In The Arena with Mindy McAlindon

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, it's worth asking: do we really know the stories that built this nation? In this special Independence Day episode of In the Arena, host Mindy McAlindon steps away from today's political headlines to explore the remarkable people, forgotten heroes, and defining moments that shaped the United States. From the courage of young George Washington bef...

In this episode of In the Arena, host Mindy McAlindon discusses the policies, reforms, and safeguards that have helped Arkansas rise to the top of the Heritage Foundation Election Integrity Scorecard. As both a state representative and member of the Republican National Committee, Mindy shares her perspective on election security, voter confidence, and why protecting every legal vote remains essent...

Host Rep. Mindy McAlindon sits down with Senator Colonel Jim Hendren — former F-15 pilot, Arkansas legislator, plastics business owner, and the 777th human to reach space. Hear his incredible stories: joining the Air Force on a whim, pioneering pro-life laws in a Democrat-controlled legislature, growing a family business, and his recent Blue Origin New Shepard flight where he floated weightless, s...

On this episode of In The Arena, Mindy McAlindon sits down with Rob Boaz, President and CEO of Carroll Electric, to break down the complex world of energy and electricity. From rising power costs to the rapid growth of data centers and AI, Rob explains what’s really driving demand on the electric grid and how utilities are planning for the future. The conversation explores how electric cooperative...

In this episode of In The Arena, Mindy McAlindon welcomes Brandon Carter, the Prosecuting Attorney for Washington and Madison Counties in Arkansas. Appointed in late 2024, Brandon discusses his journey into the role, the constitutional responsibilities of being the top law enforcement officer in his jurisdiction, and the daily oversight of cases from arrest to disposition.  They explore the impact...

On this episode of In The Arena, Mindy McAlindon sits down with Bharat Patel, former Chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), to talk about leadership, legacy, and the power of entrepreneurship in America. Bharat shares his journey from immigrant beginnings to leading one of the most influential hospitality organizations in the country. They discuss small business ownership...

What does it really take to step into leadership — especially in politics? In this episode of In The Arena , Heather Sellers shares her journey from early political work to school board leadership and helping train the next generation through the Leadership Institute. This conversation dives into campaign realities, lessons learned from wins and losses, and why leadership training matters now more...

.Mindy McAlindon welcomes Julie Harris of The Leadership Institute, former President of the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW), the largest grassroots conservative women’s organization in America. Julie shares her remarkable journey: • Born in Texas, raised five children as a homeschool mom, then answered a simple welcome card that changed everything • Helped turn deep-blue Arkansas re...

In this episode of In the Arena, Mindy McAlindon sits down with Carlton Wing, the new Executive Director and CEO of Arkansas TV (formerly Arkansas PBS). Carlton shares his journey from longtime broadcaster and host of Arkansas Great Outdoors, to 10 years as a state representative, to leading the state's public television network. Dive deep into the major changes ahead: Why Arkansas TV is disaffili...

“ Beth Campbell is a longtime Republican activist from Nashville, Tennessee, and currently serves as Tennessee's Republican National Committeewoman on the Republican National Committee (RNC). She previously represented State Senate District 21 on the Tennessee Republican Party's State Executive Committee, first elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. A dedicated party leader, she has been involved...

Stephanie Orman is the Mayor of Bentonville, Arkansas, a position she has held since 2018 after serving two terms on the Bentonville City Council. A native of Northwest Arkansas, she holds a B.A. in broadcast journalism from the University of Arkansas and an M.A. in communications from Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State). Before entering public service, Orman had a 20+ ye...

Join Rep. Mindy McAlindon on "In The Arena" as she recaps her powerful trip to Israel with a coalition of legislators and influencers. From walking the biblical lands of Judea and Samaria—where Abraham, David, and Jesus lived—to standing on strategic hilltops overlooking Tel Aviv, Mindy shares why these areas are vital to both faith and Israel’s security. She also takes you to the sites of the Oct...

This conversation with Christina was truly powerful. "She is a survivor turned warrior who has dedicated more than a decade to fighting human trafficking—a mission forged in the fire of her own harrowing experiences with exploitation and addiction. Trained in trauma-informed care and leadership, she equips fellow survivors with the practical tools and steadfast support they need to reclaim and reb...

