Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast

On this week’s episode, Rex invites return guest Skip Rutherford, dean emeritus of the Clinton School of Public Service, to discuss Arkansas politics, focusing on recent elections, ballot issues, and the state’s shifting political landscape. The two also briefly talk about the potential impacts that national election results may have on the state in the upcoming months and years. 

Skip and Rex discuss significant issues that did and did not make it onto this year’s ballot, with Rex emphasizing public confusion surrounding Issue No. 2, which concerned the proposed casino in Pope County. Skip also shares his opinion on Little Rock’s failed sales tax initiative.

They also dive into the state's upcoming legislative session, the LEARNS Act’s impact on rural schools, the state's funding for higher education and more.

In this week's episode, Miguel Lopez, lead for Hispanic and Latino market outreach at Southern Bancorp, shares his immigration story. From Guadalajara, Mexico, to Arkansas, Lopez discusses how his family opened their now-thriving Mexican grocery store, Mercado El Valle, in Sherwood.

Rex and Miguel also chat about how Arkansas now has the fourth fastest-growing Hispanic population in the country. Miguel emphasizes the need for banks to build trust with this community by using intermediaries who understand their needs, highlighting significant opportunities for financial institutions to support Latino businesses.

The two also talk about the importance of political engagement in the growing population, with Miguel urging both political parties to develop strategies for connecting with Latino voters across the political spectrum.

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.

On this week's episode, Bryan Barnhouse, the President and CEO of the Arkansas Research Alliance, joins Rex in the studio to discuss the organization's efforts to invest in research opportunities that drive scientific discovery, engineering breakthroughs, and economic development across the state. 

Following a brief overview of the alliance and their initiaitives, Bryan tells Rex about the alliance's Scholar and Fellows programs designed to connect the state's top research universities to researchers from within and outside of the state. 

Bryan gives Rex a brief rundown of the seven growth opportunities identified in the research alliance's recently published economic development report, "Enabling An Innovation-Led Future For Arkansas," outlining areas where Arkansas has the most potential for economic and occupational expansion. 

Bryan also announces a round of impact grants that will fund collaborative projects to help find research based solutions to challenges an industry is facing. 

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Rex is joined by two key members of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre – commonly known as "The Rep" – on this week's episode of the podcast. Executive Director Will Trice and longtime board member Ruth Shepherd are on-hand to share their vast knowledge of regional theater and some of their more memorable experiences while working at "The Rep" in this episode. 

Will tells Rex about his upbringing as a young actor and how those experiences influenced his New York stage career as well as his eventual move back to his home state to serve in a leadership role for "The Rep." Will's decision to return to Central Arkansas to lead "The Rep" had much to do with the theater's failing business model in the late 2010s, which included production shutting down early in 2016-2017. 

Will's love and understanding of the art of theater combined with his business savvy and the opportunity to return to Arkansas greatly influenced his decision to play a key role in reviving "The Rep." Although he believes that "theater doesn't make sense as a business," both Will and Ruth found satisfaction in the possibility of revitalizing the standing of "The Rep" in the community and ensuring its standing as one of the state's foremost cultural landmarks. 

Will and Ruth maintain the belief that, for the "The Rep" to continue to thrive and maintain its professional standing in the community, a sustainable business model is needed as well as loyal patrons and regular contributors. 

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This week, Rex welcomes Michael Marion back to the podcast. The longtime general manager of North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena, Michael is a former Los Angeles-based music agent and promoter who shares his insight into the entertainment industry on this episode of the program. 

The Simmons Bank Arena, whch opened to the public in October 1999 as the Allel Arena, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and stands as the largest and most prominent entertainment spot in Central Arkansas. Rex and Michael chat about the venue's unique history, which has proved financially successful in addition to its regional and national popularity and the changes that have taken place at the location over the past two and a half decades.

Michael, a Tupelo, Miss. native who got his start by booking music talent in his home state, discusses the importance of business leaders and local politicians in the arena's formative years, as well as the venue's first concert, a performance by Elton John (who played a stop on his farewell tour at the same venue in 2022). 

Over the years, Michael shares many of his most memorable experiences working at the arena, including booking The Rolling Stones, George Strait's sold out shows, and meeting Sir Paul McCartney. 

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Melissa Taverner, President of Lyon College in Batesville, returns to the studio to update Rex on several of the school's recent and upcoming projects. 

Melissa highlights the university's strong enrollment and residential occupancy for the upcoming year. She also announces that the college has secured a $1.95 million Title III Grant from the U.S. Department of Education that will fund the Thriving Scot Program, a five-year initiative aimed at enhancing learning communities to improve first-semester GPAs, retention rates, and graduation rates, particularly for economically disadvantaged and first-generation students. 

