Designing and Building Mid-Illinois with Big Dog Construction

Designing and Building Mid-Illinois with Special Guest, Beni Harmony, Part 2

• Chris Hartsook

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Summary

Part 2 of this engaging conversation, Beni Harmony shares stories from her time in D.C. as a White House Correspondent.  Check out last week's episode detailing her transition from Central Illinois to Washington D.C.  

Takeaways

  • Benny experienced overwhelming attention after her story broke.
  • She learned to find her voice in a new media environment.
  • Overcoming self-doubt was a significant part of her growth.
  • Benny had powerful moments in the Oval Office.
  • Speaking truth to power is essential, regardless of age.
  • Commitment, passion, and relationships are key to success.
  • Benny aims to be a voice for her community.

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Produced by Big Dog Media group with Big Dog Business Coaching


SPEAKER_03

Welcome to Design and Building Mid-Ellinois. One home at a time with Big Dog Instruction.

SPEAKER_05

The podcast you didn't know you needed.

SPEAKER_04

It's Chris Hardtuck and Caitlin Morgenini. Join us as we explore the stories, expertise, and project shaping the future right here in Mid-Ellinois.

SPEAKER_05

Whether you're planning to build, curious about the latest trends, or just love innovative ideas, we've got insights and inspiration coming your way. And some laughs, too.

SPEAKER_04

Let's go.

SPEAKER_01

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SPEAKER_04

Hey, welcome back to the designing building of Mid-Illinois One Home at a Time, the podcast where we're gonna dive into anything we want to. But our co-host is with me, Caitlin, today. And also, we are going to be jumping back into part two with Benny Harmony. So Benny took us on through an incredible journey from Central Illinois to Springfield Television to Washington, D.C. But truthfully, we're just getting warmed up because today we're getting into the real story, the sacrifices, the pressure, the behind-the-scenes moments people never see, and what it actually takes to make that kind of leap and thrive at that level. So if you thought part one was good, buckle up. Let's get back into the conversation with Benny Harmony.

SPEAKER_06

And I started, moved up here October 6th, started as a congressional correspondent. It was a very hard transition from knowing you're gonna be on TV every day anchoring to this more like you you're kind of independent and you you're a number. You're you you there's not somebody, and here's the thing: I was so beat down constantly and micromanaged that when I started here, I almost didn't know what to do with myself because I was so used to people being hounding me, do this, do this, you can't do this. And these people were giving me so much like control freedom. Yeah, so then you're like, I'm freaking out, Katie. I'm like, guys, am I doing a bad job? I'm like, I'm awful. And now I realize like that was that kind of PTSD from being in such a toxic work environment. And now my boss is to send me scripture daily. They call me after every hit that I do and tell me how great of a job I did. Uh, they encourage me, they push me, they advocate for me. They want to see me win, not a career, not as a professional. They want to see Benny win.

SPEAKER_05

They want to see my that is very refreshing to hear. And I want you to know like, I have watched even your personal growth from when you started Real America's Voice to where you are now. I want to talk about that timeline. I mean, you were starting off on Air Force One, you didn't start off being Caroline Levitt's favorite reporter. We can see it. We can see it, Benny. And we love her. I mean, I I love her.

