The Ghidotti Podcast

Even when daily schedules and routines have been disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, Mitchell Williams and attorney Anton Janik recognize the value of content marketing for their law firm.

“It comes down to navigating the quality of the content versus the ocean of other folks that are putting it out,” Janik said. “If you have really interesting and really good content, it helps your clients, it helps the practice as a whole and it can shape how other people view the same issues.”

The Editorial Chair of The Arkansas Lawyer magazine, Janik shared more about his content marketing experience with host Natalie Ghidotti on the latest episode of The Ghidotti Podcast, also touching on his duties in leading Mitchell Williams’ Tax Controversy and Litigation practice, his role with the Arkansas Foodbank and his fluency in Russian with a bachelor’s degree in Russian language.

While beer consumers still gravitate to familiar brands such as Budweiser, Miller and Michelob, microbreweries have seen their popularity rise in recent years, including right here in Arkansas with breweries such as Diamond Bear, Flyaway and Lost 40.

“It’s fantastic that our communities can support so many breweries in this state,” said Lost 40 production manager Dylan Yelenich. “That says that Arkansas is catching up with the rest of the world and it’s because people want fresh local beer.”

As we prepare to celebrate National Beer Day on April 7, Yelenich joined host Natalie Ghidotti via Zoom on the latest episode of The Ghidotti Podcast to share more about the early days of Lost 40, now celebrating its fifth anniversary, the ins and outs of brewing and what he’ll be drinking on National Beer Day.

Named the City of Little Rock’s first Chief Education Officer in December, Jay Barth brings a wealth of experience from his time as a professor of politics at Hendrix College and the former chairman/member of the state Board of Education.

As the COVID-19 outbreak has led to statewide cancellations through April 17, Barth remains committed to making Little Rock’s schools the best they can be when classes resume while also ensuring students receive the education and care they need during this difficult time.

Barth joined host Natalie Ghidotti on the latest episode of The Ghidotti Podcast (being recorded via Zoom during COVID-19 precautions) to share more about how schools are handling operations during the coronavirus outbreak, as well as the ongoing plans for a new community school model in the capital city.

As anyone in Arkansas will tell you, the World’s Shortest Parade in Hot Springs is the place to be on St. Patrick’s Day. With live music, celebrity appearances and of course, beer, there’s something for everyone at one of the state’s most iconic events.

“We have over 30,000 people come each year and the parade makes a lot of top 10 lists nationally and internationally,” said Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison. “We have our hook as the shortest street and it’s really worked for us. We’re looking forward to a Monday and Tuesday this year, which will be hopefully our biggest parade ever.”

Arrison joined host Natalie Ghidotti on the latest episode of The Ghidotti Podcast to share more about the event’s history and what to expect at this year’s First Ever 17th Annual World’s Shortest Parade, as well as all the other happenings in the Spa City.

If you ever want to know about noteworthy or interesting moments in Arkansas’ capital city, Scott Carter is your source. The Public Affairs and Creative Economy Advisor for the City of Little Rock, Carter also serves as the city’s historian, a role that has allowed him to become the authority on all the good, bad and ugly of Little Rock.

“We did have a mayor in the pre-Civil War days who was arrested for running a counterfeit ring while he was mayor,” Carter said. “He came here from Chicago and went back there after he got out of the state pen, so I like to say he tried to bring Chicago politics here and it didn’t take.”

Carter joined host Zach Parker on the latest episode of The Ghidotti Podcast to share more historical facts about Little Rock, plus a discussion on his recent speech about the Robinson Center and thoughts on the 2020 Oscars as a lifelong supporter of the arts.

For many people, Girl Scouts are synonymous with tasty cookies and camping trips. For Girl Scouts Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas President Dawn Prasifka, it’s about mentoring young girls to become the next generation of women making a difference in their community.

“I love being able to be one-on-one with girls and seeing the impact that Girl Scouts has,” Prasifka said. “Seeing the mission come to life with these girls is a reward I get for the job I do. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.”

Prasifka joined host Natalie Ghidotti on the latest episode of The Ghidotti Podcast to share more about the Girl Scouts Diamonds organization, including the many events, projects and of course, everyone’s favorite cookies.

