Parent advocate Tiffany Hawkins joined the Grand Canyon Times podcast to discuss her fight for transparency in Arizona's school districts. Using her auditing background, she uncovered missing public records and pushed for reforms to safety and bullying policies after her daughter was injured on campus.

Hawkins described how she's worked with the state ombudsman to enforce compliance and now campaigns for stronger public access laws. She urged parents to attend board meetings, file detailed records requests, and connect through community networks to demand accountability from local schools

In this episode of the Grand Canyon Times podcast, host Leyla Gulen speaks with Timothy Minella, Senior Fellow at the Goldwater Institute's Van Sittert Center for Constitutional Advocacy.

Minella explains why he believes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs undermine America's founding promise of equal opportunity. He outlines how DEI has become embedded in public universities and government institutions, replacing equal treatment with ideological conformity.

Minella discusses ongoing Goldwater legal actions—such as the case of ASU professor Owen Anderson—state reforms like Idaho's Freedom from Indoctrination Act, and efforts to eliminate mandatory DEI training.

In this episode of the Grand Canyon Times podcast, host Leyla Gulen talks with Chris Thomas, Director of Legal Strategy for Education Policy at the Goldwater Institute and a longtime Arizona school attorney.

Thomas discusses findings from a Goldwater report revealing the many hidden forms of compensation for Arizona school superintendents—including car stipends, excessive vacation days, and cash payouts—that go far beyond base salaries. He explains how a lack of transparency leaves both taxpayers and school boards in the dark, and calls for public posting of superintendent contracts as already required in Indiana, Illinois, and Texas.

The conversation also touches on broader education policy issues, including administrative spending versus classroom funding, chronic absenteeism, and the impact of school choice in Arizona's evolving education landscape

In this episode of the Grand Canyon Times podcast, host Leyla Gulen speaks with Kim Miller, founder of Arizona Women of Action and America's Women. What began as a small text chain in 2020 has grown into a network of more than 35,000 subscribers and followers.

Miller shares how the organizations mobilize women to protect childhood, strengthen families, and defend faith-based values through civic engagement. The discussion explores practical steps for influencing education, donor awareness, and cultural change while carrying forward a mission rooted in Christian principles

Phil Mason, founder of the Arizona Republican Assembly, talks about improving student performance through teacher incentives, the role of ESAs, and the need for stronger parental accountability. He also shares insights on lobbying, legislative transparency, and the Arizona Republican Assembly's legislative scorecard

Matt Beienburg, Director of Education Policy at the Goldwater Institute, discusses Arizona's education landscape, the growth of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, and the ongoing debate over school choice. He explains how ESAs work, addresses criticisms, and highlights their impact on families across income levels

Tiffany Benson joined the podcast to discuss:

• How secular humanism shapes K–12 and why the Bible should be taught as a historical source.

• Practical steps for parents to assert rights: know district policies, show up, and build trust with teachers.

• Building Restore Parental Rights and Education to equip families for transparency, safety, and academic excellence.

Tiffany Benson is a Christian community advocate, writer, and founder of Restore Parental Rights and Education, a grassroots partner for K–12 families focused on district transparency, student safety, and academic success. She appears in the documentary 22 Words and writes the Substack ParentsPayAttention.com, offering plain-language guidance on policies, parental rights, and school governance. Benson is developing her nonprofit to provide training and tools that help parents lead with their values while navigating a rapidly changing public-school landscape.

Tamra Farah joined the podcast to discuss:

• Shifting K–12 authority from Washington to states and parents through the "Big Beautiful Bill."

• Expanding ESAs/empowerment scholarships so education dollars follow the child.

• Refocusing schools on core academics while keeping ideology out of the classroom.

Tamra Farah is the leader of AmericanStrategies.org and a former journalist with more than two decades in policy and politics.

She has advised local, state, and federal candidates and partnered with Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, Moms for America, and Arizona Women of Action.

Her commentary appears regularly across conservative media, including Townhall and AZ Free News. Farah advocates limited government, parental rights, and academic excellence rooted in community values.