SPEAKER_06

Yeah, let's let's talk about that. So when I first started, I had no idea how this uh media industry complex worked in DC. All I knew was I didn't want to take a strong stance on one side or the other. And this is where WICS really did teach me something. As much as I hated it in the moment and got in trouble for reposting videos on TikTok of Donald Trump or something, they taught me to be not biased. They taught me to stay as much in the middle as you possibly can. And so when I started, I really, really was trying to find my voice because I'd lost it for so long and I didn't know what I believed in. I I hadn't been in the political world in years. And now I'm thrown back in and now, okay, report on the peace deal between Israel and Gaza. And I'm like, what is Gaza? This is why I was, you know, and I'm terrified because I'm like, what if I say the wrong thing? Right. That's scary. It's terrifying because when I lived here before, I made a lot of mistakes. I got really in the the MAGA, not cult. They're not a cult, but I just movement the movement, the the group. I followed them so intensely and I would repost everything and I shared hateful messaging and I I didn't know what I was talking about. I was 19, but I did it anyway. And so coming back this second time, I was like, I'm gonna do this different. I really want to learn about these things before I talk on them because I don't have a college degree. I went to Arizona State and then I went to UIS for a little bit, and I've never had a college degree. Every job that I've had knows I didn't have a college degree, and I'm around these people that have gone to Yale, Georgetown, Harvard. These journalists, technically on paper, are the best in the world. They might be biased, but they're Pulitzer winners. They are the best in the world. And I look at myself in the mirror and I'm like, I'm a girl from a small town. What I do for fun is play with my chickens and sit on my back porch. And now I'm around people that have every single accomplishment you could think of. They've interviewed world leaders. The president knows their name. I'm what do I do? I'm so overwhelmed. And so our White House correspondent at the time was Brian Glenn. And he had been on the campaign trail for about 10 years at this point. So Trump knew who he was, and he just he was a very active voice in the White House, and he really took me under his wing. He introduced me to every single person that came in our path. He introduced me to the press girls at the White House. He introduced me just to anyone that he was talking to. And if I walked up, he would introduce me to them. Very good. And at this point, I was a congressional correspondent, but it was pretty clear early on they wanted to really get me to the White House. And so I just, I put in the work, I put in the time. I sat there even when I was terrified. Katie, I came out of the Oval Office, my first time in the Oval Office, sobbing. I was sobbing. I go to this Pulitzer winner. His name's Doug Mills. He works for New York Times. He's like, he took the fight, fight, fight picture of Trump and he won the Pulitzer for it. Incredible man, incredible photographer, but even a more incredible man. And I just go to his desk and I just start crying. And he's like, wait. He's like, hold on, hold on. He's like, what's wrong? And I said, I can't get my hand up. I cannot get my hand up in the air. And I'm just sobbing. And he goes, hold on, sit down. He goes, I would be terrified. He goes, I'm gonna tell you what I would tell my daughters that are your age. They are your age, Benny. And he just basically told me, like, do you know how long these people have been doing what they're doing? These journalists that yell the questions, do you know how long and how old they are? He said, give yourself grace. He said, You have been here for four months and you're already in the Oval Office. He said, Do you know how there you go? Do you know how long it takes people to get to that point? I said, I see Marco Rubio sitting there and Pete Hegseck and Donald Trump and the leader of a different country. And and Trump is looking right at me in this moment, and all I have to do is put my hand in the air. It won't. It won't go. And it was a lot of hard moments like that. And then uh Doug, he he goes, Benny, I want you to go sit down with Caroline. Love it. He goes, I'm gonna send you her number. I want you to go sit down with her. And so I text her. She's like, come into the West Wing, come to my office. So I go sit there with her. And we're sitting in front of her fireplace at her desk. And she had just announced, I think she was pregnant.

SPEAKER_05

And oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06

I just told her, I said, Caroline, I said, even when we're with you at the gaggle, there's this place outside the White House called the Sticks, and it's where people, like secretaries and stuff, will be doing media hits on Pebble Beach where all the tents are. Then they walk over to this little gaggle area where they talk. And I said, Caroline, I said, I can't even yell at you. I can't yell a question. I cannot get my hand up. I why am I so like I don't want to be disrespectful? Like screaming at someone, that's just not me. I will not fight for someone's attention. Right, right, yeah, because you have to be like Caroline, Caroline, like yeah. Yes, over and over and over. And she says, she looked to me, she goes, You have to, Benny.

SPEAKER_04

Yep.

SPEAKER_06

She said, You have to do it. She said, It's the only way. And so the next white house. When she looked at me and she said, You just have to. Yeah. And I just was like, okay. So the next uh press briefing. I'm over in the corner. She tells me, Caroline had told me in that little meeting that we had, she goes, Wear a wear bright colors during the briefing so that I can see you.

