Close Up Radio

Recent Episodes

Part 2: Close Up Radio Welcomes Back Top Lawyer John R. Teakell

Posted January 14, 2026 • 00:35:48

Dallas, TX - John R. Teakell is an often-honored lawyer, with a number of inclusions and accolades on his resume, such as Top 100 Attorney, Super Lawyer and Elite Lawyers. From his legal office in Dallas, TX, he has provided criminal defense services to hundreds of individuals charged with Texas or Federal felonies. Choosing an experienced attorney, he stresses, is important when people are facing Federal criminal charges. He has extensive Federal experience that can increase the changes of a dismissal. Mr. Teakell currently practices in Texas but also worked for a few years as an Assistant US Attorney, both locally and in Puerto Rico.“I was interested in the law and law enforcement at a young age and aspired to work for the FBI or the U.S. Attorney’s Office. I spent my days working in firms like banks while attending law school at night. I later worked at the State Prosecutor’s Office and just kept moving up.”His career began back in 1985. He now has broad experience as a state and federal prosecutor and has handled thousands of cases ranging from misdemeanors to death penalty cases. Among the many charges he has handled are drug cases, SEC cases, and fraud and white collar cases. Some cases are mundane while others are rather unusual, such as a Federal case related to the sale of wellness products without being registered with the FDA . His trial experience includes white collar cases, fraud, computer intrusions, tax evasion, securities fraud, conspiracy, security clearance hearings, and more.The National Trial Lawyer Association recognized Mr. Teakell as a top rated criminal defense attorney and gave him the title Super Lawyer. He has also appeared in numerous media including Forbes and Time magazines and Who’s Who. The Close Up Radio team recognized Mr. Teakell for his many legal achievements as well as his public speaking manner. His cultivated way of speaking started with his trials and prosecutorial discussions and later led to media appearances and other podcasts.John R. Teakell has returned to his Texas roots after spending years in Oklahoma and outside the states. His father was a Deacon in The Baptist Church and also raised quarter horses, which became a passion for the attorney too.John R. Teakell has served as a Criminal Defense Attorney and former Federal, State, and SEC Prosecutor. This results in a unique combination of expertise that enables him to provide expert legal services to financial institutions, corporations, and government agencies. He believes that after all his years of Federal and State criminal prosecution experience, he thoroughly understands the investigative and prosecution processes, as well as the strategies needed for the defense of a company or individual who may be under investigation.Mr. Teakell has represented over 2500 clients and was voted Super Lawyer for 16 years running. He is respected for being hands on with every case and does not pass work off to junior or external partners. No matter how complex or lengthy the case is, his tireless dedication makes the difference.“I thought I would be a state prosecutor for life, but eventually the challenges from certain cases made me realize I too had to move on. I’ve been in private practice ever since, about 20 years now, and there are no regrets.”Learn more about all that John R Teakell has accomplished in his career and hopes to in the future in his two New Year podcasts.For more information about Lawyer John Terkell visit his website www.teakelllaw.com or profile on LinkedIn

Part 2: Close Up Radio Welcomes Back Food Safety Expert Kevin Forrest of Bevara High-Processing Tolling Services

