Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast

In this episode of the podcast, Randy Zook, President and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, returns to the show to converse with Rex about various aspects of workforce development, manufacturing and production, and the growing industrial sectors in the state.  As an old friend and longtime associate of the host's, the conversation covers a number of topics related to the Arkansas' wor...

In this week’s episode, Rex sits down with Tad Bohannon, CEO of Central Arkansas Water, to discuss the region’s most valuable natural resource: water. From watershed preservation to infrastructure upgrades, the pair’s conversation dives into the strategic steps being taken to secure water quality and quantity for future generations. Tad explains how Central Arkansas Water intentionally operates fa...

In this week’s episode, Rex sits down with entrepreneur Andy McNeill and State Rep. Matt Duffield, R-Russellville, co-hosts of the Free Arkansas podcast, to discuss how open dialogue and practical policymaking could shape the state’s future. Through their Free Arkansas podcast, the pair aim to challenge the status quo by fostering conversation, examining the state’s rankings across key sectors and...

On this episode of the podcast, Rex sits down for an in-depth discussion with one of his longtime religious mentors and a man he says many refer to as "Arkansas' pastor," Rex Horne, the outgoing executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. With Horne's decades-long career as a prominent Baptist leader, educator and administrator, the two cover a range of topics related to faith, mi...

One of Rex’s old friends and longtime Arkansas politician Jim Keet returns to the podcast this week to discuss several topics relevant to Jim’s multifaceted career and, in particular, the businessman’s longstanding history in the restaurant business. Rex and Jim’s conversation begins with an overview of their joint involvement in Arkansas’ Republican party at a time when Democrats ruled the state....

On this week’s episode, Attorney General Tim Griffin joins Rex to talk about his office’s move into the newly renovated Brooks Building in downtown Little Rock. Formerly known as the Boyle Building, the historic structure was renamed in honor of Griffin’s late friend and colleague, former Chief Deputy Attorney General Bob Brooks.  Tim explains how the project reflects conservative values, such as...

In this week’s episode, Rex sits down with Stephanie Streett, Executive Director of the Clinton Foundation, to chat about the organization's role in transforming downtown Little Rock over the past two decades.  Since opening in 2004, the foundation has helped generate $4.9 billion for the local economy and several cultural, educational, and artistic opportunities in the city. The two also discuss...

On this week's episode of the podcast, Rex is joined by Chris Moses, President and CEO of Moses Tucker Partners, and the company's Vice President of Development, George Friedmann, to discuss the importance of new real estate developments and opportunities in and around the Little Rock metro, with a particular focus on the city's downtown area.  The conversation begins with a lengthy chat about Mos...

On this week’s episode, Rex and author Kat Robinson dive into all things Arkansas barbecue as they discuss her latest book, The Arkansas Barbecue Traveler, which required Kat to visit and research over 400 barbecue spots across the state. The book is the first in a series she plans to write exploring the state’s rich barbecue culture. Rex and Kat break down the diverse styles of Arkansas barbecue,...

On this week's episode, Rex is joined by Lee Watson, founder and CEO of the Forge Institute, to discuss how his organization is helping Arkansans understand cybersecurity risks and better leverage economic opportunities in emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Lee emphasizes the growing sophistication of adversaries using AI to enhance their attacks, and outlines the Forge Insti...

In this week's episode, Gabe Holmstrom, Executive Director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, joins Rex to provide updates on the implementation of the Downtown Little Rock Master Plan. Rex and Gabe discuss the plan's goal of attracting more residents, businesses, and developments to downtown Little Rock. Gabe highlights the challenges of achieving this, citing high construction and land cos...

In this week's episode, Rex is joined by Rush Deacon, the Co-chair of the Capital Campaign for Christ Episcopal Church, and Mark Grobmyer, the Chairman of the Global Solutions Institute, to discuss the renovation plans for the historic Christ Episcopal Church in Downtown Little Rock. The trio's conversation begins with a celebration of the various construction projects in Downtown Little Rock, hig...

