People of Northwest Arkansas
The People of Northwest Arkansas is an award winning podcast celebrating the power of storytelling by providing a platform for individuals living in Northwest Arkansas to share their unique and inspiring life experiences. We believe that every person has a story worth telling, and through our podcast, we aim to amplify these voices through thoughtful interviews and engaging storytelling.
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People of Northwest Arkansas
How NWA Hard Knocks Turns Hard Stories Into Community Help
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We sit down with Dana and Amanda from the NWA Hard Knocks Podcast to talk about how hard seasons can spark service and why local nonprofits deserve a bigger spotlight. We laugh through friendship origin stories, get honest about heavy topics, and leave with a clearer picture of how giving someone a microphone can move a community.
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Purpose Behind NWA Hard Knocks
SPEAKER_03Some of the most powerful things in our community started because somebody went through something hard and decided to do something good with it. That's really what today's conversation is about. Our guests, Dan and Amanda, are the voices behind the new NWA Hard Knocks Podcast, a show built around the stories of people and organizations who have been through the hard stuff, found a way forward, and are now using those experiences to help somebody else. But this isn't a podcast about sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves. It's about a resilience. It's about community. It's about the incredible nonprofits doing work all across Northwest Arkansas that most of us probably don't know enough about. Today's conversation also involves pageants, stand-up comedy, kayaking, a friendship that started because someone specifically told Dana not to become friends with Amanda and a dream of eventually taking their podcast on the road in an airstream. So yeah, we covered some ground. Today we're talking about the stories behind NWA Hard Knocks, why Dana and Amanda believe the hard parts of our lives can sometimes become the beginning of something bigger, and why simply giving someone a microphone might make a bigger difference than you think. We also find out who likes Brock better. This is people of Northwest Arkansas.
SPEAKER_02Danielle, I love the days that we can bring in other podcasters into the studio. Yes. And I'm thinking back to when we first started doing radio with Brock. Yeah. And the funny thing is that the two women that we have in today actually were connected through Brock as well. Yeah. Brock Radio. Absolutely. So why don't you introduce our guests today?
SPEAKER_03So we have Dana and Amanda from their podcast is the Northwest Arkansas Hard Knocks Podcast. And they just kicked off their podcast. And we're going to hear a little bit from both of them and share what their podcast is about and kind of what's happening here in Northwest Arkansas.
SPEAKER_02So, Dana, let's go. Hello, thank you for having us. Yes. We're excited to be here. Thanks for coming in.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, you guys inspire me. So yeah.
Accents, Boomerangs, And An Unexpected Friendship
SPEAKER_05I have not listened to all of your podcasts. And when we started recording on purpose, I was like, I'm not listening to any because I was telling Danielle earlier, I have a ability to like kind of like if you have an accent, I'll pick up your accent. You know what I mean? Or I'll try to give you mine. You know what I mean? And so I was like, I want this to be original and ours. So, but I have lately been listening to y'all's and I've been enjoying it so much.
SPEAKER_02Where do you well, okay, you've listened, uh-huh, but where do you think my accent is from? Do you think I have an accent?
SPEAKER_05I don't think you have an accent. And I've been I've been noticing, I think you both you're northern because I've been listening. I'm like, okay, Dallas County girl. We Dallas County. I already know this. And I honestly thought for Texas, I don't, I don't hear an accent, but I'm glad you're both transplants.
SPEAKER_02So we were trying we were talking before we were on the mics about how you were saying that when you get together with Amanda, your accent comes out. Yeah, when I go home. Oh, I have a thick accent. Yeah, when I go home, it's like that because my mom has the thickest Texas. Oh, see, there's some.
SPEAKER_05What is it? Is there a psychology to that where your guards dropped or you're just and you're just yourself and you're like, give me some beans and butter? I don't know what it is, but like I have a friend.
SPEAKER_04It just sounded good with an accent, maybe cornbread. Cornbread. People always think that I'm from further south. Yeah. So Mandra, where are you from? I'm from central Arkansas originally, but I've been here. I went to college here. I guess this is my third time to live here, but I've been here for about 16 years this time. Okay.
