From humble beginnings to becoming a strategic finance leader, Thomari Story-Harden has spent 20 years bridging financial services, real estate, and mentorship. He is the founder of Team Avenue Baseball, a platform where entrepreneurship, leadership, and NIL readiness come together to guide the next generation. Anchored by family and faith, Thomari is committed to turning prosperity into purpose.

Rising Strong: Quin Waters on Psychology, Perseverance, and Community Leadership

What does it mean to rise above your circumstances? For some, life’s early challenges can limit their vision. For others, those same challenges ignite resilience, shaping a future filled with purpose. Quinn Waters is one of the latter.

Raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Quin’s story blends grit, learning, and leadership. From teen parenthood and foster care to management roles, real estate, and community impact, she’s turned adversity into a platform for influence. Today, she stands as a voice of strength in California’s Central Valley — a leader known not only for her achievements but for her heart for people.

Born in Reedley and raised in Orosi, California, Alex Mendoza grew up with small-town roots and a drive to excel. A standout student and athlete, he graduated from Orosi High with honors and was named Student Athlete of the Year in 2008. He went on to play collegiate tennis at the College of the Sequoias and graduated in 2014 as a Physical Therapist Assistant.

For 11 years, Alex has dedicated himself to helping patients regain strength and mobility, but a chance conversation with a patient opened the door to financial services. After first licensing with Primerica, he joined WFG in 2016, and today he continues his healthcare career while serving part-time at GFI. At 35, as a proud father of two young daughters, Alex is passionate about building a future defined by balance, service, and setting an example for his family.

From Madera to a Million Families: The Mission of Jose Rodriguez

Jose Rodriguez’s story is one of passion, persistence, and purpose. With over a dozen years in the financial services industry—including five years working in San Francisco’s financial district and a decade at AIG—Jose has built a career grounded in expertise, resilience, and a commitment to serving families.

Born and raised in Madera, California, Jose grew up with small-town values and a natural fascination for finance. Those early seeds of curiosity grew into a professional mission: to help families not only understand money but also use it as a tool for freedom and legacy. His journey has taken him from corporate boardrooms to community conversations, where he has become a trusted guide for individuals, families, and even local businesses.

At 38 years old, Jose is not just a financial professional—he is a proud father of four. His oldest son is pursuing music as an R&B artist, his daughters are excelling in education (one a UC Santa Cruz graduate, the other thriving in private school in San Francisco), and his youngest son, just 1.5 years old, already shows the independence and determination that reflect his father’s spirit. Family is at the heart of everything Jose does, and it fuels his vision for the future.

Jose is bilingual, fluent in Spanish, and deeply connected to both his Central Valley roots and the broader communities he serves through technology. Thanks to platforms like Zoom, he’s been able to work with families and even some of your favorite authentic restaurants and small businesses across different states, helping them reach their goals while generating strong financial results.

But what truly sets Jose apart is his mission: to help one million families achieve financial independence—one family at a time. For him, this isn’t just a career goal. It’s a calling rooted in the belief that every family deserves the tools, strategies, and support to break financial barriers and build a legacy they can be proud of.

In this episode of the Evans Legacy Financial Podcast, Jose shares:

• What it was like growing up in Madera and how his upbringing shaped his values

• Lessons learned from his decade-long corporate career at AIG and time in San Francisco’s financial district

• Why returning to the Central Valley meant more than just geography—it was about serving his community

• How technology allows him to extend his impact far beyond California

• The ways fatherhood inspires his vision for financial education and independence

• Practical insights on what holds families back financially and how to break through those challenges

• His bold mission to reach one million families and what “legacy” truly means to him

🎧 Tune in to hear Jose’s inspiring journey, filled with wisdom, personal stories, and a clear reminder that financial freedom is possible—for anyone, from anywhere.

What if the challenge you’re facing right now is the very thing that will shape your legacy?

In this powerful episode, Jake sits down with Mike Bronze — a former college wrestler turned regional sales leader — whose journey from grocery store frustration to leading thousands of moves each year is built on one thing: mindset.

Mike shares how discipline, discomfort, and deep connection transformed his approach to life, leadership, and family. From moving over 800 families by hand to overseeing a team that manages 2,500+ moves annually, his story is less about job titles and more about the inner shift that made it possible.

