Listen To New Interviews
High Profile Guests
Jay Stewart grew up in Columbus, Georgia. He met his wife Melanie in high school, and they were married in 1983. Together with their five kids and grandkids, they live just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Jay is the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Refuge Church. In addition to leading The Refuge, he serves on several ministry boards, coaches pastors and church planters, and travels nationally and internationally to speak. He enjoys traveling, riding his Harley, playing basketball and golf, and spending time with his family.
Derrick A. Hawkins is a devoted husband to Roshonda Hawkins. Together, they pastor The Refuge
Greensboro in Greensboro, NC. He is the loving father of five: Ronnette, Dashawn, Labrica, Adarion, Jaylen, and the late Derrick Jr. In the summer of 2016, Derrick Hawkins became the Senior Pastor of House of Refuge Deliverance Ministries. In that same year, he led House of Refuge Deliverance Ministries into the historic merger with The Refuge. Today, he continues to fearlessly lead the campus; bringing the vision to new places and fresh heights. Additionally, Derrick loves jogging, reading books, and adding to his shoe collection. He most enjoys quality time with his family, cooking and watching his sons play sports.
Multiple award-winning R&B/Soul/Jazz music artist Tracy Cruz has a voice that will melt even the toughest of hearts. This vocal powerhouse aims to connect communities with her universal language of love, hope, and happiness. Her unique musical and lyrical blend — Bay Area urban soul tinged with the influence of her indigenous Filipino roots –has captured the ears of music lovers around the world. Boasting a vocal range that might be bigger than her, Cruz emanates a classic and timeless feel.
She has won numerous awards including four Bay Area Black Music Awards, two Gran Royale Music Awards and three Muse’s Muse Awards. In addition, she has received five Hollywood Music in Media Awards nominations, seven Northern California Entertainers Music Awards nominations, and three Soultracks.com nominations. She has shared the stage and opened for Kenny Lattimore, Moonchild, Raheem Devaughn, Miki Howard, Sy Smith, Bilal, Pete Escovedo & Orchestra, Apl. de. Ap of the Black Eyed Peas and many notable music artists. She has performed at Yoshi’s (six times) Harlow’s (Sacramento, CA), Yerba Center for the Arts Theatre (San Francisco, CA), San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, Tempe Center for the Arts (Tempe, Arizona), Rockwood Music Hall (New York), Vitello’s Supperclub (Los Angeles, CA), etc. She released her music trilogy on 7/28/18 which featured production from Detroit-based, Grammy nominated producer Brandon Williams. Tracy has been featured on global television show “Balitang America” on ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel and “Asia Pacific America” with Robert Handa on NBC Bay Area. Tracy and her band “Instrumentali-T” will be performing songs from her two full length albums, four EPS, fan favorites, and new music. www.tracycruzmusic.com
Love. Compassion. Dedication. Loyalty. Excellence. These are just a few words that describe our character. As pastors and entrepreneurs, we have a restless discontent with the status quo. While it can be frustrating; it’s an essential gift in birthing what’s new and expanding our current mission.
September 2019, we stepped on faith to build JustDogs34! It was an audacious venture that was completely God-lead. In a time where too many people are figuring out how to survive, we became people who changed the question: How are we going to thrive? You can’t do that without risk. Being willing to risk what you have TODAY is the best way to get to a different TOMORROW.
Jesse D. Hamilton, III
Senior Pastor-Faith Community SA
Just Dogs 34-Owner
Krystal Hamilton
Pastor-Faith Community SA
Just Dogs 34-Owner
SAPD Officer Cory Schuler
I was born in Austin, Texas. I was raised in a Christian home with both parents and 1 older brother. My dad is a pastor who always stressed the importance of having a relationship with God, loving your family, and getting an education. It appeared at times these were the basic foundations that shaped our future goals in life. My dad holds a Doctorate in Theology and has always strived to make a difference in the lives of others starting with my brother and me. We were always his pupils. My mother started her career at a law enforcement agency and at some point was put in charge of purchasing uniforms for the officers. So I spent a great deal of time after school in the supply store. I believe that is where I first took an interest in being a police officer, a typical little boy growing up with aspirations of being a police officer.
When I was in middle school my parents moved to Leander. My love for sports ultimately afforded me the opportunity through scholarships to play football on a collegiate level. While away in college, my cousin had gotten in trouble with the law and I saw how it impacted my family. Later, my big brother had gotten into some trouble with the law and was unable to spend time with family during holidays and family gatherings. I felt the impact that had on me and my parents.
