Paragould Podcast

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!

When Danny Graham and his wife learned their two sons had autism, it moved them to action — joining with Ag for Autism, a local nonprofit raising hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to support families, therapists, and organizations across Northeast Arkansas. In this conversation, Danny shares how a handful of ag companies came together to meet one family’s need, how the movement has grown...

Elvis has left the building… and we finally got to sit down with him! In this episode, we’re joined by Shannon Freeman— known around Paragould as an incredible Elvis impersonator and the lead singer of the band Everyday Life. Shannon shares how his uncle’s homemade Elvis costume started it all, how a back surgery his senior year led to writing his first song, the unforgettable first ever performan...

This week on The Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Jim Burgess — longtime resident, local historian, and former Emerson Electric engineer — to uncover the fascinating story of how our city began. Two railroad rivals, J.W. Paramore and Jay Gould, set out to build competing lines to St. Louis. When their tracks crossed here in 1885, a new community was born — Paragould. From missed opportunities i...

What does it really take to wear the badge? In this episode, we sit down with Jared Bassham, Director of the Law Enforcement Training Academy at BRTC, for a candid look inside the world of police training. Jared shares how a kid raised in a family of educators found his way into law enforcement, working everywhere from school hallways as an SRO to crime scenes as an investigator. Now, he leads the...

In this episode, we sit down with Ava Biggs to share the story of the April Nicole Foundation, an organization born out of April Biggs’ courageous journey with breast cancer. Ava is joined by Stephanie Garner, one of the first recipients of the grant! April Biggs’ legacy is one of joy, memory-making, and choosing life beyond the grind of a 9-to-5. Together, Ava and Stephanie talk about how the Fou...

The Paragould Rams are off to a 3-0 start, and there’s no better time to revisit one of our favorite conversations with legendary Rams Super Fan, Ronnie Cook. If you’ve spent any time in Paragould, chances are you’ve heard of Ronnie. He’s a local icon, known for his unmatched passion and loyalty to the Rams. In this episode, Ronnie shares why he loves the Rams so much, the story of how GCT briefly...

In this episode of the Paragould Podcast, we’re rolling into the inspiring story of Chris Moyer, owner of Let’s Roll Paragould and longtime ambassador for the sport of bowling. From growing up in the Poconos and bowling in leagues at age 5 to earning a college scholarship and rolling his first perfect 300 game at just 17, Chris’s life has always revolved around the lanes. After moving to Paragould...

Some teachers change your grades; a few change your life.  One of Jared’s favorite high school teachers comes on to discuss his career in education, what makes for a good teacher, and how to work through your grief after the loss of a loved one. Our guest is retired Ag teacher John Clark, who began teaching in 1990, moved through MS, Texarkana, and Corning, and came to Paragould High School in 199...

Few people in Paragould can say they’re the best in the world at something—Sebastian Barger is one of them. A graduate of Paragould High School, Sebastian’s story took off during the COVID shutdowns when he found himself with extra time and a simple set of cornhole boards. What started as 3–4 hours of daily practice quickly turned into a path to the pros. Within a year, he was competing at the hig...

What makes a community rise instead of decline? On this episode of the Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Bob Barber, Founding Partner of Orion Planning + Design, whose team guided Paragould city leadership in developing Discover Paragould 2042. Bob has worked with hundreds of cities, and he shares what he’s learned about vision, planning, and the importance of seeing a community as a “rich ecolo...

Brent Gambill’s career has taken him from serving ice cream at the Paragould Dairy Queen to working with Major League Baseball legends and leading communications for NASCAR’s racetracks. A Ridgecrest High School graduate, Brent’s journey includes a year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, years at SiriusXM covering MLB, including pioneering their social media coverage, unforgettable moments like the fin...

Jeff Rousseau’s story is one of redemption and difficult recovery. In the 1990s, Jeff fell into addiction and found himself caught in a world of meth—one that would ravage northeast Arkansas for decades. After multiple run-ins with the law, he eventually landed in prison, where he encountered Christ and began a slow but determined path to healing. Along the way, Jeff managed Paragould’s beloved Bo...

In this episode, we sit down with Lieutenant Blake Williams — Marine Corps veteran, longtime Paragould police officer, and current leader of the SWAT team. Blake shares stories from his time serving in the military during the early ’90s and 2000s, and how those experiences shaped his calling to serve his hometown. We talk about the reality of police work, the weight of leadership, and what it look...