Shows
I Am Northwest Arkansas®Ian McCready on Digital Detox, Parenting, and Building SelfCtrl in Northwest ArkansasAbout the Show:“Everyone with access to a smartphone and technology today has access to the global library of entertainment twenty-four seven—and we all have to build self-control around it, or we’re going to develop bad habits.”Ian McCreadyIn this powerful episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Ian McCready, founder of SelfCtrl, to tackle a challenge nearly everyone faces today: technology addiction. From video games to cell phones, Ian shares his personal story of how digital devices took over his own life and what he did to ch...2025-08-111h 10
Story ScalingWhy SpidaCrazy8 Is More Than MusicSpidaCrazy8's remarkable journey from Vicksburg, Mississippi, to becoming the heartbeat of Arkansas's hip-hop scene reveals how authenticity and adaptability can transform both a career and a community.From his earliest days, Spida (born Artavius Powers) demonstrated a drive to excel at whatever he touched. Whether pushing shopping carts at Kroger or managing a Sonic at just 18 years old, he approached each role with determination that would later define his impact on music culture. The Spider-Man persona that began as a way to differentiate himself among peers evolved into a perfect metaphor for how he navigates the...2025-08-0721 min
Blue Collar Business PodcastEp. 49 - Making Time for What Truly MattersTime—the ultimate non-renewable resource. For blue collar business owners juggling family life with entrepreneurial demands, time management isn't just a productivity hack—it's survival.In this raw and revealing second installment of our Date Night series, my wife Sara and I pull back the curtain on how we manage the constant tug-of-war between business and family time. From our hectic 5:30am wake-ups to the delicate dance of bedtime routines, we share an unfiltered look at what keeps our wheels turning while trying to preserve our most important relationship."Prioritize the moment" became our unexpected mant...2025-08-0645 min
Auto FocusLight, Composition, and the Art of Visual StorytellingEver wondered how filmmakers navigated the shift from physical tapes to digital cinema? Brian Hill takes us through his unexpected journey from science labs to global documentary shoots across 40+ countries.Brian's story begins with a borrowed camera and an opportunity to create videos for kids at a nonprofit. What started as simple, fun content creation rapidly evolved into filming projects from remote African villages to Kazakhstan, all while teaching himself the fundamentals of visual storytelling through experimentation and dedication.The technological evolution he's witnessed is remarkable—from struggling to connect his first Mini DV tape to...2025-08-0524 minStory ScalingBuilding 'Flavors of NWA' with John EnglemanEver wonder what goes into creating a food podcast? John Engleman pulls back the curtain on his journey from teenage restaurant worker to the creator of "Flavors of Northwest Arkansas," revealing the surprising path that led him to telling the stories behind his region's vibrant culinary scene.John's career has taken fascinating turns, from his first job as a restaurant host in Dallas to working in radio and television before finding his way back to audio storytelling. Now he's dedicated to uncovering the unexpected tales of chefs, bakers, and food entrepreneurs who make Northwest Arkansas special. The...2025-07-3051 minAuto FocusWelcome to the Machine: AI’s Grip on the Future?What happens when machines become smarter than Einstein? Could artificial intelligence herald a utopian future or trigger our extinction? These aren't just sci-fi movie premises anymore; they're questions facing us today as AI development accelerates at breathtaking speed.In this thought-provoking conversation, application developer Eddie and AI prompt specialist ProKid join host Brooke to demystify the AI revolution happening right before our eyes. From massive data centers "the size of Manhattan" to the emergence of "vibe coding" that lets non-programmers create software through conversation, we explore how artificial intelligence is already transforming our world in profound ways.2025-07-3037 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 48 - Rebuilding Intimacy, Building BusinessSy Kirby takes a deeply personal turn in this episode, inviting his business partner and wife of 11 years, Sara, to kick off a special four-part series on the challenges of marriage in entrepreneurship. Their raw conversation offers an intimate glimpse into how blue-collar business owners can protect their most important partnership while building something extraordinary together.The couple doesn't hold back as they share their journey from newlyweds to business