The Williams Pulse

In this special VIP Day episode of The Williams Pulse, we sit down with new Williams Baptist University students who are officially joining the Eagle family this fall. You will hear how God has led them from small towns and big cities across the country to a Christ centered campus in Walnut Ridge, and what they are most excited about as they step into this next chapter. From a 12 hour drive down from Michigan to pursue wrestling and a future in criminal justice, to a transfer student chasing a business management and marketing degree while grinding in the gym on a basketball scholarship, these conversations highlight the mix of grit, calling and personality that our new Eagles bring to campus. Along the way, they talk about coaches who believed in them, churches that shaped them, and dreams that range from law enforcement to missions and entrepreneurship. Whether you are a current student, an alum or a future Eagle, this episode gives you a front row seat to the energy of VIP Day and the kind of students who make Williams Baptist University such a special community.

In this SAB edition of The Williams Pulse, Big Sip and Miss Jessica host their last episode of the school year and walk you through everything happening as campus winds down. From the Spring Fling hangover and a much-needed break for the Student Activities Board to upcoming events like Play & Pray, ice cream floats on Academic Preparation Day, movie night in the Midkiff Meadow, a free lemonade stand, the petting zoo, late-night breakfast, and a visit from the Humble & Grind Coffee Truck, this episode is your guide to the final days of the semester. They also shout out Eagle Athletics heading into AMC tournaments, celebrate a year of broken records and an awesome athletics banquet, and look ahead to graduation day for the Class of 2026. Along the way, they talk SAB surveys, how your feedback shapes next year’s events, and why you should apply to join the most fun job on campus. Whether you’re cramming for finals, planning your summer, or thinking about getting more involved next year, this episode will help you finish the year strong with SAB.

In this special live episode of The Williams Pulse, we’re on the floor at VIP Day, April 16, 2026, capturing the energy of future Eagles and the families who brought them to campus. Host Bill Jeffery sits down with incoming students, including scholarship athletes, Williams Works students, future teachers, ministers, counselors, and more, as they talk about why they chose Williams, what they did at VIP Day, and how today helped calm those first-year nerves. You’ll hear stories about getting athletic and academic scholarships, meeting advisors, building first-semester class schedules, making student IDs, and even discovering future roommates and new friends. There’s plenty of laughter, a few surprise moments (including some unsupervised podcast “bonus content” and live worship singing), and a clear picture of how VIP Day helps students put names to faces and start feeling at home before move-in. Whether you’re a future student wondering what VIP Day is really like, a parent hoping to see what your student experienced, or an alum cheering on the next generation, this episode lets you hear the heartbeat of Williams Baptist University in real time. Williamsbu.edu/registration for more photos and to sign up for the next event.

It’s Spring Fling week at Williams! Big Sip and Mrs. Jessica break down everything happening on campus so you don’t miss a thing—from Miss WBU and Monday’s cookout + bonfire worship, to Tuesday’s Touch Grass and Throw Hands inflatables and IDOP. We’ll walk you through VIP Day (why you definitely want to come if you’re an incoming student), Thursday night’s Spring Formal: Flyest Eagles, Suits, Sparkles & Sneakers, and Friday’s Grace Graber concert featuring punk-style covers of songs you already know. Highlights this episode: What Spring Fling is and why it’s a longtime WBU tradition Monday’s Lunch & Learn with Taylor Jeffery, intramural basketball, cookout in the Cove, and bonfire worship Tuesday’s Touch Grass & Throw Hands and International Dorm of Pancakes Wednesday chapel with Dr. Fox and faculty vs. students dodgeball Thursday VIP Day + how to get ready for fall before move-in Thursday night Spring Formal details (location, time, tickets) Friday’s Grace Graber concert and how WBU students get in free Follow @WBUStudentActivities on Instagram for updates, reminders, and all the Spring Fling photos.

In this Major Moments installment of The Williams Pulse, campus therapist Taylor Jeffery sits down with senior psychology majors Kaelyn Gooch and Rebecca Fowler to unpack what studying psychology at Williams is really like. Together they talk through their Synthesis of Psychology capstone course, the weekly reading and discussion rhythm, and how it feels to pull together everything they’ve learned into one cohesive, big-picture experience. Kaelyn and Rebecca also share how their original research projects moved from classroom idea to professional presentation at the Southwestern Psychological Association conference in Frisco, Texas. You’ll hear Rebecca describe her work using writing analysis software to explore trauma narratives and PTSD indicators, and Kaelyn explain her study on imposter syndrome in college students—plus what their findings reveal about how many students quietly struggle with self-doubt. For future students wondering whether psychology at WBU is a good fit, this episode offers an honest look at the opportunities that come with a small, relational program: close mentoring from professors, the chance to do real research as an undergraduate, and support to present your work alongside students from much larger universities. You’ll also hear how these experiences are shaping Kaelyn and Rebecca’s next steps into graduate programs in counseling and social work, and how a psychology degree from Williams can prepare you not only for mental health careers, but also for fields like occupational therapy, ministry, and other people-centered vocations. Whether you’re a prospective student, a current undergrad still deciding on a major, or just curious about the mind and behavior, this conversation shows how psychology at Williams can grow your understanding of people, deepen your empathy, and open doors for what comes next.   Learn more here: https://williamsbu.edu/psychology

