Brad Henry has spent his career on the front lines of Arkansas’s economy — from the Arkansas Development Finance Authority to co-founding one of the state’s only private investment firms. In this episode, he joins hosts Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield to talk about why capital formation matters, where Arkansas ranks in economic health, and how to build a better future for every corner of the state.

• 📉 Why Arkansas ranks low in per capita income — and what we can do about it

• 🏗️ Explosive growth in Northwest Arkansas and why the cranes aren’t slowing down

• 🧠 The importance of keeping Arkansas college graduates from leaving the state

• 🏢 What Natural Capital Partners invests in — and why only 1 of their 27 company deals is in Arkansas

• 🌊 Why Arkansas’s water supply could be a huge economic advantage

• 🚧 A frank talk about real estate, infrastructure, and where growth should go next

• 📈 The rise of tech, steel, and lithium — and how different regions have different strengths

• 💼 Advice for young Arkansans who want to start a business and build something great
  

Gary Vernon on Arkansas’ Trail Revolution🎙️ Free Arkansas Podcast – May 16, 2025Gary Vernon helped turn a small bike trail experiment into a $150+ million-a-year economic engine. In this episode, he joins Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield to talk about how mountain biking changed Bentonville — and how it could change the rest of Arkansas too.🛤️ What You'll Hear:The Bentonville Origin Story — How a 5-mile trail idea sparked a global model for outdoor livingOz Trails & Monument Trails — What's the difference, and how did they both shape the state?Economic Impact — $157 million a year in NWA alone — plus a peek at trail counters, Airbnb spikes, and trail-driven tourismFrom Walmart to Trail Boss — Gary’s unique career journey building bikes to building ArkansasLift-Access Bike Parks — Major new investments in Bella Vista and Mena ⛷️🚴‍♂️E-Bikes for All — How electric bikes are changing access for everyone from 8th graders to retireesNational & Global Attention — Why Japan, Norway, and Olympians are studying Arkansas trailsWhat’s Next — Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, rural community trails, and a call for local leaders to embrace the trail economy🧠 Takeaway Quote:"We always say you do three trips and then you buy a house." – Gary Vernon📢 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Free Arkansas — where open ideas drive a better future.

Mike Poore, longtime Arkansas educator and now EVP at Education Partners, joins Free Arkansas for a deep dive into the current state of K-12 education. We explore how Arkansas has made progress in national rankings, what’s working (like early literacy initiatives), and where gaps remain—from teacher recruitment to school safety. Poore offers thoughtful insights on how policy, business partnerships, and community support can help move the state forward.

📍 Free Arkansas Podcast – Andy McNeill & Rep. Matt Duffield

This week’s episode dives deep into a surprising Arkansas contradiction: how can a state rank among the highest in both childhood food insecurity and obesity?

🧃 Andy checks in from Las Vegas (at the $9 billion Fontainebleau!) while Matt brings the humor with his infamous restaurant broom theory and a long-lost legislative idea: the Peaceful Meal Bill 🧹📵

Then the conversation gets serious:

🍽️ One in four Arkansas kids are food insecure
🍔 At the same time, Arkansas ranks near the top for childhood obesity
🧃 Why do cheap, processed calories dominate?
📚 Can schools play a role by teaching kids how to cook healthy meals again?
💰 Should states accept federal summer EBT funding to help hungry kids—or say no in the name of self-reliance?

💬 Join the debate:

• Would you take the federal EBT money?

• What’s your take on the “nanny state” vs. child nutrition?

• Can teaching life skills at school actually help?

🧠 As always, it’s a free flow of ideas from two Arkansas leaders trying to make the state better—one conversation at a time.

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments—what’s your solution to the hunger/obesity paradox?

#FreeArkansas #ArkansasPodcast #ChildHunger #ObesityCrisis #FoodInsecurity #MattDuffield #AndyMcNeill #EducationPolicy #EBT #HealthyKids #SchoolLunch #ArkansasPolitics #PublicPolicy

In this episode of Free Arkansas, hosts Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield sit down with Rep. Aaron Pilkington to unpack the highs, lows, and headline-grabbing moments from Arkansas' recently wrapped-up legislative session. 🇺🇸We dive into:👶 Pilkington's Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies legislation and what it means for maternal care in Arkansas🌿 The vetoed marijuana bill—what was in it, and its surprising demise🎆 Duffield’s successful push to expand legal fireworks dates⚖️ Stronger sentencing for rape convictions 🌊 Pilkington’s failed but fun “Gulf of America” resolution and the reaction it sparked🏆 And we crown our Session MVPs—the legislators who got it done (or helped others get it done!)

