I Am Northwest Arkansas®

About the Show: "When people get here, as flawed as we are, they can find some degree of stability and hope for their future that they just don’t have at home."        – Nathan Bogart, Attorney In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Nathan Bogart, a local immigration attorney at Bogart, Small + Duell . From serving a Mormon...

About the Show: "I am amazed at the depth, the generosity, and the creativity that this region affords me."        – Randy Wilburn For this Thanksgiving 2025 episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, Randy Wilburn takes a different approach—no guest interview this time, just a solo conversation about gratitude, reflection, and what this year has meant. After nearly 40...

About the Show: "I swear every time I walk in and out of this building, I leave with more hope and more encouragement."        – Kristen Phillips, Grazing Robin Road In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Kristen Phillips, founder of Grazing Robin Road, and Daymara Baker, business development manager at the Arkansas Food In...

About the Show: "The most sustainable garment is the one that's already in your closet, right?"        – Robin Wallis Atkinson This episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas® is part of a special series supported by the Walton Family Foundation . Through its Home Region Program , the Foundation is investing in the people and ideas shaping the future of Northwest Arkansa...

About the Show: "Smile. A smile will break any entrance to any door. It doesn’t matter what’s going on—if you smile, you give someone the comfort zone to engage.”        – Francisco Valencia “The Frisco Kid” On this episode of I am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn welcomes back comedian Francisco Valencia—aka the Frisco Kid—for a heartfelt and hilarious co...

About the Show: "When life gives you peppers, we make pepper sauce."        – Randy Pulayya In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Randy and Shauna Pulayya, the husband-and-wife founders of West Indies Peppa Sauce. Their story begins with a chance encounter at JFK airport and unfolds into a thriving food brand that beautifu...

About the Show: "I don't need to be the best for two reasons. One is, we want to first reset what the standard taste and flavors and experience should be for Southeast Asian cuisine."        – Binh Hoang In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas® , host Randy Wilburn sits down with Binh Hoang , the visionary behind House 1830 in Downtown Rogers. Born in a Thai r...

About the Show: "I want to change people's lives. My legacy is for people to look at me as a good person, a good teacher, and to say, ‘He transformed my life through Jiu Jitsu.’        – Ismael Santos In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with world-class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athlete and teacher Ismael Santos, founder of the bra...

About the Show: "Your calling doesn't expire. Your second act might be your greatest act. And the moment to begin is always the same. So let's count it down together right now for whatever you've been waiting to start. 3, 2, 1. Your time isn't running out. It's just beginning."        – Randy Wilburn Fresh from the TEDx Fayetteville stage, host Randy Wilburn invi...

About the Show: "If there's something that's calling you and it's not harming anybody, answer the call. Just do it."        – Matt Buell On this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Matt Buell, an award-winning furniture designer and woodworker, to talk about passion, persistence, and building a career that’s true to yourself. Ma...

About the Show: "I want to see the guys that help build a company and the guys that are out there in the field...have something to fall back and be proud of, who they are. They're the backbone of this country."        – Stephen Van Der Merwe In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Stephen Van Der Merwe, founder of iHawl, an...

About the Show: "Public transit actually provides freedom."        – Joel Gardner This episode is part of a special series supported by the Walton Family Foundation . Through their Home Region program, the Foundation is investing in the people and ideas shaping Northwest Arkansas—across housing, entrepreneurship, transportation, and leadership. In this episode of...

About the Show: "It’s a home for everybody’s story."        – Joshua Youngblood In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn takes listeners inside the Clinton House Museum, one of Fayetteville’s most historic homes and a true treasure of Northwest Arkansas. Joined by Joshua Youngblood (Board President) and Bailee King (Museum Director), Randy...

About the Show: This episode is part of a special series supported by the Walton Family Foundation . Through their Home Region program, the Foundation is investing in the people and ideas shaping Northwest Arkansas—across housing, entrepreneurship, transportation, and leadership. In this episode, we explore the world of local entrepreneurship and community-building with Lynn Wong and Mike Thompson...

About the Show: “This event is a bridge between what students think a job might be and an actual informed awareness about what these jobs look like.”        – Joe Rollins, NWA Council In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn explores how the Build My Future NWA program is giving students a real taste of working in the skilled trades. Joinin...

About the Show: “Why did nobody tell me about this?” – Dr. Kristin Markell In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Dr. Kristin Markell, an integrative medicine specialist helping women navigate the often-overlooked journey of perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Markell combines her experience as a traditional OB/GYN with holistic, whole-person strategies to prov...

About the Show: “Everyone with access to a smartphone and technology today has access to the global library of entertainment twenty-four seven—and we all have to build self-control around it, or we’re going to develop bad habits.” Ian McCready In this powerful episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Ian McCready, founder of SelfCtrl , to tackle a challenge nearly eve...

In our final “Best Of I Am Northwest Arkansas” episode for the summer, we spotlight the vital role public radio plays in our region by sitting down with Clint Schaff, the General Manager of KUAF, Northwest Arkansas’ NPR affiliate. Clint shares his unique journey into public media, the history and impact of KUAF, and his vision for connecting our ever-growing and diverse community through storytell...

Revisit the story of NWA Daily’s evolution from casual conversation to a vital newsletter with over 35,000 subscribers—powered by community-driven journalism and unwavering local spirit. 👉 https://iamnorthwestarkansas.com/exploring-nwa-dailys-impact-and-growth-in-northwest-arkansas/ Why it matters: We’re hitting pause this July to rest and refresh, but we didn’t want to miss sharing some of our a...

Enjoy an engaging conversation with Doug Riverman Allen as he navigates restaurant life—from Jose’s Bar & Grill to launching Bubba’s Barbecue in Eureka Springs—and his commitment to community and mentorship. 👉 https://iamnorthwestarkansas.com/301 Why it matters: We’re hitting pause this July to rest and refresh, but we didn’t want to miss sharing some of our all-time favorite stories with our...

A summertime return to one of our most talked-about conversations. We dive into how the ancient game of mahjong is creating meaningful bonds, combatting loneliness, and fostering mental resilience across Northwest Arkansas. 👉 https://iamnorthwestarkansas.com/310 Why it matters: We’re hitting pause this July to rest and refresh, but we didn’t want to miss sharing some of our all-time favorite stor...

Take a tour of the top local experiences that brought listeners joy and inspiration. From public art to hidden parks, this episode maps out the essence of Bentonville and Rogers. 👉 https://iamnorthwestarkansas.com/295 Why it matters: We’re hitting pause this July to rest and refresh, but we didn’t want to miss sharing some of our all-time favorite stories with our listeners. Thank you for being p...

About the Show: "I think everyone should write—even just for themselves."        – Tom Hapgood On this inspiring episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Tom Hapgood, longtime professor and cornerstone of the University of Arkansas's graphic design program. Together, they explore how formative experiences—especially those that cross...

About the Show: "I think putting numbers in front of people, even showing them a seller's net sheet, can help explain what their next step should be, whether they wait or they sell now."        – Desiree Stock In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Desiree Stock and Stuart Collier, the real estate professionals behind NWA L...

About the Show: "If we don't talk about these stories, it's like it never happened." Anthony Ball In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn visits The Music Depot in Downtown Rogers for an engaging conversation with Anthony Ball and Reggie James, co-owners of The Music Depot and leaders of the nonprofit Music Moves. Both accomplished musicians and passionate community builder...