Missed Us? Here’s What We’ve Been Up To...

Hey Folks,

Sometimes it's good to take a break. While we've been pumping out podcasts every Monday for the past six years, this year we decided to lean into the concept of downtime and a healthy reset.

Usually each summer we share two or three "Best of I Am Northwest Arkansas" podcast episodes, but this year we went all out and gave you five!

We did so many meaningful podcasts this year that it was hard to choose just a few—which is why we went purely by the numbers. Each featured episode had thousands of downloads and listens across your podcast player of choice, YouTube, and KUAF's Ozarks at Large. We're thankful for all the feedback and comments we received during our break, and the rest time was phenomenal.

In case you didn't get a chance to check them out, here they are again: The Best of I Am Northwest Arkansas® Summer 2025

Now it is time to get back to work and we have some great episodes planned for you this Fall and Winter. We are starting out with an episode featuring Ian McCready, founder of SelfControl. He joins me to discuss overcoming screen addiction and how families can build healthier habits around technology use. Tune in for practical tips, personal insights, and inspiration for creating better balance in a digital world. This episode was recorded via video so you will have the chance to either watch or listen based on your preference. A Big shoutout to the folks at PodcastVideos.com up in Rogers for helping us out with such an important episode.

What’s Coming This Fall

Now it's time to get back to work, and we have some great episodes planned for you this fall and winter.

Starting Strong: We're kicking off with Ian McCready, founder of SelfCtrl. He joins me to discuss overcoming screen addiction and how families can build healthier habits around technology use. Tune in for practical tips, personal insights, and inspiration for creating better balance in a digital world. This episode was recorded on video, so you'll have the option to either watch or listen based on your preference. Big shoutout to the folks at PodcastVideos.com up in Rogers for helping us out with such an important episode.

Coming Up: We also have an episode on deck covering a topic I never thought I'd tackle—menopause with local NWA expert, Dr. Kristin Markell. I learned things in this discussion that will forever change how I look at women's health. Men, I urge you to tune in—more than half the planet's population deals with this subject. Knowledge is power, for sure.

Local Business Spotlight: This fall we'll be featuring a number of small to medium-sized local businesses that are navigating the waters of success here in NWA. There are so many good stories it's hard to point out just one. All I can say is: get ready.

🎧 This Week's Featured Episode: Why Public Radio Still Matters

With everything going on with the defunding and shutdown of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Public Radio across the country we are glad for another shot at sharing the story of our own public radio station, KUAF. We sat down with my good friend Clint Schaff, the general manager of KUAF 91.3 FM, for a deep conversation about the future of public radio in our region.

We talked about KUAF’s legacy, why it still matters, and how we can all help keep it going—for our kids and their kids. If you’ve ever listened to NPR or had your worldview shaped by it (like I did growing up with Sesame Street and Morning Edition), this one’s for you.

👉 Listen now → Best of IANWA with KUAF

A Personal Note: Whether you've been with us from the beginning or just tuned in, I'm grateful you're here. While the world spins fast—from NWA to D.C. and everywhere in between—I've been keeping my focus on what matters: telling stories that lift people up.

That's all for now. I'm actively looking for a writing partner who shares my passion for NWA to contribute to this newsletter. If you or someone you know is interested, please let us know.

Thanks for being part of this journey.

Want to stay connected? Reply to this email or reach out anytime. 

🧭 FindItNWA.com Is Live 🎉

We officially launched FindItNWA.com—our hyper-local business directory with nearly 2,000 listings and more being added daily. If you own or love a local business, this is where you want to be.

➡️ List your business or explore local gems → FindItNWA.com

🗣️ Tell Us What You Want to Hear

To celebrate our 6th year and keep improving, we’re asking you to help shape the future of the show.

It only takes a few minutes, and your input will help us craft the kind of stories you want more of.

📝 Take the Listener Survey → Click HERE

Thanks again for being part of the journey. Here’s to sharing more positive stories—one voice at a time.

Talk soon,

Randy Wilburn

Host of I Am Northwest Arkansas®

iamnorthwestarkansas.com

ONBoardNWA.com | FindItNWA.com

Psst…If you love a good newsletter, check out our friends at NWA Daily.