This week on the podcast, Brent sits down with Nathan, Adam, and John Rutledge from First Security Bank. All three, along with their father, are alumni of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas and have made a significant impact in the state of Arkansas through their involvement with First Security Bank. During the episode, the brothers touch on the Rutledge family's history of growing the community bank throughout Arkansas since their father and grandfather first took over the bank in Searcy in 1977. The bank's asset size has grown from $46 million in 1977 to $7.5 billion today. They also discuss their focus on relationships and local communities while thoughtfully adapting to industry changes. The discussion offers a window into a multigenerational family business that is rooted deeply in communities across Arkansas.

This week on the podcast, Brent is joined by Kya Sainsbury-Carter, the Corporate Vice President for Microsoft Advertising. During the episode Kya kicks off by sharing her personal journey, from studying international business at the University of Arkansas to her unexpected but rewarding career in technology. As they continue in the episode, Kya discusses the rapidly changing landscape of advertising and how Microsoft is driving innovation in this space. Kya also highlights the diverse range of products and platforms that Microsoft offers for advertising, including MSN, Bing, Outlook, Xbox, and Skype. She explains how Microsoft Advertising works closely with advertisers, agencies, and publishers to find audiences within the Microsoft ecosystem and extend their reach across the web. Finally, Kya emphasizes the importance of building a business that matters and the goal of making a substantial impact in the industry.

This week on the podcast, Brent sits down with Spencer Frazier, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at JB Hunt. They discuss Spencer’s career journey from starting at JB Hunt 31 years ago to now leading sales and marketing. Spencer outlines JB Hunt's diverse suite of transportation and logistics services and the customer-centric methodology the company uses. He shares his vision for the future of digitally-enabled sales and how technologies like AI can enhance productivity. Listeners gain insight into how JB Hunt partners with customers to solve complex supply chain problems through data-driven solutions and a collaborative approach focused on efficiency and value creation.

This week on the Be Epic podcast, Brent sits down with Dr. Sharmila Makhija, the founding dean and CEO of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Dr. Makhija shares her insights and experiences in establishing a medical school from scratch, highlighting the unique opportunity it presents. Listeners will learn about the school's innovative whole-health approach to its MD curriculum and partnerships with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Whole Health Institute. Later in the episode Dr. Makhija discusses her background, growing up in a family of educators, and her early passion for medicine. She recounts how her exposure to her grandfather's medical practice in India solidified her desire to become a doctor. Dr. Makhija also shares her journey through medical school and her chosen specialty, highlighting the value of being curious and continuously learning. The episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the challenges and rewards of building a medical school and the personal motivations that drive Dr. Makhija's commitment to healthcare.

This week on the podcast, Brent sits down with Marcy Doderer, President and CEO of Arkansas Children's where she leads the state of Arkansas' only pediatric health system serving the children of Arkansas and beyond. They begin by discussing the unique aspects of pediatric healthcare, including the wide variations in patient size and conditions that drive increased costs. Marcy shares how she is focused on innovation to find new solutions while maintaining incremental improvements in care delivery. She offers leadership advice on authenticity, being a student of your work, and how everyone can lead from their role. Marcy also talks about the mission-driven culture at Arkansas Children's and her aim to partner across the state to elevate child health.

This week on the podcast we continue with the Business of Outdoor Recreation series with Dennis Nelms to discuss the growing industry of climbing in Arkansas. Dennis is the owner of Climb Solutions LLC and Vertical LLC. During the episode Dennis shares his personal journey with climbing in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United States as well as his work now to expand climbing in the state of Arkansas. He outlines Arkansas' abundance of high quality, accessible rock formations and highlights the accessibility that is available only in our state for the sport. Dennis also shares his passion-driven path and important advice for pursuing interests, no matter the job.

This week on the podcast we are continuing our Business of Outdoor Recreation series with Austin Albers, President and Owner of the Buffalo Outdoor Center in Arkansas. Brent and Austin discuss the growth of Buffalo Outdoor Center and how Austin listens to customers to develop new offerings like mountain biking and backcountry aviation. Austin explains how outdoor recreation experiences improve quality of life and are driving economic growth in Arkansas. He describes opportunities for students interested in the industry, emphasizing the value of listening to customers, finding opportunities and following your passion.

This week on the podcast we continue our Business of Outdoor Recreation series with Kile Graves, Director of Operations at beardedgoat and Walton College alum, an outdoor apparel brand that is based in Northwest Arkansas and quickly expanding nationally. They discuss the burgeoning outdoor recreation economy in Arkansas and Kyle shares about his transition from the corporate world to the startup space with beardedgat. He discusses his passion for the outdoors, the challenges of establishing a brand in a growing sector, and how beardedgoat has capitalized on the growing popularity of outdoor recreation in Northwest Arkansas especially.

This week on the podcast we are continuing with the Business of Outdoor Recreation series as Brent sits down with Gary Vernon, Director of Outdoor Recreation and Trail Innovation at Runway Group. They discuss the growth of mountain biking and outdoor recreation in Arkansas. Gary shares his background growing up in Missouri and his 30 year career at Walmart before leaving to work with Tom Walton on developing Bentonville's trail ecosystem. He describes the evolution of mountain biking in Northwest Arkansas and the economic impact of $157 million annually. Gary also explores the growing gravel biking scene and trail developments across the state of Arkansas.

This week on the podcast we kick off a new series called the Business of Outdoor Recreation series where Brent will sit down with leaders in the outdoor recreation industry in the state of Arkansas. For the first episode, Brent sits down with Austin Booth, director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The conversation explores Austin's role in conserving and preserving the diverse landscapes of Arkansas, including our state's unique fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Austin shares his philosophy of conservation, contrasting it with preservation, and emphasizes the public trust and use of these natural resources. He also shares more about his background, growing up in a small town in Arkansas, his journey through law school, and his time serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, which culminated in his return to Arkansas and his current role.