TK Rakoski, owner of River Valley Art and Dance (and founder of the River Valley Dance Society), joins Emily Horn and Joe Cline to talk all things ballroom dancing in Fort Smith. TK shares how a Houston dance studio closed by COVID led him to fall in love with Fort Smith five years ago, and breaks down what ballroom dancing actually is — from two-step and swing to salsa and bachata. The conversation covers the health benefits of dance, the importance of dance etiquette and consent on the floor, and even a story about a couple whose marriage was saved through dance lessons. TK wraps things up with his vision for a full-scale ballroom studio in Fort Smith and his favorite local spots to catch live music and dance after hours.

#DiscoverFortSmith #FortSmithArkansas #BallroomDancing

Kara Branton and Joyce Simpson join the podcast to share the story of the Nurses Honor Guard of the River Valley, an organization Kara founded in 2021 after seeing a Facebook video and losing her grandmother, a lifelong nurse. The group performs Florence Nightingale tributes and lamp-extinguishing ceremonies to honor nurses at their funerals, has completed over 130 tributes since becoming independent in 2023, and also shows up for Nurses Week, pinning ceremonies, and community service at Hope Campus. Kara and Joyce, a 43-year nursing veteran, open up about what drew them into the profession, the emotional weight of the job, and how they've avoided burnout over decades of care. The conversation closes with their favorite Fort Smith restaurants and historic spots.

#DiscoverFortSmith #FortSmithArkansas #NursesHonorGuard

Herbie McGill has spent his life in service to Fort Smith — as director of the Elizabeth McGill Drop In Center, a nonprofit his grandmother founded in 1961, and as the driving force behind the Charlotte Tidwell Community Garden (Antioch Discovery Garden), a free 2.9-acre garden he took over after a 27-year friendship changed his life. Joe Cline and Emily Horn talk with Herbie about mentorship, growing up a McGill (nephew of Mayor George McGill), and how gardening became an unexpected outlet for teaching kids patience, self-worth, and where food comes from. Herbie also opens up about family structure, the loneliness epidemic among youth, and why exposure to different cultures builds empathy and opportunity. The conversation wraps with a tour of his favorite Fort Smith spots, from Creekmore Park to the Bakery District.

#DiscoverFortSmith #FortSmithArkansas #CommunityGarden

Talicia Richardson calls herself a "replant," not a transplant — after 20 years away in Phoenix, Lexington, Dallas, and Atlanta, she and her husband moved back home to Fort Smith to be near family. Hosts Emily Horn and Joe Cline talk with Talicia about going from a "taker" in other cities to a builder and creator in Fort Smith, from neighborhood block parties in the Belle Grove Historic District to over a decade on the school board and rebranding 646 into Main Street Fort Smith. She also shares the food, murals, and community discoveries that surprised her most, then closes with her can't-miss, three-day itinerary for anyone visiting Fort Smith.

#DiscoverFortSmith #FortSmithArkansas #FortSmithLeaders

In this episode of Discover Fort Smith, hosts Emily Horn and Josh Buchfink sit down with Sam Sicard, President and CEO of First National Bank and the fifth generation of his family to lead it since 1872. Sam shares how he stepped into the role in 2011 after his father passed away, what sets a community bank apart from a national one, and why he sees First National's growth as tied directly to Fort Smith's own. He also talks about the projects he's helped bring to life around town — from the riverfront bike and skate park to the Hunts Park renovation — and gives real talk for anyone thinking about starting a small business here.

#DiscoverFortSmith #FirstNationalBank #FortSmithArkansas

In this episode of Discover Fort Smith, hosts Emily Horn and Josh Buchfink talk with Morgan O'Neal, District Executive for Scouting America, covering eight counties across the River Valley. Morgan breaks down what Scouting America actually is now (it's not just Boy Scouts anymore), how the program runs from Cub Scouts through Eagle Scout, and how volunteers keep the whole thing funded and staffed. He also shares how a chance encounter with a Scout leader during a tornado scare led him into the job, plus some of his favorite outdoor spots in the Fort Smith area.

YouTube Chapters

00:00 Cold Open
00:34 Meet Morgan O'Neal
02:12 The Four M's Job
06:56 How He Got Here
10:02 Tornado Story
13:36 Volunteer Roles
17:16 Scouting's Mission
18:26 Merit Badges
26:16 Eagle Scout Projects
32:26 Top Outdoor Spots

#DiscoverFortSmith #ScoutingAmerica #FortSmithArkansas

In this episode of Discover Fort Smith, hosts Emily Horn and Josh Buchfink welcome Douglas Beinenfeld, the new Director of Sales for Discover Fort Smith, fresh off a move from Detroit, Michigan. Douglas shares his 20 years in hospitality and tourism, what a CVB and director of sales actually do, and how Fort Smith's 100%-lodging-tax funding model works. He talks about exploring Arkansas with his dog Bear — from Mount Magazine to Hot Springs — and why he thinks the state is criminally underrated. The conversation also covers the international flavor Fort Smith has picked up from the F-35 pilot training mission, plus his favorite local restaurants one month in.

#DiscoverFortSmith #FortSmithArkansas #TourismIndustry

In this episode of Discover Fort Smith, hosts Emily Horn and Josh Buchfink sit down with Nick McKelvain, a Northwest Arkansas transplant who's spent the past year discovering everything Fort Smith has to offer. Nick shares why he and his girlfriend traded NWA's traffic and rising home prices for a slower pace of life, the misconceptions he had about the city before moving, and how his family's ties to Camp Chaffee go back to 1955. He also dishes on his favorite local spots — from sushi at Ninja Express to steak at Doe's Eat Place — plus where to fish, shoot pool, and soak in the Riverwalk.

#DiscoverFortSmith #FortSmithArkansas #ArkansasPodcast

Nick Maestri, owner of Superior Pawn & Jewelry, turned a casual conversation about opening a pawn shop into one of Fort Smith's most recognizable luxury brands — built on trust, high-end items, and a no-junk policy. He joins Josh and Joe to talk about redefining an industry, building a massive social media presence with his videographer Larry, and why he believes Fort Smith is the best place in America to build a dream. Nick also opens up about his sobriety journey and why giving back — quietly — has become one of the most important parts of his story.

#DiscoverFortSmith #fortsmitharkansas #fortsmithbusiness

Rachael Graham, founder of Arkansas Vascular Solutions, is bringing transcranial Doppler ultrasound to Fort Smith — a non-invasive scan that detects stroke risk by imaging the small vessels inside the head that standard carotid ultrasounds miss entirely. A Van Buren native and UAFS grad, Rachael built her career the hard way and is now filling a critical gap in local healthcare. She joins Josh and Joe at the Fort Smith Little Theatre to talk early detection, building a medical small business, and why she believes this community is ready for what she's bringing

#DiscoverFortSmith #fortsmitharkansas #fortsmithhealth