Posted January 14, 2026 • 00:24:56

Winston-Salem, NC - Kevin Forrest knows we are all entitled to food safety—so we can live in a world where the food we consume is safe, clean, and trustworthy. Food preservation matters. Fresh foods and juices, in particular, are highly susceptible to microbial contamination and spoilage, making innovative safety solutions essential.As the food industry continues to evolve, technologies that extend shelf life without compromising quality are in high demand. One such innovation is High-Pressure Processing (HPP), a true game changer that enhances product safety while preserving taste, freshness, and nutritional value.Thanks to the leadership and vision of Kevin and his company Bevara High Pressure Processing Tolling Services, food safety is advancing in meaningful ways. By expanding access to HPP technology, Bevara is helping manufacturers deliver safer, longer-lasting products and empowering consumers with greater confidence in the food they choose every day.Bevara High-Pressure Processing Tolling Services is a newly established facility in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, specializing in High-Pressure Processing (HPP) technology. This advanced, non-thermal process uses high isostatic pressure to inactivate harmful microorganisms and enzymes—without heat—allowing food products to achieve significantly extended shelf life while preserving their original taste, color, and nutritional value.As the first HPP tolling facility of its kind in North Carolina, Bevara fills a critical gap in the region’s food-processing infrastructure. The facility supports food and beverage manufacturers throughout the Southeast by providing comprehensive services, including HPP tolling, packaging, labeling, cold storage, and integrated logistics solutions.Bevara specializes in High-Pressure Processing (HPP)—a non-thermal food safety technology that uses extreme cold water pressure to eliminate harmful pathogens while preserving taste, color, and nutrition.As an example, explains Kevin, a fresh juice made with spinach and kale typically has a pH of around 4 and will only last 2–3 days without pasteurization. When that same product is brought to Bevara, it enters the facility at the same pH level and is placed into baskets that are loaded into a pressure vessel.The vessel is filled with cold water, sealed on both ends, and pressure is applied—up to 87,000 pounds per square inch—for approximately three minutes. During this process, the product is exposed to isostatic pressure, which inactivates pathogens such as E. coli and Listeria without compromising the product’s integrity.Once the pressure is released, the product emerges with the same taste, color, and nutritional value—but with two critical differences. It has now been fully pathogen-inactivated and Its shelf life can be extended up to 120 days.This process effectively “bullet-proofs” food when applied correctly, making it one of the safest food preservation methods available today.Bevara’s mission is to increase access to safer, cleaner, and longer-lasting food products while helping manufacturers bring high-quality, minimally processed offerings to market efficiently and affordably.Bevara is a high-pressure processing tolling facility that provides state-of-the-art HPP equipment and services to food and beverage manufacturers. By bringing this advanced technology to North Carolina, Bevara is helping introduce safer, cleaner, and longer-lasting food products to the region and beyond.Raised in a fourth-generation food service distribution family, Mr. Forrest developed an early and lasting connection to the food industry. His professional background includes food service distribution and business ownership, with deep operational experience across the supply chain. Although his family business was sold in 2016, his passion for innovation in food never waned.While implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system at Village Juice, Kevin was introduced to High-Pressure Processing technology. The impact and potential of HPP immediately resonated with him, inspiring him to enter what remains a highly specialized and rapidly growing niche within the food industry. That vision ultimately led to the founding of Bevara High-Pressure Processing Tolling Services.Bevara is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of 2026.Kevin is deeply committed to helping consumers gain access to safer, healthier, and cleaner food. He believes awareness of HPP technology remains limited, even among manufacturers, despite its ability to open doors to green-label, minimally processed products at an affordable cost—without disrupting existing business models.Currently, there are very few independent HPP tolling providers in the United States, with Universal Pure being one of the largest operators in the space. Bevara aims to help close that gap by expanding access to this technology for food, beverage, raw food, and even pet food manufacturers—sectors that face increasing safety and regulatory challenges.Food has been part of Kevin's family legacy for generations. His mission is rooted in the belief that food should never be used as a weapon—and that clean, healthy, and accessible food should be readily available to everyone. Thanks to Kevin’s leadership and the work of Bevara, we are closer than ever to that vision becoming a reality.Don’t miss his upcoming podcast episodes with Jim and Doug to learn more about how he’s helping transform food safety and the future of what we eat.For more information, please visit www.bevarahpp.com