Brian Armas, the first Latino elected as Republican Justice of the Peace for District 6 in Benton County, Arkansas, serves on the Quorum Court, the county's legislative body, advocating for fiscal responsibility, prioritizing county employees in budgets, and honoring local law enforcement—such as sponsoring a 2021 resolution for a memorial highway for fallen Pea Ridge Police Officer Kevin Apple. W...

Margaret Sova McCabe is the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation at the University of Arkansas, after serving as the law school’s dean from 2018 to 2021, the third woman in that role. As VCRI, she drives research excellence campus-wide and partners with the Division of Economic Development to promote the university’s research regionally and nationally. Previously, as dean, she launched a...

Kevin Host is Senior Vice President of Pharmacy at Walmart U.S., leading strategy, operations, and innovation for over 4,600 pharmacies and 3,000 Vision Centers nationwide—serving millions through retail, specialty, mail-order, and 340B programs with a 65,000+ associate team. Key achievements include launching nationwide same-day pharmacy delivery, scaling robotic central fill sites to 100,000 pre...

As President of the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), Pete Sepp leads the non-profit, non-partisan organization’s government affairs, public relations, and development efforts, while overseeing strategic planning for NTU and the research and educational operations of the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF). Since joining NTU in 1988, Sepp has authored and edited numerous policy papers, studie...

Sara Lynn Geiger is a government affairs professional from Jacksonville, Florida, with a passion for policy and community impact. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2017 with degrees in political science/pre-law and legal studies. Geiger gained early experience interning on human trafficking and foster youth issues and served as a legislative aide in the Florida House. Now Vic...

In this episode of In The Arena with Mindy McAlindon, host Mindy McAlindon interviews Dana Schlagenhaft, Executive Director of Downtown Bentonville Inc. (DBI), who shares her passion for enhancing Bentonville’s downtown experience through community events like the farmers market, Christmas parade, and the A Street Promenade, set to open in November. A Bentonville native with a diverse background i...

Join host Mindy McAlindon on In the Arena as she sits down with Arkansas' top political consultants—Ken Yang, J.R. Davis, and Rett Hatcher—who share over 30 years of experience shaping campaigns and securing election victories. In this lively discussion, they reveal how campaigns kick off, what makes a candidate successful, and share insider tips and funny war stories from the trail. From convinci...

The Honorable Dr. Robin Armstrong, a Texas physician and Galveston County Commissioner, joins host Mindy McAlindon on "In the Arena" to discuss his background and Texas redistricting. A lifelong Texan, Armstrong has served as a National Committeeman since 2012, focusing locally on infrastructure and low taxes while practicing medicine in his hometown. In 2021, the Biden Justice Department sued Gal...

Brentt Tumey is the President of Drywall Crews, Inc., a national commercial specialty drywall contractor based in Northwest Arkansas, where he has lived for over 23 years. Originally from northern Illinois, Brentt, alongside his wife Jessica, built the company from the ground up, specializing in military, healthcare, and hospitality projects. A dedicated advocate for children, Brentt has been a CA...

Jennie DeSerio is an Arkansas mother and passionate advocate for children’s online safety, driven by the tragic loss of her 16-year-old son, Mason Edens, who died by suicide in 2022. Believing TikTok’s algorithm exposed Mason to harmful content that contributed to his death, Jennie has become a leading voice in the fight for stronger digital protections. She is a key supporter of Mason’s Bill, fed...

Breanne Davis is a Republican State Senator representing Arkansas’ 25th District, elected in a 2018 special election. A Russellville native, she graduated from Russellville High School and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from Arkansas Tech University, later obtaining an MS in Community and Economic Development from the University of Central Arkansas. Before her Senate tenure, Da...

For 17 years, Kalene Griffith has served as President and CEO of Visit Bentonville, leading a dedicated team to promote Bentonville as a vibrant destination for over two decades. Her role at the Destination Management Organization involves strategic planning, storytelling, sales, economic development, and community engagement, driving tourism growth and new economic opportunities for local busines...