Shows
Story ScalingScaling Moments: No Ads, Just Grind: From 0 to 12K Subs with Shem MossA strong why outworks every hack. We sit down with a creator who blends fatherhood, podcasting, and DJ life into a focused system that grows without ads. The conversation starts where real motivation lives: kids who didn’t ask to be here, and a parent determined to give them a better shot. That responsibility turns discipline from a nice idea into a schedule you can set your watch by, the kind that survives slow months and late nights.From there, we pull back the curtain on craft. Picking up a camera was only the start; research and re...
2026-01-2909 minStory ScalingStreetwear, Shenanigans & Second Chances | With Louie CorteseIf you’ve ever felt trapped between who you were and who you’re trying to become, this one will hit home. We sit down with BMX rider and creator Louie Cortese to strip success down to its studs: the choices you make after you fail, the people you become when no one’s watching, and how to build something real in a culture obsessed with optics.Louie opens up about identity beyond achievements, sharing a simple shift that changes everything: what you’ve done doesn’t define you; what you do because of it does. From the illusi...
2026-01-2357 minStory ScalingScaling Moments: Serving, Shooting, Scaling: Stories That StickStart where most people get stuck: the blank page. We pull back the curtain on how redefining success as completion, not perfection, can transform creative work, career pivots, and community service. From early flowers to lived examples, the conversation maps a path anyone can walk: start, refine, finish, repeat.We dive into the craft of coffee and cocktails, where a barista competition opens the door to mixology, balance, and the quiet art of restraint. Wins matter, but the deeper lesson is process under pressure, skills that later power brand building and storytelling. A chance encounter in a...
2026-01-1525 minStory ScalingScaling Moments: Create First, Optimize LaterStop trying to please an algorithm that barely knows you and start building an audience that won’t forget you. We dig into the creative tension every modern maker feels: protect your style or chase the quick spike that comes from on-screen hooks and caption-heavy edits. Our guest lays out a framework that’s both liberating and effective, use multiple channels as creative outlets and audience filters, keep your flagship visuals timeless, and deploy text hooks only where they actually move your goals forward.We retrace the early DIY grit of learning with whatever tools you could find...
2026-01-0810 minStory ScalingScaling Moments: Just One Yes - Breaking Into BroadcastOne reply out of forty. That’s how the journey started, and how it still feels when a single yes turns into real momentum. We open up about moving from radio and sports broadcasting into television news, and then translating all of that experience into a weekly podcast that began with audio and grew to include video. The through-line isn’t gear or luck; it’s a mindset shaped by cutting tape on a wood block, learning early digital tools, and building a process that makes publishing inevitable.We get specific about the transition from audio-only to a full...
2026-01-0107 minStory ScalingScaling Moments: From Reels to Real Life: When Community Finds YouThe first time a reel crosses 10,000 views, it feels like a tidal wave. Then the next post gets 700 and your brain starts writing stories about failure. Today we talk about that whiplash: how to ride the highs, survive the lows, and keep building a body of work you actually believe in. Ren Mclennon shares a simple rule that changed everything: never take it personal, take it seriously, and take care of it. When a clip underperforms, they don’t sulk; they re-edit, re-upload, and let the next rep carry the lesson forward.As the conversation deepens, we sh...
2025-12-2507 minStory ScalingMilitary Grit Meets Wall Street GoalsSome stories punch through the noise because they’re built, not branded. Roy Blanchard grew up in a small Arkansas town, joined the Army at seventeen, volunteered for deployment in Europe, and helped train 7,500 Ukrainian soldiers near the border. Coming home, he chased opportunity the hard way, 100% commission real estate, eighty-hour weeks, and a pivot into finance sparked by the numbers behind commercial deals. When the University of Arkansas initially said no, he took the community college route, sharpened his skills, and broke into one of the toughest lanes in finance: investment banking.We walk through the le...
2025-12-1852 minStory ScalingCapturing Legacy: Building Confidence and Community with PortraitsOne bad $800 photo day can change a life. That’s the spark that pushed Brandon Watts to pick up a camera for side income and led him to build a six-figure creative business rooted in legacy, service, and community. We sit down with Brandon to trace the journey from strict parents and a tough college chapter to becoming a fine art portrait artist who crafts experiences meant to be printed, held, and passed down.Brandon opens up about why “everyone deserves great photos” guides his work, how early mistakes sharpened his eye, and why editing has limits that p...
2025-12-1151 min
Auto FocusHow Podcasters Grow: Strategy, Guests, And AdsTired of copy-paste podcast advice that never fits your workflow? We sat down with multilingual podcast strategist Ana Xavier and video-first producer Sam Lewandowski to chart a smarter way to grow: build a plan that respects your capacity, your strengths, and what your audience actually wants. From OG audio roots to modern studio setups, we peel back what really moves the needle and what you can stop stressing about.We dig into strategic consistency—how to set a clear goal and publish in a way you can sustain—plus a practical system for mixing high-effort deep dives with...
