In this episode of Local Legends with Jess and Jason, we sit down with a true rising star—Kennedy Rettew, the creative force behind Kicks by Kenna.

What started as a simple project at just 16 years old quickly turned into a thriving business built on passion, creativity, and word-of-mouth. From drawing as a child to picking up her first pair of paint markers at Home Depot, Kennedy shares how she turned a creative outlet into a brand recognized by Olympic athletes, NFL players, and high-profile clients.

Kennedy opens up about the early days—charging just $20 for custom shoes, learning her value over time, and building confidence in her craft. With support from her family (and her “momager”), she leaned into social media and community connections to grow her business organically.

Now graduating with a degree in graphic design, she reflects on balancing school and entrepreneurship, the importance of time management and attention to detail, and her plans to continue growing both her brand and career.

This episode is a powerful reminder that big things can start small—and that passion, consistency, and community can take you further than you ever imagined.

About the Guest

Kennedy Rettew, also known as Kicks by Kenna, is a custom sneaker artist known for her bold, detailed designs. She has worked with Olympic athletes, NFL players, and major clients, all while building her brand from the ground up. With a background in graphic design and a passion for creativity, she continues to grow her business and inspire others to turn their passion into purpose.

Special thank you to Juston Lisk from State Farm— Juston’s mission is simple: treat customers like family, provide real solutions, and ensure every client feels confident, supported, and genuinely cared for. That level of intention and service is exactly why he’s considered one of our favorite Local Legends in Arizona.

We’re grateful for the support and proud to highlight Juston and his team for truly making a difference in our community.

This episode is Sponsored by Juston Lisk www.MyAgentJuston.com 480-983-0418

These are the local legends shaping our communities.
Real stories, real talk, and powerful conversations.
Local Legends with Jess — where Arizona’s stories connect.

This episode of Local Legends with Jess – Arizona Edition brings the energy, the laughs, and the realness with Nina and Sheer in a fun, unfiltered “slumber party” style conversation. From building authentic connections in real estate to the unexpected power of social media (yes, even TikTok), this episode dives into how genuine relationships—not sales tactics—are what truly drive success. You’ll hear how one DM turned into a fast, seamless homebuying experience and why showing up as your real self is your biggest advantage.

It’s a refreshing reminder that business can be fun, human, and full of personality. If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out, attract the right people, and create meaningful client relationships, this episode will leave you inspired, laughing, and maybe even rethinking how you show up online.

These are the local legends shaping our communities.
Real stories, real talk, and powerful conversations.
Local Legends with Jess — where Arizona’s stories connect.

In this episode of Local Legends with Jess, host Jessica Benevento sits down with Alicia Sweezer, founder of Who Knew Healing, for a thought-provoking conversation that challenges conventional ideas about healing, intuition, and human potential.

Alicia shares her unexpected journey from wildlife biologist working with endangered species to intuitive healer, and how her path evolved into helping people and animals connect, heal, and find clarity.

She breaks down her work in a refreshingly clear way, blending intuitive life coaching, energy clearing, mediumship, and animal communication to help clients gain clarity, release emotional blocks, and reconnect with their path. Alicia also explains how energy influences decision-making, relationships, and overall well-being—and why learning to trust your intuition can be a powerful turning point.

You’ll also hear how she works with animals, communicating with both living and passed pets to support behavior, trauma recovery, and even guide their owners through personal challenges. Her approach often uncovers deeper emotional patterns, creating transformation for both people and their animals.

Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or already exploring personal growth, this episode offers a fascinating look at the unseen forces that may be shaping your life—and how to start tuning into them.

Alicia Sweezer

623-670-2192 www.whoknewhealing.com

Hours: M-F 9am-6pm (MST)

These are the local legends shaping our communities.
Real stories, real talk, and powerful conversations.
Local Legends with Jess — where Arizona’s stories connect.

What happens when you stop talking about ideas… and actually start bringing them to life?

In this episode of Local Legends with Jess, Jessica Benevento sits down once again with returning guest Jason Cocuzza for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like a real-life brainstorm session you wish you were part of. There’s laughter, a little chaos, and a lot of vision.

From reflecting on childhood dreams, Jess opens up about the ideas that shaped her and the ones that still linger. It’s a reminder that sometimes the dreams we set aside never really leave us.

Then the conversation takes a turn into something deliciously unexpected—a deep dive into building a deli concept from the ground up. Not just any deli, but one rooted in East Coast authenticity, fresh ingredients, and community pride. Think homemade chicken cutlets, fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, and a space where customers don’t just order—they create.

But beyond the food, this episode is really about something bigger:
the difference between talking ideas out of existence… and talking them into reality.

Jess and Jason challenge each other (and you) to stop overthinking, start taking action, and create space for ideas to actually grow. Because sometimes the best businesses, the best moments, and the best versions of ourselves come from simply starting.

If you’ve ever had a “crazy idea,” this episode might just be the push you needed to take it seriously.

These are the local legends shaping our communities.
Real stories, real talk, and powerful conversations.
Local Legends with Jess — where Arizona’s stories connect.

In this episode of Local Legends with Jess – Arizona Edition, Jessica Benevento sits down with Morgan Hawes, also known as Mrs. Wrighthouse, a dynamic force in Arizona real estate whose journey started at just 18.