SPEAKER_03You're like a boomerang, boomerang. Oh, yes. Is that what they're called? A boomerang. They leave and come back.
SPEAKER_04I literally went back to Central Arkansas and was like, I don't like it here as much as I like it there. So I made moves, came back.
SPEAKER_05That's I love you. I heard your what is your story about meeting people? Cute. Meet cute. Meet cute. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03I've like now and now I'm I mean, they're not my terms. I just they're words I don't know, never heard.
SPEAKER_05Well, I just learned boomerang.
SPEAKER_03I just learned boomerang recently. So, like we talk about transplants and transients here in Northwest Arkansas. And recently somebody was telling us about how they were boomering in that they've come back. Left and then came back. And I was like, oh, I'm actually boomerang too. So we're all a bunch of boomerang. So we like love to ask our guests that kind of like kick things off and find out a little bit more about how what brought you to Northwest Arkansas and like what has made you stay.
SPEAKER_04So originally, college very much was you know, Razorback did a lot of things at the university, was in a sorority here.
SPEAKER_05And then should we call the hogs? You're making me used to hop.
SPEAKER_04But I mean, we can, I don't mind. But I was a razor back bell. It takes knock it off over there.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it is a long call out. I agree. It is. We could just go woo pig zooey and we're done.
SPEAKER_05You gotta do it whole three times. Take them, wiggle them fingers a little bit.
SPEAKER_03So what sorority were you in?
SPEAKER_04I was a Zeta tall alpha. Okay, awesome. Yes. And then I went back, honestly, they raised tuition here and at at the and I was like, I was paying for my own college, and you know, they don't tell you about how that student financial aid stuff works because I've learned a lot now, and I think I wish that I could take that back in retrospect and know that they know those things. But it was very cheaper at UCA to finish. So I ended up going back my senior year and double majored, and then about four years after, no, I directly after I I graduated, I moved back here for like a year and then moved back again, and then about five years after that, I moved back up here.
SPEAKER_03So that's awesome.
SPEAKER_04I love it here.
SPEAKER_03And what brought you back the most recent time?
SPEAKER_04I mean, have you been to Central Arkansas? No, there's a whole new thing. And it's one of those places like, and I hate to say this because I have a lot of good friends but that still live there, but it's one of those places you get stuck in. Like I would tell you, probably 80 to 85 percent of my graduating class still lives in in Conway. And I'm like, there's bigger, brighter things out there. That's I mean, which is one of the reasons I came to school here in the first place, because I was not gonna go to UCA with all of my friends or Hendrix or any of that stuff. So I wanted variety. That makes sense.
SPEAKER_03I get it. That's fair. I'm not in my hometown.
SPEAKER_05It's really super cool to be here. Now it's like cool to be here. Now it's expensive to be here.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it is expensive and cool. So, what about you, Dana?
SPEAKER_05Yeah. So I was born, I was telling Danielle this story the other day. I was born my whole life, I was told I was born in Fedville. And how would you spell Fedville, y'all? F-E-D-V-U-L-L-E. That's how I would spell Fedville. That's where I was told I was born. I'm like 12 years old. We're driving down 71 business. My grandparents raised me, and my grandpa, they're coming over here to go car shopping. Everyone, we I lived, I grew up a couple hours from here. And so we're driving down 71, and I see a sign that says, I can read at this point, and it says Fayetteville. And I say, Fayetteville, that almost sounds like where I was born, Fedville. And my grandpa like adjusted the rearview mirror, and I'll never forget like his face of like just utter disappointment of like, how is this girl functioning? And he's like, You were born here. I'm like, hold on. My whole life, y'all have said I was born in Fedville, which is F-E-D-V-U-L-L-E. But I was born in Fayetteville and I grew up a couple hours from here. So yeah, and when I was 12, I realized I was born in Fayetteville.
SPEAKER_02So I know everyone says it differently when I first moved here. I think I said Taunty Town, and everyone's like, Taunty Town. Taunty. It's Taunty Town. Taunty Town's like, but it spelled like it would be Taunty Town. Right.
SPEAKER_04It's spelled that way.
