A New American Town - Bentonville, Arkansas

What happens when two passionate cyclists with backgrounds in racing come together to create a life-changing camp and initiative? Ryan Petry and Alexey Vermeulen, founders of From the Ground Up, share their inspiring journey that began during the pandemic. Their unique program started with a massive bike tour in Colorado, focusing initially on the Leadville 100 mountain bike race, and has since ex...

Meet Joseph Nguyen, a manicurist by day and influencer by night. Discover how he channels his passion for food and cycling into the Instagram sensation, the Hangry Pedaler NWA. Listen as he shares the story behind the catchy name, and how it perfectly reflects his dual loves—cycling + food.  Joseph gives us a behind-the-scenes look, sharing how he manages to keep his content fresh and engaging. An...

Curious about what it takes to run a half marathon? Join us as we chat with Christian Moore from Bentonville Parks and Recreation about Run Bentonville. Celebrating its 15th year, this event has it all— a half marathon, a 5k, and a two-person relay, fun atmosphere, live music, and a supportive community. Christian shares his journey from Fayetteville to California and back and stories like the 92-...

AJ Baird and Chef Rob Nelson share stories of the opening of Brother's Meethouse—a place for community, good food and live music.  AJ takes us through his culinary evolution from fast-food to the dynamic world of Good Gravy Group and Chef Rob reflects on the success of Tusk and Trotter, and how its growth opened the doors for a broader hospitality adventure. Together, they share the challenge...

Step behind the curtain into Bentonville's newest secret, Callisto-- a speakeasy that combines modern flair with a tropical twist, tucked away through the Midnight Gallery. Dive into our engaging chat with the curator at Midnight Gallery and discover how Callisto's vibrant menu of 31 innovative cocktails, complemented by off-menu surprises and boozy ice creams, has captured the hearts of...

Join Betzy Boche, the general manager of Climb Bentonville, as she shares her passion for health and wellness and the vision for the gym.  Get an insider's look at Climb Bentonville, a hub for fostering a love for climbing and fitness in Northwest Arkansas. Betsy highlights the facility's offerings, including day passes and a fresh lineup of yoga and fitness classes. Whether you're...

Discover how Bentonville turned an unexpected opportunity into a major milestone for its cycling community! After a hurricane forced the cancellation of the 2024 Mountain Bike Collegiate National Championship in North Carolina, quick thinking and teamwork brought this prestigious event to our town. We chat with Kalene Griffith from Visit Bentonville and Eric Bennett from USA Cycling about the behi...

Join us in a colorful conversation about Bentonville's vibrant public art scene with Tom Hoehn, chair of the Bentonville Public Arts Advisory Committee. Discover Tom's artistic journey, from his spontaneous mural escapades to his leadership role in shaping Bentonville's public art landscape. Bentonville's public art includes over 130 diverse works like "Lakes and Rivers&qu...

Hear from Rob Goyen about transforming his passion for trail running into the imaginative Dirt Circus series, coming to Bentonville and six other cities. Rob, the Special Project Manager for Dirt Circus, takes us on a journey from his early days as a race director to creating the Dirt Circus concept, which celebrates trail running culture and promotes community. Gear up for an electrifying experie...

Hear Connie Cottingham, the author of A Hundred Things to Do in Bentonville and Rogers Before You Die, share her tips and holiday shopping secrets!  With years of experience promoting destinations, Connie brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for local tourism, offering listeners an insider's view of the charm of Northwest Arkansas. We explore unique offerings of gift shops that boast dive...

Join us as we explore the remarkable journeys of Sean Kent, founder and president of the Ozark Adaptive Sports Association (OZASA), and event planner Brian Carlson. Both have turned personal challenges into a mission to expand adaptive sports in Northwest Arkansas. Sean's story begins with his love for wheelchair rugby, which propelled him to establish OZASA as a beacon of inclusivity in the...

In this captivating episode of the New American Town podcast, host Nat Ross sits down with Olympic medalist Haley Batten, one of America's top mountain biking talents. Haley takes us on her extraordinary ride from childhood bike adventures to Olympic glory, sharing pivotal moments that shaped her career. She reveals the mental and physical challenges of competing at the highest level, includi...

