>> Ted: OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE LOOKS AT LATEST ACTIVITY AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

>>> SRP HAS A NEW PILOT PROJECT AIMED AT GETTING LONG DURATION ENERGY STORAGE TO PHOENIX HOMES.

>>> A NEW BOOK BY A MOM AND HER DAUGHTER HOW THEY DEALT WITH A FACIAL BIRTHMARK THROUGH EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF PBS.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIR, JEFF DEWIT, RESIGNED AFTER AN AUDIO RECORDING INDICATED HE ATTEMPTED TO PAY KARI LAKE TO STAY OUT U.S. SENATE RACE.

RECORDING WAS POSTED YESTERDAY BY A LONDON-BASED NEWS SITE INCLUDING HIM TELLING LIKE THAT VERY POWERFUL PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS TO KEEP LAKE FROM RUNNING.

THE RECORDING EXISTS BECAUSE LAKE WAS WEARING A WIRELESS MICROPHONE.

EVEN THOUGH AT THE TIME SHE WAS WORKING FOR A COMPANY OWNED BY DEWORKEWORKEWIT.

HE SAID LAKE ORCHESTRATED THIS TO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE STATE PARTY AND THAT LAKE'S TEAM TOLD HIS TO RESIGN OR THEY WOULD RELEASE, A QUOTE, NEW DAMAGING RECORDING.

DEWORKDEWIT SAID HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND QUESTIONED HOW LAKE COULD BE TRUSTED TOEN GAUGE IN PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS WITH ANYONE INCLUDING DONALD TRUMP.

>>> THE GOLDWATER FILES SUIT AGAINST THE PUBLIC WORK'S CONTRACTS.

THE THINK TANK CLAIMS THE STATE LAW REQUIRES CITIES ON SUCH CONTRACTS AND THAT THE ORDINANCE VIOLATES DUE PROCESS BY GIVING THE CITY TOO MUCH POWER.

THE CONSTITUTE WAS FILED ON BEHALF OF THREE GROUPS REPRESENTING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

>>> ENTERTAINMENT NEWS, JOHN STEWART IS RETURNING TO THE DAILY SHOW.

STEWART HOSTED THE PROGRAM FOR 16 YEARS BEFORE LEAVING IN 2015.

STEWART NOW RETURNS TO HOST ON MONDAYS WITH THE REVOLVING CAST OF COMEDIANS FILLING OUT OF THE REST OF THE WEEK.

STEWART WILL ALSO SERVE AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER.

>>> A NEW STUDIO SHOWS VIDEO GAMERS MAY BE DUE TO HEARING LOSS AND THE LONGER THE EXPOSURE, THE HIGHER THE RISKS.

STUDIES SUGGEST THAT GAMERS KEEP VOLUMES AT NO HIGHER THAN 60% OF MAXIMUM AND TO REMEMBER TO TAKE BREAKS.

>>> IT'S WEDNESDAY AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE IN WHICH WE HEAR FROM LAWMAKERS.

GUESTS TONIGHT IS SENATOR JOHN KAVANAUGH.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> Ted: BEFORE WE GET TO WHAT'S HAPPENING, THAT IS GOING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR PARTY?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I'M CERTAIN TO GET IT RESIGNED BECAUSE WE NEED A NEW START.

IT WAS PRETTY HORRIBLE, WHAT THAT TAPE SHOWED AND MAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE LOSE TRUST.

JOANNE OSBORN IS TAKING OVER AND SHE'S A FINE, FINE PERSON AND I THINK IF ANYBODY CAN GET THE PARTY ON TRACK IN TIME FOR THE ELECTION, SHE CAN.

>> Ted: THIS HAPPENS BEFORE DONALD TRUMP MAKES AN APPEARANCE HERE AND SHOWS KARI LAKE IS WEARING A WIRELESS MICROPHONE AND DOES THAT BOTHER YOU A LITTLE BIT?

>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE MOTIVE WAS.