What began as curiosity quickly turned into a passion. Morgan shares how real estate felt less like work and more like a game—one where she could create, transform, and design spaces that evolve with every phase of life. From living through her own remodels to constantly refining her home to match her growth, she brings a unique perspective on how real estate can truly shape your lifestyle.

Originally on a pre-med track at ASU, Morgan quickly realized that path wasn’t aligned. Instead of following a traditional route, she pivoted into real estate development and entrepreneurship—diving into hands-on projects, pitching investment ideas, and learning the business from the ground up.

This conversation is all about trusting your instincts, pivoting with purpose, and building a life and career that actually fits who you are.

These are the local legends shaping our communities.
Real stories, real talk, and powerful conversations.
Local Legends with Jess — where Arizona’s stories connect.

In this episode of Local Legends, Jess reconnects with Brennan Taylor Forster for a full-circle conversation that starts back when he was in 8th grade and turns into a powerful story about choosing your own path.

Brennan shares what it was like growing up, including his early connection with Jess and his experience in a small high school where he never quite felt like he fit in. After graduating, he briefly attended Arizona State University, but quickly realized traditional college was not the right path for him.

That is when everything changed.

Given a choice by his parents—to pay for school himself or travel the world—Brennan chose experience. He went on to visit over 30 countries across Asia, Europe, and beyond. During that time, he had a major shift in perspective, connecting with people, cultures, and ideas that helped him discover what truly interested him.

That journey led him to real estate and marketing, where he began to see opportunities others often overlook. After returning home and moving back in with his parents, Brennan got his real estate license and started building a path that was anything but traditional.

Today, he has expanded into video production, combining creativity with business strategy, and has built a career doing work he genuinely enjoys.

Brennan credits much of his growth and success to his parents, who encouraged him to think differently, invest in experiences, and focus on his overall well-being along the way.

This episode is a reminder that success does not always come from following the expected path. Sometimes it comes from taking risks, exploring the world, and trusting yourself enough to build something different.

These are the local legends shaping our communities.
Real stories, real talk, and powerful conversations.
Local Legends with Jess — where Arizona’s stories connect.

This week Jess sits down with a guest whose story leaves a lasting impression. Margaret Anderson shares the deeply personal journey that led her to the work she does today—helping others through grief, loss, and the emotional process surrounding death.

Margaret’s story begins with unimaginable loss after the passing of her son. In the midst of her own grief, she began to see how powerful meaningful support can be during life’s most difficult moments. That realization led her to begin working in hospital transportation services, where she spent nearly ten years helping patients and families during vulnerable times. Through that work, she witnessed firsthand how important compassion, presence, and understanding can be when people are facing the unknown.

Eventually Margaret felt called to support others in a deeper way. She enrolled in a course that would change her life and became a death doula, someone who helps individuals and families emotionally and spiritually prepare for the end-of-life journey. Today she also works as a grief educator, guiding caregivers and families through the complicated emotions that come with loss.

During the conversation, Margaret explains that grief is not something to “fix,” but something to move through. Her work focuses on helping people process emotions, find closure, and create space for the conversations that often go unspoken. She shares stories of clients learning to say the things that matter most—expressing love, forgiveness, gratitude, and goodbyes that bring peace to both sides.

Margaret also reminds listeners that while death is something many people avoid talking about, it is a natural part of life. By acknowledging it openly, families can reduce fear, strengthen connections, and allow healing to begin. Her message is simple but powerful: grief work helps people realize that love does not disappear with loss—it simply changes form.

This moving episode invites listeners to look at grief through a different lens and offers a compassionate reminder that even in life’s hardest moments, support, understanding, and connection can make all the difference.

These are the local legends shaping our communities.
Real stories, real talk, and powerful conversations.
Local Legends with Jess — where Arizona’s stories connect.

The inspiration level jumps fast in this episode featuring entrepreneur Jaclyn Tromo. From the moment Jess discovered Jaclyn on social media, she was captivated. One connection quickly turned into a yes to the opportunity Jaclyn was promoting — proving that sometimes success simply starts with taking action.

Jaclyn’s entrepreneurial spirit started young. At just five years old she wanted a cash register because she knew she wanted to work and run a business. After moving to Arizona at age ten, her creative path eventually led her to esthetician school and into the beauty industry. She assisted as a makeup artist at Arizona Fashion Week and soon began working with models and brides, building real experience behind the scenes.

With a bigger vision in mind, Jaclyn took a bold risk and moved to Los Angeles to grow a makeup brand. Without a steady job, she took on odd work while building her dream. At one point she found herself staring at a $100,000 production bill while developing her cosmetics line — a moment that could have stopped everything. Instead, it became part of the story that pushed her forward.

What started as a beauty career eventually evolved into something even bigger than she imagined. Jaclyn discovered her true superpower — helping entrepreneurs launch fast. Today she runs a thriving personal branding agency, coaches business owners, and is teaching industry leaders how to build authority-driven digital personal brands.

Her journey is proof that when you keep showing up, take risks, and stay open to new opportunities, the path can grow into something far greater than you ever expected. This episode will leave you inspired to act on your vision and see what can change in a blink of an eye.

These are the local legends shaping our communities.
Real stories, real talk, and powerful conversations.
Local Legends with Jess — where Arizona’s stories connect.