2025-12-0940 minStory ScalingWhat Film Scoring Teaches You About CreatingWhat if finishing is the real fame? That question runs through our conversation with Raymond House—husband, father, mentor, musician, and film scorer—who built a creative life by balancing strategy and soul. From growing up in Little Rock’s church bands to a football journey through Arkansas, Atlanta, and Ottawa, Raymond shares how discipline shaped his art and why the blank page should never stay blank.We dive into the mindset shift from chasing “big” to building local. Raymond breaks down how time boxing and simple, measurable goals beat perfectionism, how to frame success as consistent completion...
2025-12-0450 minStory ScalingPeople Of NWA: How They Built A Storytelling Hub That Connects a RegionWhat happens when two storytellers follow their curiosity, trade perfection for presence, and build a microphone into a community bridge? We sit down with the two Danielles behind People of NWA to unpack how a kid’s cassette deck, a writer’s eye, and a stack of freshly printed magazines became a platform that celebrates the real Northwest Arkansas.We trace the origin stories: a chance auction gig that led to voice acting, a filmmaker’s journey from school newspapers to reviving Peekaboo magazine, and the moment they met at a Mother’s Day program and realized their ba...
2025-11-271h 05Auto FocusHow A Cinematographer Built A Business Filming Court-TestimonyCourtroom drama looks glamorous on TV, but the real pressure often sits behind the lens. We sit down with David, a cinematographer who traded background roles and commercial shoots for a surprising specialty: filming legal depositions where you can’t fix it in post and every second counts. He unpacks the rules of this world—timestamps, chain-of-custody mindset, neutral framing, and flawless audio—and explains why a job with zero edits can sharpen your technical instincts more than any high-gloss brand gig.David takes us through his winding path from Texas music dreams to Atlanta sets, into Full S...
2025-11-2540 minStory ScalingBuilding Luxury in a Small TownWhat if a menswear store felt like a well-kept secret—part atelier, part clubhouse—where every piece on the rack earns its spot? We sit down with Donny Hubbard and Seth Box from Hubbard Clothing to unpack a three-decade journey of grit, mentorship, and relentless curation that turned a small Arkansas boutique into a destination for intentional luxury.Donnie traces the early days under seasoned mentors, the resilience it took to navigate 2008, and the pivotal choice to buy out, rebrand, and eventually relaunch in Northwest Arkansas. You’ll hear how a detour to Louisville clarified values, how a surp...
2025-11-2048 minStory ScalingThe Banker Who Quit His Career to Build a Creative AgencyWhat if the detours were the plan all along? We sit down with Matt Woolley—husband, father, guitarist, and founder of Designsteins—to unpack how a life threaded through banking, music, and marketing turned into a 16-year agency serving major retail brands. From small-town Arkansas to big-box shelves, Matt shares how the recession taught him to respect cash flow, why mom-and-pop projects sharpened his packaging and display chops, and how every cent counts when you’re designing for Walmart-scale sell-through.The turning points are raw and real. Matt opens up about leaving banking without a degree, learning the bu...
2025-11-1355 minAuto FocusHow An Audio Engineer Built A Lean, Portable Podcast WorkflowWant audio people won’t skip? We sit down with Adam, an audio engineer turned podcast producer, to unpack the habits, gear, and decisions that keep listeners hooked. From a marching band beginning to editing for an iHeart-acquired show, Adam shares practical systems that work in the real world: treat the room first, pick portable tools you can set up fast, and build an editing workflow that survives client notes and tight deadlines.We walk through why dialogue editing is simpler in aim than music mixing and how a single mic technique—the hang ten rule—can transf...
2025-11-1136 minStory ScalingCamera as Connection: B-Hill’s Storytelling SparkWhat happens when a camera becomes more than just equipment? For Brian Hill of Kombi Creative, it transformed into a gateway for human connection. This fascinating conversation reveals how an unexpected creative journey unfolded for someone who never intended to become a filmmaker."A camera, to me, was a tool to be able to connect with people," Brian explains, describing his unconventional entry into visual storytelling through non-profit work with youth. Rather than a technical obsession driving his path, it was a genuine desire to disarm people and create authentic relationships that propelled him forward. This refreshing...
2025-11-0630 minStory ScalingCreating Space, Changing Culture with Airic HughesDr. Airic Hughes represents a new vision for creative leadership in Arkansas, one centered on purpose, community service, and cultural preservation rather than personal recognition. As founder of Visonairi Studios, the first Black-owned business on downtown Fayetteville's square, Hughes has created more than a physical space; he's built a philosophy of creative work that places community needs at its center."It's about we, not me," Hughes explains, articulating the guiding principle behind everything from his filmmaking projects to his approach to mentorship. While many talented creatives feel compelled to leave Arkansas for larger markets, Hughes remains firmly...
