A New American Town - Bentonville, Arkansas

You’ve walked a thousand grocery aisles, but you’ve never walked one like this. We sit down with artist Lucy Sparrow, creator of The Beginning of Convenience at the Momentary in Bentonville, Arkansas, an immersive felt art installation where every shelf, freezer door, and product is handmade fabric sculpture. It’s a full supermarket world built from softness, color, and obsessive detail, and it hits that rare sweet spot of playful, uncanny, and deeply familiar.

We talk about why consumer products and retail spaces became Lucy’s creative language, rooted in her own years working in shops and supermarkets. Then we zoom out to the bigger story: how “convenience” culture evolved between 1975 and 1995, as households and priorities changed and quick meals became a defining part of daily life. Along the way, we get into the power of nostalgia, why older packaging design still triggers memories, and how felt brings a childlike wonder that you can’t get from a purely realistic replica.

You’ll also hear what it takes to build a museum-scale installation with over 20,000 pieces, from floor plans and color schemes to the spreadsheet-level planning behind each handcrafted item. Lucy shares details from her Walmart archives research, the sensory choices that make the space feel like a real store, and the hidden Easter eggs that keep repeat visits interesting. The exhibit is free to enter and stays up for a year, making it an easy, welcoming stop for locals and visitors alike.

If you enjoy immersive museum exhibits, contemporary textile art, or the weird comfort of retail nostalgia, hit subscribe, share this with a friend who loves Bentonville, and leave us a review with the snack you hope to spot on the shelves.

A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.  

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.  

Before Gordon Harrison was Sport Development Director for USA Cycling, he was building grassroots programs across a handful of different sports, from the Learn to Skate program with USA Figure Skating to development at the Florida Panthers' practice facility, plus stints in soccer and baseball. That cross-sport background shapes everything he does now: get the fundamentals right early, and everything that follows, from the Olympics to a lifetime of recreational riding, gets better.

We sat down with Gordon to talk about the USA Cycling Regional Development Camp and Education Summit coming to Bentonville August 7-8. He breaks down what a solid cycling foundation actually looks like: balance, power, cornering, and braking. Riders build those skills hands-on across Bentonville's world-class trails and skills park, working drops, turns, small jumps, and line selection, then head into the classroom at Thaden School to reinforce it all with race strategy sessions and direct access to USA Cycling staff. Rich Drew leads the coaching alongside a team of instructors, and athletes even learn to service and clean their own bikes.

The event isn't just for athletes. Parents get their own education track, with speakers from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and USADA giving families a real look at the system their riders are entering. It's co-ed, open to all disciplines, and includes lunch both days plus a Friday night dinner.

Gordon also talks about why Bentonville, with its accessibility and trail infrastructure, made sense as a host for this kind of event, and what it means for the sport to bring athletes, parents, coaches, and commissaires together in one place.

Registration is open now at USACycling.org — search Regional Camp to reserve a spot.

A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.  

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.  

Bentonville has world-class trails, but the hardest part of the trip can be bike rentals. It can take hours to sift through what local shops have to offer. We sit down with Jeff Ireland, founder of BikeWhip, to unpack how a simple favor for a visiting brother exposed a bigger problem in planning for a cycling trip. BikeWhip brings local bike rental inventory into one place, using filters to narrow by bike type, size, budget, and e-bike options so riders can find what they actually want fast.

We also dig into the reality that many renters are beginners, and that intimidation can keep people from even trying outdoor recreation. Jeff explains how RideMatch helps riders self-identify their needs, answer a few simple questions about where they plan to ride, and get recommendations that fit their comfort level. The goal is not just convenience. It’s a better on-trail experience because the wrong bike can turn a dream ride into a frustrating day.

Then Andy Williamson joins to explain GORP, the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program, and why Bentonville’s startup ecosystem matters as much as the trail builds. We talk about mentorship, customer discovery, building in a living laboratory, and how partnerships like Visit Bentonville’s BikeWhip-powered rental widget can lift the whole visitor experience. 

Listen through, share it with a riding buddy or friend, and then subscribe and leave a review!

A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.  

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.  

You don’t usually walk into an art museum wondering what you’ll eat but once you’ve spent a full day at Crystal Bridges, food becomes part of the adventure. We’re joined by Lauren Eck, Regional Vice President of Sales for Wolfgang Puck Catering, to talk about the new partnership at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and what it means for museum dining in Bentonville, Arkansas as the campus grows and visitor expectations keep rising.

We get into the ethos behind Wolfgang Puck Catering and why it lines up so naturally with Crystal Bridges and The Momentary: accessibility without lowering the standard. Lauren shares how “elevated” doesn’t have to mean expensive, how thoughtful hospitality starts long before someone sits down to eat, and why great people matter even more than great recipes. We also talk about designing food and beverage that complements exhibits, supports all-day exploration, and welcomes everyone including guests with dietary restrictions.

If you care about farm-to-table dining, local Arkansas ingredients, and the future of hospitality in Northwest Arkansas, you’ll love the behind-the-scenes details, including how the team sourced farmers market strawberries for the Crystal Bridges gala. Lauren also teases what’s ahead as experience-driven dining grows, from roaming small plates to big plans leading into 2027.

Subscribe for more stories about Bentonville, share this with a friend planning a visit, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.  

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.  

In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Nolan from Downtown Bentonville Inc to explore how the Bentonville Farmers Market has grown into something much bigger than a place to shop. From local chefs shopping that day's produce, to grabbing a coffee and pastry, it’s a space where local flavor and community connection meet.

