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Free Arkansas
by Free Arkansas
Free Arkansas is a podcast dedicated to fostering a free market of ideas in the Natural State. We bring open, honest, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations to the forefront, tackling the issues that matter most to Arkansans. Through thought-provoking discussions, in-depth analysis, and engaging interviews with a diverse range of voices, we challenge conventional wisdom and encourage independent thought and critical thinking. Whether you're looking for fresh perspectives or a platform that values truth over ideology, Free Arkansas is your space for bold, unfiltered dialogue.
Episodes
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Bill Kopsky on Direct Democracy, the LEARNS Act & Building Power in Rural Arkansas
It started with a request for a dumpster. Residents of Gould, Arkansas asked their city for help with a neighborhood cleanup, got turned down, and eventually helped elect a new city council and mayor. That’s the kind of story Bill Kopsky has been part of for more than 30 years as executive…
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Coltan Scrivner on Morbid Curiosity, Horror Movies & Why We Love Scary Things
Why can't we look away from a car wreck, a true crime documentary, or a horror movie we know will keep us up all night? Coltan Scrivner has built a career answering that question. In this episode, host Andy McNeill talks with Coltan, author of Morbidly Curious and a behavioral scientist who…
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Colt Shelby on Local Control, Prison Policy & Arkansas' Governor's Race
Colt Shelby has worked in the oil field for 24 years. He never planned to run for office, until a proposed 3,000-bed prison landed four miles from his home in Cecil, Arkansas. Now he's the Libertarian candidate for governor. In this episode, host Andy McNeill talks with Colt about what a...
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Bryan Norris on Election Integrity, Paper Ballots & Arkansas' 2026 Secretary of State Race
Bryan Norris spent 21 years in the military before coming home to Independence County and leading a citizen initiative to bring back paper ballots, an effort that passed with 63% of the vote before the county's quorum court overturned it. That fight eventually led him to run for Arkansas…
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ARKANSAWYERS #3: DJ Williams on Razorback, NIL & The Business of College Football
DJ Williams spent his career on the field, first as a John Mackey Award-winning tight end for the Razorbacks, then five seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Now, as host of the Fourth and Fifteen podcast, he's spent just as much time thinking about what's actually happening behind the scenes of...
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Y'all Hear About This? Arkansas Library Law, Peppermint Hippo & a Texas Political Scandal
Andy McNeill and Eli Cranor are back with another Y'all Hear About This, their casual rundown of the stories making the rounds. This week: a wild scam story out of a Little Rock strip club, Arkansas' newly enforced Act 372 and what it means for librarians and booksellers, and a controversial…
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Chris Milligan on Arkansas' $2 Trillion Lithium Opportunity
There's roughly $2 trillion worth of lithium sitting under South Arkansas, and almost none of it has been extracted yet. Chris Milligan, CEO of Earth, is trying to change that. In this episode, host Andy McNeill talks with Chris about how lithium is actually pulled from brine two miles…
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Rod Bigelow on Crystal Bridges, Alice Walton's Vision & Bentonville's Transformation
Rod Bigelow has spent over a decade helping bring Alice Walton's vision to life. As CEO of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, he's watched it grow from a bold idea into a campus that drew over a million visitors last year, most of them from outside Arkansas. In this episode, host Andy…
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Hallie Shoffner on Farming, Healthcare & Arkansas' 2026 Senate Race
Hallie Shoffner is a sixth-generation Arkansas farmer who closed her family's 150-year-old farm last year because of the economic crisis. Now she's running for U.S. Senate against Tom Cotton, and just over two months from Election Day, the race is closer than almost anyone expected. In this...
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ARKANSAWYERS #2: Steve Straessle on Vouchers, Accountability & the Future of Arkansas Schools
Eli Cranor spent twelve years in Arkansas public education. Steve Straessle has spent decades leading Little Rock Catholic High School, one of the state's most respected private schools. On this episode of ARKANSAWYERS, the two sit down for a conversation that doesn't shy away from disagreement,...
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Gennie Diaz on Direct Democracy, Ballot Initiatives & the Fight for Arkansas Voters
Arkansas has a right most people don't think about until it's gone: the power for regular citizens to put laws and constitutional amendments directly on the ballot, without waiting on the legislature. Gennie Diaz, founder and executive director of For AR People, has spent the last two years...
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Kalene Griffith on Bentonville's Transformation, Tourism & Northwest Arkansas' Future
Bentonville, Arkansas used to be a pass-through town of 20,000 people, best known for the Walmart Museum. Today it's one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the country, and Kalene Griffith, CEO of Visit Bentonville, has been at the center of that transformation since day one. In this...