The pair also discuss Lyon College's plans to launch the state's first dental and veterinary schools, both of which are celebrating the expansion of educational opportunities within the state. Melissa mentions that the new dental school will be constructed in the Riverdale neighborhood of downtown Little Rock, offering both educational opportunities for students and oral health care services for the community. The veterinary school is set to be constructed in Cabot, adjacent to the Cabot Animal Services building.

Melissa also touches on Lyon College's partnerships with the University of Arkansas Little Rock's Bowen Law School and the Clinton School of Public Service. Near the conclusion of the conversation, she highlights the school's recently announced Backyard Access Plan, which offers discounted tuition to eligible students from the area surrounding the college.

This week Lance Restum, executive director of the Arkansas Travelers Youth Foundation, returns to the studio to discuss the charity's impactful work in fostering community health and supporting local youth through baseball and softball. 

Rex and Lance delve into the crucial issue of economic barriers that prevent many children and young adults from participating in sports. Lance shares how the foundation is tackling these challenges with a range of initiatives. These include their college scholarship program, free youth baseball clinics, and the Cleat Closet program, which provides essential equipment and gear to those in need.

The pair also discuss the 'overall health epidemic' affecting modern youth and the importance of programs like the baseball free clinics to encourage children to get outside and stay active. Lance also mentions the foundation's Mobile Wellness Center that offers guidance to youth on ways to maintain and improve their physical health on and off the field. 

Rex touches on the potential economic benefits of investing in new and renovated youth sports facilities in Little Rock and North Little Rock. He argues that such investments would not only enhance community health but also provide a boost to the local economy. 

Capi Peck and Norm Berner – both frequent visitors to the podcast – join Rex this week to talk about different ways they are helping to combat Little Rock's worsening and seemingly never-ending trash problem. 

Peck and Berner chat with Rex about aspects of their roles as conservation advocates for the city in regards to litter-related clean-up efforts. Peck, the executive chef and longtime owner of Trio's restaurant as well as a member of the Little Rock Board of Directors, talks with Rex about the connection between fast food and trash, and how non-recyclable materials have greatly contributed to the city’s litter and pollution problems. Peck also stresses the importance of educating younger generations in conservation and environmental awareness. 

Berner, a member of Friends of Fourche Creek and Keep Little Rock Beautiful, is a longtime protector of urban wetlands in Central Arkansas. In this episode, he provides Rex with a brief history of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful campaign and his involvement with the organization. Berner also discusses upcoming events hosted by Friends of Fourche Creek as well as an exciting “special speaker” coming to this year’s Arkansas State Fair, one who Berner believes will continue help tackling the city’s problems with litter and pollution for years to come. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

Allen Engstrom, an area real estate developer and managing director of the financial consulting firm, CFO Network, stops by the podcast this week to chat with Rex about new, ongoing and planned developments in the Little Rock metro, and especially the recent revival of the Argenta Arts District in North Little Rock.

Allen founded the CFO Network more than 20 years ago in the Argenta district and the first topic of this week's discussion is the growth and changes the area has undergone over the past two decades. He explains how the communal aspect of the neighborhood grew in the wake of a successful tax implemented on area businesses and a core belief in making the district "clean, green and safe."

The primary focus of the conversation is the importance and necessity of building new housing developments and area businesses around a "live, work and play" ethos, which Allen and Rex agree is central to urban and economic progress. Along these lines, Allen tells Rex about several recent real estate projects he's been focused on, including the remodeling and repurposing of an 1800s-era house into an office and event space and converting a former Presbyterian Church into what Allen hopes will be an upscale restaurant. 

The pair conclude their discussion with their thoughts on Little Rock's new downtown master plan, and stating the importance of a partnership and connection between Little Rock and North Little Rock moving forward. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

On this week’s episode, President of Paceline Strategies and former President and CEO of the Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Graham Cobb, joins Rex to discuss the economic developments and cultural shifts impacting Northwest and Central Arkansas. 

The pair begin their conversation by highlighting Northwest Arkansas' economic boom, driven by initiatives from entities like Tyson Foods, Inc. and Walmart, alongside significant investments in infrastructure and healthcare, such as Crystal Bridges and the Alice Walton Medical School. 

Graham, who now lives in Bentonville but is originally from Little Rock, also talks about Central Arkansas' recent surge in logistics and distribution jobs, notably with Amazon establishing a regional hub.

Both Rex and Graham emphasize the importance of leveraging Arkansas's strengths and fostering civic engagement statewide to sustain growth and attract further investments.

Towards the end of the conversation, Graham emphasizes the importance of community collaboration and authentic storytelling to promote Arkansas' unique qualities and attract new residents, pointing to initiatives like the #BecauseBentonville campaign. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

On this week’s episode, Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson joins Rex to talk about economic and industrial developments in Mississippi County, including efforts to attract industry and new residents to the area. 

