Discover Fort Smith

In this heartfelt episode of the Discover Fort Smith podcast, Dusan and Maddie Stojanovic share their powerful journey of resilience, love, and community. From Dusan’s move from Serbia to Fort Smith on a basketball scholarship, to the couple’s shared challenges navigating immigration, marriage, and a serious health scare with their newborn son, this episode is a touching reminder of the strength f...

In this episode of the Discover Fort Smith Podcast, hosts Josh and Ashley welcome Shea Foldvary , President & CEO of United Way of Fort Smith , for an in-depth conversation on the power of giving, strategic community investment, and the incredible legacy of one of Fort Smith’s most trusted nonprofit organizations. Shea shares how United Way of Fort Smith operates one of the only 100% pass-thro...

🎙️ In this episode, we dive into the heart of Fort Smith’s vibrant library scene with Jennifer Goodson , Director of the Fort Smith Public Library . From uncovering unexpected resources like tax help and digital streaming to highlighting their most popular events like Black Tie Bingo and the delicious Chocolate Festival , Jennifer shares how the library is redefining what it means to serve a moder...

🎯 In this inspiring episode of the Discover Fort Smith Podcast, hosts Josh and Ashley sit down with Jason Baggett , the visionary behind the Arkansas Outdoor Expo , coming to the Fort Smith Convention Center in January 2026 . From growing up in a small-town pharmacy run by his parents to becoming a passionate advocate for the outdoors, Jason shares his journey of community, perseverance, and purp...

🎙️ In this episode of the Discover Fort Smith Podcast, hosts Josh and Ashley sit down with the vibrant and multi-talented Rachel Testa , a driving force behind The Bakery District and The Mill co-working space. Born and raised in Fort Smith, Rachel shares her inspiring journey from serving tables to spearheading major events like Street Fest and creating community connections through co-working in...

In this episode of the Discover Fort Smith Podcast, we sit down with Sam Hanna — a Fort Smith native, entrepreneur, and community leader involved with KW Properties , Hanna Oil and Gas , and the Fort Smith Parks and Recreation Commission . Sam shares his journey from Colorado to Austin and back home to Fort Smith, where he’s helping transform the city through visionary projects like the Bakery Dis...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode,  Jennifer Hallum , President and CEO of the  Area Agency on Aging of Western Arkansas , shares her personal and professional journey from small-town Oklahoma roots to leading one of Fort Smith’s most impactful nonprofit organizations. Jennifer opens up about her family’s experiences caring for aging parents, her early memories of visiting senior centers wit...

Meet  Rhyan “River Boy” Besco  — a Fort Smith native, hit songwriter, and music visionary who’s bringing national-level creativity back home. From starting his first rap group at Ramsey Junior High to writing platinum records in Los Angeles for global artists, Rhyan shares his incredible journey of faith, persistence, and purpose. In this inspiring episode, Rhyan talks about signing with major lab...

Step inside one of Fort Smith’s most unique historical landmarks —  Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum  — with guest  Angel Tracy , the museum’s manager and passionate historian. In this episode, Angel shares fascinating stories about the women who shaped this space, from Miss Laura and Bertha to the many who followed, revealing how this former brothel became a vital part of women’s history and Fort Smit...

In this episode of  Discover Fort Smith , we sit down with  Adonis Wilson , vocal music teacher and marketing coordinator at the  Institute for the Creative Arts (ICA) . From nearly pursuing a career on cruise ships to becoming a passionate educator in Fort Smith, Adonis shares his inspiring story of choosing to stay and invest in the community. We dive into the vision of ICA as Arkansas’ only imm...

In this episode of  Discover Fort Smith , meet  Joanna Hernandez , social media coordinator for Discover Fort Smith and proud Fort Smith native. Joanna shares her journey from Southside High School to UAFS, where she earned recognition for academic excellence in graphic design, to becoming the voice of Fort Smith online. She opens up about staying rooted in her hometown, capturing its diversity, s...

In this episode of  Discover Fort Smith , we sit down with  Chancellor Teresa Riley  of the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith. A first-generation college student who worked her way through school, Dr. Riley shares her inspiring journey to becoming chancellor and her passion for making higher education accessible and transformative. We discuss how UAFS supports first-generation and Pell Grant–eligi...