2025-10-3041 minAuto FocusCinema Starts with SupportWhat if the missing piece in your image isn’t your camera or your lens, but the way you hold the frame? We sit down with Tanner from Miller to pull back the curtain on tripods, fluid heads, and the surprising role support gear plays in cinematic storytelling, live events, and everyday content.Tanner traces his path from live music shoots to Red Digital Cinema and into camera support, showing how the jump from DSLR to cinema is less about specs and more about control. We unpack the “right feel” of a fluid head, the tuned resistance that l...
2025-10-2839 minStory ScalingBuild a Creative Career That Actually LastsWhat if the fastest way to grow your creative career is to stop chasing the title and start loving the reps? We sit down with Travis Smith, drummer, content producer, event architect, and longtime force in Northwest Arkansas, to map the path from barstool drumsticks to building festivals and scenes. His philosophy is refreshingly clear: creating beats, calling yourself “a creative,” and consistency beats hype.Travis shares the moments that reshaped his craft, from late-night improv sessions that reignited his curiosity to the hard lessons of touring and venue life. You’ll hear how he evaluates what resona...
2025-10-2339 minAuto FocusFrom DSLR to DIY Studio: How to Build Your Visual BrandWhat if your camera, your room, and your presence quietly told the audience, “You can trust me” before you say a word? Brooke sits down with home studio architect and longtime photographer Junaid Ahmed to unpack how light, composition, and intentional design turn everyday creators into on-camera authorities without buying everything at once.We start with a surprising truth: the best beginner camera is the one in your pocket. Junaid Ahmed shares how to unlock manual controls on a smartphone, compose with gridlines and leading lines, and wait for the moment that gives a frame its story. From...
2025-10-2131 minStory ScalingHot Takes vs. Hard Truths in Sports MediaWhat if the antidote to today’s hot-take chaos is simpler than we think: tell the truth, speak to one person, and keep showing up? We sit down with national college football reporter Brandon Marcello to unpack a career built on clear storytelling, a relentless work ethic, and experiments that start small and earn trust over time.Brandon takes us back to small-town Arkansas, where a community obsessed with the Razorbacks taught him why context matters more than noise. He shares the pivot from print to camera, explaining how he made live TV feel calm by imagining a...
2025-10-1641 minAuto FocusScaling Up Solo: Travis Peeples' Production PlaybookYour favorite shot might not survive the final cut, and that’s a good thing. We sit down with filmmaker and producer Travis Peeples to explore the real work behind great video: training crews from zero, upgrading underpowered gear with patience, and making hard editorial choices that keep story above ego. Travis’ path runs from university media trucks and ESPN uplinks to Hendrix College’s candlelit choir streams, where he learned to do more with less and preserve the magic of a live moment without getting in the way.We dig into the craft and the career: how wa...
2025-10-1445 minStory ScalingAuthenticity Beats AlgorithmsStop waiting for a bigger audience to start acting like you matter. We dive into what actually creates influence, showing up as yourself, setting clear goals, and shipping useful work, and why connection beats polish every time. Ana Xavier, journalist turned podcast strategist, shares how moving across countries, learning in public, and trusting her natural style helped her build a durable presence without chasing vanity metrics. We unpack why a calm, direct-to-camera message can outperform a hyper-edited reel, and how to turn your podcast into a practical engine for opportunities.Together, we map seven specific ways a...
2025-10-0932 minAuto FocusThe Four Keys to Any PodcastStart with four questions, build a room, and make something unforgettable. That’s the heartbeat of our talk with Ti King, co-founder of the Arkansas Podcast Collaborative, board member at The Podcast Academy, and producer of issue‑driven, documentary‑style shows that turn stories into change. We dig into the practical steps that pull a podcaster out of the “everyone is my audience” trap and into a clear niche with a sharp value promise, then show how the right data turns guesses into growth.Ti walks us through the “four walls” every show needs: name, focus, audience, and value, and...
2025-10-0731 minStory ScalingThe Orsini Files: A Forgotten True Crime SagaWhat happens when a NASCAR reporter accidentally discovers one of Arkansas's most notorious forgotten crimes? Daniel McFadin never expected to find himself immersed in a 40-year-old murder investigation, but that's exactly what happened when he stumbled across an envelope labeled "mysteries" in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette's archives.The story that emerged was nothing short of extraordinary – a wealthy businessman murdered in 1981, his widow throwing a champagne party after avoiding indictment, a car bombing targeting a prominent attorney's wife, and eventually a second murder that would rock Little Rock to its core. McFadin describes it as "OJ before OJ...
2025-10-0259 min