Paragould Podcast

We reair our incredible compilation interview of Ghost Stories from 2024. A compilation of seven unique interviews about homes and buildings in Paragould, AR that are allegedly haunted! FYI, nothing is explicit in this episode, but do take care when listening around children as the stories can definitely be spooky.  Interviewees include Angelica Gray, Judge Dan Stidham, Hailey Byrd, Judge Randy Ph...

We reair our 2024 episode with Aaron Neugebauer. He is the pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lafe. He dropped by the studio to tell us a bit about himself, but really help setup our Ghost Stories episode to give us an in-depth background on the history of Halloween and talk about the spiritual world in general. We hope that you enjoy this episode!

Jay and Stephanie Malone, the Corning couple behind “Jay and Stephanie Try Stuff,” join us to talk about travel, food, and the communities they discover along the way. Since they started filming in May, their videos have earned hundreds of thousands of views, and their adventures have frequently brought them right here to Paragould! We talk about how they got started, the fun of trying something n...

From a circuit-riding preacher to a church building celebrating 100 years, First United Methodist Church has deep roots in Paragould. Pastor Dane Womack and lifelong members Bob Branch and Tracy Brengard join us to share stories from a congregation whose history stretches back to 1883. Dane returns for his third appearance, Bob sets the record with his seventh, and Tracy makes her podcast debut as...

Did you know Paragould has a Director of Travel and Tourism? Paula Lerma joins Jared to explain what that job involves and why attracting visitors matters to everyone who calls Paragould home. Paula shares her journey from working in education to pursuing a career built around the outdoors, storytelling, and helping people enjoy a place. Just as she was preparing to move away for the right opportu...

When Manuel Johnson noticed a knot in his groin, he didn’t think much of it. Within weeks, he was facing a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma and learning that the usual treatment options would not work for him. Manuel joins us to talk about living with terminal cancer, the good life he’s grateful to have lived, and the relationship with God that gives him comfort as he faces what’s ahead. It’s an h...

Omer Overbay has spent much of his life serving Paragould and Greene County—and helping preserve the stories of our community. Omer began working at the Greene County Jail in 1980 at just 19 years old. He later served as a deputy, joined the Paragould Police Department, led the Juvenile Office, and continued working part-time with the Sheriff’s Department. He also spent 20 years at Prestolite Wire...

Twenty-five years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Michael Tolson joins us to share his firsthand experience of that day. Michael, now the owner and chef of Chow at 118, was living and working in New York City at the time. Had he not been running late for work that morning, he could have been exiting the subway at the World Trade Center as the attacks began. Instead, from less than a mile...

Jonathan Davis joins the Paragould Podcast to share the story of the Predators girls soccer team and its remarkable journey from Arkansas State Cup finalists to regional champions and national competitors. Jonathan explains how years of playing together, strong chemistry, talented athletes, and a team-first mentality helped the Predators reach the national stage. He also discusses coaching the GCT...

Matt McGowan is the Assistant Superintendent of the Paragould School District and is now in his 25th year in education. In this episode, Matt shares his journey from growing up in Paragould and playing basketball at Greene County Tech to earning a scholarship at Williams Baptist University. He reflects on teaching and coaching at Wynne alongside DeAngelo Williams, returning home to coach football,...

Gene Weeks, former superintendent of Greene County Tech, joins the Paragould Podcast to reflect on his years as a coach, educator, and administrator. Gene shares stories from throughout his career, lessons for the next generation, and why enthusiasm, perseverance, and being a great teammate matter in every area of life. He also discusses retirement, the value of a strong routine, and preparing to...

For 40 years, Bill and Sharon Grogan have helped Paragould athletes learn more than gymnastics. They’ve taught them grit. In this episode, Bill and Sharon share how their own experiences with gymnastics and cheerleading eventually led them to coach nearly 100 kids at the Paragould Community Center. Seeing a clear need in the community, they took a leap of faith and opened Champions Gymnastics in 1...

