Free Arkansas

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 replace teachers) ⏱️ Tools that save teachers time and reduce burnout 🎓 What great teaching looks like in 2...

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 changed, why it matters, and what comes next for kids, families, and voters in Arkansas. 👉 Subscribe for mor...

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 the system for nearly seven years, and she speaks candidly about what she learned. Topics include:🎓 Why...

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 episode:💰 Why he believes income tax cuts are essential — and what it would take to eventually reach zero...

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 comfort king in the TSA era?👀 Why airports are a full-blown social experiment 🎧 Spotify Wrapped gets per...

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 thinks Arkansas could be doing right now to rebuild rural communities, strengthen the middle class, and fe...

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 the Senator from Dardanelle. In this episode:* How 9/11 shaped Cotton’s path from Harvard to the Ar...

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 gala—and a rare moment of statewide political unity—plus Andy’s review of Aunt Suzy’s Granola, and a qu...

Andy sits down with Game & Fish Commissioner Bill Jones for a conversation on what's happening in Arkansas woods and waters — from WMAs to trophy bass programs to the future of duck season. If you hunt, fish, float, or just love this state, this conversation hits home.🦆 What’s happening with duck numbers 🚤 The Lake Conway drawdown and what it means long-term🌲 Mud motors, blown-out WMAs,...

Andy McNeill sits down with Bill Jones, CEO of Sissy’s Log Cabin, to talk about the remarkable rise of one of Arkansas’ most beloved family businesses. Bill shares how the company grew from a drafty 900-sq-ft log cabin in Pine Bluff — with antifreeze in the toilet and jewelry stored under his bed — into a premier Southern jewelry brand known for craftsmanship, trust, and exceptional customer servi...

In this episode of Y’all Hear About This, Andy and Misty talk about some of the natural wonders lighting up the Natural State this week — from the state bird to the Northern Lights! They swap stories about birdwatching with the Merlin app, rare sightings across Arkansas (including a flamingo?!), and Misty’s owl prowl at Petit Jean State Park. Then they turn to the big show in the sky — the incredi...

It’s Misty’s favorite time of year — political season — and Andy’s thinking about breakfast and tee times. From expensive state races to new primary rules that could surprise voters, this week’s Y’all Hear About This? is all Arkansas: politics, hunting, and a little bit of humor.🎙️ In this episode:• Who’s running for what — and who’s raising the most money• How the GOP’s new primary rule could imp...

Today, we hand the mic to Andy’s daughters, Annabelle Wright and Kate McNeill , for a special conversation with someone redefining Arkansas culture and community: Andrea Allen , co-founder of Onyx Coffee Lab and the 2020 U.S. Barista Champion . This episode is all about building something meaningful — in business, in community, and at home — right here in Arkansas. Andrea shares her story of growi...

Happy Halloween, Arkansas! Grab some candy and jump in.⚖️ Filibuster fightShould 51 votes be enough to pass laws or keep the 60 vote rule? We kick around differing options on the filibuster.💵 Childcare funding pullbackPandemic money is drying up and that's impact childcare subsidies. We talk expectations, budgets, and why “temporary” government programs never feel temporary.🏈 Dierks just won...

🤖⚠️ AI is moving faster than any tech in history … and the future might be a little scarier than we think. Andy breaks down where AI is heading, why the U.S. has to win this race, and what the world looks like when machines get smarter than the smartest humans. This is not sci-fi… it is happening now.

Arkansas, we need to talk about your woods. 👀🌲 We asked for Black Panther stories and y’all absolutely delivered. From the Ozarks to the Delta, deer camps, farm roads, lake shores, hollers, porches, and midnight fishing trips… Arkansans have seen things. 🎙️ On this episode: • Misty reads your wildest Black Panther encounters • Hunters, farmers, night-fishermen, and old-timers speak up • The scre...

Fall has finally hit Arkansas! Andy and Misty talk about fall weather, college football chaos, and what the new NIL world means for schools like Arkansas. Then, it’s on to filing season — candidate filings open November 3 — plus a look back at the four Republicans running for the District 52 House seat. Andy shares what stood out from those interviews and how voters can actually get to know their...

Four candidates. One open seat. The race to replace the retiring Rep. Marcus Richmond is gearing up in Arkansas House District 52 — and we’ve got them all right here.🎙️ In this episode, Andy McNeill sits down with Brent Montgomery, Crystal Malloy, Mike Jones, and Kristain Thompson for candid conversations on everything from privacy and education to healthcare and displaying the Ten Commandments in...

Andy and Misty are back with another “Y’all Hear About That?” — a look at what’s happening across Arkansas this week. From bear attacks 🐻 to mountain lions, Misty’s got all the wild stories from around the state. Andy kicks things off with a look at what our Founding Fathers might think of modern America — and whether they’d be impressed or appalled. It’s Arkansas news, local life, and a few tall...

In this episode, Andy sits down with Frank Lawrence, CEO and co-owner of The Athletic Clubs, to talk about how fitness, leadership, and community all intersect. They cover:💪 Frank’s journey from community banker to health club entrepreneur🏃‍♀️ How the clubs have become hubs for connection, not just fitness🎾 The rise of pickleball — and why Arkansas can’t get enough🧠 What strength training, wel...

Andy and Misty are back — and this week they’re talking about everything from falling test scores to football scores. 📚🏈 Andy wonders if America’s reading less and thinking less (but don’t worry, he keeps it entertaining), while Misty breaks down why the NFL might be “Bud Lighting” itself with a Bad Bunny halftime show . Plus — the Hector Wildcats are 5-0 and running back Lucas Baker is lighting...

Free Arkansas Podcast | Hosted by Andy McNeillJohn L. Conner Jr. is one of Arkansas’ most accomplished farm entrepreneurs — from buying his first 520-acre farm in 1972 for $325 an acre to leading one of the state’s largest John Deere dealership networks and building a family dynasty that spans agriculture, fuel, construction, and more. In this episode, Andy McNeill sits down with Conner to talk ab...

In this week’s episode of Free Arkansas , Andy and Misty tackle some of the biggest national headlines — and what they mean for Arkansas and beyond. 🔥 Topics this week include: The new military fitness standards making waves — why Misty says it’s “exactly what’s needed,” and Andy thinks the rollout missed the mark. The White House’s proposed university compact — what it could mean for free speech...

🌾 Arkansas farming is the backbone of our economy — but what does it really look like in 2025? In this episode, Andy McNeill talks with Dr. Hunter Biram , ag economist at the University of Arkansas, about the numbers behind farming and the people living it every day. ✨ Topics we cover: 📊 Agriculture makes up 8.5% of Arkansas GDP 🌱 Why crop prices and input costs are squeezing producers 🌧️ How...

The Port of Little Rock isn’t just a dock on the river—it’s a 5,000-acre industrial hub that’s home to 53 businesses and more than 11,000 jobs. Executive Director Bryan Day joins Andy McNeill to talk about:How Arkansas’ inland river system moves grain, petroleum, steel, and more across the country 🌾⛽Why the port’s location—rail, river, and interstate all in one—is a game-changer for logistics 🚂...