Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast

In this week’s episode, Rex Nelson talks with Suzanne Peyton, executive director of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, about upcoming changes and improvements to the airport. Peyton talks about how she became interested in engineering and the experiences that shaped her career and pushed her to make the move from Garver to the Little Rock airport.  Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners Chapters (00:00:19) - Introduction and Welcome(00:01:31) - Becoming an Engineer in a Male-Dominated Field(00:03:55) - Career at Garver Across Airports Nationwide(00:05:15) - Transition to Little Rock Airport Leadership(00:06:57) - Canopy Project and Terminal Modernization Updates(00:09:01) - Airport Art Program and Sense of Place(00:10:17) - Bezos Gift and Airport's Role in First Impressions(00:11:29) - Terminal Redevelopment Phases and Costs(00:12:51) - Funding the Terminal Project(00:13:25) - Parking Expansion Plans(00:14:57) - How Airlines Choose Routes and Markets(00:16:33) - Wish List Destinations and Passenger Demand(00:17:19) - Airport's Role in Regional Economic Development(00:19:25) - Dassault, Stevens History, and Logistics Hub(00:21:46) - Art, Culture, and Community Experience at the Airport(00:23:30) - Favorite Moments and Arkansas Connections(00:25:48) - Winter Weather and Storm Preparedness(00:27:52) - Staying Informed and Closing Thoughts

In this week’s episode, Rex Nelson talks with Troy Campbell, founder of the House of Songs and a musician with more than 25 years of entertainment industry experience. Campbell shares how he got into music and his journey from knowing little about the music industry to becoming the creator and executive producer of the PBS documentary series “City of Songs.”  Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners  

In this week’s episode, Rex Nelson talks with the Senior Center Manager for the Little Rock Audubon Center, Uta Meyer and Little Rock Sustainability Officer Lennie Massanelli about their efforts to make Fourche Creek and surrounding areas cleaner. Meyer and Massanelli discuss Friends of Fourche Creek, an organization partnered with Keep Little Rock Beautiful to restore and revitalize Fourche Creek and the surrounding area.  Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners  

In this week’s episode, Rex Nelson talks with Maria Craig, chair of the Keep Little Rock Beautiful nonprofit, and Little Rock Sustainability Officer Lennie Massanelli about Little Rock's environmental quality of life. Craig and Massanelli discuss the nonprofit's events throughout the year and how the organization carries out its mission. Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners

In this week’s episode, Rex Nelson talks with the dean of the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Dr. Shane Speights. Speights discusses the school’s 10th anniversary, its strides in serving medical students, and the struggles it faced in its early years. Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners

In this week’s episode, Rex Nelson talks with the President of Hendrix College in Conway, Dr. Karen Petersen, about the shift in higher education and how that translates to postgraduate life. Petersen shares her journey and how her unique lived experience prepared her for academia and leadership in higher education later in life. Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners Chapters (00:00:14) - Southern Fried Podcast(00:01:53) - The future of private liberal arts colleges(00:04:31) - Arkansas private university's change to how students earn their bachelor's(00:07:15) - What does success look like for a Hendricks College graduate?(00:09:45) - President Hendricks on her path to becoming University President(00:12:26) - Hendrickson President talks about the liberal arts at the college(00:16:10) - Via Hendricks Co-op Program(00:20:38) - Hendricks College's involvement in Streamer University(00:25:14) - Jimmy Kimmel on Colin Jones(00:25:30) - Three years as president of Conway Community College(00:28:41) - President Karen Peterson on the Next 3 to 5 Years at Hendricks College

In this week’s episode, Rex Nelson talks with Luminark Global’s co-founder, Mike Steely, about the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and how it factors into the workplace. Steely talks about the opportunities that AI provides and the benefits it can bring to Arkansas. Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners Chapters (00:00:13) - Southern Fried Podcast: AI Explained(00:10:14) - Arkansas and the data revolution(00:12:30) - Arkansas' role in AI(00:16:56) - Arkansas Needs to Chase Silicon Valley(00:24:00) - Arkansas Tech Elite on the Walmart Campus Announcement(00:30:12) - AI and Governance(00:33:07) - Southern Fried Podcast: Mike Steele

In this week's episode, Rex Nelson sits down with the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Dr. Lowry Barnes. Barnes talks about his journey from starting medical school as a freshman to becoming the top executive for UAMS. Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners Chapters (00:00:14) - Southern Fried Podcast(00:01:08) - Arkansas orthopedic pioneer Dr. Banks Blackwell's story(00:05:57) - A message from North Pittock Hospital's first surgeon(00:08:34) - UAMS Orthopedics(00:09:31) - Interim Chancellor and the permanent role(00:11:33) - Some of the Changes at UAMS since my arrival(00:16:51) - UAMS supports rural hospitals(00:21:12) - Arkansas University System's Strategic Plan(00:26:48) - Dr. Lowry Barnes on His Drive to Make UAMS Better

In this week’s episode, Rex Nelson talks with the President and CEO of Arkansas Community Foundation, Jessica Hughes Ford, about the foundation and its mission to protect, grow and direct charitable dollars in the state. Ford discusses the challenges facing the non-profit sector in Arkansas and how the foundation helps non-profits accomplish their missions in the state. Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners Chapters (00:00:13) - Southern Fried Podcast: The Arkansas Community Foundation(00:00:57) - Philanthropist and Redfield native on the topic of the mammoth(00:02:58) - Many Arkansas nonprofits are based in Little Rock(00:05:19) - Arkansas' philanthropic tradition(00:08:52) - Coming soon: The Community Foundation of Arkansas(00:10:51) - One of the Foundation's Co-chairs on a Leadership Transition(00:12:37) - What is the Community Foundation of Arkansas?(00:15:48) - Arkansas Community Foundation Affiliates(00:19:42) - Arkansas Community Foundation Makes $8,000 Grants(00:20:45) - Arkansas Community Foundation's 50th Anniversary(00:24:01) - Arkansas Community Foundation Makes $50,000 in Grants(00:25:31) - Community Foundation President Tom May on the Future(00:31:37) - The Greatest Needs in Arkansas(00:34:42) - The 50th Anniversary of the Arkansas Community

In this week’s episode, Rex Nelson sits down with Doug Schoenrock, director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, to talk about some of the commission’s initiatives. Schoenrock talks about his upbringing, the Boy Scouts and how that translated into his current role as the commission director. Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners Chapters (00:00:14) - Southern Fried Podcast(00:01:17) - Arkansas Governor Mike Beevers on the state's outdoor recreation(00:03:40) - An Eagle Scout Gets the Spotlight(00:03:57) - President of Ducks Unlimited and a lifelong advocate for natural resources(00:07:10) - Arkansas Game and Fish Commission President Emeritus(00:14:13) - Arkansas Wildlife Management Areas: More Focus on Conservation(00:21:53) - Arkansas Duck Stamp(00:28:02) - Arkansas Fish and Wildlife Commission Discusses Lake Conway Restoration(00:31:14) - Arkansas trophy bass program continues(00:33:01) - Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Executive Director Doug Schoenrock on