Cookin' Up A Story

When Troy Currens was a a young man, he was a little bastard, constantly getting in trouble with every authority in his life. But as he grew up, he remained a little bastard, constantly getting in trouble with every authority in his life. In part one of our conversation with him, hear Troy tell how he ended up on the wrong side of the law over and over again and how ultimately shaped him into the man he is today. Give it a listen, ...

After college, Matt Rhodes was unemployed for 11 days. Through work ethic and working his network, he landed a coaching job where he earned an astonishing amount of money. From college roles to high school, he's focused his career on teaching kids the value of discipline and dedication. In this episode, hear Matt discuss how he landed in the weight room, pushing kids to makes themselves bigger, and not just in terms of muscle ...

When you think of growing up on 55 acres with horses, a dog, and a .22, you don't think of Massachusetts, but that's exactly the upbringing that Matt Rhodes experienced. In part one of our discussion with him, we hear how his parents instilled discipline, let him suffer, and demanded he have at least one activity. Those three things helped turn Matt into the man he is today, which is one who is helping coach, literally, t...

Gary Vernon and Victor Gurel may love mountain biking, but they're not dirty hippies. Instead, they're focused on fun, health, and the ways the sport can lift up local economies. In part 2 of our conversation with them, hear them lay out why mountain biking has ripple effects, how you can get started, and why dirt is better than pavement. Give it a listen, it's a good one.

#oztrailsnwa #trailblazers #bentonville #roge...

If there's one thing we're known for at Cookin' Up a Story, it's our deep and abiding passion for cycling. After part one of our conversation with Gary Vernon and Victor Gurel, our attitudes may have shifted a little bit, pun intended. In this one, we get into the economic and conservational benefits of mountain biking, how Northwest Arkansas became a cycling destination, and why we should root for mountain bike...

When Lindell Roth discovered his passion for hunting, he didn't keep it to himself. Instead, he found a way to share it with others. Regardless of circumstances, if there's someone who wants to go out into the woods, Heart and Soul Outdoors will help them get there. From local hunts to trips abroad, he gets people off the couch and into the stand. In this episode, hear him share why he does it and why it's important....

Born and raised in Springdale, Arkansas, Lindell Roth has held a variety of careers over his life, but it was a lifelong mild interest that truly became his passion when he hit 40. In this episode, listen to him discuss growing up in Northwest Arkansas, his Atari 2600, and a variety of other topics as we work our way toward the value he's bringing to the community and his tribe. Give it a listen, it's a good one. 

#bailbon...

Denis Dean had a circuitous route from Miami, Florida to Fayetteville, Arkansas, one involving a family of attorneys, crooked cops, cocaine dealers, and death threats. Now Chief Deputy Prosecutor for Washington and Madison Counties, Dean is looking to shed the "deputy" portion of his title and become the prosecutor. In this episode, he discusses his family history, growing up in Florida in the wildness of the 1980s, and w...

When Charles Kochel last visited us, he was preparing to begin treatments for cancer. Since that time, he's undergone a plethora of surgery, gotten blood transfusions, and been told there's now something wrong with his heart. That hasn't stopped him from spending time with his family and friends, getting out on his tractor, or l-i-v-i-n in general. In this episode, catch up with Charles as he discusses everything tha...

Elery Bush went from owning the largest club in the state of Louisiana, with stacks of cash in a drawer in his apartment, to finding himself broken down and broke on the side of the road, with an inoperable Toyota Camry and only 73 cents to his name. From there, he went on to become a hood tax expert before launching a t-shirt and printing company. Then he started his career as a journeyman carpenter, despite having no experience w...

Elery Bush has lived enough life for several people. From growing up in a house where an exorcism was performed to outlandish church outfits to renegade trick or treating to running the largest nightclub in Louisiana, he's got stories to spare of them. Fortunately for us, and for you, he stopped by the studio and shared more than a few. Give it a listen, it's a good one. 

#girbaudjeans #nightclub #louisiana #plumbing #hash...

What do heavy machines, haints, secrets, possums, and canned biscuits have to do with one another? Not much, but that's the winding path guest questioner Jamey Cooley took us down in this episode, one in which he turned the tables on the hosts and put us in the hot seat. From rabbit hole to rabbit hole, this one travels a winding road. Give it a listen, it's a good one. 

#georgejones #possums #opossums #biscuits #haints #g...

When Joshua Robinson was in college, he was planning to become an English teacher and football coach when an opportunity for grad school appeared. Rather than sticking with his original plan, he decided to go to law school in the Big Easy. There, with his wife and first child, he completed his degree, but then he had to figure out how to use it. After returning to Arkansas, he decided to forego private practice and instead entered ...

Melissa and Kerry Middleton have spent their lives giving with all their hearts. From raising their own children to fostering 50 others to their church to their extended families and even to animals, they are true servant leaders, working to improve the lives of everyone around them. In part two of our interview with the Middletons, they get into their motivations, their successes, and some of the crazier experiences they've h...

Melissa and Kerry Middleton met when they were little kids, but they didn't get to know one another until high school. Melissa was from what might be described as a dysfunctional family while Kerry was from a "normal" one, but together they found a passion for kids, service, and doing good. In this episode, listen to their story of romance, work, adventure, and searching for dead bodies. Give it a listen, it's a...