Join us for a fascinating conversation with  Dr. Shadow Robinson , Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Student Success at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith. From starting college at just 16 to earning a PhD in theoretical physics, Dr. Robinson shares his journey from scientist to educational leader. We dive into UAFS initiatives that prepare students for real-world careers, ne...

In this powerful episode,  Col. Ihde  (callsign  Matrix ), Commander of the 85th Fighter Group, shares the inside story of the  Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission  based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith. He explains how Fort Smith became home to  F-35 training for allied nations  like Poland, Finland, Singapore, Germany, and more — and why this program places Fort Smith at the  ce...

Dive into summer fun with  Drew Peterson , General Manager of  Parrot Island Waterpark  in Fort Smith! From lifeguard to GM, Drew shares his journey and the exciting future of the park, including a  massive new expansion with a five-slide tower , exclusive world-first slides, and upgraded guest experiences. Hear about Parrot Island’s signature attractions like the FlowRider surf simulator, wave po...

Step inside Fort Smith’s history with  Emma Markowski , a passionate historian and curator at the Chaffee Barbershop and Military Museum. From her roots in New Jersey to finding a new home in Arkansas, Emma shares how she became deeply involved in preserving military history, creating powerful exhibits, and connecting Fort Smith’s stories to the world. Discover hidden pieces of Fort Chaffee’s past...

In this inspiring episode,  Molly Ann Dunaway , newly crowned  Miss Worldwide 2025 , shares her incredible journey into pageantry, her experience balancing life as a single mother of nine, and her deep commitment to charity work with  100 Families , an organization dedicated to helping families in crisis. From the challenges of preparation and competition, to heartwarming stories about her childre...

In this captivating episode of the  Discover Fort Smith  podcast, hosts  Josh Buchfink  and  Joe Cline  sit down with longtime volunteers  Sue and Floyd Robinson , the husband-and-wife duo who have spent over two decades  bringing Judge Isaac C. Parker’s courtroom to life  through historical reenactments at the  Fort Smith National Historic Site . Dressed in period-accurate costumes, Sue and Floyd...

In this episode of the Discover Fort Smith Podcast, hosts  Josh Buchfink  and  Joe Cline  sit down with  Judge Sam Terry to explore his inspiring journey from local Fort Smith roots to the bench of the district court. Judge Terry opens up about his path through law school, private practice, public service, and his multiple appointments by Governor Asa Hutchinson. Hear his reflections on the import...

In this episode of the  Discover Fort Smith  podcast, hosts  Josh Buchfink  and  Joe Cline  welcome  Mila Mazur , Executive Director of the historic  Clayton House . From her first impressions of Fort Smith to her leadership in preserving one of the city’s most treasured landmarks, Mila shares a journey rooted in history, community, and resilience. Learn about the incredible Victorian-era lifestyl...

In this inspiring episode of the  Discover Fort Smith  podcast, hosts  Josh Buchfink  and  Joe Cline  sit down with Fort Smith Police Chief  Danny Baker  to explore his unexpected path to leadership, his personal connection to the city, and how he’s helped reshape community policing in Fort Smith. Chief Baker opens up about pivotal moments like the 500-year flood, the legacy of Officer Danny Marti...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Christopher Smith, creative director and storyteller for the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE). A Fort Smith native and founder of the Soul Society brand, Christopher shares how his work with ACHE is helping to redefine healthcare education through storytelling, creativity, and connection. He opens up about the importance of Black representati...

Get an inside look at the future of public spaces in Fort Smith with Sara Deuster, Director of Parks & Recreation. In this forward-thinking episode, Sara shares her vision for inclusive and innovative green spaces—from reimagining neighborhood parks and installing splash pads to transforming old brick warehouses into vibrant recreation hubs. Learn how her passion for equity, community connecti...

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Tom Kirkham, CEO and founder of IronTech Security, to explore the hidden dangers of cybersecurity and how businesses — big or small — can better protect themselves. From his personal story of landing on an ISIS kill list to the rise of AI-powered phishing scams, Tom shares compelling insights that are both shocking and educational. He also reveals how...

In this thoughtful and inspiring episode, we speak with Emily Vernon, occupational therapist and director of the Fort Smith satellite clinic for The Griffin Promise Autism Clinic. Emily shares her journey from Tulsa to Fort Smith and why she’s passionate about supporting neurodiverse individuals and their families. She outlines her vision for creating an inclusive sensory gym, launching a local au...