SPEAKER_04

Yep.

SPEAKER_06

Oh, that's helpful. Very helpful. So I wear a bright pink suit. Okay. I'm in a bright pink suit. And when I tell you, I am terrified, but I am determined. I am determined. I'm over in the corner because we don't have a seat. Uh, like a lot of the mainstream has seats, we don't have seats. So I'm standing over in the corner and she just happens to glance over and she sees me. And I think she forgets my name at this point. We've only met once. She goes, Raf. And the whole room looked at me. I'm so scared right now. And I look at Caroline and I'm not, I'm not, I'm like, is this is this she actually call on me? And the first thing I think of is JB Pritzker and Darren Bailey. So I just I I start asking about Illinois because that's that's all I but hey, you know what?

SPEAKER_05

I think that's good because you know. I'm glad you did that.

SPEAKER_06

And he said I said, I heard that there's a bill in the Illinois legislator that is giving tuition, free tuition to illegal immigrants while kids can't get financial aid and citizens of the state of Illinois can't. Like, what's the president's response to that? Actually, she goes, I haven't heard about that. I'll look into it and I'll get an answer back to you on it because that's unacceptable. And so that was my first one.

SPEAKER_04

And you didn't have to raise your hand either, did you?

SPEAKER_06

No, no, not really. No, I was like, Well, you knew it was the bright pink suit. I was kind of like this, yeah, and I had the bright pink suit on. And uh it kind of just that gave me the courage. And every time though, guys, Chris and Katie, when I tell you this just happened to me when I was standing literally two feet from Trump on the South Lawn for the construction of the ballroom.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06

It doesn't matter how many times you do it. It doesn't matter if he knows your name. It doesn't matter. You can hear your heartbeat in your ears. You know those moments where your body is heating up from the inside. You can hear your heartbeat in your ears, you can feel it in your arms, you can feel it in every ounce of your body. That adrenaline, that that push, knowing like you are uncomfortable. You don't know what he's going to say back. You don't know what Twitter is gonna clip and post. You could get roasted. I've been roasted for literally asking a question that I literally thought was good. Well, that's so sad. I'm gonna And so I I had to stop reading comments a long time ago. But you have to that moment, I my mom looked at me the other day and she said, Benny, she goes, I don't think anything will ever be. I was I was beating myself up and like, oh, I hated the question I asked. He he wasn't in a good mood and he looked mad at me and blah blah blah. And she goes, Benny, she goes, think about this. She's like, you've asked the president of the United States, the most powerful man in the world, you've talked to him. You have had to ask him a question. She goes, Do you think anything will be scary ever again?

SPEAKER_03

Right.

SPEAKER_06

I was like, damn. Mama always knows, man. I was like, Yeah, you're right. And um, so it's just pretty surreal, and it's still surreal every single time that I get to do it. But I really don't take it lightly. And that's a big thing I've really been trying to understand is like when I'm in front of him, I don't, I don't think, oh, I'm I'm so cool because I get to be here. I am so grounded in the fact that I I don't know that I should be here. I've been given this opportunity for some reason. And so I just I don't take any of it lightly. I I thank everyone. When the press girls reach out to me and say, hey, do you want to come on the trip this weekend? I'm just like, thank you so much. Like, thank you for this opportunity because I don't take it lightly. I don't think that I expect I'm expected to be there and that I should be there. I'm blessed to get to be there. I've been given this opportunity, whether, you know, it's my hard work, it's my determination, it's my not giving up when all I wanted to do was sit and give up and cry and lock myself in my room or not get up. And as lonely as it is here in DC, I mean, it's awful. It's it's truly awful. I I cry myself to sleep a lot because I know that I'm doing what God wants me to do, but also I feel like I'm missing out on so much. And so I actually am splitting my time now between Illinois and DC. My home base is Illinois now, and I go back and forth. So I'm coming back home on Friday.