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ARKANSAWYERS #1: Jayme Lemons
Welcome to the first installment of ARKANSAWYERS, a premium interview show hosted by Edgar Award-winning Arkansas novelist Eli Cranor. Our mission is simple: Real stories. Real people. We are letting the individuals who live here rewrite our state’s narrative through independent thought…
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State Sen. Breanne Davis on Leadership, Education and Arkansas’ Future | Free Arkansas
🎙️ Arkansas State Senator Breanne Davis joins Andy McNeill for a wide-ranging conversation about public service, political division and the future of Arkansas.Davis shares the personal values that guide her family and political career, from her first school board campaign to her upcoming...
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Building a Healthier Arkansas | Curtis Barnett
In this episode of Free Arkansas, host Andy McNeill talks with Curtis Barnett, president and chief executive officer of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, about how health insurance works, why medical costs continue to rise and what it will take to improve health care across the state.Curtis...
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Mike Preston on Jobs, Growth & Building Big Things in Arkansas
In this episode of Free Arkansas, host Andy McNeill talks with Mike Preston, the CEO of CDI Contractors and former Arkansas Secretary of Commerce, about leadership, economic development and why Arkansas continues to be a place where big things can happen. Mike shares how he made Arkansas home,...
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Jay Brogdon on Banking, Growth & Arkansas’ Economic Future 💰🏦
On this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy McNeill talks with Jay Brogdon, President and CEO of Simmons First National Corporation and Simmons Bank, about how banking helps shape growth, opportunity and capital formation across Arkansas. Brogdon walks through the banking landscape in plain English,...
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Roby Brock on Arkansas Politics, Media & Small-Town Newspapers 🗞️🎙️
On this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy McNeill talks with Roby Brock, CEO of Natural State Media and longtime host of Talk Business & Politics, about Arkansas media, politics and the future of local news. Brock reflects on how Arkansas politics has changed, why so much of it now feels…
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Asa Hutchinson on Arkansas, Trump, AI & What Comes Next
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson joins Andy McNeill for a wide-ranging conversation about public service, leadership and where Arkansas, and the country, go from here.Hutchinson reflects on growing up on a farm near Gravette, the lessons he learned from his parents, his early career as the...
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Un-Fast Fashion: Robin Wallis Atkinson with Upkept
On this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy McNeill talks with Robin Wallis Atkinson, founder and CEO of Upkept, about what it takes to build a company at the intersection of fashion, repair, sustainability, labor and entrepreneurship.Robin shares how her background in art, community-building and...
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🦆 Duck Hunting in Arkansas: George Dunklin on Five Oaks, Conservation & the Flyways
George Dunklin has spent decades at the center of duck hunting and conservation in Arkansas, from leading Ducks Unlimited to chairing the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to building Five Oaks into one of the most respected hunting lodges in the country. In this episode, he sits down with Andy…
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💰 The Economy, Housing, and Debt | Congressman French Hill
Congressman French Hill joins Andy McNeill for a wide-ranging conversation that connects Washington policy to real life in Arkansas, tracing his path from building a bank from scratch to shaping national financial policy and explaining how decisions in D.C. impact small businesses, homebuyers…
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Whole Health with Dr. Sharmila Makhija
In this episode of Free Arkansas, host Andy McNeill sits down with Sharmila Makhija, MD, MBA, the Founding Dean and Chief Executive Officer of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, to talk about the future of healthcare in Arkansas and the work underway in Northwest Arkansas to train a new...
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🎙️ Capitalism, AI & Arkansas: What’s Coming Next?
What does it actually mean to be a capitalist in today’s world, and what happens when AI starts reshaping the economy faster than we can keep up? In this episode of Y’all Hear About This, Andy and Misty dig into both questions, starting with a simple definition of capitalism and tracing it back…
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Breaking the Cycle of Youth Incarceration | Judge Troy Braswell
⚖️ What if the justice system actually worked to keep kids out of prison?In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy sits down with Circuit Judge Troy Braswell, who’s taking a different approach to juvenile justice. Instead of a one-size-fits-all system, he’s focused on understanding what’s really…
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Getting Ahead in Arkansas | Work, Family, and the Path Forward with Anna Beth Gorman
What does it actually look like to build a career, raise a family, and get ahead in Arkansas today?Andy sits down with Anna Beth Gorman, CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, for a wide-ranging conversation about work, money, and opportunity across the state.They get into:💸 The real cost of...
