The Ghidotti Podcast

After scrolling through JoBeth’s McElhanon’s Instagram account, you can’t help but feel inspired to send a group text and start planning your next dinner party. That togetherness is exactly what JoBeth McElhanon is striving to do with her newly launched event planning business, Lilias & Olive.

While Lilias & Olive provides planning services around milestone events like weddings and various parties, JoBeth talked to host Natalie Ghidotti about her mission to also inspire smaller community-based gatherings.

When you’re at the helm of a children’s hospital, being dubbed a champion for children may seem cliche. However, Arkansas Children’s Hospital CEO Marcy Doderer is everything but. Her fierce advocacy for our state’s children extend beyond the walls of hospitals and clinics. Host Natalie Ghidotti talks to Doderer about how her own personal experiences have shaped her career and views as a hospital executive, what it’s been like leading a major transformation as ACH became a health system, and what she does to “renew her soul” and reset

If you know Erin Hohnbaum, you know that everything she’s done in her career centers around empowering women. As the founder and CEO of contemporary women’s boutique, E.Leigh’s, which now has six locations spanning three states, Erin is just getting started. In this episode, the entrepreneur talks about what it takes to survive and thrive in retail during the holidays, her favorite place to think big, and also discusses her newest project - PowHer Players, a group dedicated to inspire and elevate women to be the best version of themselves.

Halloween is an especially busy time of year for Linda Howell. She laughs when she is referred to as “the ghost lady” but the author, historian and now paranormal researcher understands why. Host Natalie Ghidotti talks to Linda about the experience that ultimately led her to write “Haunted Tours of Little Rock” and open a business with the same name.

Tune in and find out about the most haunted place in Little Rock, common misconceptions about ghosts and Halloween and listen to recordings from the spirits themselves.

There’s a reason we refer to Rex Nelson as “Mr. Autumn.” Nelson, who is a senior editor and columnist at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and founder of the popular blog, “Rex Nelson’s Southern Fried,” also hosts high school football and college radio shows across the state. In this episode, we talk to Nelson about the best places to eat during a fall road trip, his favorite place to grab a burger, why he considers the Little Rock mayoral race one of the most important in the state this year and why we shouldn’t give up on the Razorbacks just yet.

If you’ve been down to El Dorado lately, you might’ve noticed there are big changes happening in this small community in south Arkansas. Those changes center around a burgeoning performing arts community and at the helm is Austin Barrow, president and chief operating officer of El Dorado’s Murphy Arts District (MAD). Barrow talks to host Natalie Ghidotti about the first phase of MAD, what’s next, and what art brings to a community.

What started as a quest to find a swimming pool for her daughter’s swim team turned into the beginning of a career in public service. Now in her seventh year at the helm of Bryant as mayor, Jill Dabbs describes the incredible economic changes that have capitulated the growth of the city.

Ken Clark turned his weakness into a weapon. Therapist and owner of Chenal Family Therapy, Clark discusses his journey from “finance guy” to the proverbial couch at his practice, which he started by himself eight years ago. Recently named Arkansas Business of the Year, Chenal Family Therapy is currently opening its 10th clinic in the state. Host Natalie Ghidotti talks to Clark about how he handles stresses in his own life, the stigma that still surrounds mental health and how he’s raising his sons to be curious people.

Casinos to Arkansas? It's a hotly debated topic. Nate Steel, an attorney with Steel, Wright and Gray law firm spoke to host Natalie Ghidotti about Driving Arkansas Forward, a group supporting a proposed ballot measure for voters to authorize casinos in four Arkansas counties this coming November. Steel’s firm is representing the group asking voters to authorize expanded gaming at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Southland Park Gaming and Racing in West Memphis, where electronic games of skill are already offered, as well as legalize casinos in Jefferson and Pope counties.

Lisa Fischer was a brand before she even realized it. Since signing off as morning show co- host on KURB-FM, B.98, where she’s been for over a decade, Fischer wasted no time in getting back to what she does best — dispense advice and laughs.

Host Natalie Ghidotti talks to Fischer about what she has learned in her career and how being her authentic self has paid off.