In this inspiring episode of A New American Town , USA Cycling teammates Christopher Blevins and Riley Amos take listeners on a thrilling ride through their journey to the Olympics. These mountain biking phenoms share their roots in Durango's cycling culture, their strategic quest to secure two male spots for Team USA in the Olympics, and the gold medal win in the team relay at the World Cham...

Join host Nat Ross as he welcomes USA Cycling mountain bikers Brayden Johnson, Sofia Waite, and Madigan Munro to Bentonville, Arkansas. These elite mountain bikers share their journeys from NICA leagues to winning World Championship gold, discuss balancing academics with athletics, and reveal what makes Bentonville's trails ideal for world-class training.  Whether you're a cycling enthus...

Dive into the world of mountain biking with Colorado native and Mountain Bike Hall of Famer Nat Ross, who now calls Bentonville home. Journey from the sport's humble beginnings to its technological evolution as Ross shares insights from his professional racing career and breaks down the various disciplines and trail types that make mountain biking unique. Discover why Bentonville has become a...

Hear from Emily Manasco, the creative force behind Somewhere in Arkansas. Discover how this flight attendant-turned-content creator is showcasing the hidden gems of the Natural State. From family-friendly adventures to seasonal hotspots, Emily shares her favorite autumn Arkansas experiences and offers a glimpse into the life of a travel influencer.  Learn about her exciting projects, including Som...

Join our conversation with Jon Allen, the visionary behind Onyx Coffee Lab to discuss coffee culture and how their brand continues to reach millions.  We uncover how a small coffee lab in Arkansas grew into a nationally recognized name in specialty coffee. From touring with a band to co-founding Onyx with his wife, hear how they've maintained their core values while elevating hospitality work...

Join us as we sit down with Ricardo Rivero, the visionary for Time Loop, an outdoor art experience at Crystal Bridges. The podcast will uncover the journey behind this latest project as well as Ricardo's transformation from a filmmaker to the creative director for Klip Creative. We dive into his DIY ethos and how it fuels his passion for turning ordinary spaces into extraordinary, immersive e...

Dive into the natural beauty of Bentonville this fall with guests Samantha Best from Crystal Bridges Museum + Arboredum and Megan Love from Compton Gardens.  Discover the wonders of fall in Northwest Arkansas, from changing foliage to wildlife preparation for winter. Learn about arboretums, native plants, and how to be a good steward of outdoor spaces.  Whether you're a local or planning a vi...

What happens when art, cycling, and sustainability intersect? Meet Elysia and Zach Springer, the dynamic duo behind Gnargo Bike Co., a Bentonville-based bike manufacturing company that's redefining the cargo bike industry. Listen to how passionate artists and cycling advocates became successful startup founders. They share how their early encounters with cargo bikes in urban environments led...

Join us as Kelly Deeds, General Manager for Summit Aviation and Thaden Field, shares his journey from building model aircrafts as a child to piloting across the globe. Kelly outlines the steps involved in obtaining a pilot's license, adventures with the scenic plane rides, and wealth of opportunities through Thaden Field-- even information about FlyOz, the social club. Whether you're an...

Listen in on the chat with the legendary George Hincapie, one of the most recognizable cyclists in the world. Hincapie has taken part in four Olympic Games, 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008, in Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, and Beijing, and was a participant in 10 Tour de France races. Why is George on our podcast? Because the Hincapie Gran Fondo will be rolling into town on September 7 and 8. Discover the u...

Join us as we sit down with Danny Collins, the visionary founder of 37 North Expeditions, whose journey is nothing short of inspiring. Danny's passion for the outdoors and his personal experiences have shaped 37 North into a catalyst for outdoor engagement and community bonding in the Ozarks. 37 North specializes in crafted outings that include hikes, biking, horseback riding, and more. Learn...

Join us as Dr. Mindy Besaw from Crystal Bridges addresses traditional American Western narratives with passion and insight, discussing the groundbreaking Knowing the West art exhibition coming to Crystal Bridges from September 14 through January 27. Co-curated with Jamie Powell, this show will help expand our thinking on the West and include voices and stories often overlooked.  Knowing the West h...

On this episode of the New American Town podcast, we're joined by Michelle Duffy, Senior Marketing Director at Life Time, who shares about Life Time's impressive ecosystem.  Listen to the conversation on how The Big Sugar Classic came to be, the Life Time Grand Prix, and the world champions that are attracted to race Bentonville. Whether you're a cycling enthusiast, a Bentonville re...