Education guru Rep. Bruce Cozart joins the show to break down how Arkansas schools are funded, why the current formula is outdated, and what can be done to better serve students statewide.💸 School Funding in Arkansas:Cozart explains that Arkansas schools are funded through an "adequacy" formula—$8,100 per student annually.Local millage rates vary widely, impacting teacher pay and resources across districts.Some schools, especially smaller or high-need ones, struggle with inequities in funding.🧮 Cozart’s New Proposal:He’s working on a weighted student formula to account for poverty, disability, geography, and more.Initial price tag: $600+ million, which stalled the bill in the last session.Other Topics:🧾 Vouchers & School Choice🧑‍🏫 Teachers & Administration🎓 Higher Ed & the ACCESS Act🔧 Workforce Readiness

In this episode of the Free Arkansas podcast, hosts Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield are joined by Rep. Bart Schulz to discuss key topics affecting Arkansas. Here's what they cover:🌪️ Tornado Relief: A deep dive into the aftermath of the recent tornadoes and ongoing disaster relief efforts🚮 Waste Tire Program: An update on the state’s waste tire program and its impact💰 Homestead Tax Credit: A discussion on the importance of Arkansas' homestead tax credit🥧 Pie Eating Contest: Bart and Matt gear up for an upcoming pie-eating contest (who’s taking home the crown?)🎸 Metallica Connection: Rep. Schulz shares a fun fact about owning a house previously owned by a Metallica member

Free Arkansas hosts Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield talk AI takeovers, the Department of Education, hefty consulting fees and more in this Spring Break podcast.

In this episode of Free Arkansas, Andy McNeill is joined by Representative Matt Duffield, Sheriff Shane Jones, and Judge Ben Cross to discuss the growing public safety challenges facing Pope County.

With an increasing population and outdated facilities, the county is struggling to keep up with demand. The group explores the overcrowding in local jails, the strain on the 911 system, and the public safety tax proposal that aims to address these issues.

This episode breaks down the numbers, the problems, and the potential solutions in a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Chapters:

• 00:00 – Introduction
  Andy McNeill kicks things off, introducing Representative Matt Duffield, Sheriff Shane Jones, and Judge Ben Cross to talk about the public safety issues facing Pope County.

• 02:00 – Arkansas Game Recap
  Before diving into the serious topics, Andy asks if anyone caught the Arkansas game. Spoiler: it didn’t end well!

• 05:00 – The 50% Voter Threshold Debate
  Andy and the team discuss a controversial bill at the State House that could make it harder for voters to pass constitutional amendments. What does it mean for local democracy?

• 10:00 – Overcrowded Prisons and County Jails
  Sheriff Shane Jones shares shocking figures: Pope County has over 2,000 state prisoners stuck in county jails due to overcrowding in state prisons. What’s the real impact of this?

• 15:00 – Pope County’s 911 System: At Capacity
  Judge Ben Cross discusses the strain on Pope County’s 911 center, which handles over 150,000 calls a year. The current facility was built in 1993 and can’t keep up with the demand.

• 20:00 – Sales Tax Proposal: The Key to a New Jail & 911 Center
  The proposal: a 3/4 cent sales tax to fund the construction of a new 400-bed jail and 911 center. How will this tax help address overcrowding and ensure Pope County stays safe?

• 25:00 – Crime Rates in Pope County: What’s Really Going On
  Sheriff Jones breaks down some staggering statistics: in 2024 alone, Pope County saw 27 rapes, 34 sexual assaults, and 5 homicides. Are people aware of the crime levels in their own backyard?

• 30:00 – Mental Health Issues in Jails
  The conversation turns to how mental health crises are being handled in Pope County’s jails and the urgent need for more mental health resources to avoid turning people into felons.

• 35:00 – Building for the Future: What Will the New Facilities Look Like?
  Judge Cross talks about the plans for the new facilities—why it’s not just about adding space, but about creating a hub for public safety that will serve the community for decades to come.

• 40:00 – What’s Next for Pope County’s Future?
  With early voting starting May 6th, the team discusses the importance of the May 13th vote on the public safety tax and how it will impact the county’s future.

• 45:00 – Closing Thoughts: A Community Effort
  Sheriff Shane Jones shares why the public safety tax proposal is vital, even if he won’t be in office when it’s complete. It’s all about building a safer, better future for Pope County’s residents.

Join Andy McNeill and his guests for an in-depth, no-nonsense conversation about Pope County’s public safety struggles and the big decisions facing the community. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of Pope County.

In this episode of Free Arkansas, hosts Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield sit down with Senator Bryan King for a deep dive into some of the most pressing issues facing Arkansas. They discuss the state’s high incarceration rate, the proposed prison in Franklin County, and the broader implications of Arkansas' approach to criminal justice. The conversation also covers the push to move primary elections to March—what it means for voters, candidates, and the political landscape of the state.As always, Free Arkansas delivers unfiltered discussions on the policies shaping Arkansas’ future. Tune in for an insightful and candid conversation about where the state is headed and what needs to change.