The pair begin their conversation with a discussion of the county's booming steel industry, touching on U.S. Steel Corporation's recent acquisition of Big River Steel and the opening of several steel mills in the area, which has created hundreds of new jobs. 

John also discusses the potential for aerospace development in the area, particularly utilizing the Arkansas Aeroplex in Blytheville. He describes how the aeroplex has attracted interest from companies throughout the globe.

Rex asks John about how county officials are working to attract more people to live and work in the county, and the judge mentions several efforts being made to improve infrastructure to support economic growth, such as the "Live Here, Work Here" program.

To conclude the conversation, Rex and John discuss Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville and the crucial role the school plays in ensuring the development of a skilled workforce.

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

On this week’s episode, Arkansas Travelers’ CEO Rusty Meeks joins Rex to talk professional baseball and the changes in Minor League Baseball in Central Arkansas. 

The pair begin their discussion with a recap of the recent sale of the Travelers – a Class AA team that’s been in Little Rock more than 60 years – to Diamond Baseball Holdings, a transaction that took place earlier this Spring. This leads Rusty and Rex into chatting about this year’s team, the Travelers’ affiliation with the Seattle Mariners, and how professional baseball has changed in recent years, particularly since the onset of covid-19 in 2020. 

Rusty describes the ways in which professional baseball has become a much larger business lately, pointing to the development of unions and more revenue streams, as well as the evolving relationship between Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB). 

Rusty and Rex conclude their discussion by focusing on new ways to attract fans to the game and make the minor league experience more enjoyable and family friendly, including new technologies, the Wi-Fi the Travelers have incorporated into Dickey-Stephens Park, and a host of promotional tactics the club is implementing for the second half of the 2024 season. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

Gabe Holmstrom, Executive Director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, joins Rex on this week’s episode to discuss various aspects of the downtown Little Rock Master Plan, which involves new housing, retail, entertainment, and cultural attractions for the city.

In this episode, Gabe and Rex chat about why the Master Plan is important to the city, and especially those who live and work in downtown Little Rock. The pair begin by discussing current challenges in the central part of the city, including the abundance of parking space and government-owned buildings and land, and how the recent $1.5 million investment in the city’s center will allow for the development of green spaces and, hopefully, better utilization of the Arkansas River.

Another significant topic covered in this episode include the re-imagining of Little Rock’s River Market, and how elements of the Master Plan will affect the future of businesses and attractions that will be included in that district. Also discussed are developments in certain neighborhoods in Little Rock and what the city’s future will look like in years to come.

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.

Jimmy Moses of Moses Tucker Partners joins Rex on this week's episode to talk about the details of Little Rock's recently released Master Plan, which calls for increasing the residential population in the heart of the city, adding trails and greenways near the riverfront, more transit options for visitors and area workers and strategic development of new businesses.

Moses, who Rex refers to as "the godfather of the River Market" on Little Rock's President Clinton Ave., has been integral in the city's urban planning and real estate efforts, and the two discuss specific neighborhoods and sections of the city in relation to the Master Plan. Of particular importance to Moses is the development of more residential opportunities in the downtown area, the elimination of parking lots in favor of adding new transportation opportunities, and a desire to create urban parks and green spaces that will assist in making downtown Little Rock more vibrant and welcoming. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

On this week's episode, Randy Zook, the president and chief executive officer of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas, joins Rex to discuss the status of the state's economy, just as the state's revenue surplus was announced and reported in the Democrat-Gazette. 

The pair begin by discussing recent developments and the growth of industries in Northwest Arkansas, including excitement surrounding new research and development at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, the new Walmart campus in Bentonville, and the expansion of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

The strength of the economy and industry in Central Arkansas is the next topic of discussion, as Randy and Rex highlight the significance of the new Tractor Supply Company Distribution Center in Maumelle and the Amazon fulfillment center in Little Rock. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

Skip Rutherford, former Dean of the University of Arkansas' Clinton School of Public Service and friend of the program, stops by this week to remember beloved Arkansas politician David Pryor, who passed away on April 20, 2024. 

Skip and Rex discuss the importance of Pryor's career and the significance of his ability to transcend political party lines in an effort to best serve the residents of The Natural State. The two also chat about the ways in which state and national politics has changed since Pryor's heyday, recent developments in the Arkansas state legislature, and why higher education matters at both the local and state levels. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

Restauranteur and area civic leader Capi Peck joins Rex on this week’s episode to discuss, most notably, the litter, trash and graffiti problems that plague the Little Rock metro. 

Peck, a Ward 4 resident who serves as Executive Chef and owner of Trio’s restaurant in Little Rock, speaks with Rex about her deep and longstanding concern for efforts to keep the city growing and beautiful, namely by removing littler, waste and debris from downtown streets as well as area parks and wetlands. 