Close Up Radio Spotlights Acclaimed Attorney John Leonard of John S. Leonard Law

Posted January 14, 2026 • 00:37:12

Boston, MA - Imagine owning your business, municipality, or agency property for decades. Then one day, a certified letter arrives from the city. Inside, it explains that a new highway, school, or commercial development is planned—and your property sits directly in the path of progress. The government will be taking it, whether you agree or not. That is eminent domain.For most people it’s shocking and unsettling. Questions flood in: Do you have rights? Are you being treated fairly? The power of the government to take private property for public use—so long as it provides “just compensation”—can feel profoundly unbalanced. In those moments, clarity and experienced legal guidance matter. That’s where Attorney John S. Leonard comes in.For more than four decades, John S. Leonard has dedicated his legal career to navigating the complex, high-stakes world of eminent domain and real property damage. As a seasoned trial lawyer, he has represented private individuals, businesses, municipalities, and public agencies in matters involving eminent domain, regulatory takings, inverse condemnation, relocation assistance, and real estate tax abatement.Over the course of his career, Mr. Leonard has tried more than seventy-five cases to successful jury verdicts, many resulting in multi-million-dollar awards. His reputation for excellence is rooted not only in results, but in his deep command of the law and his ability to guide clients through emotionally charged situations with confidence and care.In recognition of his leadership in the field, Mr. Leonard was named Massachusetts Lawyer of the Year in Eminent Domain in 2017 by Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-reviewed legal publication in the profession.Born in South Boston, Mr. Leonard’s path into eminent domain law began early in his career while practicing at a prominent Boston general practice firm. There, he was mentored by a senior partner specializing in eminent domain—an experience that would shape his professional trajectory. After six to eight years of intensive training, he developed his own eminent domain practice within the firm, eventually spending 25 years there before launching his own office. Mr. Leonard wholeheartedly credits much of his success to the unwavering support of his family. He and his wife Denise—who retired after four decades as a fourth-grade teacher in Quincy—have been married for 52 years.For more than 20 years, he has served as senior partner at the Law Offices of John S. Leonard, LLC, where he focuses almost exclusively on civil eminent domain cases. His standing in the legal community is reflected in his AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale–Hubbell, a distinction he has held continuously since 1985.In addition to his extensive trial experience, Mr. Leonard has argued numerous appeals before the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He is also a widely respected author and lecturer on eminent domain law, frequently educating other attorneys on trial preparation and litigation strategy.His practice extends beyond property law to include complex commercial litigation involving contracts, labor and employment disputes, construction claims, real estate conflicts, and domestic relations—bringing a broad legal perspective to every case he handles.Mr. Leonard’s commitment to fairness extends beyond private practice. For 25 years, he served as Chairman of the Milton Board of Appeals, hearing hundreds of zoning cases and participating in related litigation. During his tenure, the town of Milton underwent significant transformation as highway and transit expansions reshaped the community. His leadership helped balance municipal growth with respect for residents’ rights.Their son John is an accomplished media professional, a Boston University graduate who has worked with major broadcast networks, produced Olympic coverage from Greece, and earned an Emmy Award. Their daughter Laurie graduated with honors from Milton Academy, Dartmouth College, and Cornell Law School. After practicing labor and employment law in New York, she joined her father’s firm, where she now handles labor and employment matters while raising her son, Thomas.Today, Mr. Leonard continues to expand his practice with a clear mission: to ensure that property owners whose land is taken through eminent domain receive fair, just compensation—and that municipalities conduct takings with transparency, respect, and accuracy to avoid unnecessary litigation.Whether representing individuals facing the loss of a home or advising public agencies on responsible valuation practices, Mr. Leonard brings balance, integrity, and unmatched experience to every case.His career reflects more than legal success. It tells the story of a lawyer who understands that behind every parcel of land is a life, a livelihood, and a legacy worth protecting.For more information about our guest, please visit https://www.jsleonardlaw.com/

Part 2: Close Up Radio Spotlights Danielle Joleigh Bennett of Radiant Legacy Collective