SPEAKER_02And I thought it was Bentonville, but people that are from here say Bentonville. Salome Springs. Oh, I really struggled with Silo. Salome. I thought it was Asylum Spring. Asylum Spring. That is good. No, but now I know and I say it correctly.
SPEAKER_03So funny. Yeah. I could not say Wachita for the longest time. I was like, I'm sorry, what is that word? It reminds me of the word tool and it's a good thing.
SPEAKER_05And it's funny because I'm like, yeah, just Texans, Californians, Arkansans, like it's just, you know, like just throw your hands.
SPEAKER_03We're a bunch of ands.
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So how did you guys meet?
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Networking. Yes.
SPEAKER_04I feel like it was like at a women in networking.
SPEAKER_05Can I tell the real story?
SPEAKER_04I don't know. Yes, absolutely. We're in for a treat. I have no idea what this is gonna be.
SPEAKER_05I am not. I I would literally say I'm a girl's girl. Like, I'm gonna hype you up. You want to wear it? I might not wear it, but I'm gonna encourage you to wear it. You know, if you want to. If you like, I'm just a girl, like let's just celebrate everybody. Do you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_04Oh, I know where this is going.
SPEAKER_05So the first night that I had volunteered for this networking event, I was in a women's networking thing. It was a big thing. It was one of my first things to do. And someone walked up to me and pointed at Amanda and said, Do not be friends with her. And I'm in my 30s at this point, and I'm thinking, Oh, I gotta be friends with this girl. Oh, 100%. Because that's literally the one thing. And I was like, why? And she's like, She's just loud and she's trouble, and just trust me. And so immediately I kind of went up to her and was like, Hey, where are we volunteering? What do we need to do? And then I'm Dana. She's like, I'm Amanda. And I thought, oh, I love her accent and her energy. And then we've just been friends ever since.
SPEAKER_03How long ago was that? Ten years ago. Oh, that's awesome. I love it.
SPEAKER_05We met at the Raving, it was the Ravington and Oh, it was a women in networking event.
SPEAKER_04Oh, it was a good one. It was back when they used to have their fashion show.
SPEAKER_05It was a networking event.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. Because I was on the board.
SPEAKER_05And just since then, you know, Amanda's just one of those people that like you never are gonna question where you stand with her or where she stands on things. And so I admire that and I respect it and I love it. And it's just made a really wonderful little friendship for us. And so that's how how we got connected for the podcast, too. It's just like her energy is just it's a great energy, it's a gift, I think, when people can just be vulnerable and honest and not overthink, you know, for sure.
SPEAKER_03So well, where did this idea come from? Amanda, why don't you tell us like a little bit of the idea?
SPEAKER_04I would say Brock was a little bit too
Turning Hard Seasons Into A Podcast
SPEAKER_04blame for this because I'd been talking about wanting to start a podcast for a couple of years, and it was just about finding someone that I could do it with because it's a lot to carry by yourself.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_04And so I'd gone through a couple of different people and I was like, I just don't feel like that's the the energy that I mean, love those people to death. Do not get me wrong, but just kind of was like, I need somebody that's gonna meet me halfway, that's gonna be an equal in this. And I mentioned it, maybe Brock mentioned it to Dana, or Dana had mentioned to Brock that maybe she was thinking about starting a podcast and he told her.
SPEAKER_05I've been I needed a social reset, and I came back out and I needed something to feel proud of and a way to give back. I mean, gratitude does change your attitude, you know? And it's like when I've been hiding and not really serving or giving and just kind of healing up and doing some stuff, it was like, okay, the next thing I need to do is now with all this, I need to give back.
SPEAKER_04And so yes, and so she came to me and basically she was like, What if I love to give back too? And I was not honestly thinking in terms of that with a podcast, I was thinking more of like just fun and we do like whine Wednesdays, you know, and just like stuff like that. She didn't mention that to me. I mean, we can still do it, girl. I don't care. But she was like, What if we started a podcast where we talked to nonprofits and organizations that help the community? And already I was like, Yes, I love that. I love that. I think that's a great idea. And she was like, and she took it one step further. She said, What if we call it NWA Hard Knocks? The stories, the story of overcomers coming over. And I was like, I mean, that's great. Let's do that. And so she was real, like the real think tank behind it.