This week on The Williams Pulse, Big Sip, Miss Jessica, and special guest Bill Jeffery walk through a packed schedule at Williams. From 14 contestants vying for the Miss WBU crown—with talents ranging from balloon art and tap and photography—to a Pack the Nest crowd in the Southerland-Mabee Center, Friday night is set to be a campus highlight. Students can also hit the annual used book sale in the library, catch baseball and softball doubleheaders, and enjoy a spring choir and band concert in Manly Chapel featuring WBU ensembles plus local high school guests. The Cast takes over chapel with their on-the-road skits, and Thursday night’s student-led Day One Gathering in Manly focuses on worship and prayer for revival. The weekend wraps with senior day, Baseball and Softball Alumni Day, and the ABSC Equip Conference in the Maddox, giving students, alumni, and future ministry leaders plenty of reasons to stay on campus and plug in.

In this Take Flight athletic edition of The Williams Pulse, Athletic Director Mitch Mathis sits down with freshman catcher Addison “Addie” Foster from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to talk about her journey from dad-coached travel ball to anchoring the Lady Eagles behind the plate. Addie shares how early mornings at World tournaments, a long recruiting pursuit from Coach Jessica Nutt, and the tight-knit culture at Williams have shaped her love for the game, her 400-plus batting average, and her dream of becoming a labor and delivery nurse. From dealing with “getting in her own head” and grinding extra hitting sessions with her dad, to embracing small-town life, team affirmation exercises, and even her game-day 2% milk ritual, this conversation gives listeners an honest look at the mental side of softball and what it means to find a true family in college athletics. Want to get recruited for WBU athletics? Complete this Recruit Me form: https://wbueagles.com/information/Recruit_Me Apply online for free: https://williamsbu.edu/application/ Sign up for VIP Day Class Registration: https://williamsbu.edu/registration/  

College planning can feel like constant scholarship scrambles, pressure to pick the “perfect” school, and the fear that everyone else has it figured out but you. In this special admissions-hosted episode of The Williams Pulse, Bill Jeffery and admissions counselor Hannah Johnston sit down with future Eagle Ellie Lincoln, a high school senior who is right in the middle of that process. Ellie talks honestly about what has felt overwhelming, how breaking everything into small steps made it doable, and why you do not need a 10-year plan to move forward with confidence. You will also hear how VIP Day at Williams Baptist University can help you knock out big items (class schedule, housing, financial aid, and more) in one visit, plus some fun behind-the-scenes moments about worship team auditions, songwriting, and campus life. If you are a prospective student wondering where to start—or just needing to know you are not alone—this episode is for you.   Sign Up for VIP Day: https://williamsbu.edu/registration/

This week on The Williams Pulse Podcast: SAB Edition, Miss Jessica and Big Sip invite special guest Jessica Carnes on to share all details on Murder at the Cherry Creek Saloon, a live-action Clue-style mystery coming to the Maddox on March 19 at 7 p.m. with Western wear, snacks, prizes, and a full cast of suspects to interrogate. From intramural volleyball championships and the upcoming switch to intramural basketball to Price Arwoods’ Senior Worship Project, Prayer Chapel testimonies, and a packed weekend of baseball and softball, this episode is your playbook for staying plugged into campus life before spring break. You’ll also get a sneak peek at a fully booked Miss WBU pageant, a loaded Spring Fling lineup—cookout in the Cove, bonfire worship, “Touch Grass and Throw Hands,” faculty–staff vs. students softball, the Flyest Eagles formal, and the Grace Graber concert—plus a surprise shoutout to the viral Emberlin testimony video and a Taco Bell–inspired graphic design challenge.

In this Take Flight athletic edition of The Williams Pulse, host Mitch Mathis sits down with Lady Eagles standouts Joi Montgomery and Taylor Hooton as they get ready to head to Montgomery, Alabama, for the NAIA Women’s Basketball First & Second Rounds. From Joi’s JUCO journey and Taylor’s transfer story to the family feel that brought them to Williams, this episode dives into why WBU feels like home and how this team has grown into a 20-plus win contender. The trio revisits season-defining moments—from emotional AMC battles and Columbia nail-biters to Taylor’s remarkable return from an ACL tear in just a week and a half—and looks ahead to a fast-paced matchup with No. 3 seed Lindsey Wilson on the campus of Faulkner University. You’ll hear how the Lady Eagles plan to outwork and outlast opponents, what back-to-back tournament nights will require physically and mentally, and why the ultimate goal is punching a ticket to Iowa and bringing home a ring. Whether you’re watching in person or streaming on Urban Edge Network, this is your inside look at a resilient, battle-tested team that refuses to quit and is ready to fly.