🔑 How do you pivot when the plan falls apart?
🔑 What kind of leader do you become when no one’s watching?
🔑 Are you reacting to life — or responding with intention?

This episode isn’t just a conversation — it’s a call to check your mindset, challenge your limits, and ask:
What am I capable of if I stop playing small?

🎧 Listen now and meet the man who's built his career — and his character — one move at a time.

What do you do when the dream you’ve spent your whole life chasing suddenly slips through your fingers?

In this powerful and emotional episode of the Evans Legacy Financial Podcast, host Jake Evans sits down with Sandra Hernandez — a woman whose journey from aspiring surgeon to financial educator is as surprising as it is inspiring.

Sandra was born in Mexico and raised by a hardworking mother who toiled in the fields and packing houses, sacrificing everything to give her daughter a shot at a better life. At age 15, Sandra moved to the United States without speaking a word of English. Despite the odds, she pushed forward with a laser focus: she would become a doctor.

She carried that dream into college, taking on a brutal pre-med schedule while juggling two jobs. But when her beloved stepfather was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, everything changed. The emotional toll was overwhelming. Sandra found herself not just grieving, but questioning everything.

And then — in the most unexpected of ways — a new door opened. A free hair straightener at a campus event led her to a financial services presentation. What began as a quick listen became a total life pivot. Sandra discovered a different way to help people — not through surgery, but through financial education, empowerment, and legacy building.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How grief, hardship, and responsibility shaped Sandra’s grit and perspective

• Why her stepfather’s love and loss became the emotional turning point of her life

• How she paid off her mother’s home — and what that moment meant to her

• The surprising similarities between saving lives and saving legacies

• Her message to other immigrants, young women, and anyone questioning their path

This isn’t just a story of success. It’s a story of resilience, redirection, and redefining what legacy truly means.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a path that no longer fits…
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to pivot…
If you’ve ever wanted to honor your family’s sacrifice with more than just survival…

Then this episode is for you.

Born in California and raised in Mexico, Jovanna Castanon’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and unshakable determination. At just 14, she moved to the U.S. with her father and siblings—leaving her mother behind—and faced the challenges of a new language and culture head-on.

Originally pursuing a geology degree, her life took a transformative turn at 19 when she was introduced to entrepreneurship and the financial services industry. Motivated by personal loss—her mother passing without life insurance and her sister’s battle with cancer—Jovanna committed her life to helping families reclaim financial power, build generational wealth, and break cycles of struggle.

In this inspiring episode of the Evans Legacy Financial Podcast, host Jake Evans and Jovanna explore:

• Growing up between two worlds and the sacrifices that shaped her values

• Shifting from education and early career dreams to discovering her true calling

• How personal loss fueled her passion to create impact for families

• The challenges of building a business at a young age

• What “legacy” means to her and how she’s helping others define their own

Jovanna’s journey is proof that no matter where you begin, you can rise above limitations and create a future worth passing on.

👉 Subscribe, share this episode, and explore more powerful stories at evanslegacyfinancial.com/podcast.

From KFRC Airwaves to a Life in Recovery: The Joe C Story

Joe C’s voice was a familiar sound to thousands of listeners during the golden era of KFRC Radio. Behind the mic, he lived the high-energy pace of the broadcasting world — but also faced personal battles that would change his life forever.

In this candid conversation with host Jake Evans, Joe shares how the discipline, connection, and storytelling skills he mastered in radio became tools in his decades-long journey of sobriety. From the peak of his career to the turning point that led him to recovery, Joe opens up about the lessons, daily practices, and mindset that have kept him grounded and thriving.

If you’ve ever wondered how someone can transform their life after the spotlight fades — or if you’re seeking encouragement for your own path — this episode delivers hope, honesty, and wisdom from a man who’s lived both sides of the mic.

Topics Covered:

• Joe’s early years and rise in the radio industry

• The culture and challenges of KFRC during its peak

• The moment he chose recovery

• Life lessons from decades of sobriety

• Defining legacy and purpose today

🎧 Listen in and be inspired by a story of resilience, reinvention, and the power of staying true to yourself.