SHE MAY HAVE BEEN SUSPICIOUS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WANTED TO PROTECT HERSELF.

I WON'T JUDGE WHAT SHE SAYS.

SHE WASN'T A VENTRILOQUIST WHO PUT THOSE WORDS IN HIS MOUTH.

>> Ted: ELEMENTS WERE DEAD ON ARRIVAL AND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> IT WOULD APPEAR THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET WAS PUT OUT FOR THE DEMOCRAT BASE, TO SAY, I'M TRYING TO GET DONE WHAT YOU WANT.

THE REVENUE IS WAY DOWN AND WE JUST WILL HAVE TO CUT.

BECAUSE WE'RE DOWN ABOUT TWO BILLION DOLLARS.

>> Ted: INDEED.

BUT THEY'RE BLAMING THE FLAT TAX ON THE SHORTFALL AND SAYING ESA'S, THAT HAS TO BE A FACTOR, AS WELL, AND CAN YOU DRESS ADDRESS BOTH?

>> WE SPENT TOO MUCH LAST YEAR BECAUSE IN FEBRUARY, THE REPUBLICANS PUT OUT WHAT WE CALL A SKINNY BUDGET THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE EXTRA SPENDING AND HAD THE GOVERNOR NOT VETOED THAT, WE WOULD HAVE $1.8 BILLION TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

>> Ted: WOULD THE STATE BE IN BETTER SHAPE WITH A SKINNY BUDGET.

A LOT OF THING THAT WOULD BE AVOIDED AND IGNORED WITH THAT BUDGET.

CAN YOU REALISTICALLY RUN THE STATE ON A SKINNY BUDGET.

>> IT WAS THE BASELINE, MORE PRISON ES,ERS, INFLATION AND THE GOVERNMENT THE YEAR BEFORE WHICH WASN'T BAD.

>> Ted: THEY SAY THIS RATE, 825 MILLION FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

I UNDERSTAND EVEN THOUGH VOTERS VOTED THIS DOWN, IT'S A BIG DEAL, BUT IS THERE A WAY TO EASE WHAT'S HAPPENING?

CAN YOU AT LEAST TOUCH IT A LITTLE BIT?

>> NUMBER ONE, THE VOTERS WHO VOTED DOWN ESA'S WERE NOT JUST OPPONENTS..

BOTH SIDES OPPOSED IT AND THAT WAS NOT A REFERENDUM AGAINST ESA'S BECAUSE SOME OF THE PROVIDEPROPONENTS VOTED NO.

>> Ted: BECAUSE IT HAD A CAP?

HAPPENS >> HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME.

>> Ted: BUT CAN YOU DO SOMETHING WITH IT?

>> WE BELIEVE IN SCHOOL CHOICE AND WE BELIEVE PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE BEST FIT FOR THEIR CHILD.

>> Ted: 100 DAYS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLING AND THERE ARE DAYS WITH FAMILIES GETTING $7,000.

>> WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?

>> Ted: IT'S TAX DOLLARS THAT DON'T WANT THAT SPENT FOR SCHOOLING.

>> I DON'T CARE IF IT A CHARTER OR PRIVATE SCHOOL, PARENTS KNOW WHERE TO SPEND THEIR KIDS.

BY THE WAY, WE'RE ONLY GIVING A LITTLE OVER $7,000 TO THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHICH IS A LOT LESS -- WE'RE SPENDING TWICE AS MUCH.

>> Ted: THAT'S IF YOU BASE IT ON CHARTER SCHOOL AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS DIFFERENT AND MORE EXPENSIVE.

BUT THE IDEA THESE SCHOOLS -- SHOULD THERE BE MORE OVERSIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING IN ALL STUDENTS.

I MEAN, FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> Ted: HAVING THESE ESA'S ALLOWS MORE STUDENTS TO GO TO THESE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THE ONLY WAY TO PAY THE FULL TUITION.

>> Ted: PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAN ACCEPT WHOEVER THEY WANT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Ted: THEY STILL GET PUBLIC TAX MONEY AND THAT'S OK BY YOU.

>> I DON'T THINK TOO MANY PRIVATE SCHOOLS WOULD TURN AWAY STUDENTS WHO WOULD PAY THE TUITION AND THEY CAN'T DO IT DUE TO DISCRIMINATORY CRITERIA.

>> Ted: BUT IT'S A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND YOU CAN TAKE IN AND PUT OUT WHATEVER YOU WANT.

>> I WENT TO CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL AND HEAD TO NUNS WON HAVE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ME.

THEY WERE GOOD.

>> Ted: WERE THOSE NUNS WEARING BRASS KNUCKLES?

>> THEY DIDN'T HAVE BRASS KNUCKLES, BUT RULERS WITH BRASS EDGES AND I HAVE THE SCARS.

>> Ted: BRASS KNUCKLES ARE OUT THERE.

THE GILBERT GOON'S CASE BROUGHT THIS TO LIGHT AND YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S NO NEED FOR BRASS KNUCKLES?

>> I WAS APPROACHED BY THE VICTIM AND SOME NEWS MEDIA PEOPLE AND I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THEY WERE LEGAL IN ARD.

ARIZONA.

I WAS A COP IN NEW YORK FOR 20 YEARS.

THERE WAS TO REASON TO HAVE BRASS KNUCKLES.

NEAR NOT DEFENSIVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PUT THEM ON YOUR HAND AND ACTUALLY FIGHT WITH SOMEBODY.

IF YOU'RE DEFENDING YOURSELF, YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GET CLOSE TO SOMEBODY.

IT'S A HANDGUN WITH DEADLY FORCE OR A TASER OR CHEMICAL SPRAY IF YOU'RE THREATENED WITH PHYSICAL FORCE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO STAY AWAY.

WITH BRASS KNUCKLES, IT'S NOT DEFENSIVE BUT PURELY OFFENSIVE.

>> Ted: WHAT ABOUT BLACK JACKS?

>> IT'S SIMILAR.

YOU COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR SELF-DEFENSE THERE BUT BRASS KNUCKLES ARE HORRIFIC, LIKE A MEDIEVAL THING.

>> Ted: IT'S A DIVIDING LINE?

>> YES, YES.

>> Ted: I KNOW YOU HAVE A BILL FOR STRICTER PUNISHMENT FOR PROTESTERS WHO DISRUPT TRAFFIC.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> IN THE ODD DAYS, PEOPLE, WHEN THEY WERE DRUNK AND IN THE STREET, NOT A BIG DEAL.

AND MAYBE THEY WERE MARCHING AND TRAFFIC GOT HELD UP, BUT LATELY, DEMONSTRATORS ARE INTENTIONALLY BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND TRAPPING PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR POINT.

ALTHOUGH, I THINK THEY ALIENATE MORE PEOPLE THAN GET SUPPORT.

PEOPLE IN SAN FRANCISCO WERE TIED UP FOR FOUR HOURS ON A BRIDGE.

THERE WERE TO RESTROOMS AND TWO VEHICLES TRYING TO GET DELIVERED.

NO ONE HAS A RIGHT TO ENDANGER PEOPLE.

I'M BRINGING THE PUT UP TO A FELONY.

>> Ted: IT'S A CLASS TWO MISDEMEANOR AND YOU WANT TO MAKE IT A FIVE, SIX FELONY.

>> FELONIES ARE SERIOUS AND I DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO MISTAKENLY STUMBLE TO A FELONY.

BEFORE IT RISES TO A FELONY, A POLICE OFFICER HAS TO STAY, YOU WERE OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC.

GET OFF THE ROAD.

IF THEY STAY THERE, IT'S A FELONY.

IF THEY DECIDE TO GET OFF, THEY WOULD BE CHARGED WITH THE MISDEMEANOR.

>> Ted: WHERE DOES THE BILL STAND RIGHT NOW?

>> IT WILL PROBABLY BE HELD IN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND I THINK I'LL HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD POSSIBLY JUSTIFY WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING.

>> Ted: ARE YOU HEARING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OR JUST THINKING YOU MIGHT GET IT?

>> I'M NOT HEARING OPPOSITION FROM OTHER THE PARTY.

I HAVEN'T SOLICITED INFORMATION.

>> Ted: SENATOR JOHN KAVANAUGH, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A NEW ENERGY STORAGE PROJECT.

>> NEXT TIME ON BENJAMIN FRANKLIN -- >> WE BELIEVED OR LIVES AND FORTUNE.

>> REVOLUTION.

>> CHOOSING SIDE MEANS CHOOSING FATE.

>> HE HAD TO CONVINCE TO HELP THE AMERICANS TO OVERTHROW ANOTHER MONARCH.

>> IT'S THE FIRST DEBATE ON SLAVERY.

>> DON'T MISS THE CONCLUSION OF "BENJAMIN FRANKLIN" FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> NEXT TIME ON FATHER BROWNING.

AN INTERNATIONAL THIEF WARNS THE CHURCH OF HIS NEXT TARGET.

SO FATHER BROWN SETS A TRAP TO CATCH HIM.

BUT SOLVING THIS CASE WILL PROVE COSTLY.

>> I'M REMOVING YOU FROM YOUR PASSION.

>> "FATHER BROWN."

>> SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> ON MASTERPIECE -- >> I SUSPECT THEY'RE LOOKING AT A CASE AND WE SHOULD EXAMINE IT BEFORE WE SENTENCE HIM TO DEATH.

>> YOU'RE GREEN AROUND THE GILLS THERE.

>> AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE.

>> ALL PREACHERS BRAVE AND SMALL ON "MASTERPIECE."

>> SUNDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: A PILOT PROJECT TO EXPAND ENERGY STORAGE FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME TO PROVIDE STORED POWER FOR FLUCTUATING ENERGY DEMANDS.

FOR MORE, WE WELCOME CHICO HUNTER AT DEVELOPMENT AND GIOVANNI DAMATO, THE PRESIDENT OF CM-BLU ENERGY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GIOVANNI, WE'LL START WITH YOU, THIS IS ORGANIC, SOLID FLOW ENERGY AND WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING AT CM-BLU ENERGY IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE ORIGIN TODAY.

INSTEAD OF USING LITHIUM, WE USE ORGANIC MATERIAL.

WE USE CARBON, WHICH IS NOT RELIANT ON HEAVY METALS OR CONFLICT METALS FROM CONFLICT COUNTRIES.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO ALSO USE SOLIDS WHICH IMPROVE OUR ENERGY DENSITY SO WE CAN USE A MUCH SMALLER ENERGY FOOTPRINT RELATIVE TO A LOT OF THE OTHER NON-LITHIUM ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

>> Ted: FROM WHAT I'VE READ, IT'S NOT FLAMMABLE EITHER, IS IT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE'RE NONFLAMMABLE AND DON'T HAVE FIRE RISKS.

>> Ted: WHERE DOES SRP COME INTO THIS.

I KNOW ENERGY STORAGE IS BIG WITH SOLAR ENERGY AND HOW DOES THIS PLAY INTO IT?

>> FOR SRP, WE HAVE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS STILL MOVING TO THE PHOENIX AREA, A LOT OF BUSINESSES AND WE'RE EXPERIENCING A PERIOD OF HEAVY LOAD GROWTH WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS ARE CONTINUING TO WANT MORE AND MORE ENERGY FROM US.

AND WE'RE ALSO ADDING A LOT OF SOLAR ENERGY.

SO PAIRING STORAGE WITH SOLAR ENERGY ENABLES US TO KEEP THE GRID FOR CUSTOMERS EVEN WHEN THE SUN IS NOT AVAILABLE OR AT NIGHTTIME.

A TECHNOLOGY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A LONGER DURATION STORAGE TECHNOLOGY.

>> Ted: I WAS GOING TO SAY, FIVE MEGAWATTS FOR TEN HOURS PER CYCLE AND I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY HOMES, BUT TEN HOURS A CYCLE, IS THAT MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW?

>> YES.

TODAY SRP IS INSTALLING LITHIUM BATTERIES TO MEET THE HEAVY HOURS OF ENERGY USAGE.

THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM COULD RUN ALL NIGHT LONG.

WE COULD CHARGE IT WITH SOLAR AND THIS SYSTEM IS BIG ENOUGH TO POWER ABOUT 1100 HOMES FOR TEN HOURS.

>> Ted: TWO TO THREE TIMES LONGER THAN LITHIUM ION.

SO SOME OF THE FACILITIES AND HOW BIG ARE THESE AND HOW ARE THEY SHAPED?

>> AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE VIDEO HERE, WE START WITH A MODULE MODULAR UNIT AND WE CAN PUT THESE TOGETHER TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CUSTOMER AND THIS IS SRP AND CUSTOMERS TO BE ABLE TO DO A LONGER DURATION AND TO BE ABLE TO OPTIMIZE FOR THINGS LIKE PUTTING THEM IN BUILDINGS WHERE WE CAN WITHSTAN HIGHER HEAT OUTSIDE.

SO IN DESERT HERE, SO WE NEED TO BE EIGHT TO REDUCE THE AIR CONDITIONING LOAD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> Ted: THE PILOT PROJECT IS SET FOR FLORENCE?

>> AT OUR COPPER ENERGY CENTER ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN, JUST NORTH FLORENCE.

AND IT'S PLANNED TO COME ONLINE BY THE END OF 2025.

>> Ted: STARTING CONSTRUCTION IN 2025, SO A YEAR-LONG PROJECT.

>> A YEAR TO DO THE CONSTRUCTION.

>> Ted: FOR THOSE OF US WHO AREN'T AS TECHNOLOGY SAVVY ON THESE THINGS, HOW EXACTLY IS THE ENERGY STORED?

>> SO IT BASICALLY, BECAUSE WE'RE CARBON BASED AND NOT USING METALS, WHICH MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT WITH CONDUCTING ELECTRICITY, BUT WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE BASICALLY PLASTIC AND MAKE IT CONDUCIVE BY DOPING IT THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD IN A COMPUTER.

THAT'S THE BASIC IDEA.

>> Ted: IS WATER A FACTOR IN GETTING THIS DONE?

>> YES.

SO OUR BASE IN THE ELECTROLYTE, IS WHAT WE CALL IT, MOVING OUR ENERGY FROM THE SOLIDS TO WHAT PRODUCES THE POWER.

WE USE A WATER-BASED ELECTROLYTE AND THAT IS ALSO CARBON BASED, AS WELL.

>> Ted: THAT RAISES QUESTIONS.

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH WATER FOR THIS KIND OF THING?

>> IT'S A ONE-TIME THING.

YOU FILL IT WITH WATER ONCE, WITH THE ELECTROLYTE AND FULLY RECYCLABLE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE LIKED ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY.

WE PICKED THIS TECHNOLOGY BY COMPETITIVELY BIDDING BY A NUMBER OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.

WE LIKED THIS ONE BECAUSE IT HAD GOOD PERFORMANCE AND GOOD AFFORDABILITY RELATIVE TO LITHIUM ION BATTERIES AND GOOD SAFETY CHARACTERISTICS, SO NONFLAMMABLE.

>> Ted: IS THIS USED IN OTHER AREAS, USED TO THIS EXTENT SO FAR?

>> SO THIS WILL BE OUR LARGEST PROJECT, BUT WE HAVE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE KIND OF ON THE ONE MEGAWATER SCALE IN EUROPE ALREADY DEPLOYED.

>> Ted: AND AS FAR AS SRP IS CONCERNED, LONG DURATION ENERGY STORAGE, OBVIOUSLY TEN HOURS.