On this episode of the podcast, Rex welcomes back to the show, Gina Gimberling, President and CEO of the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau (LRCVB), to talk about all things tourism in The Natural State's capital city.  Rex and Gina begin by discussing the importance and necessity of the Tourism Master Plan, which was launched shortly after the conclusion of the covid-19 pandemic, and whic...

In this episode, Rex welcomes Jay Chessir, President and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, back to the show to discuss a slew of new activity being supported by the Chamber in the new year. To begin, Rex and Jay focus on the importance of the 2017-2018 "Love Little Rock" campaign, which helped bring Amazon's 3.6 million-square-foot facility at the Port of Little Rock to Central...

On this week’s episode, Jack Thomas, vice president of economic development with the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, joins Rex to discuss Central Arkansas’ growing role as a national hub for manufacturing, distribution, and logistics. Jack highlights the impressive economic expansion in the area, with the chamber working on 42 major projects since 2020, and which includes over 11,000 job...

In this week's episode, Rex welcomes Bryan Day, executive director of the Little Rock Port Authority, back to the show to catch up on new developments in Central Arkansas' economic sector. The two begin their chat by focusing on two related announcements made in October: Faymonville Group, a European-based transportation manufacturing company, recently selected Little Rock as the location for its...

In this week’s episode, Skip Rutherford, dean emeritus of the Clinton School for Public Service, joins Rex once again for an end of year wrap-up on Arkansas’s evolving economy. Rex and Skip discuss key industries across the state, from the steel boom in the northeast and the lithium business in the southwest portion of the state as well as the $500 million timber processing project in southeast Ar...

On this week’s episode, Rex invites return guest Skip Rutherford, dean emeritus of the Clinton School of Public Service, to discuss Arkansas politics, focusing on recent elections, ballot issues, and the state’s shifting political landscape. The two also briefly talk about the potential impacts that national election results may have on the state in the upcoming months and years.  Skip and Rex dis...

In this week's episode, Miguel Lopez, lead for Hispanic and Latino market outreach at Southern Bancorp, shares his immigration story. From Guadalajara, Mexico, to Arkansas, Lopez discusses how his family opened their now-thriving Mexican grocery store, Mercado El Valle, in Sherwood. Rex and Miguel also chat about how Arkansas now has the fourth fastest-growing Hispanic population in the country. M...

On this week's episode, Bryan Barnhouse, the President and CEO of the Arkansas Research Alliance, joins Rex in the studio to discuss the organization's efforts to invest in research opportunities that drive scientific discovery, engineering breakthroughs, and economic development across the state.  Following a brief overview of the alliance and their initiaitives, Bryan tells Rex about the allianc...

Rex is joined by two key members of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre – commonly known as "The Rep" – on this week's episode of the podcast. Executive Director Will Trice and longtime board member Ruth Shepherd are on-hand to share their vast knowledge of regional theater and some of their more memorable experiences while working at "The Rep" in this episode.  Will tells Rex about his upbringing as a...

This week, Rex welcomes Michael Marion back to the podcast. The longtime general manager of North Little Rock's Simmons Bank Arena, Michael is a former Los Angeles-based music agent and promoter who shares his insight into the entertainment industry on this episode of the program.  The Simmons Bank Arena, whch opened to the public in October 1999 as the Allel Arena, is celebrating its 25th anniver...

Melissa Taverner, President of Lyon College in Batesville, returns to the studio to update Rex on several of the school's recent and upcoming projects.  Melissa highlights the university's strong enrollment and residential occupancy for the upcoming year. She also announces that the college has secured a $1.95 million Title III Grant from the U.S. Department of Education that will fund the Thrivin...

This week Lance Restum, executive director of the Arkansas Travelers Youth Foundation, returns to the studio to discuss the charity's impactful work in fostering community health and supporting local youth through baseball and softball.  Rex and Lance delve into the crucial issue of economic barriers that prevent many children and young adults from participating in sports. Lance shares how the fou...

Capi Peck and Norm Berner – both frequent visitors to the podcast – join Rex this week to talk about different ways they are helping to combat Little Rock's worsening and seemingly never-ending trash problem.  Peck and Berner chat with Rex about aspects of their roles as conservation advocates for the city in regards to litter-related clean-up efforts. Peck, the executive chef and longtime owner o...