Aaron shares how the market draws both residents and visitors, why investing in third spaces matters, and what makes a simple Saturday morning feel like a full experience. Grab a coffee and take your time, because around every corner, there’s something new to discover!

A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.  

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.  

We sit down with Josh and Sean from The Hub to talk about Hub 2.0. It’s designed for everything that happens around the ride, from a good cup of coffee to start the day to swapping stories after a bike ride. The goal is a space that feels easy and welcoming, where visitors start to feel like regulars pretty quickly. They’ve recently expanded both their menu and their space, and partnered with Santa Cruz Bikes to offer rentals as well.

We get specific about what makes the Hub a true cycling experience center in Northwest Arkansas. Josh explains how the bike shop side works, from the Santa Cruz demo experience and rental fleet to the “white-glove” setup that helps you find the right ride, whether you’re brand new or chasing bigger lines. Sean shares how the original vision started as a community gathering place and why growth was unavoidable once the lounge became more popular.

Then we dig into the parts that turn a cycling trip into a full itinerary: live music, DJs, group rides, and partnerships with local organizations that keep the community connected. You’ll also hear the practical details people actually need, like how to book rentals ahead, how the greenway leads you in, and what to order when you’re refueling, from happy hour deals to brunch favorites. Make sure you subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find it.

A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.  

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.  

In this episode, Scott Fitzgerald shares the story behind Pedal Kids USA and his mission to get more kids off screens and onto bikes. From running bike shops in Jackson Hole to building a national model for youth cycling education, Scott has been helping kids become confident and connected for years.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of community, coaching, and why the experience of riding a bike goes beyond skill-building to support mental and emotional well-being for the next generation.

A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.  

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.  

Loneliness doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like a town full of people who never quite talk to each other. That’s why I loved sitting down with Joe Petrillo and Clint Misamore, co-founders of WUF World, to unpack a surprisingly effective community-building tool: pets. They call animals “Chief Icebreaking Officers,” and once you hear their stories, it’s hard to unsee how a simple “Do you have any pets?” can flip a stranger moment into a real connection.

We trace WUF World’s origin to the pandemic era and the growing concern around isolation, then widen the lens to what happens when you design gatherings around the human animal bond. Joe and Clint explain why pets fit naturally with culture and storytelling, especially film, and how their work aligns with Bentonville Film Festival’s focus on stories that connect us all. We also get practical about the modern family and the workplace: even if most companies can’t allow pets on site, every employer can build pet supportive culture, policies, and benefits that recognize how people actually live.

Then we get into the fun part: what to expect at the Momentary during Bentonville Film Festival. Think pet friendly screenings, food and drinks, local and national brand activations, and Best Friends on site with adoptable animals. They also share fresh updates like an ELF Beauty glam studio for you and your pet, plus a Saturday community hike with AllTrails. If you love Bentonville, love film, or just want an easy way to meet one new friend, this is your entry point.

Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a fellow pet lover, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. What’s one way a pet has helped you feel at home somewhere new?

A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.  

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.  

We catch up with Wendy Guerrero to break down what makes Bentonville Film Festival 2026 feel big, buzzy, and still welcoming. We share the biggest premieres, the new experiences beyond screenings, and the simplest way to plan your first trip to Festival Village at the Momentary. 
• how Bentonville Film Festival stands out through programming, conversations, networking, and community events 
• how the festival mission elevates underrepresented voices and authentic storytelling 
• what festival week feels like in Bentonville, including red carpets, outdoor screenings, and family activations 
• highlights from the 2026 lineup, including Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick plus Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie premiere 
• why world premieres matter for filmmakers, press, and distribution momentum 
• what to watch for in documentaries and audience favorites like Cookie Queens 
• new programming focused on the creator economy, Coffee Talk, microdramas, and STEAM sessions on AI and technology 
• how tickets, passes, and free Impact Day programming fit different budgets and schedules 
• first-timer tips for planning, picking must-see events, and using Festival Village as your hub 

So go to our website www.bentonvillefilm.org, and you can find the lineup. 
Check the show notes for links to our website, social channels, and our newsletter.

A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.  

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.  

A chairlift bike park in the Ozarks sounds like a wild idea until you hear how Oz Trails Bike Park was actually built: carefully, deliberately, and for everyone. We’re joined by Brandon Kelly, director of Bella Vista, and Gary Vernon, who runs the bike park day to day, to share the story behind the park’s long path from rumor to ribbon cutting, with the grand opening set for June 12.

We get practical about what a day looks like at the park, from rolling into the base area to loading your bike on the lift, cruising to the top, and choosing trails by skill level. Gary explains how they focused on families and first-timers without watering down the experience for serious riders, including a standout beginner trail called Firestarter that’s designed to build confidence fast. We also talk about what makes this a true destination beyond riding: the Oz Trails HQ building, Ozzy’s Ride and Dine restaurant, and a full setup for bike rentals, retail, and bike school, so you can arrive with almost nothing and still have a great day.

Not a rider? You’re still invited. We dig into lift rides for sightseeing, ADA accessibility, patio views of the action, and the way the park preserves the natural beauty of Bella Vista’s old-growth forest, limestone bluffs, and deep ravines. We also touch on the Whistler connection through Gravity Logic, why the trails will keep evolving, and how Bella Vista vacation rentals plus Bentonville’s downtown make trip planning easy across both towns.

If you’re curious about Northwest Arkansas mountain biking, family-friendly bike parks, or the next big outdoor attraction in Bella Vista, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave a review so more people can find the show! 

A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.  

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.