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🌄 The Buffalo River Story: Arkansas’s Crown Jewel with Mike Mills
Today on Free Arkansas, we’re talking about the Buffalo River, one of the most iconic places in the state and the first national river in the United States. Andy McNeill sits down with Mike Mills, founder of the Buffalo Outdoor Center, to talk about how the river was protected, what that meant…
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🎙️ Inside Higher Ed: A Student’s Take | Jaxon Hatfield
What does college actually look like for students right now?We hear a lot from administrators, lawmakers, and university leaders. But in this episode, we sit down with someone living it every day.🎓 Jaxon Hatfield is a freshman at the University of Arkansas and serves in student government. He’s…
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🍗 The Return of AQ Chicken | Jacob Lively
In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy McNeill talks with Jacob Lively about bringing AQ Chicken back to downtown Springdale and why the iconic Arkansas restaurant still means so much to people across the state. They discuss the legacy of AQ Chicken, what it takes to revive a beloved local brand,...
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Big Data, AI, and Arkansas Entrepreneurship | Charles Morgan
💡 What does it take to build a technology company in Arkansas — and keep building new ones decades later? In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy McNeill sits down with Arkansas technology pioneer Charles Morgan, former CEO of Acxiom and founder of companies including First Orion. They talk about...
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Arkansas Election Law, FOIA, and Government Transparency | Jennifer Standerfer
Andy sits down with Northwest Arkansas attorney Jennifer Standerfer to talk through the nuts and bolts of Arkansas government and election law.Jennifer is the founder of Waymack Standerfer Law, a former prosecutor and public defender, and a former legislative candidate. She shares her experience...
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What Do Constables Actually Do + State of the Union Reactions | Y'all Hear About This?
Ever get to the ballot and hit a race you know nothing about? This week, Andy McNeill and Misty Hale break down a little known elected position and react to the latest State of the Union.👇 Here’s what y’all hear about this week:🗳️ What constables actually do in Arkansas🤷 How voters end up...
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🍸 Whit Nicholson on Craft Cocktails, Hospitality, and the Growing NWA Bar Scene
Annabelle Wright and Kate McNeill sit down with Whit Nicholson, bar manager at Guisinger Cocktail Club, to talk about how Northwest Arkansas is building big-city hospitality right here at home.From launching a cocktail bar from day one… to the growth of the NWA food and nightlife scene… to why...
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Early Voting Begins, Guthrie Kidnapping & More | Y'all Hear About That?
🚨 In this week’s Y’all Hear About That, Andy McNeill's talking politics and Misty Hale's still thinking about the Nancy Guthrie investigation. They also cover Arkansas early voting, new primary ballot rules, party dynamics in this election cycle, and how Dads handle taking their daughters into a...
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Arkansas Justice, Prisons, and the Cost of Locking People Up | Sarah Moore
🚨 Arkansas has one of the highest incarceration rates in America. So what’s behind it?Andy McNeill sits down with Fayetteville City Council member and Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition founder Sarah Moore to talk prisons, mental health, sentencing laws, and what real justice reform could look…
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Keeping Arkansas Moving | ARDOT Director Jared Wiley
Arkansas roads affect every one of us: safety, economic growth, travel, and daily life. So what actually goes into keeping the state moving?In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy McNeill sits down with Arkansas Department of Transportation Director Jared Wiley to talk about the scale of Arkansas...
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🎙️ Arkansas Roots, Songwriting, and Coming Home | JD Clayton
Annabelle Wright and Kate McNeill sit down with Arkansas singer-songwriter JD Clayton for an honest conversation about music, family, and the pull of home.JD talks about growing up in Fort Smith, leaving Arkansas to chase music in Nashville, and why he ultimately came back. He shares how…
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Fourth-Generation Farming, Rice, and the Business of Agriculture | Jennifer James
In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy McNeill sits down with Jennifer James, a fourth-generation farmer from Newport, Arkansas, to talk about the past, present, and future of American agriculture.Jennifer helps run a 130-year-old Arkansas Century Farm, serves on the Riceland Foods Board of...
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🌳 Bryan Sanders on Outdoor Recreation, Conservation & Arkansas’s Future
Host Andy McNeill sits down with Bryan Sanders, Arkansas’s First Gentleman, for an in-depth conversation about the outdoors, conservation, and why Arkansas is emerging as a premier destination for outdoor recreation.Bryan shares personal stories about falling in love with Arkansas, duck hunting…
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🎉 2026 Predictions: Dumb Phones, Pipe Smoking and Rogue AI
Andy McNeill and Misty Hale kick off the new year by talking through the cultural trends, tech shifts, and strange predictions already floating around. From the idea of “dumb phones” becoming a status symbol, to whether romance is making a comeback, to the possibility of pipe smoking and...