The longtime Little Rock resident and member of the city’s Board of Directors also talks with Rex about specific conservation efforts residents can take part in and how local environmental concerns are directly connected to economic growth and revival. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

Former professional whitewater raft guide in Colorado and native Arkansan Samuel Ellis joins Rex on this week’s podcast to discuss a variety of outdoor recreational activities available in Central Arkansas and the Little Rock metro. Ellis, the owner and founder of Rock Town River Outfitters, talks with Rex about the importance of the Arkansas River and the potential the river has for outdoors enthusiasts and increasing tourism. 

Ellis and Rex also discuss how outdoor activities in the state – including kayaking, fishing, mountain biking and hiking – help promote quality of life for Arkansas residents and how these types of activities assist in bringing newcomers into The Natural State. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

Leland Couch, the Director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation, and architect Mason Ellis, board member and past president of Preserve Arkansas, join Rex this week to discuss the current state of the more than 60 parks and related facilities located in the Little Rock metro. 

Couch, who was appointed parks director two years ago, talks with Rex about the growth of Little Rock's park system over the years as well as his vision for the integration and continued development of the city's parks, including one of the area's most noteworthy urban parks, War Memorial Park. During the conversation, Couch and Ellis also speak about the importance of park preservation, trail development and pedestrian use, which are vital to the growth and maintenance of the metro area's park system. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

This week, Rex sits down with one of The Natural State's leading authorities on the timber industry, Ray Dillon, who formerly served as President and CEO of the Deltic Timber Corporation. 

A Mississippi native who worked in Chicago where he also obtained a master's degree, Ray talks with Rex about his decades-long career in paper mills, paper industries, and related aspects of the timber industry. The two discuss the size and scope of the timber industry in South Arkansas, which Ray calls "the best place for timber growth in the U.S."

Rex and Ray also chat about recent events in the housing market that have shaped the timber industry, as well as new avenues for economic growth and development in timber, such as the cross-laminated timber process. 

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners. 

On this week’s episode, Rex speaks with Mason Ellis of WER Architects, an Arkansas firm that specializes in historic preservation and restoration. Not only do Rex and Mason converse about Mason’s and WER’s work on the renovation and preservation of historic residences and buildings in the state, but the two also discuss Mason’s efforts on the Rose Creek Initiative, a group involved in completing Little Rock’s Rose Creek Park and helping preserve Rose Creek Trail.

Rex and Mason also chat about the future of pedestrian trails in Central Arkansas, including development of the Southwest Trail that will run from Little Rock to Hot Springs. The two then discuss Mason’s involvement with conservation efforts in the region and his thoughts on how The Natural State can attract younger people.

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.  

On this week’s episode, Rex sits down with Suzanne Hirrel and Norm Berner of Keep Little Rock Beautiful to “talk about trash.” The primary topic of discussion in this episode is Hirrel and Berner's work on litter prevention, recycling, and beautification projects in the Little Rock metro region.

During the conversation, Suzanne and Norm discuss their organization’s efforts to address the litter problem in Little Rock and also touch on the negative environmental and economic impacts of litter and polution in the city and its waterways. In effect, the two Keep Little Rock Beautiful board members address how the public can become involved in volunteer opportunities that address litter and pollution, such as the organization's annual Great American City Wide Cleanup on March 9, 2024.

Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.  

On this week's episode, Rex sits down and chats with Janet Harris, Executive Director and CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, to discuss how her organization helps Arkansans engage with relevant political and civil issues. 

As part of their conversation, Rex and Janet discuss the CEO's history with the Rockefeller Institute as well as her lengthy career in political engagement and public service. They also address different ways the Rockefeller Institute collaborates with other civic-minded groups in the area – including the Clinton School of Public Service – and how Arkansans can become more involved in local politics and with the Rockefeller Institute. 

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In the first episode of the New Year, Rex talks innovation and entrepreneurship with Arthur Orduña, Executive Director of The Venture Center and long-time tech industry and business veteran.

In this conversation, Rex and Arthur focus on the growth of businesses in Arkansas that are investing in diverse sources of renewable energy and the economic impact for the state. The discussion considers the role of lithium production in Southwest Arkansas and developments in the steel industry in Northeast Arkansas, both of which have led to more industries adding production sectors in The Natural State. 

To conclude their conversation, Rex and Arthur talk about ways The Venture Center in Little Rock and across the nation help burgeoning entrepreneurs and innovators become next-generation leaders. 

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This week, Rex sits down with Skip Rutherford, former Dean of the University of Arkansas' Clinton School of Public Service, to assess the past year and the future of economic and educational developments in the state.

In their conversation, Rex and Skip discuss the possibilities of the burgeoning lithium and defense industries in south Arkansas as well as the jobs and businesses that will result from an economic boom in that part of the state. The two also converse about changes in higher education in The Natural State, the divisive political landscape in the U.S. and Arkansas, and an assortment of other topics. 

Visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.