Welcome back to the Bentonville Beacon podcast! In this episode, host Brandom Gengelbach sits down with James Harris, president and CEO of High Impact Analytics, to dive deep into the dynamic evolution of Bentonville’s retail landscape. As the hometown of Walmart and an epicenter for retail innovation, Bentonville is more than just a hub for the world’s largest retailer, it’s a thriving community where entrepreneurial spirit, tech startups, and third-party services are driving real transformation.
James shares his journey from growing up in nearby Siloam Springs to launching his own analytics-driven brokerage, High Impact, right at the forefront of retail’s data revolution. Together, Brandom and James unpack how the region’s unique blend of resources, talent, and entrepreneurial energy is fueling not just new business models, but also groundbreaking collaborations and growth in the consumer packaged goods space.
Tune in to hear how the rise of private brands, omni-channel commerce, and tech-enabled partnerships are reshaping Northwest Arkansas, and why it’s never been a better time to be part of Bentonville’s vibrant business community. Whether you’re a startup founder, an established supplier, or just curious about the future of retail, you’ll find plenty of inspiration and insights in this conversation with one of the region’s true innovators!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.