333: Getting to Know NWA with Randy Wilburn

Summary: Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies! On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Randy Wilburn, founder of I Am Northwest Arkansas, a website that showcases business, culture, and life right here in the Ozarks. Additionally, Randy hosts the I Am Northwest Arkansas podcast, an informative interview-based show that highlights everything that makes NWA one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country. As an unexpected transplant to the area, Randy embraced the community and he embarked on a mission to share its vibrancy with everyone. Throughout the episode, Randy discusses some of the most memorable moments he’s had on air, shares why podcasting is good for businesses, and gives insight into why NWA is a great place to live.   Show Notes: (1:02) Introduction to Randy (1:37) Randy’s Origin Story (9:19) About the I Am Northwest Arkansas Podcast (12:16) Podcast Strategy Consulting (13:19) The Importance of a Podcast’s Digital Footprint (19:22) What Makes the NWA Community Special (22:47) What’s Next for I Am Northwest Arkansas (25:08) Maintaining a Collaborative Culture (28:14) Experiencing NWA (39:32) Memorable Guests (47:06) Advice to Younger Self (48:39) Closing Question   Links: Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Victoria Dickerson Randy Wilburn I Am Northwest Arkansas   Quotes: “The one thing I can say about podcasting is that it’s such a powerful medium that allows you to shift and listen and consume really great information that is either really wide open or super narrow and hyper-focused.” - Randy Wilburn, (5:22) “I think the technology’s there, and from a marketing standpoint, that’s the beauty of something like a podcast, and that’s why anybody listening should consider creating this type of content…you can take it and chop it up into different pieces.” - Randy Wilburn, (16:12) “The thing I really appreciate about the people here is that they take you at face value…they’re going to take you for who you are right then and there. And so you don’t have to wait for an invitation to sit at the table, the table’s already open.” - Randy Wilburn, (19:03) “We’re not only trying to build what we have right here, but we’re also trying to export it to other places and build relationships that matter in the same way.” - Randy Wilburn, (25:26)