The 323 Podcast

Kelsy Chavez spent two decades in advertising and marketing, working with everything from small local businesses to brands like Walmart and Coca-Cola, before God called her to start a Substack called Fire in the Middle. In it, she writes about faith, family, and the way digital influence quietly shapes all of us, especially our kids.

Kelsy and Tiffany talk about discernment as a daily practice rather than a buzzword, the differenc...

Roberto Garza Jr. spent 21 years serving in the U.S. Army, earning a Purple Heart through deployments in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

When he came home, the real battle was just beginning. Roberto walked through years of PTSD, depression, and suicidal ideation before God used something as simple as a faded highway sign to redirect his life.

Today he serves as Director of the El Paso Military Resiliency Center for the Warriors J...

Ben Luna Jr. is a 19-year journeyman electrician, multi-business owner, and now a candidate for New Mexico State House District 53. He grew up watching problems go unfixed in his community and decided to do something about it.

In this conversation, Ben shares how a moment of financial trust, accepting a pay cut right after his daughter was born, became the first time he truly saw God provide. From that turning point, he's built bus...

Scott Willingham is back. He is the founder and CEO of Wake Effect, a Las Cruces-based consulting firm specializing in sales training and talent optimization.

In this follow-up conversation, we went deep on ASLAN, the sales methodology Scott uses with his clients, and why he chose it. The core idea is simple and countercultural: selling is serving. We talked about what it actually takes to be other-centered in a sales context, why ...

Scott Willingham spent more than 20 years leading in sales organizations, running training programs for 500-person teams, and navigating the faith questions that come with corporate success, before stepping out to found Wake Effect, his Las Cruces-based consulting firm. He is one of a handful of ASLAN certified partners in the country and the only one who also partners with Predictive Index, bringing a rare combination of behaviora...

Jonathan Lopez is a founding partner at Truvize Financial, an El Paso-based advisory firm he built alongside Drew Harris. He and Drew are known for meeting clients where they are, not just with numbers and strategies, but with honest conversations about why money matters and what it is ultimately for.

In this return visit to the 323 Podcast, Jonathan talks through the psychology of money, the danger of purely reactive financial ma...

Joe Loya is back on the 323 Podcast. A Navy veteran, entrepreneur, and 11-year sobriety milestone holder, Joe is the founder of Breaking the Curse LLC in Las Cruces — and one of the most openly bold voices for his faith you will find in the Borderplex.

In this conversation, Joe and Tiffany pick up where they left off, talking about what it means to steward a spiritual gift of connection, how to set healthy boundaries when eve...

Marcus Juarez and Madison Arrieta are the engaged co-founders of Blessed Beans Coffee Co., a faith-driven mobile coffee trailer based in El Paso. They launched in the fall of 2025 with a simple mission — grounded in faith, brewed with love — and rooted their business in Psalm 34:8. 

In this conversation, we talk about what it actually looks like to start a business with faith at the center from day one: the hard ea...

Cynthia D. Horton is the founder of Shift to Grow, a leadership development firm based in El Paso, and a woman whose faith shows up in everything she does, from her work with nonprofits and corporations to fostering over 50 kids and helping bring a 10,000-piece international art collection to the Borderplex. In this conversation, Cynthia talks about what it actually looks like to work as unto the Lord, why she believes leadership i...

Abraham Abner, co-founder of Artifex Leather, joins the 323 Podcast to share how a family business in precious metals led to building a growing exotic leather brand from the ground up. What started with watch straps on eBay has grown into a handcrafted business producing alligator, ostrich, and python belts right in El Paso.

In this episode, Abraham talks about working alongside family, building trust online, and creating a brand t...

A car accident at 12 years old changed the direction of Monica Garza’s life in a way she didn’t fully understand at the time. Years later, that moment would lead her to a calling rooted in healing, faith, and service.

In this episode, Monica shares how she walked away from her path, only to feel God call her back, right in the middle of the pandemic. When everything said “wait,” she moved forward and built 1...

Erik Rayo, owner of Christian Outlets, shares how a season of profound loss and loneliness led him to faith in 2020, and set him on an unexpected path from aspiring neurosurgeon to Christian business owner and minister. Erik opens up about growing up without a father figure, losing his grandfather, and being on his own as a teenager when his mother was...

Jackie (Jacqueline) Kille, founder and president of Rosewood Title, shares how a layoff became the catalyst for launching her own title company in a competitive, male-dominated industry. From funding challenges to last-minute provision, Jackie reflects on the lessons God taught her about humility, trust, and surrender. She also shares how she’s building a culture rooted in integrity, flexibility, and servant leadership while ...

Paulina Longenbaugh, a commercial and residential realtor with Cornerstone Realty in El Paso, joins the 323 Podcast to share her journey into real estate and the faith that guides her work. Paulina talks about trust, service, and humility in a fast-paced industry, how her faith was shaped at a young age, and why community and integrity matter deeply in leadership. This conversation explores serving clients well, balancing business ...

Kris Yagel, interim CEO of El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank and founder of Diligent Plans, joins the 323 Podcast to share his journey from military service to servant leadership. Chris talks about faith, brokenness, and restoration, and why real leadership is rooted in presence, humility, and caring for people first. This episode explores leading through transition, rebuilding culture, and honoring God in the quiet, unseen work...

Jonathan Lopez and Drew Harris, co-owners of True Vise Financial, join the 323 Podcast to talk about faith, leadership, and wise stewardship. As business owners themselves, they share why proactive financial planning matters, how faith shapes their decisions, and what it looks like to lead with integrity in a high-pressure world. This conversation explores true financial advice versus sales, serving business owners well, and using ...

Jonathan Lopez and Drew Harris, co-owners of True Vise Financial, join the 323 Podcast to talk about faith, leadership, and wise stewardship. As business owners themselves, they share why proactive financial planning matters, how faith shapes their decisions, and what it looks like to lead with integrity in a high-pressure world. This conversation explores true financial advice versus sales, serving business owners well, and using ...

Marisela and Russell Harper, co-owners of Clearview Realty, share how faith shapes the way they lead their business, their team, and their family. As a husband-and-wife team leading more than 200 agents in El Paso, they talk about building a values-driven culture rooted in clarity, integrity, and care. This conversation covers prayer at work, loving your people well, raising the next generation of leaders, and honoring God in every...