After graduating from college, I sought out law enforcement. I met with a cousin who talked to me about becoming a police officer. He talked about the brotherhood, comradery, as well as benefits. So I joined the San Antonio Police Department. Being a police officer takes hard work and commitment. It requires long hours of training; it takes a genuine care for the human race. You must have a heart for the people because people will show you the best of who they are and they will show you the worst of who they are. This career provides you the opportunity to make the world a better place, street by street, block by block. It provides great benefits to take care of yourself and your family. I am proud to wear this uniform. I am proud to stand up and be counted among the men and women that make a difference in the lives of the citizens of San Antonio. I also have a responsibility to my family with the common goal to return home every night.
I reconnected with a college teammate who later became one of my best friends. He started a nonprofit organization called “God Behind Bars”. “God Behind Bars” mission is to bridge a gap between God and inmates outside the church walls. God Behind Bars works with a couple of local churches and provides an opportunity for a relationship that would not exist otherwise. I have been privileged to walk along side of this organization and I have seen many lives changed because of it.
I grew up in the Caribbean. Lived with my mom and 3 brothers and 2 sisters. I surrendered my life over to Jesus at age 15. 2 weeks after getting baptized, I got on a plane to Shreveport Louisiana, went to high school there. Got a full basketball scholarship to Baylor University. We won a national championship in 2005, I was the MVP. Got drafted to the San Antonio stars where I played for 10 seasons. Now I am nominated to be in the Texas Hall of Fame.
Sophia lives in SA with her husband a 2 beautiful kids. The reason why I wanted to enter real estate is because I believe in the Family. I believe that having a home where you know you belong to makes such a difference in who we are as people. We have a amazing duty and responsibility to create a legacy for our families and that starts at Home.
ABOUT GUY SNODGRASS
Guy Snodgrass is the CEO of Defense Analytics, a national security and foreign policy strategic advisory firm specializing in strategy development, government policy, and technology adoption. Recognized as an influential national security and foreign policy expert, Guy recently published his first book, Holding the Line, to incredibly positive reviews. Guy appears as a commentator on CNN, FOX, and multiple international outlets; an opinion contributor to the Washington Post, USA Today, and other outlets; and a prominent commentator to publications such as Politico, the New York Times and Bloomberg. A career Navy F/A-18 fighter pilot, Commander Snodgrass led combat missions in support of forces on the ground in the Middle East. Subsequently selected as a TOPGUN Instructor, he served as the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps expert in air-to-air combat and tactics development.
ABOUT HIS BOOK TOPGUN’S TOP 10: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE COCKPIT
Learn how to be a leader in your own life and career with expert advice from one of the Navy’s elite TOPGUN instructors. During a twenty-year career in uniform, Guy Snodgrass became one of the most skilled fighter pilots in the U.S. Navy, commanding combat jets over some of the most dangerous war zones in the world — and he did it all using the lessons he learned at the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). The real-life inspiration for the blockbuster films Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick, the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School trains the top one percent of our nation’s fighter pilots. Over the course of twelve weeks, these pilots are drilled on aerial tactics, combat, and skills required to win in any organization. Ordinary people are transformed into world-class leaders. Pilots, like Commander Snodgrass, who remain on staff as TOPGUN instructors, are held to even higher and more demanding standards.
In TOPGUN’s Top 10, Commander Snodgrass distills some of the most important lessons he’s learned and taught over the course of his career into a taut, engaging book for readers of all ages and experience levels. It’s the perfect gift for anyone looking to change careers, excel in the workplace, or find their way in the world after college graduation. Smart, practical, and direct, Snodgrass’s account of real TOPGUN experience will inspire a new generation of leaders.
Rev. Al Sharpton is the host of MSNBC’s “PoliticsNation” and the founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN), one of the leading civil rights organization in the world. With over 40 years of experience as a community leader, politician, minister and advocate, the Rev. Al Sharpton is one of America’s most-renowned civil rights leaders. Sharpton also hosts the nationally syndicated radio show, “Keepin’ It Real”, which broadcasts in 40 markets, five days a week. He resides in New York.
MARCI HENNA
The Book That Became A Movie
With the heart and humor of Fannie Flagg’s Fried Green Tomatoes and Rebecca Wells’s Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, author Marci Henna introduces you to the Cranbournes—a mostly lovable and undoubtedly nutty family who’ve had more than their fair share of hard times.
Ashleigh Banfield talks to I Am Refocused Radio, Listen here
ABOUT JUDGEMENT WITH ASHLEIGH BANFIELD
Judgment With Ashleigh Banfield, an all-new original series hosted by original Court TV alum and respected former CNN and MSNBC legal analyst Banfield, who made her Court TV return as a special contributor earlier this year. Judgment With Ashleigh Banfield will be a weekly hour-long series taking viewers on a deep dive into the most provocative and talked about trials and cases of all-time. With brand new interviews and exclusive first-time ever reveals, each installment will look to further explore everything people only thought they knew about these touchstones in judicial history. Initial cases featured include those involving Casey Anthony, Jodie Arias, O.J. Simpson, Conrad Murray and others. Judgment With Ashleigh Banfield will be seen Sunday Nights at 8:00 p.m. (ET) with the series premiere set for Sept. 13.
