Free Arkansas

In this episode of Free Arkansas, host Andy McNeill sits down with Sharmila Makhija, MD, MBA, the Founding Dean and Chief Executive Officer of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, to talk about the future of healthcare in Arkansas and the work underway in Northwest Arkansas to train a new generation of physicians.The conversation explores Arkansas’ physician shortage, rural healthcare access, value-based care, whole health, medical education, AI in healthcare, nutrition, empathy, and the role Alice Walton’s vision is playing in shaping a different model for the state.🎙️ In this episode:🩺 Arkansas’ doctor shortage and rural healthcare challenges🌿 What “whole health” means in medical education🏥 The role of Mercy, virtual care and value-based care🎓 How the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine is training future doctors🤖 AI, empathy and the future of healthcare🍎 Nutrition, prevention and treating the whole patient🏛️ Alice Walton’s healthcare legacy in Northwest ArkansasSubscribe to Free Arkansas for conversations on policy, business, healthcare, education and the future of Arkansas.

What does it actually mean to be a capitalist in today’s world, and what happens when AI starts reshaping the economy faster than we can keep up? In this episode of Y’all Hear About This, Andy and Misty dig into both questions, starting with a simple definition of capitalism and tracing it back to early merchants, then bringing it forward to the explosion of AI and the massive capital investments driving it today.

They break down what’s happening with data centers, power consumption, and the scale of investment coming into places like Arkansas. From there, the conversation turns to the real implications: who pays for that infrastructure, how it affects everyday consumers, and what AI could mean for jobs, productivity, and the future of the economy. It’s a wide-ranging discussion that connects big global trends back to what they mean on the ground here at home.

In this episode:

• 💰 What capitalism means in simple terms and how it started
• ⚡ The scale of AI investment and what it means for power demand
• 🏗️ Data centers in Arkansas and who carries the cost
• 🤖 How AI could reshape jobs and the broader economy
• 🌾 A surprising stat about how rural Arkansas really is

👉 Subscribe to Free Arkansas for more conversations on the people, ideas, and trends shaping our state.

⚖️ What if the justice system actually worked to keep kids out of prison?In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy sits down with Circuit Judge Troy Braswell, who’s taking a different approach to juvenile justice. Instead of a one-size-fits-all system, he’s focused on understanding what’s really going on in a child’s life and using that to change outcomes.This is a conversation about accountability, but also about second chances and smarter solutions.💡 What you’ll hear in this episode:Why Arkansas has one of the highest incarceration rates and what that meansHow early intervention with kids can break the cycleWhat a “risk and needs assessment” actually is and why it mattersReal stories that show how background and trauma shape behaviorThe gaps in Arkansas when it comes to mental health and substance abuse treatment🔥 Judge Braswell’s approach is simple but powerful. Treat each case individually, address root causes, and give kids a real shot at a different path.This isn’t about being soft. It’s about being smart.👇 Watch now and decide for yourself.

⚖️ What if the justice system actually worked to keep kids out of prison?In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy sits down with Circuit Judge Troy Braswell, who’s taking a different approach to juvenile justice. Instead of a one-size-fits-all system, he’s focused on understanding what’s really going on in a child’s life and using that to change outcomes.This is a conversation about accountability, but also about second chances and smarter solutions.💡 What you’ll hear in this episode:Why Arkansas has one of the highest incarceration rates and what that meansHow early intervention with kids can break the cycleWhat a “risk and needs assessment” actually is and why it mattersReal stories that show how background and trauma shape behaviorThe gaps in Arkansas when it comes to mental health and substance abuse treatment🔥 Judge Braswell’s approach is simple but powerful. Treat each case individually, address root causes, and give kids a real shot at a different path.This isn’t about being soft. It’s about being smart.👇 Watch now and decide for yourself.

What does it actually look like to build a career, raise a family, and get ahead in Arkansas today?Andy sits down with Anna Beth Gorman, CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, for a wide-ranging conversation about work, money, and opportunity across the state.They get into:💸 The real cost of childcare and how it shapes family decisions📊 Why most women are working, but many still struggle to build long-term wealth🚀 The rise of women-owned businesses in rural Arkansas🤝 How relationships and access, not just funding, make or break a business🗳️ Anna Beth’s experience running for statewide officeIt’s a grounded look at how people are actually navigating life and work here... and where there’s still room to grow.👉 Follow Free Arkansas for more conversations about the people and ideas shaping our state.

