City of Solo TV is gonna be uh airing it on uh YouTube and Facebook Live.

SPEAKER_05:

Yes, that's correct.

SPEAKER_03:

There you go. So when you wake up in the morning, you could see all the fun you miss.

SPEAKER_06:

There you go.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, what can we do you for this morning, Brian from Pine Dale?

SPEAKER_06:

Well, it sounds like you and Janine got spoiled like uh crazy for Christmas.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, dude, I I now have a new crazy shirt to wear pretty much every day of the month.

SPEAKER_06:

Sounds like you got seven of them.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, I got seven new ones, but if you include the old ones I have, I now have a shirt for every day of the month.

SPEAKER_06:

Well, you can add me and Lynn to your list because we got spoiled too.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh good. What did you guys get spoiled with, you and your wife?

SPEAKER_06:

The best part was we had everybody together in the family. Went to church, went to a play, saw the Christmas Carol down in Chandler. Um we just had a great time all of us together.

SPEAKER_03:

Man, that's uh that's what this time of year is about. So cool you got to spend it with your family, best friend.

SPEAKER_06:

Yep, and my nieces and nephews.

SPEAKER_03:

Heck yeah. And then do you have any New Year's resolutions?

SPEAKER_06:

No, I don't do them because I always break them.

unknown:

That's true.

SPEAKER_03:

I'm so excited to have guests in studio today, Miles Erdman with the City of Show TV and the mayor of Sholos, John Leach Jr. Uh, we talked about uh our plans for New Year's Eve. I know where I'll be hosting the City of Solo's New Year's Eve drop. We're dropping the Deuce of Clubs card at midnight and then fireworks following. It's gonna be a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_04:

I was trying to think of what I should do first. Should I take a nap and set my alarm or should I try to stay up? I'm taking a nap. I'm nine o'clock guy.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah. So I think let's take a early nap. So I'll wake up at five, I'll feel refreshed, and uh then uh yes, starting at midnight, we're gonna have concessions down at the City of Sholo public library. We're gonna have fire pits, I'll be playing uh some music. There's gonna be games, it's gonna be a lot of fun. That's New Year's Eve. Join us and uh let's ring in 2026 together. Miles, what besides New Year's Eve, what fun stuff is happening for the City of Sholo Parks and Recreation in 2026?

SPEAKER_05:

Uh there's lots of stuff going on. I know the I'm excited about the new Dodgeball League.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh, there's a Dodgeball League?

SPEAKER_05:

Is this the first year? I I believe so that I know of, yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh, okay. That sounds like something I might be into. Okay, dodgeballs 18 and over.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, and there's there's honestly they've already got uh Kevin told me they've already got six teams. I mean, if somebody wanted to put together a couple teams, they've you've got like a couple days.

SPEAKER_03:

And then how do they do that? They just call the City Asholo Parks and Rec or go to the Facebook page.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, go to the Facebook. Um there there is a link. It's it's uh like activityred.org or something. I don't know. You'd you'd have to just go to the go to the Facebook page.

SPEAKER_03:

Facebook page, City Asholo Parks and Rec. And then what is the uh itty bitty bubble pool party? That's that's hard to say. That is hard to say.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, I think it's just a little uh little chance for the the little ones to to hang out and and uh and play in the pool, play in the little shallow part of the pool there.

SPEAKER_03:

Heck yeah. And then uh this is something the mayor has no idea what it is. Tell us what's happening January 16th uh with the city of Sholom.

SPEAKER_05:

Uh so this is the K-pop Demon Hunters Kids Night Out.

SPEAKER_03:

Okay. What is the K-pop Demon Hunters What is that?

SPEAKER_05:

It is it's this thing that's taking the world by storm. It was a movie. It was just a movie that was on Netflix, and it it's a you know, there's a it's kind of a K-pop girl band, and um it's it's pretty funny. If you haven't watched it, it it's it's pretty cute, it's pretty fun. The music's actually really, really high production quality. Um and my girls fell in love with it. And and then I was just like, okay, this is interesting. And then come to find out, yeah, every other kid in the class, all the way up through high school, fell in love with this stuff. And so, so yeah, it's really neat. We're having an event, uh Kids' night out, uh, January 16th, 6 to 8:30. Um, you go on the uh Parks and Rec uh Facebook page, and you can find the link to register. Um should be lots of fun.

SPEAKER_03:

Awesome. A lot of great things happening with the city of Sholo and also swim lessons every month. You guys have swim lessons going on? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05:

Swim lessons every month. I believe it's usually uh so my girls, my girls did this last year. I think we did like three sessions. They're like two weeks. You know, it's it's uh Monday through Thursday for only it's only like 30 minutes, but uh, you know, so you so basically they get eight days of lessons in two weeks. And and my girls now, I mean, they're swimming across the deep end of the pool. I mean, they're you know, they're six years old, and they're I mean, I'm I'm very confident. I feel much more comfortable with them being in the water. They did the they uh just a few weeks ago they did the slide by themselves. Oh, there you go. And they were so happy, they were so proud of themselves, so excited. Um they don't have to wear those little balloons on their arms anything. Exactly, yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

The mayor and I do, but they don't have to. Yeah, for sure. That's awesome. A lot of great things happening with the city of Sholos. If you want information on the swimming lessons, on the K-pop demon hunter, kids' night out, on the here we go, itty bitty bubble pool party, or the new co-ed dodgeball league, check out the city of Solo Parks and Recreation and Aquatics on Facebook or give them a call at 928-532-4140. Woo! That's Bob Vlog! Good morning, it's the morning brew with Chris. Who's this? Yeah, yeah. Holy Yeah, he sounds angry. We were so worried, Paul, that uh because the mayor wanted to talk to Paul from Beaumont. It's not an official morning brew show until we hear from you, Paul from Beaumont. Uh, how are you doing on this uh Monday morning?