BIO
For over 30 years, Ashleigh Banfield has been consistently one of the most acclaimed anchors in television news, and one of television’s top crime journalists. She rejoined Court TV this past April as a special contreibutor. One of her recent roles included hosting Primetime Justice with Ashleigh Banfield on HLN. Just prior to hosting this program on HLN, she anchored Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield on its sister network, CNN. She joined CNN in 2011 as co-anchor of the morning news show Early Start. Over the course of her career, she has covered breaking news from across the country and around the globe.
Banfield has reported from the scenes of the bombing at the Boston Marathon in Massachusetts and the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Banfield also reported live from the trials of George Zimmerman, Jodi Arias and Casey Anthony, bringing to light the complicated courtroom proceedings of each case, including questions regarding the death penalty. Banfield was previously a correspondent for ABC News, reporting for Good Morning America, 20/20, World News with Diane Sawyer, and Nightline. Prior to ABC, Banfield anchored and hosted three programs on TruTV including a daily legal news program, Banfield and Ford: Courtside; the weekly evening show Hollywood Heat; and the successful prime time special series that she created and co-produced, Disorder in the Court. In 2008, the Gracie Allen Awards named her Outstanding Anchor, recognizing her achievement at Court TV. Her Banfield and Ford: Courtside program coverage of the Rhode Island Nightclub Fire — earned a Telly Award in 2007.
As a correspondent for NBC News from 2000-2004, Banfield reported for The Today Show, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, and Dateline. Banfield covered the terrorist attacks of September 11th, reporting live from Ground Zero as the events unfolded, which earned her an Emmy Award nomination. After nine consecutive days at Ground Zero, Banfield departed for Islamabad, Pakistan to begin covering the War on Terror. From September 2001 to January 2004, she reported live from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, England, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia. This work earned Banfield and her team a National Headliner Award. During this time, she also anchored several primetime series on MSNBC, including A Region In Conflict and Ashleigh Banfield: On Location.
Her most noted interviews include Yasser Arafat, Israeli Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Shimon Peres, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Saudi Prince Al Faisal, Laura Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Martha Stewart, John McCain, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller, Rosie O’Donnell, Donald Trump, Kevin Spacey and Bryan Cranston.
Prior to MSNBC, Banfield served as the evening news anchor for KDFW-TV, the FOX affiliate in Dallas. While there, she received her first Emmy Award for “Best News Anchor” for her coverage on the “Cadet Killer,” and a Texas Associate Press Award for the series “To Serve and Survive.” Banfield also worked at Canada’s CICT-TV, as a producer from 1992-93 and from 1993-95 as their evening news anchor and business correspondent. In 1994, Banfield earned two IRIS awards for the “Best News Documentary” and “Best of Festival” categories, where she chronicled the life of a homeless man.
Before, and during, her tenure at CICT-TV, Banfield freelanced as an associate producer for ABC’s World News Tonight, where she covered the 1991 Bush/Gorbachev Summit in Russia and the 1992 Clinton/Yeltsin Summit in Vancouver.
Banfield received a bachelor’s degree in political studies and French from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. In 1992, she continued her language education in an Advanced French Studies program at the University of British Columbia. In 2009, she earned a Journalism Law School fellowship from Loyola Law School in California.
www.facebook.com/AshleighBanfield
Nicole Weider is a Salem, Oregon native who moved to Los Angeles and quickly found success as a fashion model at the age of 17. Today, Nicole is an active wife, mom, producer, actress and author and has made it her mission to share her personal story, the bright moments and the challenges, with young women around the world. Nicole founded Project Inspired with a goal to share her faith with a wider audience in hopes of inspiring others to live out the abundant lives God has called them to. Project Inspired is a home for hope, inspiration, frank discussion, spirituality and truth – and we don’t forget to mix in just the right amount of humor and fun.
SWITCHED Website: switchedmovie.com
Facebook: facebook.com/nicoleweider77
Instagram: instagram.com/nicoleweider
Twitter: twitter.com/NicoleWeider
Websites: www.projectinspired.com
Listen here
About The Carlos Watson Show
The Carlos Watson Show brings bold, impactful conversations with culture-defining celebrities, intellectual pioneers and changemakers, spotlighting the voices you need to hear to make sense of this important time in American history. Read more at Ozy.com
Listen to Interviews on Demand
I Am Refocused!
I Am Refocused Radio provides a space that welcomes people to speak freely about real life experiences through various platforms to engage and encourage those who are looking to find their purpose.
Podcast Sponsor
Listen to I Am Refocused Radio on iHeartRadio
Listen on Saturday at 7:00 AM on AM630TheWord or Sunday Morning at 6:00 AM on 930AMTheAnswer Radio Station in San Antonio, TX
Listen on your favorite podcast platforms:
