Behind The Buzz is where we share the stories behind the stories. The moments, reflections, and real-life experiences that shape what we’re building with The Coastal Buzz.
Why We’re Building The Coastal Buzz, And Why We’re Doing It Together
For us, The Coastal Buzz didn’t start as a business plan. It started as a realization.
There comes a point where you stop chasing idea and start building something that actually feels like it matters.
We looked around and saw a constant stream of negativity. Division. Noise. Stories that pull people apart instead of bringing them together. And at some point, we just knew… that wasn’t the lane we wanted to be in.
Not for our lives.
Not for our family.
And definitely not for something we were going to build.
So we made a decision.
The Coastal Buzz would only focus on the good.
The people making a difference.
The businesses growing.
The nonprofits helping.
The moments that remind you there’s still a lot right in this world.
Not because we’re ignoring reality but because we believe what you focus on grows.
And we want to help grow something better in our community.
But this isn’t just about a platform.
This is about us.
I’ve walked through seasons in life where I didn’t think I had much to offer. Years where addiction took more than it gave, and where I honestly believed I had disqualified myself from doing anything meaningful.
But God had a different plan.
There was a moment where everything shifted. Not overnight, but through surrender, obedience, and a process I didn’t fully understand at the time. And through that, everything started to rebuild.
Not perfectly.
Not instantly.
But real.
And one of the greatest gifts that came from that restoration is the family I get to do life with today.
Sandy has walked through every season with strength I can’t fully put into words. The highs, the struggles, the moments where things could have easily fallen apart… she stayed.
And now, we’re not just building a life together.
We’re building something together.
One of the things that matters most to us is that this isn’t just “our thing” as parents.
It’s something our kids are part of too.
Lil Chris is already stepping into Youth Buzz, asking questions, learning how to engage with people, and honestly… sometimes asking better questions than I do.
And Katelynn, even at her age, has already been part of conversations and moments that most people wouldn’t expect. One day she’ll have her own space with Kidz Buzz, but even now, she’s already part of the heart behind this.
That matters to us.
Because we’re not just building content.
We’re building something they can grow into.
Something they can be proud of.
Something that shows them what it looks like to create, connect, and serve others.
We recently covered a grand opening, and it was one of those moments that reminded me why we’re doing this.
On the surface, it was a ribbon cutting. A new place opening. People gathered. Photos taken.
But if you slow down, there’s always more.
There were conversations happening. Stories being shared. A nonprofit being supported. A check being handed to someone who had poured years into helping others.
And in the middle of all that, my son was standing there with me… asking questions, listening, learning.
That’s the part most people don’t see.
But that’s the part that matters.
That’s what The Coastal Buzz is really about.
Not just what’s happening…
But what’s behind it.
Not just the place…
But the people.
Not just the moment…
But the meaning.
We don’t have everything figured out.
We’re still building.
Still learning.
Still growing this one story at a time.
But what I can say is this:
This isn’t just a website.
This is a reflection of who we are, what we believe, and what we want to put back into the community around us.
And we’re doing it together.
The Buzz Take
In a world that often focuses on what’s broken, we’re choosing to highlight what’s being built. Not just in business or community… but in people, in families, and in purpose.
I am Chris Benton Co-Founder of The Coastal Buzz, Co-Host of The Chris & Sandy Show & Publisher of The Customized Ride.