SPEAKER_07:

I'm doing great, man.

SPEAKER_03:

I just went and got my face shut. Yeah, so mayor, this year he started taking like the knockoff brand of uh uh he started taking the knockoff brand of Ozempic. And uh, how much weight have you lost? Uh how much weight uh did you lose in 2025 thanks to hard work in the fat shot? 30 something pounds. 30 something pounds? Would you ever consider the fat shot mayor?

SPEAKER_04:

No.

SPEAKER_03:

No, no, no. You would rather well one, you're happy in your own body.

SPEAKER_04:

You don't need to lose weight, but if you're gonna lose-this is the way God put me on this earth.

SPEAKER_03:

Paul, how old are you, Paul? 56. 56, 56, and he's doing nice. What about you, Miles? You ever uh consider the fat Miles? If Miles took the fat shot, he wouldn't exist. He's freezing now. Would you take a shot maybe to get you fat?

SPEAKER_05:

Uh I don't know. I will say this. Uh it definitely helped my mom out a lot, and I'm really thankful for that.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah, yeah, look, it ain't bad, I like bah uh real. That's true.

SPEAKER_03:

And you feel good? Yeah, I'm feeling good, my own. That's awesome. Well, uh, Paul, we're uh so excited you lost weight this year, and we're so excited that uh we had you part of the morning brew in 2025. Do you have any goals for 2026? Yeah, here's a goal. Oh, there's Rhonda, his wife. What's that?

SPEAKER_05:

Honeydew list.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah, I hope it's not a court reward.

SPEAKER_03:

Rhonda, what is uh Paul from Beaumont's goal for uh 2026 or resolution?

SPEAKER_07:

Please let me know. Yeah, please let me know.

SPEAKER_03:

Um I would say he needs to make it a goal to get better gifts. Better gifts? Do you know what he got his wife for Christmas? No idea. A brand new car, a bull swag and an atmosphere. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_07:

Okay, let me rephrase that, okay? Oh, but I need to get better gifts.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, Rhonda, you are not being painted in a good light right now.

SPEAKER_07:

She wants to get it. This is what happens when you steal the woman. No, let me tell y'all, it's a gift under the present. I mean, under the tree.

SPEAKER_03:

Under the tree. Well, I mean, when you get someone to get it, you can get the damn Volkswagen under the tree.

SPEAKER_04:

Why don't you buy a tree and put it on the roof of the Volkswagen?

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, you know. I think uh I think Rhonda's a fruitcake and a car.

SPEAKER_04:

And guess what? And next year you're gonna get that same fruitcake. Nobody's gonna eat it.

SPEAKER_07:

Hey, she got cold candy, too. She gets real cold next year.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, uh, Paul and Rhonda, we love you. I wish you guys could be here New Year's Eve because uh I'm honored to be hosting the City of Solo's New Year's Eve event. We're gonna be dropping the Deuce of Clubs starting at uh, well, the event starts at 11, and then of course at midnight we'll drop the deuce of clubs, and then we have a awesome fireworks show. It's gonna be a lot of fun. You guys aren't gonna be here, but guess what? You could catch it on uh YouTube and Facebook Live, uh the City of Solo's uh Facebook Live.

unknown:

Yep.

SPEAKER_07:

Yep, my head might check into it. And and hey, I'm glad the mayor's here because we got something we're gonna have something come to you and Chris. The mayor and Chris. Oh, you have a proposal for the mayor.

SPEAKER_04:

Is it a Volkswagen? Or is it is it the case?

SPEAKER_07:

No, bro, I I could afford that transportation there, though. You don't look like the Volkswagen type guy.

SPEAKER_03:

No, no, no, he's a show low guy. He's a you're not gonna catch him in a Volkswagen.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh, a truck. Sorry, truck. I did get my wife, we did buy my wife a new Lincoln last year or something. Oh, there you go. That's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_03:

Awesome. Well, uh Paul, we gotta we gotta get going, but we love you, best friend. And uh hopefully Rhonda's resolution for 2026 is to be more grateful.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, maybe grateful is a good one.

SPEAKER_04:

Hey Paul, get her a Volkswagen, get her another Volkswagen next year, but like a matchbox size. Put it under the tree.

SPEAKER_02:

Exactly, exactly. Awesome.

SPEAKER_07:

We love you, best friends. Yeah, y'all have a great one, man. Enjoy New Year's. Happy New Year's. We're gonna take off and uh do our thing. So everybody have a great safe uh have a great safe uh new year's YouTube.

SPEAKER_04:

Be safe out there.

SPEAKER_07:

We love you, best friend.

Contributor

Chris Bennett

Host