SPEAKER_05I just think I had gone through so much that I, you know, I was I was personally in a season of like, I can lament forever, right? Like I've I can lament and I can wallow and I can do this stuff, but that's not really who I am, and that's not really what I think respectable people do, which is what I aspire to be. And so I I was just thinking, how do nonprofits get started? They get started because somebody's gone through a usually it's not just a beautiful story of, oh, well, one day I just had this great idea and I just started this nonprofit. It's my cousin or my brother or myself or my mom or my dad or my dog or my, you know, my community. Something happened that made somebody dig down and go, hey, I'm gonna get some resilience mustered up here and I'm gonna do something better with it than wallow and lament about it. And help others. And help other people. And so I was like, what if we could platform that? Like we've both been through things, you know. What if my hard thing leads me to this thing where I can platform people, you know, who have been through it? And so that's really where the idea came from was just it can't be about us. Nobody cares to hear us chit-chat, you know. Let's just let's inquire, inquire about other people who are more important than us, is kind of how we started the approach.
SPEAKER_04So well, and that's not I mean, just like starting a podcast, starting a nonprofit is not for the faint of heart. It takes it's a lot, there's a lot involved.
SPEAKER_05You gotta get through, yeah. And we've learned so much. And I know you guys platform nonprofits as well, but we really want to hear the origin story. How'd you get started? What's the hard thing, and what advice can you give to other people that you that you build your resilience on?
SPEAKER_03That's a really good question. Is your background, Amanda, in nonprofit work? Because it sounds like a little bit.
SPEAKER_04Well, I have a degree in journalism and PR, and that's what I wanted to do when I graduated, but it did not work out that way. And so I became a jack of all trades with a lot of things. And ultimately, one of the careers that I have is real estate, and I essentially got into that to help others because there's, you know, you don't know what you don't know when you're doing that. And it's a tough, it's a tough situation most of the time. It's one of the most expensive ones that you'll ever do in your life. And so I wanted it to be more fulfilled. Like I feel like this hits that gap of you know, being more fulfilling for me to help other people and get their their story out there. So, yes, I do have a very she serves on a lot of boards, volunteers a lot.
SPEAKER_05Like, we're doing we had Ducks Unlimited on, and like we're both going Sunday to volunteer. We're so excited. I think it's just in that networking world.
SPEAKER_04Yes, I did a lot of that. I mean, I've kind of slowed that down over the last couple of years, but that's just for mainly spending my energy on what I think is gonna be the most like that reciprocates the energy that I put into it because I think that's really important. Like you don't want to feel depleted after you do something that you want to, you know, your tank be filled. So to speak.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_05That's good.
SPEAKER_02That I definitely think it fills that gap like you were talking about because there is a lot of research that goes into the stories and in like terms of journalism, creative writing, and also just getting the story known out there in the community. How do you find the stories? Do people contact you?
SPEAKER_04So they can. Okay. But starting out, we just started honestly,
How Nonprofits Get Found And Featured
SPEAKER_04we started kind of hitting up people that we knew were part of nonprofits that that I knew that I mean, especially people that I knew were passionate about what they were doing. And so a lot of our I'll say we've had the half of our shows, we they've reached out to us already. So we yes, I mean they have and word of mouth kind of thing. And the nonprofit world's and they're all kind of intertwined. It's very like something I was not aware of because we have like over 600 and something nonprofits in Northwest Arkansas. There's a lot. And they're like, this one knows this one and works with this one. And so we just kind of been able, I mean, honestly, it's been a really easy process to find people. I hope that that continues. I would love to for us to be on long enough to interview every single non-profit.