SPEAKER_05

But well, dang it, we gotta see ya. But I want to say something real quick that I noticed about you way back when, and you're sitting here saying, I don't know why I'm here, I don't know why I'm here. Benny, I know why you're there. And I know you are the most determined girl, woman I have ever met. And I I've met a lot of people too. But I'm just saying, at your age, even back then, she'd sit there for just our little three-minute breaks, one-minute breaks. She had it organized. She had her notes down. You think I ever did that?

SPEAKER_04

No.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So she I mean, that's it really is. And she was always like, I remember showing up late to the celebrity bartending. She's texting me. Yeah, where are you at? Where are you at? She's like, come on, get in here. We gotta go. Like, we, you know, so that is why you are so determined, you're so motivated, you have a heart of gold, you're not judgmental. So that is why you're there. I'm serious, and all while, and I hope you don't mind me bringing this up, your mother was really battling your closest person in your entire life, your world, your your literal twin going through this health scare. And still you persevered, and so did she.

SPEAKER_06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05

Right.

SPEAKER_06

And I think I've always felt this calling that I was put on this earth to do something great. And I've I've never really understood what it was. And I'm only 24, a lot of life left to live. Hopefully, praise God, I get to live it. But I I've just always felt this thing inside of me that I was born to be a voice for people. And I think that's why I was drawn to radio. That's why I was drawn to TV. That's why I'm now drawn to doing what I'm doing. I know that I was given this strong, sturdy, powerful voice that I'm not afraid of confrontation. I'm not afraid to actually, before I go on this spiel, I literally yelled in the Oval Office a couple weeks ago, no, to the president. He was asking one of his advisors, do antidepressants work? Because women, the statistics were huge that women are very much on antidepressants. And he asked his advisor, do they work? I'm in the press pool, guys. I say, no. Joe Rogan is behind him. The whole room, the whole room turns and President Trump goes like this. Like, continue. I said, Well, no. I said, Mr. President, I said, I'm on a few of them and they don't work. The whole room starts laughing. Then the president turns to a doctor that's behind him and says, Why don't they work? Give me the statistics right now. And she goes, Well, they only our statistics for it is it only works. They only work 15 to 20 percent of the time. He goes, That's not good. No, I'm on them. I'm sorry. Katie, and I just something came over me to speak, and I spoke to power as a 24-year-old. And the president looks at me, he goes, I would have never known that you were on. I said, That's the whole point. So, anyway, back to what that is the whole point.

SPEAKER_05

But this is what I'm trying to say is that you now are giving a voice for some for the biggest issues on the planet, and even something that might be so small in the Oval Office isn't, and that's women's health. So good job, sis. Way to go.

SPEAKER_06

Yeah. So I just I I want to use this voice that God gave me and that I was I was blessed with, and the mind that I have that I sex everything and drives my own self crazy, which I know you kind of get that, Katie. Just when you're when your mind you overthink and you're you're just going to know.

SPEAKER_05

In the mirror, I said, you go to work, you're nice to your kids, and you sleep. You exercise.

SPEAKER_06

It's easy. It's easy, but it's not. No, but it's not. And so I I just I like to believe that I was given this madness in my brain and this passion for speaking and this talent that I sometimes forget that I have, and when I'm doubting myself, I mean, and I can be the most insecure person in the room, and you'd never know, but I'm just tearing myself apart. And so I just feel I was given a voice for a reason, but mainly I want to be a voice for my central Illinois community. That's all I want. And and when when I tell people that, like they're like, but you have all the like you could be in the Hamptons, you could be doing this and doing that. I'm like, I just want my home.

SPEAKER_05

I just want my home. And you've always been a family girl and and home hometown girl, and I love it. And so for people, our listeners, and everybody on here today, you know, obviously I follow you.

SPEAKER_04

I follow her.

SPEAKER_05

Are you on Instagram?