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🎙️ Dr. Jim Carr | Higher Education, Cost, and the Future of the State
Andy McNeill sits down with Dr. Jim Carr for a wide-ranging conversation on higher education in Arkansas, based on Dr. Carr’s decades as a university leader and service on state and federal boards.The discussion starts with how Dr. Carr ended up sanctioned by the Chinese government, then moves…
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🎄Arkansas Christmas Towns and Mary Jane
It’s almost Christmas, and in this episode Andy McNeill and Misty Hale are feeling festive while still talking about what’s happening in Arkansas and beyond.🎁 In this episode:🎄 Arkansas towns with Christmas-sounding names like Snowball, Holly Grove, and Star City😂 A hilarious Christmas-themed...
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🎙️ Dr. Tyler Tarver: Education, AI & the Future of Learning 🤖📚
In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy McNeill sits down with Dr. Tyler Tarver-- educator, entrepreneur, and one of the most-followed teacher voices online-- to talk about where education is headed in an AI-driven world. 💡 What they cover: 🤖 How AI is changing classrooms (and why it won’t…
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⚖️ Citizen Power, Court Rulings & Protecting Kids — Y’all Hear About This
In this episode, Andy and Misty dig into two big Arkansas stories: 🧑⚖️ A major Supreme Court decision that shifts the balance between direct democracy and legislative power 😢 And a series of troubling child maltreatment cases that have legislators demanding answers. They break down what…
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🎓 From Campus to Capitol: Maria Markham’s Unexpected Political Journey
Dr. Maria Markham sits down with Andy for an honest look at higher education in Arkansas — the politics she never expected to walk into, the funding fights nobody sees, the pressure colleges face from every direction, and why welding instructors were sometimes making more than she did. She led…
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🎙️ Rep. David Ray: Tax Cuts, Growth Strategy & Arkansas’ Future
State Rep. David Ray sits down with Andy for a wide-ranging conversation about tax policy, economic competitiveness, and what it takes to keep Arkansas moving forward. From income-tax cuts to property-tax reform, Ray lays out the framework he thinks will shape the state’s next decade. In this...
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🎧 Airplane Etiquette, Spotify Ages & Classic Books
In this week’s episode of Y’all Hear About This, Andy and Misty swap stories on travel culture, Spotify’s “listening age,” and why classic movies and books are having a moment,.In this episode:✈️ The Transportation Secretary’s “civility campaign” — Should people dress up more on planes, or is...
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🌾 Hallie Shoffner: Farming, Hunger, and the Future of Arkansas
In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy sits down with Hallie Shoffner, a Democratic primary candidate for U.S. Senate and a fifth-generation Delta farmer whose family just closed their 150-year-old farm. Hallie opens up about the collapse of small farming, why she decided to run, and what she...
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🎙️ Getting to Know Senator Tom Cotton — Beyond the Headlines
Andy sits down with U.S. Senator Tom Cotton for a wide-ranging conversation. You'll hear about marathon training and Ranger School leadership lessons, baseball loyalties, China, AI, and what life is like chairing the Intelligence Committee. This episode shows aims to show a more personal side of...
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🦆 Mud Motors, Pontoon Blinds & a Little Arkansas Civility
On this episode of Y’all Hear About This, Andy and Misty jump into the start of duck season, the chaos of mud motors on public ground, and why pontoon blinds at Sunken Lands WMA have become a big headache for Arkansas Game & Fish. They also talk about the Governor’s Mansion 75th anniversary...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Free Arkansas is a podcast dedicated to fostering a free market of ideas in the Natural State. We bring open, honest, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations to the forefront, tackling the issues that matter most to Arkansans. Through thought-provoking discussions, in-depth analysis, and engaging interviews with a diverse range of voices, we challenge conventional wisdom and encourage independent thought and critical thinking. Whether you're looking for fresh perspectives or a platform that values truth over ideology, Free Arkansas is your space for bold, unfiltered dialogue.
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Free Arkansas
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Free Arkansas have?
Free Arkansas currently has 108 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Free Arkansas about?
Free Arkansas is a podcast dedicated to fostering a free market of ideas in the Natural State. We bring open, honest, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations to the forefront, tackling the issues that matter most to Arkansans. Through thought-provoking discussions, in-depth analysis, and engaging...
How often does Free Arkansas release new episodes?
Free Arkansas publishes regularly with 108 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Free Arkansas?
You can listen to Free Arkansas on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Free Arkansas?
Free Arkansas is created and hosted by Free Arkansas.
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