Paragould Podcast

Black River Technical College has been growing in recent years and Brad Baine joined us to talk about why that is and how every citizen in Paragould can partake in some of the awesome classes they offer on their campus or at the new GIN in Downtown Paragould. 

People say often that Greene County is progressing in a lot of positive ways. This new position to ensure employees of the county are being cared for is just another way we can highlight that Paragould is a great place to live! In this episode we meet Lexy Allbritton and learn how her role is serving the employees of the county.

Bob Branch's stories of Paragould and Greene County history are so beloved that our fans have asked for more! So in a unique turn of events, Mr. Branch has returned to the studio for the second time in one month! In this episode, he gives us 10 snapshots of life growing up in Paragould during the Great Depression era, as well as what it was like to have himself and several brothers fight in wars o...

Touring with artists like CeeLo Green, Kacey Musgraves, Sam Smith, and many others, Nathan Stone has been privileged to travel the world and see the finest cities. However, as he faced kidney failure at the end of 2023, Nathan grew to appreciate the value of relationships with family and friends in ways he never did before because he always assumed he has plenty of time. This episode is very speci...

Many Americans love dogs! How can we have a happy dog? Blake Bristow shares about how his training of K9 units at BlueStreak K9 produces happy dogs because they are obedient dogs. 

Brian Shiro is a Paragould native whose extensive accomplishments include working for NASA, NOAA, and is currently the Deputy Director of United States Geological Survey Geological Hazards Science Center. If that sounds like a mouthful, no worries as Brian helps us understand how his study of earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanos are important to the future of Mars exploration.  Twice Brian has been...

Bob Branch joined us for a third time to share about the history of how Greene County, AR was settled. He shares about Benjamin Crowley, and lesser known figure: Isaac Brookfield. Crowley settled West of the Mississippi following the War of 1812 to acquire 160 acres of land. 

Lt. Buster Sexton is a lead detective with the Paragould Police Department. He is passionate about providing a safe space for his family and yours in Paragould. In this episode we talk with Buster about what it looks like to be a detective in Paragould, how many cases they work per year, and what we can do to help protect our own children. 

Terry Melton has been working for Walmart since he turned 16, 40 years ago. He displayed the values of Walmart in empathy, diversity, and humility such that by the age of 23 he was the GM of his own store. Since the end of 2000, he has been the GM of our local Walmart Supercenter and came on the show to talk about what it takes to run the largest retailer in Greene County. 

This episode is Erik Wright's incredible vulnerability in his suffering of depression and suicidal thoughts. In this episode we talk at length about how a person gets to the point where they are considering a permanent solution to a temporary problem. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression and especially suicidal thoughts, please connect with people you trust. If you are uncomfor...

On April 2, Jared and Chris were honored with the opportunity to teach students from more than 10 NEA schools about podcasting. Each of this students were involved in the EAST Initiatives in their schools. EAST stands for Education Accelerated by Service and Technology, combining the tech interests of the students with the opportunity to address real world problems in their communities. We had the...

If the FBI stormed your house, what would be going through your head? Jason Wolfenbarger joined the show to tell us all about what led up to April 6, 2021, his experience in the moment of being arrested by countless officers, and his long humbling road to accepting the reality that he was an addict in need of help. In this incredibly vulnerable episode, Jason shared all about how and why he got ca...

Peak Fitness owners, Ronnie and Jordan Richardson have created an amazing culture where members feel comfortable doing something uncomfortable: walking in the doors of a gym. From group boot camps, to yoga classes, to boxing lessons, Peak Fitness is more than a gym; it's a family.

Hamburger Station has been a staple in Paragould since 1925. It's been featured on TV shows, books, and countless articles. In 1998 Bert bought the restaurant from its previous owners. However, today's episode is about so much more than a hamburger. Bert opens up vulnerably to talk about a struggle with Alcohol addiction and how he just sought help in recovery. You won't want to miss this incredib...

Jimmy Dodd is on the podcast this week! It was special for us to have two legends in the Paragould Rams Sports Network family talking Paragould schools history, what it takes to be a great broadcaster, and the importance of school spirit. We hit on Doc Paynter and the new gym that Paragould will be building by fall of 2025. This is a great episode for Rams, Eagles, and Falcons fans alike!

Bill Phillips has experienced a lot of life in his nearly 90 years. For most of his life he has lived right here in Paragould. He first worked at the Gulf Oil Company service station that is now Carlos' Street Tacos Downtown, but he spent the majority of his vocational career with Paragould Municipal Utilities, though of course it was not named that 50 years ago. 

Jiles Wright survived a horrific plane crash in 1990, but found his way back in the pilots seat a few years later. The adrenaline rush that comes from flying was amplified even more when he discovered the sport of Fast Draw target shooting. At first he shot in the stance he was trained as a police officer. Before long, he found his form and became a champion. Earlier this year, he became not just...

Luke Morris has been working at the Greene County Jail for just 18 months, but has already made a huge impact in the opinion of Jail Leadership. In today's episode we talk about a day in the life at jail, how to remain calm in a chaotic situation, leadership, and why so many inmates are repeat offenders. 

We had a unique treat to interview Carlton Jones, the district judge from Miller County, who is running for Arkansas Supreme Court! It was fun to hear his story about how he's been serving Arkansas communities for 35+ years and is ready and excited at the opportunity to serve the entire state if elected to the Supreme Court this year! 

Sue is responsible for launching the Leadership Paragould program, recruiting many industrial employers, and much more. During her time with the Chamber of Commerce, Paragould saw tremendous growth. Still today she serves the city as a board member for local organizations and acts as a sounding board for our current leaders. In this episode we talk about how to recruit new businesses to our city,...

The Collins Theater is nearly 100 years old! Jon, Meredith, and the whole team at The Collins Theater are working diligently every year to make it better and more diverse than ever. There are some really exciting events coming up in 2024, but first we talk about the history of the Collins and if it is haunted! 

Max Bishop, legendary ninja cowboy, returns to the show! Max was in our third episode ever, way back in 2021! This winter he went viral, making national news as video of him roping a baby calf stranded on a pond and pulling it to safety struck the hearts of many. Max has more stories about Mixed Martial Arts, being a good neighbor, persevering through pain and adversity, and why it's not a good id...

Holden Smith joined the show this week and shared incredible insight into life after losing a parent early in life. His perspective on life as he advances through many of the same life stages as his dad is full of wisdom. As Holden creates his own life as an adult, he carries with him the work ethic he learned from both his parents. 

Jeff Branch knew in Kindergarten that he wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps and be a lawyer in Paragould. Early in his tenure, he got some of his first action as a deputy prosecutor on the infamous Jones murder trial! As a retired lawyer, Jeff has a lot of opinions and wasn't afraid to spill all!

Mayor Josh Agee joins the show to talk about what all the city has accomplished in 2023 and look forward to great plans for 2024! You won't want to miss this super informative episode!