SPEAKER_06

Everything every single thing. I'm on Facebook, TikTok, which my TikTok I like to post. I've used to do a lot of lip syncing, you know, like, you know, Gen Z things on there. So I'm kind of fun. I'm trying to remove some of that, you know, but no, I'm kidding. But I post a lot of my vlogs and stuff on TikTok, like day in the life traveling with the president. My Instagram is my favorite place. It's where I pictures, my goofy witty stuff, just you get a little bit of everything. I kind of steer clear of X. I get on there to see what's going on in the world. Right, right. It's very toxic. And so, but yeah, I'm all over the place. I actually am about to post a whole video of my last trip with the president flying on the Osprey helicopter on Air Force One and stuff.

SPEAKER_05

So I That's some of my favorite stuff to see of yours. I have to tell you.

SPEAKER_06

It's where my creativity comes out, but also I want to show people this honor that I get to do that people don't get to do in their life, and I'm getting to do it. I want them to feel like they're there with me. You know, I do. You're doing a good, I swear to God, I do.

SPEAKER_05

Me and my aunt were like, oh, do you see what Benny's there she's at today? So I think you're doing a great job. And I see your little reels that you'll do like after you get an answer from Caroline or the president that you'll kind of do a little recap. And I love how you're doing the walking and talking because that is some hard shit, man. It's some hard shit to do. And and she's out there doing it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Sometimes she has her comfy shoes she throws on every once in a while.

SPEAKER_05

Oh, yeah. Yeah, I've seen that before.

SPEAKER_06

Oh my gosh, you guys are so cute. You guys notice. It's hard. It it can be very hard. And and I'm gonna, uh Katie, I'll send you some bloopers. You need to do like a blooper reel. Because you're so cute. Your nervous system, you just asked the president seven questions, and now you gotta go remember what you asked and deliver it. But I I think that's also a good way, like, because I don't just want to post videos of him. I want people to feel the person asking the question too, and the heart behind the question. And so I'm glad you guys like those. I'll definitely I like those better.

SPEAKER_05

I'm telling you. I like all your stuff, but I like to see where you're at and what you're doing. And one thing I really like that you're doing, I know you've already said this, is that anytime before you go with the president, you are putting out a post. I'm getting ready to go with the president. What would you guys like to ask? Okay. You're still sharing stuff from sh Central Illinois, tagging all this stuff. So if you guys don't know how to spell her name, I'll go and tell you. But obviously, you're living in a hole. It's B-E-N-I, and that's harmony, like you live life in harmony.

SPEAKER_04

That's right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05

So it's easy to find. But Benny, I just love you. And I want you to like see you in person sometime now that you're gonna be back in Illinois. So we can get together.

SPEAKER_06

Well, I'll I fly back on Friday and then I'll be there until they need me wherever. So I'm like, my home base is now Central Illinois again, and I am just, we have our garden. I I planted all my seeds. I'm so excited to get back and tend to my little garden and and just watch Caden. Caden's running in state this weekend. Nice. He holds the school record. And so I've realized I'm not willing to miss the moments. As amazing as this is, my first and and biggest priority is my family and and being in touch with the woman that God created and becoming the woman that, you know, I want to have a family, I want to get married. And I want all those things. And so I'm just really trying to stay in touch and grounded with who the girl is inside of me, aside from the beautiful craziness that I get to do here in DC. So I love you guys so much. And Chris, I know Katie kind of took over. She didn't really let you ask.

SPEAKER_04

No, you're fine. We that's kind of what we said up to.

SPEAKER_06

You've said this before.