partners, raising three children. "Being married in business can be extremely tough," Sy admits early on, setting the tone for their transparent discussion about prioritizing intimacy when...2025-07-3044 minStory ScalingThe Dirty Barista: From Coffee to Digital CreationWhat happens when exceptional craft meets digital storytelling? Ren, known online as The Dirty Barista, reveals the fascinating intersection between her expertise in drink creation and her journey as a content creator.Starting as a coffee barista in 2012 (where her water actually broke during a shift!), Ren's path took an unexpected turn when she discovered barista competitions in 2019. The "Coffee and Good Spirits" category opened her eyes to the creative possibilities of combining coffee with spirits, describing the challenge of working with coffee's strong flavor as "like a choir singing quietly." Rather than limiting herself, she expanded...2025-07-2532 minAuto FocusThe Phone Revolution: Creating Professional Content Without Expensive GearEver wondered if you really need expensive equipment to create professional-looking videos? Videographer JT Taylor crushes this misconception in our latest episode, sharing how smartphones and affordable accessories can produce stunning content when paired with the right techniques.JT takes us through his unexpected journey from Nashville music video creator to Northwest Arkansas content producer. What began with crashing into businesses ("literally walking in, filming and leaving without saying anything") evolved into multiple successful channels like Dixon Street TV and Bentonville TV. His first paid gig—splitting $250 between three people for an event video—marked the beginning of a...2025-07-2537 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 46 - Cash Flow Clarity: Funding Big Jobs RightThe most successful construction business owners know a secret that others learn the hard way: understanding cash flow is the difference between thriving and barely surviving. In this powerful conversation with Scott Peper, CEO of Mobilization Funding, we unpack why so many blue-collar businesses show healthy profits on paper but struggle with empty bank accounts in reality.Scott brings thirteen years of experience financing specialty contractors and analyzing thousands of construction cash flows to explain why the construction industry faces uniquely challenging cash flow cycles. He walks us through the perfect storm that occurs when expenses accelerate...2025-07-1653 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 45 - Your Questions Answered: Blue-Collar Business Growth and Hard TruthsThis week on the Blue Collar Business Podcast, I’m bringing you something a little different—a live Q&A session straight from TikTok and YouTube. I took your real, raw questions and gave honest answers based on what I’ve lived and learned in the trenches. We hit on everything from scaling family-run excavation businesses to figuring out margins, systems, and when it’s time to get out of the machine and into the office.If you’re maxed out on labor but still hungry to grow, I break down how to lean on inside accounting, use your P...2025-07-0928 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 44 - How to Get Paid FasterEver finished a job perfectly, only to wait weeks or months to actually get paid for it? For blue collar businesses, cash flow isn't just an accounting concept—it's the lifeblood that keeps crews working, equipment running, and families fed.In this revealing conversation, tech entrepreneur Joe Kaye shares how his journey from corporate boardrooms to blue collar solutions began when he nearly purchased a trades business himself. During due diligence, he discovered a universal pain point across the $657 billion trades industry: inefficient invoicing processes creating cash flow nightmares. This revelation sparked the creation of Procured, a ve...2025-07-0250 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 43 – Hard Bids, Bad Clients, and Better Business Models with Mark ZweigMark Zweig takes us on a remarkable journey through his multiple years in architecture, engineering, and construction, sharing candid insights about the industry that few are willing to discuss.From his early career in architecture firms to founding the Zweig Group (now in its 37th year), Mark reveals how his experience across multiple disciplines gave him unique perspective on the construction ecosystem. The conversation delves into his transition to design-build contracting and property development in Northwest Arkansas, where his team revolutionized downtown Fayetteville through high-quality renovations.Perhaps most valuable are Mark's practical strategies for building...2025-06-251h 02Auto FocusFrom Two to Six: The Ultimate Podcast Mobile Kit UpgradeReady to take your podcast