We are back after a short summer break! Our first guest is Chamber of Commerce CEO and champion of the city, Allison Hestand!  Allison joined us for a third time to talk about the progress she's seen in our city over the past six years and what the chamber's role is when a large employer like Tenneco decides to leave town.  This is a great episode with a hopeful look towards the future! 

Every career has a story, and for Dr. Wesley Dunnam, it starts with a baseball injury and a mission trip. In this episode of The Paragould Podcast, Wesley shares the experiences that led him into optometry, from discovering the impact of something as simple as a pair of reading glasses to building a practice dedicated to serving the people of Paragould. We also dive into some fascinating aspects o...

As a 14-year-old boy from Memphis, Bob Reynolds spent $68 on a ticket to ride the legendary Delta Queen by himself. That single trip sparked a lifelong love of riverboats and launched a career that would span nearly five decades on America's waterways. In this episode of the Paragould Podcast, Bob shares his incredible journey from dishwasher to deckhand, first mate, pilot, and eventually captain....

Jeff Charles wears a lot of hats: physical therapist, soccer coach, and jujitsu coach, but at the heart of each role is a passion for helping people grow. In this episode, Jeff shares how discovering soccer as a kid helped shape his future, the lessons he learned from a hardworking Marine father, and why grit and perseverance have been more important in his life than natural talent. We discuss the...

For nearly four decades, Pam Parker helped shape the lives of countless children through PALs Preschool. What began as a temporary stop in early childhood education became a 38-year calling, including more than 30 years as director. In this episode, Pam joins her daughter, Heather Blankenship, to share stories from the classroom, the history of PALs Preschool, and lessons learned from working with...

This week on The Paragould Podcast, Jared sits down with Lori Dial, longtime GCT theater teacher and local entertainer. Lori shares her journey from growing up around Brookland and performing at The Roundup Music Show to teaching English and theater for nearly two decades. The conversation covers community theater, all-state competitions, the Veterans Day tradition at GCT, overcoming stage fright,...

This week on The Paragould Podcast, Jared sits down with Michael Meredith, pastor at Center Hill Church of Christ. Originally from Texas, Michael shares the journey that brought him to Crowley’s Ridge College and eventually into ministry here in Paragould. Along the way, the conversation explores faith, humility, leadership, and the importance of remaining teachable in a world where everyone seems...

Paragould Rams Head Baseball Coach Jacob Giles joins The Paragould Podcast ahead of a huge week for baseball and softball in our city as Paragould and Greene County Tech host the 5A State Tournaments. Jacob shares about growing up in Greene County, winning a state championship at GCT, pitching at Harding University, and the unexpected path that led him into coaching. He also talks about returning...

This week on The Paragould Podcast, Jared sits down with Chris Moyer to discuss a new initiative called Spend Paragould. After conversations with local business owners revealed that many businesses are experiencing significant downturns, Chris and others decided to take action by encouraging people to spend their money in Paragould rather than outside the city. The conversation explores the ripple...

In this episode, we sit down with Garret Wise to hear the story behind Rodeo on the Ridge and how it grew from a small local event in 2016 into one of the biggest gatherings in Northeast Arkansas. Garret shares how he first got into the rodeo world, the path that led him into bull fighting, and the moment someone suggested bringing rodeo back to the Greene County Fairgrounds. What started with a s...

In this episode, we sit down with Greene County Tech Head Baseball Coach Bruce Hunt, who brings more than four decades of coaching experience to the conversation. A state champion in 2007, Coach Hunt reflects on what it takes to build a consistent and competitive program over time. We talk about the mental side of baseball and why the ability to move on from one at bat to the next is essential for...

Tara Sexton has been writing stories since second grade. Now she is preparing to release her debut novel, The Greatest Game, this June. In this episode, Tara shares her journey from early creativity to becoming a published author. We talk about what first sparked her love for writing, the challenge of finishing her first novel, and what kept her going through the long process of developing her cra...

Dr. Terri Greene didn’t start in politics. She started in medicine, studying patterns, solving mysteries, and helping people understand what was really happening beneath the surface. In this episode, we sit down with a former pathologist and current U.S. Congress candidate to hear her story. From growing up in El Paso to discovering a passion for medicine through personal health challenges and a M...