SPEAKER_04

But but I've got a little bit that I just want to relate. And if this helps you any, I've had that same poll my whole life. Like, I'm here for a bigger purpose. What is that purpose? And about 10 years ago, I was I've been real big involved with the scouting program of the United States, right? Boy Scouts of America, Scout leader, and then moved up to the highest adult leader training you can take. And when I was honored to be my own course director, we had to come up with our own theme. And so I dwelled on that for so many years because I knew I was going to be a course director. And I kind of culminated all together of three little letters. C, P, R, and not what you think it is, right? But it's commitment, passion, and relationships. And I have I have seen that throughout this whole interview with you is that you've been committed to everything you do. And when we say committed, you're 100% in, all in, right? And you're passionate about what you're doing and your relationships that you create and get and maintain. And I can count on one hand how many bridges I've burned with relationships that I felt that I did not need anymore because they're so key. And that's actually the book I'm writing is literally titled CPR, Performing CPR on your life. Checking your commitment, passion, relationships. And I see that in you, and I applaud you for that because you're 24, and don't worry about the pedigree of everyone in the room you're with because you have CPR, and that has gotten you where you're at. And something I came up with on the show, one of our podcasts is that haters be hating. That's why you're gonna leave them in the shadows of your success.

SPEAKER_06

And you do it, dude. And yeah. I've always said one of my biggest things, and I went on Robert's podcast uh last year, and I said to him if you want to do something in your life, once you find passion, the money follows. Once you mend those relationships and build them up, that's where you develop meaningful connections. And I'm not a big the network, network, network and do your networking, but I believe in connecting with people on a deeper level because once you understand somebody and they can understand you, the vulnerability that comes with that, but my big thing is once you find your passion, money will follow. I don't definitely, and yes, I've been very blessed with growing up and my parents doing well, but I'll take a job even I was making $30,000 at WICS for the job. And and so but I just I I do things, I stay with it, I commit to it because I know that if it is meant for me, every harvest and and bounty and fruit that God has will follow. But He needs to know that you are committed to it. And so, Chris, I love that that CPR. That is that's truly amazing. Yeah, it's very good.

SPEAKER_04

Well, Benny, I appreciate it. And we both appreciate the time you've committed because you're in DC and just devoting this much time for us so that we can help share your message of how you're designing and building your life and designing and building, helping us in Mid-Illinois and across the United States and beyond. Right. But thank you for being here today. What an incredible conversation we had, right? Your story is such a powerful reminder that big journeys rarely start with big stages. They start with small steps, consistent effort, courage, and willingness to keep showing up when nobody sees the work behind the scenes. From Central Illinois to Springfield Television to Washington, D.C., and now having seat in rooms where history is being written in real time, you know, about antidepressants. That's an extraordinary journey. But what stands out even more than the titles is the person behind them, your discipline, your faith, your resilience, the willingness to keep growing, keep learning, and keep leaning into opportunity. And that's what those relationships. And I think that the message all of us can take away today from you is you don't have to have your entire path figured out. You just have to be willing to take that next step and then the next one after that, and so on. So, to everyone listening, whether you're building a business, chasing a dream, making a career pivot, or simply trying to find clarity in your next season, let this conversation be a reminder that where you start does not define where you can go. Big thanks can come from humble beginnings and humble continuings as well. Benny, thank you again for sharing your story, your perspective, your heart with us. And to all of our listeners, thank you for spending time with us today. If this conversation inspired you, challenged you, or gave you something valuable to think about, make sure to share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. They may find a nugget out of this that changes their life moving forward, right? So until next time, keep building, keep growing, and keep believing that your best chapters may still be ahead of you. We'll catch you on the next episode. Benny, thank you.

SPEAKER_00

Bye. Hey there. I'm Lisa Miller, managing broker and owner of First Choice Realty Pros. We don't just help you find a house, we help you discover home. My team and I are passionate about taking care of your needs, making the process smooth, and ensuring you get the personalized attention you deserve. Ready for the next step? Call us at 217-825-3999.

SPEAKER_07

With First Choice Realty Pros, you've got a team that's got your back.com.

SPEAKER_03

Until next time, keep designing and building.

SPEAKER_05

See you soon.

unknown

Big Dog.

SPEAKER_02

This episode was produced by Big Dog Media Group, delivering powerful creative for brands and creators everywhere. If you're looking to take your podcast to the next level or just get started, Big Dog Media Group has you covered. Thanks for listening.