Posted January 13, 2026 • 00:31:56

Johnson Creek, WI - Danielle Joleigh Bennett (a. k. a. Dani Jo) is the leader organizations call when the stakes are high and the margin for error is razor thin. A veteran, parent, coach, and founder, Ms. Bennett built her career in the places at the intersection of complexity, pressure, and accountability, across the U.S. Navy, aerospace, defense contracting, and enterprise transformation. For more than two decades, she has taken on the high-risk initiatives, the ones others hesitate to touch, consistently converting instability to operational clarity and sustainable performance.As the Founder, President, and CEO of Radiant Legacy Collective, Inc., Ms. Bennett leads a multi-brand strategic architecture company dedicated to building human-forward systems and ventures that scale with integrity. She guides strategy, intellectual property, product performance, and enterprise launches—all anchored in the company’s proprietary frameworks, including Leadership Voltage™, VoltageSystem™ (Formerly GraceGlow™), and the Radiant Resilience Framework. These systems reframe leadership development by measuring human metrics alongside financial results, making growth operational, trackable, and genuinely transformative.Growing up in a world where traditional roles were shifting and expectations were anything but simple, Dani Jo learned early what it meant to carry responsibility with intention. Her path to leadership began with mastering self-management; skills forged not in classrooms, but in the midst of real challenges rooted in resilience, clarity, and courage. Those formative experiences didn’t just shape who she was; they became the foundation of her leadership philosophies.Ms. Bennettis also the architect behind Voltage Brands, a commercial portfolio that brings Leadership Voltage™ to life in the marketplace. Through Franchise Voltage and Business Voltage, she translates leadership theory into real-world capability, delivering franchise consulting, operational readiness, entrepreneurial coaching, curated networks, and practical toolkits. Voltage Brands exists to turn leaders into builders and businesses into scalable, sustainable engines. Her work is guided by more than credentials; it carries the imprint of her personal resilience and the hard-won insights that come from lived experience.Through DS7 Precision Strategies, her executive strategy and consulting practice under Radiant Legacy Collective, Dani Jo works directly with entrepreneurs, franchisors, and executives who want disciplined growth without losing their human center. She provides hands-on coaching, leadership recovery, commercialization support, and the operational playbooks that help organizations scale with clarity and confidence.Her work extends into the government sector through DS7 LLC, her forward-facing Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. There, Dani Jo confronts high-risk challenges head-on, supporting program recovery, supply-chain integration, manufacturability assessments, and mission-critical operational turnarounds. When government programs demand technical rigor, rapid stabilization, and performance under pressure, DS7 LLC is often the partner of choice.Across her distinguished career, Dani Jo has managed more than $1.2 billion in defense contracts, led joint military support across Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, and Turkey, and built a reputation for rescuing failing programs others had written off. She has contributed to critical national defense efforts, including Columbia-class submarine initiatives and medium voltage medium frequency programs, consistently delivering results on time, on budget, and under extraordinary circumstances.Her leadership style blends operational discipline with a deep understanding of people. A certified executive coach and practitioner of Soft Power for Hard Systems™, Dani Jo combines emotional intelligence with tactical rigor to build organizations that don’t just withstand disruption, they grow stronger because of it. Through executive coaching, practitioner training, conference programming, and digital toolkits, she equips leaders to convert turbulence into durable advantage. She shines as a beacon of clarity and intentionality, illuminating the way for leaders seeking direction and purpose.Ms. Bennett brings mainstream credentials and lived leadership experience to her work. A proud veteran, she completed some of the U.S. Navy’s most demanding professional programs and holds a Master of Science in Acquisition and Supply Chain Management. Her background spans military, corporate, and entrepreneurial leadership, supported by formal training through the Harvard Business Analytics Program, advanced joint professional military education, emergency management, and federal contracting. She is a certified Project Management Professional, a certified Everything DiSC partner, and a John Maxwell–certified leadership coach. Ms. Bennett has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who of America, including Top Professional honors for 2025-2026, for her contributions to leadership and business consulting. She is actively advancing her professional speaking and leadership platform, integrating certified leadership frameworks with original methodologies developed through real-world application.Community remains central to everything she builds. Dani Jo coaches youth sports, serves as a youth activities director, and mentors in her hometown, believing that leadership starts early, grows through service, and is measured by the strength of the communities it uplifts. She champions inclusive employment, fair wages, and economic ecosystems that help small businesses and families thrive.At the heart of Ms. Bennett’s work lives a simple promise: to steward legacy while building radiance. She believes in the value of ongoing learning. And she remains steadfast in her commitment to elevating and expanding the field of leadership development. Her upcoming book and Leadership Voltage programs will extend that promise into conferences, certifications, and tools designed to transform how leaders rise, rebuild, and lead with purpose.Learn more about Dani Jo in her upcoming interviews with Jim, where she shares her journey, fresh ideas, innovations, and unique perspectives. You’ll walk away with greater clarity, and plenty of inspiration.For more information, visit www.radiantlegacycollective.com

Part 2: Close Up Radio Welcomes Back Psychiatrist, Telehealth Pioneer, and Author Dr. Muhamad Aly Rifai