Today on Free Arkansas, we’re talking about the Buffalo River, one of the most iconic places in the state and the first national river in the United States.

Andy McNeill sits down with Mike Mills, founder of the Buffalo Outdoor Center, to talk about how the river was protected, what that meant for the people who lived there, and how tourism has shaped the region over the last 50 years.

It’s a conversation about conservation, growth, and what it takes to preserve something this special.

🎙️ In this episode:

• How the Buffalo River became protected
• The impact on local landowners
• The rise of tourism in the Ozarks
• Building a business around the river
• The future of conservation in Arkansas

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on the people and places shaping Arkansas.

#Arkansas #BuffaloRiver #FreeArkansas #Ozarks #Conservation #Tourism

What does college actually look like for students right now?We hear a lot from administrators, lawmakers, and university leaders. But in this episode, we sit down with someone living it every day.🎓 Jaxon Hatfield is a freshman at the University of Arkansas and serves in student government. He’s on the front lines of major conversations around affordability, student debt, and a recent campus debate over funding priorities.💸 We cover:The real cost of college today and what students are facingTaking on student loans as a freshmanA student-led effort pushing back on shifting funds toward athleticsHow student government is engaging on major financial decisionsWhat today’s students think about AI, careers, and the future📊 With rising tuition and changing priorities, this episode gives you a ground-level view of higher education in Arkansas right now.🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow Free Arkansas for more conversations on policy, business, and the future of our state.🎙️ Inside Higher Ed: A Student’s Take on Cost, Debt, and Campus Priorities

In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy McNeill talks with Jacob Lively about bringing AQ Chicken back to downtown Springdale and why the iconic Arkansas restaurant still means so much to people across the state.

They discuss the legacy of AQ Chicken, what it takes to revive a beloved local brand, and Jacob’s path from first-generation college graduate to lawyer, operator, and investor. The conversation also explores Catalyst, family-office style investing, estate planning, and why Arkansas needs more builders and local capital.

It’s a conversation about entrepreneurship, risk, faith, legacy, and the work of building something that lasts.

00:00 Intro

00:39 Why AQ Chicken still matters in Arkansas

02:16 Reopening AQ Chicken in downtown Springdale

05:38 Why Arkansas needs more local investment

06:24 Jacob Lively’s path from Ouachita to law school

09:45 From Wright Lindsey to Pediatrics Plus

11:31 Building and learning at FoxDen

18:47 Leaving FoxDen and launching Catalyst

24:18 Building an estate planning practice

29:04 How much time Jacob will spend on AQ Chicken

32:11 How the AQ Chicken deal came together

36:34 Working with family and building for the long term

39:09 AQ Chicken’s opening plans and what comes next

💡 What does it take to build a technology company in Arkansas — and keep building new ones decades later?

In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy McNeill sits down with Arkansas technology pioneer Charles Morgan, former CEO of Acxiom and founder of companies including First Orion. They talk about entrepreneurship, the evolution of big data, the rise of AI, and why Arkansas still needs more capital and opportunity for innovators and job creators.

🎙️ In this episode:
🚗 Charles Morgan’s racing career and the mindset behind peak performance
💻 Building Acxiom and the early days of big data
📱 Launching First Orion and the fight against spam calls
🤖 Why AI may be the most transformative technology since the Industrial Revolution
🏗️ Creating new businesses in Arkansas — from furniture manufacturing to corporate retreats
📈 What Arkansas needs to create more high-skill jobs and entrepreneurial success

👇 Subscribe for more Free Arkansas conversations on business, leadership, technology, and the ideas shaping the state’s future.

Andy sits down with Northwest Arkansas attorney Jennifer Standerfer to talk through the nuts and bolts of Arkansas government and election law.Jennifer is the founder of Waymack Standerfer Law, a former prosecutor and public defender, and a former legislative candidate. She shares her experience working in the Bureau of Legislative Research, her work on transparency issues, and her involvement in election-related litigation in Arkansas. 🎙️ In this episode:⚖️ Her path from public defender to prosecutor to legislative attorney🗳️ Ballot initiatives and the citizen petition process📄 Government transparency and FOIA in Arkansas🏛️ How bills are drafted at the legislature🗂️ The lawsuit involving the Stubblefield Senate seat election timing👇 Subscribe for more Free Arkansas conversations on Arkansas politics, policy, and the people involved in state government.