IT BEATS FOUR HOURS.

IS THIS ON THE HORIZON OR A WAYS TO GO?

>> STILL A WAYS TO GO.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ENERGY STORAGE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PORTFOLIO OF TECHNOLOGY.

WE'RE HOPING TO DEPLOY TECHNOLOGIES LIKE THIS PROBABLY IN THE 2030'S AND THAT WILL BE, I'LL CALL WHAT WILL RUN AT NIGHT.

FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE, WE MAY NEED MULTI-DAY STORAGE WITH DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES.

>> Ted: VERY INTERESTING.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US ON AN INTERESTING PILOT PROJECT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> TONIGHT, AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WINS NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHAT IS NEXT IN THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE?

THAT'S COMING UP AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: JESSICA ALEXANDER AND HER MOM, ERIKA MAXWELL TEAMED UP TO COVER WRITE A BOOK THAT COVERED A BIRTHMARK ON ERIKA'S FACE.

THE BOOK IS TITLED "BEAUTY WITH A BIRTHMARK" TO EMPHASIZE EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING.

THERE IS THE BOOK AND HERE IS JESSJESSICA ALEXANDER AND MOM, ERIKA MAXWELL.

THE REASON FOR WRITING THIS, WHAT WAS IT?

>> IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO JESSICA EXPRESSING THAT SHE DID NOT LIKE HER BIRTHMARK AND THAT SHE HATED IT AND THAT I SHOULD HATE IT, TOO.

ALSO IN RESPONSE TO THE LACK OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS AT THAT TIME WITH MAIN CHARACTERS OF COLOR WITH BIRTHMASHES.

BIRTHMARKS.

>> Ted: WHEN SHE SAID THAT, HOW DID YOU REACT?

>> I WAS CALM BUT MY HEART WAS BREAKING ON THE INSIDE.

WHEN YOU'RE A PARENT, ANYTHING THAT MAKES YOUR CHILD DIFFERENT, YOU DON'T WANT THAT TO BE A POINT OF CONTENTION, TO BE TEASED OR TALKED ABOUT.

SO MY HEART WAS BREAKING INSIDE AND THIS WAS MY RESPONSE.

AND PART OF IT IS A LOVE LETTER TO HER.

>> Ted: THAT'S SO NICE.

WHEN DID THIS MAKE SENSE TO YOU, WHAT SHE WAS TELLING YOU AND KIDS, THEY FEEL CERTAIN WAYS, WENT DID IT HIT?

WHEN DID IT MAKE SENSE?

>> IT HIT ONCE I GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS SUCH A DIFFERENT WORLD AND BEING IN A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY OF MORE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

SO THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TO REALIZE WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND HER PERSPECTIVE, AS WELL.

>> Ted: THE BIRTHMARK MADE YOU KIND OF SPECIAL?

>> YES.

ACTUALLY, IT'S A BIRTHMARK AND NOT EVERYBODY HAS IT.

>> Ted: THAT'S TRUE.

>> PEOPLE HAVE A SIMILARITY AS MINE, BUT IT MAKES ME SPECIAL AND UNIQUE AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE IT.

>> Ted: AND THE BOOK GETS THAT ACROSS AND HOW DID YOU FIGURE OUT TO GET THIS STORY, YOUR STORY, INTO A BOOK?

>> WELL, I'M AN EDUCATOR AND SO I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE INCLUSIVE AND WHAT WOULD ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE BOOK AND WE NOT ONLY TALK ABOUT BIRTHMARKS BUT MOLES, FRECKLES, SCARS AND THOSE THINGS THAT ARE OUTWARDLY APPEARANCE THAT MAKE US UNIQUE.

BUT ALSO JUST FOCUS ON WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE OF A PERSON AND WHO THEY ARE AND CHARACTERISTICS AND NOT ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE BUT WHAT MATTERS ON THE INSIDE.

>> Ted: AND SELF-ESTEEM AND NOT LITING OTHERS DEFINE YOU.