on the road with professional quality? Our latest Autofocus episode unveils the significant upgrades to our mobile recording kits, expanding capabilities from just two people to a full six-person setup without sacrificing audio quality or simplicity.The heart of this upgrade centers on our innovative approach to wireless microphones. We've successfully combined our four-person Comica system with additional Movo mics, allowing crystal-clear recording of six separate voices without the interference problems that typically plague multi-mic setups. This breakthrough means you can now record panel discussions, group interviews, and multi-host segments a...2025-06-2307 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 42 – Digitizing the Trades: An Aussie Tradie's MissionTrade skills are vanishing with retiring workers while younger generations struggle to find mentors. Marc Webb, growing up in an Australian coal mining town with limited career options, recognized this crisis after his journey from greenkeeper to youth justice worker to operations manager. His response? UTRADIE - a revolutionary digital passport system connecting trade knowledge across generations.The platform solves multiple industry challenges: creating verifiable digital resumes for tradespeople, building mentorship pathways between experienced workers and apprentices, and providing a marketplace where trade knowledge can be monetized. This creates what Marc calls a "digital highway" for trades...2025-06-181h 20Auto FocusEyes Up: How Teleprompters Change the Remote GameEver struggled with looking directly at your camera while trying to see your remote podcast guest? You're not alone. In this equipment spotlight, Brooke and Dan dive into our latest studio upgrade – a teleprompter that's revolutionizing how our podcasters connect with remote guests.The problem was simple but frustrating: hosts looking down at their screens to see guests while cameras captured unflattering angles from above. The result? Too many forehead shots and disconnected eye contact that undermined otherwise great conversations. Our teleprompter solution elegantly mirrors video conferencing platforms directly in front of the camera, allowing hos...2025-06-1607 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 41 - Why Buildertrend Failed Us (and How Project Management Saved It)Ever felt trapped in the endless cycle of gathering more work than you can handle, scrambling to complete it, then desperately seeking more jobs to stay afloat? Sy Kirby calls this the "hamster wheel of death" for blue collar entrepreneurs—and it's exactly where he found himself before implementing proper systems and processes at Sy-Con.In this revealing conversation with Shelena Taylor, owner of 4G Enterprises and Sy-Con's fractional project manager, we pull back the curtain on what truly happens when a disorganized construction company transforms through systematic project management. The journey isn't pretty or comfortable, but th...2025-06-111h 03Auto FocusAccidental Podcaster: How a Retail Expert Found His VoiceWhat does it take for a non-broadcaster to create a successful podcast? Andy Wilson, host of "Doing Business in Bentonville," shares the remarkable journey of hitting 100 episodes—a milestone that just 5% of podcasters ever reach.Andy's path into podcasting wasn't planned. With a background in retail rather than media, he initially ran monthly live events gathering a few hundred people. When a colleague told him "the future is podcast" and COVID made in-person gatherings difficult, Andy pivoted to digital content. This fortuitous shift allowed him to continue meaningful conversations about retail, e-commerce, and omni-channel strategies whi...2025-06-0910 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 40 - Ditching Corporate America to Build a Landscaping EmpireWhat happens when your body knows what your mind won't admit? For Matt Keller, it took chest-tightening panic attacks in his corporate office to recognize he was on the wrong path entirely. Despite managing a $250 million budget at Walmart by age 26, something was deeply wrong."I used to sit at Sam's home office, looking out the window, thinking if I could, I'd rather be digging a trench than looking at another spreadsheet right now," Matt reveals in this raw conversation with host Sy Kirby. This admission kickstarted a remarkable transformation from corporate executive to landscape business owner.2025-06-0447 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 39 - The Plumbing Pioneer's PlaybookTurning a $5.50 per hour job into a six-crew plumbing empire doesn't happen overnight. Jerry Houy's 20-year journey building Jerry's Plumbing reveals what's truly possible when determination meets opportunity in the skilled trades.Jerry's story begins like many in