Subscribe to The Ghidotti Podcast on SoundCloud, Stitcher or iTunes to hear the full interview, and stay tuned for future conversations with movers and shakers, disrupters, culture changers, business leaders and community influencers across the state of Arkansas. You can also follow our blog and find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well. We love hearing from you!

The Ghidotti Podcast is recorded at the Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art, which is part of the Central Arkansas Library System.

There was a time when tobacco use among teens was rampant, with many schools even including a designated smoking section on campus years ago. Now, students have turned their attention toward electronic cigarettes and vapes.

“This really is a new type of product, but it has invaded our school system,” said Dr. Joe Thompson, President and CEO of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. “If you talk to any high school teacher, principal or other personnel, it is pervasive across our schools.”

Dr. Thompson shared more about the teen vaping epidemic with host Zach Parker on the latest episode of The Ghidotti Podcast, including measures that need to be taken to ensure our children’s safety and his role at a teen vaping summit held last year in Arkansas.

Subscribe to The Ghidotti Podcast on SoundCloud, Stitcher or iTunes to hear the full interview, and stay tuned for future conversations with movers and shakers, disrupters, culture changers, business leaders and community influencers across the state of Arkansas. You can also follow our blog and find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well. We love hearing from you!

The Ghidotti Podcast is recorded at the Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art, which is part of the Central Arkansas Library System.

Taking over as President and CEO in 2017, Adam Head has guided CARTI out of a murky financial situation and into a new era filled with excitement and growth. Head credits the entire team at CARTI for its rapid transformation in recent years.

“I know that coming in cold I’d be able to provide an outside perspective, but I also knew that I couldn’t just start looking at numbers and make decisions from that vantage point,” Head said. “I needed to walk around. I needed to talk to people and get to know everybody on the team.”

Head shared more about CARTI’s growth with host Natalie Ghidotti on the latest episode of The Ghidotti Podcast, also touching on future plans for the state’s largest private cancer clinic and how his military background has aided him in leadership positions.

Subscribe to The Ghidotti Podcast on SoundCloud, Stitcher or iTunes to hear the full interview, and stay tuned for future conversations with movers and shakers, disrupters, culture changers, business leaders and community influencers across the state of Arkansas. You can also follow our blog and find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well. We love hearing from you!

The Ghidotti Podcast is recorded at the Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art, which is part of the Central Arkansas Library System.

Stacy Hurst has never been one to shy away from a good challenge. Taking over as secretary of the newly formed Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism in July, Hurst has met the challenge head on.

“I’ve just tried to learn as much as I can from current and former employees, and get really immersed in the work of state parks and tourism,” said Hurst, who previously spent four years as director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage. “My responsibility just in terms of supervision has grown substantially. I’m glad that I’ve had the time that I’ve had within state government to learn about it.”

Hurst shared more about her new role with host Natalie Ghidotti on the latest episode of The Ghidotti Podcast, including the thought process behind difficult financial decisions and what’s on the horizon for the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism in 2020.

Subscribe to The Ghidotti Podcast on SoundCloud, Stitcher or iTunes to hear the full interview, and stay tuned for future conversations with movers and shakers, disrupters, culture changers, business leaders and community influencers across the state of Arkansas. You can also follow our blog and find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well. We love hearing from you!

The Ghidotti Podcast is recorded at the Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art, which is part of the Central Arkansas Library System.

A lot has changed at Arkansas Business over the last two decades, but the editor’s desk has remained the same. While many newsrooms and publications from around the country have dealt with staff cuts or even closed their doors in recent years, Gwen Moritz has served as editor of Arkansas Business since 1999.

“My job is to make sure that we have a news product that this audience will value and will subscribe to year in and year out,” Moritz said. “It’s a niche of readers that can and will pay for a product that they value.”

Moritz shared more about her time at Arkansas Business with host Natalie Ghidotti on the latest episode of The Ghidotti Podcast, including how the media industry has changed over the years, what she envisions for Arkansas businesses going into 2020 and the origin of her wildly popular Craigslist find of the day.

Subscribe to The Ghidotti Podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. Be sure to check out our blog and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. We love hearing from you!