THAT HAD TO BE SOMETHING YOU HAD TO LEARN.

>> YES, DEFINITELY A LEARNING THING THAT COMES WITH LIFE.

IT DEFINITELY TOOK TIME.

AS YOU GET OLDER AND GO THROUGH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES OF LIFE, THAT HELPED ME TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION.

>> Ted: DID THE BOOK TURN OUT THE WAY YOU WANTED IT?

>> MORE THAN I EVER WANTED.

IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE THADE THE IDEA AND THEN IN YOUR HANDS AS THE HARD COPY.

>> Ted: YEAH, THIS IS THE REAL DEAL.

IS THIS THE WAY, THE MESSAGE YOU WANTED?

IS EVERYTHING HERE THAT YOU WANT TO SAY?

>> IT IS IN A NUTSHELL, BUT, OF COURSE, THERE'S MORE, ALWAYS MORE TO SAY, BUT I'M REALLY PLEASED WITH THE WAY WE USED RHYME.

IT WAS A JOINT EFFORT AND PEOPLE CONNECT WITH IT.

NOT OWN YOUNG, BUT I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THEIR 60s AND 70s SAYING I HAVE A BIRTHMARK OR A MOLE AND I'VE BEEN TEASED ABOUT IT OR THEY HAVE STORIES.

AND SO THIS IS JUST A PART OF HER STORY AND HER JOURNEY, OF JESSICA'S.

>> Ted: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT RESPONSE?

WHAT ABOUT YOUNG KIDS, WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

>> THEY LOVE IT.

IT MAKES ME HAPPY TO ENGAGE IN A BOOK THAT'S NOT ONLY EDUCATIONAL THROUGH ME AND MY LIFE, BUT THEY CAN CONNECT A PART OF THEMSELVES TO IT, AS WELL.

>> Ted: TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH A BOOK IS FANTASTIC.

AND TO BE ABLE TO GO TO A PLACE LIKE AFRICA AND GET THE MESSAGE OUT, WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, EVERYTHING STARTS AS AN IDEA AND A BELIEF.

I BELIEVE IN MANIFESTATION.

IT STARTED WITH MY VISION BOARD LAST YEAR.

I SAID BEFORE I TOUCH MY FEET ON ANY OTHER PLACE, I NEED TO GET TO THE CONTINENT, WHERE LIFE ORIGINATED ITSELF.

BEING AN ORIGINATOR MYSELF, IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL AND TO BE ABLE TO SHARE AND TO BE INTERNATIONAL AND SHARE OUR BOOK WITH STUDENTS.

IT WAS AMAZING!

>> Ted: AND HOW DID THEY RESPOND?

>> MAN, LIKE THEY RESPONDED -- I CAN'T EVEN SAY BETTER THAN I IMAGINED.

BUT THEY RESPONDED IN SUCH A POSITIVE WAY.

IT WAS SUCH A JOY BEING THERE AND BEING ABLE TO SHARE A PART OF ME WITH THEM, AS WELL.

>> Ted: AND, OBVIOUSLY, ERIKA, YOU HAVE QUITE THE CAREER AND YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF RAISING YOUR DAUGHTER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: DAUGHTER, WHAT DO YOU PLAN ON DOING WITH YOURSELF?

>> CHANGING THE WORLD.

I PLAN ON BETTERING MYSELF AND THE WORLD, AS WELL.

DEFINITELY SWITCHING UP THE DIVERSITY AND THE INCLUSION OF EVERYBODY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

>> Ted: ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT WRITING MORE BOOKS, EITHER ONE OF YOU?

YES.

[ Laughter ] >> I'VE WRITTEN A FEW LINES, TOO.

SO I WANT TO CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY THIS BOOK SHARE IT ACROSS THE NATION AND THE WORLD AND I HAVE STARTED ANOTHER ONE.

>> Ted: VERY GOOD.

WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS ONE.

YOU MUST BE VERY PROUD AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.