construction - hating his daily grind as a "pack mule" carrying shingles until a plumbing company owner noticed his potential. That simple opportunity transformed Jerry's career trajectory as he fell in love with plumbing and approached every task with enthusiasm. "You don't realize people are watching you all the time," Jerry explains, describing how his reputation for reliability made...2025-05-2845 minAuto FocusB-Roll: Elevating Your Video GameThe difference between amateur-looking videos and professional productions often comes down to one simple technique: B-roll. This game-changing approach to visual storytelling forms the centerpiece of our fascinating conversation with in-house experts Sam Lewandowski and Coco Vasquez, who break down this essential production element in accessible, practical terms.B-roll—the supplementary footage that plays while your original audio continues—transforms ordinary videos into compelling visual narratives. As Sam explains, there's a simple rule to follow: "If you say cow, you want to see a cow." This straightforward philosophy helps creators determine exactly what supplementary footage to include, maki...2025-05-2617 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 38 - How to Thrive When You’re Tired of the Blue Collar RutIn this special compilation episode, Sy brings together powerful insights from past guests, each answering the same crucial question: "What advice do you have for a blue-collar worker who’s sick of being stuck in the mud?" Whether that frustration is physical, emotional, or mental, this episode delivers straight talk and practical wisdom from voices who’ve been through the grind—and made it out stronger.From the muddy trenches of the jobsite to the mental battle of feeling overlooked and underappreciated, our guests open up about the real struggles faced in the blue-collar and constr...2025-05-2118 minAuto FocusThe Art of Composition: Six Rules for PodcastersWant to dramatically improve your podcast videos without spending a dime on new equipment? The secret might be hiding in plain sight: composition.For anyone struggling to make their podcast videos look more professional, this episode breaks down six essential composition rules that can transform your visual approach. Dan Craft and Brooke Galligan dive into practical applications specifically designed for podcast studios, where cameras are typically stationary and setups remain consistent.The rule of thirds emerges as the foundation of good framing, with Brooke emphasizing that subjects should always look into the frame rather than...2025-05-1915 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 37 - How to Handle Honest Questions from Your TeamWhat truly separates successful excavation companies from those that struggle? In this revealing episode, Sy Kirby brings his core Sy-Con team—Wes, Jesus, and Sam—into the studio for an unfiltered conversation about the realities of running a blue-collar business.The team pulls back the curtain on their transformation from a price-driven company to one that prioritizes production rates and deadlines. "Our clients are way more concerned with the interest burning every 30 days than paying an extra 2-10% if they know the job will be done on time," shares Sy, highlighting a crucial insight that many contractors miss...2025-05-141h 17Auto FocusStop Letting Editing Kill Your Podcast DreamsTired of your podcast dying after three episodes because editing consumes all your time? You're not alone. Creating content is exciting, but the tedious post-production process stops many promising podcasters in their tracks.As Dan Craft and Brooke Galligan explain in this candid conversation, consistency is the true secret to podcasting success. When editing becomes the barrier preventing regular releases, even the most passionate creators eventually abandon their shows. The solution? PodcastVideos.com's new Edit Only service - professional editing without requiring studio visits.The beauty of this service lies in its simplicity and accessibility...2025-05-1210 minBlue Collar Business PodcastEp. 36 - Performance Pay in Construction: Boost Culture and ProfitsWhat if your workers treated every dollar of your labor budget as if it were their own money? In this eye-opening conversation, Michael Fortinberry, co-founder and president of Protiv, reveals the fundamental flaw in how blue-collar businesses compensate their workforce – and how to fix it.The contradiction is startling: contractors bid jobs based on production rates and material quantities, then pay their workers by the hour – essentially rewarding them for taking longer. "Their incentive is linked to time, the very thing that is the antagonist toward our success," Michael explains. This misalignment creates an adversarial relationship between mana...2025-05-0753 min