Paragould Podcast

What difference does the resurrection of Jesus actually make in your life? In this special Good Friday episode, Jared Pickney sits down with Laramie LeQuieu, Aaron Neugebauer, and Dane Womack for a unique and meaningful conversation across denominational lines. Though they come from Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, and non denominational backgrounds, they share a deep conviction that the resurrection...

Dr. Ammar Hallak is an interventional cardiologist whose journey began in Damascus, Syria and eventually led him to Paragould, where he has spent decades caring for patients and investing in the community. After early inspiration as a teenager, he pursued medicine in the United States, training in Chicago at one of the largest hospital systems in the country before ultimately finding a home here i...

Many people in Paragould know Michael Todd as Coach Todd. Others know him as Mr. Todd, their principal at Greene County Tech. In this episode of The Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Coach Todd to hear the story behind both roles. Originally from Parkin, Arkansas, Mike shares about his undefeated high school football season in 1979, earning a scholarship to play at Arkansas State, and the unexpe...

Robert and Jill Randolph did not take a straight path to Paragould. Jill worked in public health and food borne illness investigations with the CDC. Robert played football at the University of Virginia and later took a massive pay cut to start at the bottom inside a Chick-fil-A restaurant. Over the next several years, they navigated rejection, full time travel, leadership development assignments,...

In this episode of The Paragould Podcast, we sit down with John Bland to talk about the history and legacy of his father, Francis Bland, a man whose influence is still woven into the fabric of our city. From the widening of 8 Mile Creek to help prevent flooding, to Bland Baseball Park, to the Dr. Pepper plant that employed hundreds of local families, the Bland name has played a meaningful role in...

ob Branch returns for his sixth appearance on the podcast, tying the record for most guest appearances. This time, the conversation centers on aging. But not aging as defined by a calendar. Bob challenges the way we think about getting older, suggesting that age is less about the number of years behind us and more about the state of mind within us. His refrain is simple but powerful: don’t let the...

We are honored to sit down with U.S. Congressman Rick Crawford for a thoughtful conversation about his journey from Arkansas to Washington, D.C. In this episode, Congressman Crawford shares about his background in military service and broadcasting, what led him to run for Congress, and the responsibility of representing Arkansas’s First Congressional District. We discuss the weight of serving a di...

Chase Mann returns to the show fresh off a nationally televised fight in Thailand with ONE FC, available on Amazon Prime. In this unique episode, Chase shares the story of how his journey in MMA led him across the world to compete on one of the sport’s biggest stages. Then Jared watches the fight live with Chase, who provides real-time commentary, insight, and reflection on what was going through...

You never really know the stories people carry until you take the time to listen. In this episode of The Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Curtis Cooksey and discover a life shaped by unexpected connections, unlikely opportunities, and a deep love for the game of baseball. Curtis’s journey has taken him through minor league clubhouses, college athletics, professional wrestling, and the world of...

In this episode of The Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, emergency preparedness, and public service in Greene County. Brad shares his journey from dispatcher to deputy to sheriff, including his experience working E-911 during the Marmaduke Tornado just one month into the job. We talk about how city and county age...

In this episode of the Paragould Podcast, we’re joined once again by Rusty McMillon, making his fourth appearance on the show. Judge McMillon helps clarify what the office of County Judge actually does, why he’s passionate about serving Greene County, and how that role impacts everyday life in our community. We also talk through recent updates around the county, leadership responsibilities, and wh...

As rivalry week arrives in Paragould, Paragould Boys Head Basketball Coach Jace Watson joins The Paragould Podcast to talk leadership, preparation, and the culture behind Rams basketball. Coach Watson shares his journey into coaching, lessons learned over two decades on the sidelines, and how this team has grown to expect wins after years of adversity. With a big matchup against Greene County Tech...

In this episode, we sit down with Olivia Hancock, a Paragould native and recent graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Olivia shares her journey from competing in high school athletics to earning an appointment to one of the most demanding leadership institutions in the world. She walks us through the rigorous process of acceptance, the daily discipline required at West Poin...

Mayor Josh Agee returns to The Paragould Podcast for his annual State of the City conversation — his sixth appearance on the show. In this episode, Josh walks us through what the City of Paragould has actually accomplished over the past year, how major decisions are made, and what’s shaping the city’s future. We talk about infrastructure projects like trail expansion, sidewalks, land bank redevelo...

In this episode of The Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Eli Edgar, a junior professional bull rider whose journey moved quickly from the stands to the arena. At just 14 years old, a moment at the Sikeston Rodeo sparked a desire that would grow into competition at the highest junior levels of the sport. Eli shares how a third-generation passion for rodeos and breaking horses shaped his path, fro...

In this episode, we sit down with longtime friend and community pillar Jim Jackson to explore a lifetime of quiet leadership and faithful service in Paragould. Jim grew up in his family’s downtown business, Jackson Shoes, where his parents modeled a deep commitment to listening, helping, and giving back. That legacy continues in Jim’s work today through two powerful ministries making a real differ...

This week on The Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Shawn Goodson and our own producer, Chris Collier, co-founders of the Paragould Run Company. What began in 2023 with a simple question: “Why not us? Why not now?” has quickly grown into one of the most exciting community-driven movements in NEA. In this episode, Shawn and Chris share how their desire for more local races turned into a vision to...

GCT Band Directors Kim Webb and Nathan Anderson join us to share the story behind the back-to-back Arkansas state marching band titles and the culture that’s transforming their program from the inside out. Unlike traditional sports, marching band is a competition against your own potential, and these directors have built an environment where teenagers learn discipline, creativity, and confidence t...

This week on The Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Amanda Frankenberger and Catherine Bradley from Legacy Hospice to explore the often misunderstood world of end-of-life care. Amanda shares how a “last dying wish” story reshaped her calling after two decades in social work, while Catherine reflects on her transition from labor and delivery to hospice nursing. Together, they offer a thoughtful lo...

In this episode, we sit down with Chad Henson, the new Chief of Police for the Paragould Police Department — a man whose journey has taken him from protecting the skies as a Federal Air Marshal to serving overseas in a UN mission, to leading drug task force operations across NEA. Chief Henson shares how those experiences shaped his philosophy of leadership and why he believes real change starts wi...

In this episode of The Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Brad Bloemer, CEO of Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, and Brad Parsons, Vice President of Market Operations for Baptist Memorial Health Care, to discuss the upcoming merger between AMMC and Baptist. They share the story behind AMMC’s decision to pursue partnership, how the pandemic accelerated financial pressures across healthcare, and w...

In celebration of the Eagle Pride Band’s back-to-back state championships, we’re revisiting our conversation with Band Director Kim Webb — the first female director in Arkansas 5A–7A competition to win a state title. Kim shares her journey from middle-school band director to leading one of the top programs in the state, the culture that keeps students coming back, and her vision to help every stud...

From Blytheville to the battlefield to holistic healing, Dr. Jen Calvert’s story is one of grit, faith, and transformation. Told she couldn’t handle the Army because she “liked her hair and makeup too much,” Jen enlisted anyway—serving as a lab specialist and combat medic and learning that the military is more than discipline; it’s family. After facing a life-changing neck injury, thyroid issues,...

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!