Posted January 13, 2026 • 00:34:42

Easton, PA - Dr. Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD, one of the nation’s leading psychiatrists and a pioneer in telepsychiatry, has released a riveting new book detailing his two-year legal battle with the US Department of Justice. In “Doctor Not Guilty” (published July 2024, Amazon #1 Bestseller), Dr. Rifai shares the extraordinary events surrounding his indictment on federal healthcare fraud charges, his steadfast refusal to accept a guilty plea, and his ultimate acquittal by jury verdict.Dr. Rifai’s story is not only one of personal resilience but also a rare look inside the mechanics of federal healthcare investigations, the challenges physicians face under regulatory scrutiny, and the urgent need for reforms within the nation’s legal and medical systems.Pioneering Telepsychiatry Long Before the PandemicDr. Rifai’s dedication to medicine began early, with a natural inclination for psychiatry and a deep interest in understanding human behavior. As a quadruple board-certified physician in psychiatry, internal medicine, addiction medicine, and medical management, as well as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a Fellow of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Dr. Rifai has long been recognized as a leader in his field. He was elected president of his local psychiatric society and has been acknowledged for his innovative work in delivering psychiatric treatment to rural and underserved populations.His work in telepsychiatry began in 2006, well before telehealth became mainstream. Serving thousands of vulnerable patients in rural Pennsylvania, Dr. Rifai saved Medicare significant resources while increasing access to mental health care. His efforts were recognized by Medicare, which commended his cost-saving practices and commitment to patient care.In November 2022, at the height of the nationwide shift to telehealth services, the Department of Justice brought four counts of healthcare fraud against Dr. Rifai, alleging that he did not provide psychotherapy in line with government time requirements. Specifically, investigators claimed that his telehealth sessions did not consistently meet the 16-minute minimum for reimbursement, despite documentation to the contrary.Dr. Rifai, who has written manuals and taught courses on telepsychiatry, found himself embroiled in a confusing and contentious legal battle. Despite his compliance with American Medical Association codes and Medicare guidelines, and despite his pioneering status in telehealth, he faced intense pressure to accept a plea agreement. He refused, certain of his innocence and confident in his documentation.“I did not do anything wrong,” Dr. Rifai says. “I followed all the rules, taught others how to do so, and urged my staff to comply with every regulation. Yet I was targeted and prosecuted as an example at a time when telehealth was expanding across the country.”Inside the Six-Day Jury TrialThe federal trial, which began April 30, 2024 and ran for six days, unveiled the weaknesses in the government’s case. The prosecution relied on non-clinical interpretations of Dr. Rifai’s medical notes and brought in an expert who, under cross-examination, reversed her position and admitted that she did not support the government’s charges or its investigation. The government also compelled former staff to testify under threat of prosecution, yet their statements were discredited in open court using their own authenticated documentation.The government’s claims extended to accusing Dr. Rifai of billing for deceased patients, with evidence so inconsistent that it included patients who had died before Dr. Rifai’s medical career began and even before his birth. Ultimately, the jury deliberated less than three hours before returning a definitive “not guilty” verdict on all charges.The Personal Cost and Fight for AccountabilityDr. Rifai’s defense consumed over one million dollars in legal expenses, made possible only by the support of his physician siblings and parents. His acquittal has prompted him to seek reimbursement of attorney fees and sanctions against the prosecutors under the 1997 Hyde Amendment, which allows prevailing defendants to recover costs in cases deemed frivolous, vexatious, or prosecuted in bad faith. That legal fight continues on appeal.“The government’s case was built on a fundamental lack of understanding and a disregard for both evidence and the realities of modern medicine,” Dr. Rifai explains. “Despite all I had done for Medicare, for my patients, and for the profession, I became the target of a baseless prosecution. My story is about the need for accountability, transparency, and reform.”“Doctor Not Guilty” shares Dr. Rifai’s first-hand account of this ordeal, offering important lessons for physicians and professionals facing legal scrutiny. He discusses the critical importance of never speaking directly to investigators without legal counsel, the pitfalls of government quotas in prosecutions, and the disconnect between regulatory agencies and practitioners.“There is a profound disconnect within the system,” Dr. Rifai notes. “While the Department of Justice was trying to convict me, Medicare itself was urging me to continue seeing my patients, knowing that my work was essential. The people who suffer most from these misguided prosecutions are the patients: the elderly, the disabled, and the underserved who rely on dedicated doctors willing to serve rural communities.”A Voice for Physicians and PatientsAs Dr. Rifai resumes his clinical practice and leads the fight for redress, he continues to write and advocate for policy change. His next book, tentatively titled “People V Medicine,” will further document the challenges faced by physicians targeted by regulatory bodies.“Doctor Not Guilty” is available now on Amazon and select booksellers.About Muhamad Aly Rifai, MDDr. Muhamad Aly Rifai is a quadruple board-certified psychiatrist, Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Fellow of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, author, and telehealth pioneer serving Pennsylvania. He is a former NIH researcher and past president of his local psychiatric society. His work has been recognized for advancing patient care in psychiatry and expanding access to mental health services. Dr. Rifai is available for interviews, podcasts, and speaking engagements to discuss his case, his views on healthcare reform, and the future of medicine in America.For more information about Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD and “Doctor Not Guilty,” please visit https://doctornotguilty.com/