SPEAKER_05Well, I think too, like if you and I don't want to step on anybody's toes here, but I'm sure if we were to look up the salaries of a nonprofit executive director, the salaries are not maybe what an executive director would make in the corporate world, right? Oh, no way. So I think we all agree when you're running a nonprofit, you're passionate about it. You want to get the word out, it's your life, it's your mission. I mean, I there's not one person that sat, you know, to interview with us that you did not just go, they're living this, they're breathing this and living this. So I think, you know, it's exciting for them to have a place where they can say, here's how we started. Because I think when people hear how it's, you know, you get asked all the time for fundraisers or donate and stuff, but when you can really hear the heart of the story and kind of be emotionally invested and understand the impact a little bit, it just it's gonna drum up more everything for that nonprofit. So I think that's been fun to see people be excited about it. So yeah, when we started getting people reaching out, I'm like, Amanda. I know it's pretty cool.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I was like, I mean, this seems to be working. I love it. That's awesome. So yeah, it's really awesome.
SPEAKER_02So was that your goal of the podcast was to give more awareness to the nonprofit or journey, awareness, all the things. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05What like basically looking at a nonprofit and going, what do you need right now? We have one nonprofit, they need rent money. Every month they post, like, we made the rent, and you're just going, What in the world? You know what I mean? And so that's what we wanted. We wanted people to take an interest in it's so easy to live in this county and get distracted by the big tall buildings and the billboards and all that. We have so many wonderful things, and those are all wonderful things, but we still have generational poverty, circumstantial poverty. I was raised by my grandparents because my mom is a drug addict, and my dad died an alcoholic, functioning alcoholic, we'll say, so I don't hurt anyone's feelings. But my point is, you know, it's easy to get distracted by all of the good things we have here, which we have so many good things, but the good things don't wash away the bad things, they just blend in with them, and sometimes they can wash them out. And so I think our whole goal was to go, hey, we want to be a spotlight. We will do our best to try to build an audience, we will do our best to try to get the word out, but whatever you might need, bring that to the mic.
SPEAKER_04Oh, yeah, we had we've had one guest on, she's been a friend of mine for several years, and like her story is just moving. Like, I mean, a total God thing. She was a corporate America, that whole deal, and it's just we could have talked to her for way longer. Just to hear it, I mean, it just draws you in and it makes you want to go and support what she's doing.
SPEAKER_05And her her we're talking about mighty by design. Yes. That's one of our upcoming shows. And so she doesn't have her nonprofit, it's not like we can't pay from what I understood. It's not like we can't pay rent. Her her need and her message was I am a licensed art therapist now. That's like rare in Arkansas, and here's how we do it, and here's how it can benefit you, right? And so our goal for that is like we're trying to get a dolly part and paint night together, you know? Like we're just trying to just fill her room, right? Her heart is so full for the community, and we're just trying to get a room full, right? And so I think it just depends, but we're whatever they need is what we're trying to get the message out about.
SPEAKER_03Will you ever branch out beyond nonprofits, you know, with it just being hard knocks and about this whole theme of overcoming? Is that is that even something that's kind of in the in the works or is something you've thought about, or is it primarily nonprofits?
SPEAKER_04I've thought about that. I just I don't guess we've ever really discussed that.
SPEAKER_05I mean, it's overcomers coming over. So I mean, we would interview anyone. If you come over from something and you're doing something good with it, yeah, it doesn't necessarily have to be a nonprofit, but you know, we interviewed Amit for More, which they do a million dollars of nonprofit work just locally. I mean, that's just their little office. And you know them, they're amazing, they're incredible, but to go into Chris's office, she's the executive director, to sit in her office and to look at all the pictures on the wall of people before and after, those people would probably be great candidates for our show. You know, like how do you overcome addiction and you know, charges that make it hard for you to get a job? But now you've got your smile back, you've got a job, you've got your cussy of your kids back. Those are the stories that we want to do. But you know, for just starting out, we we knew we had to be intentional, yeah, and we knew that we needed to get we gotta get an audience in order to do the good work that we want to do. And one way to get the audience was to tap into the local nonprofits and then from there hopefully get connected to other people.
SPEAKER_02So you guys have had experience being on the mic before. So tell us about that.
SPEAKER_04This is kind of a funny story. So my man owns a roofing company and well, gutters, all this jazz. Brock needed, I don't even know how he got Brandon's name, probably from Dana, I believe.
SPEAKER_05And everybody in the Brandon's connected to Brock, I'm like, you're welcome, you're welcome, you're welcome. Oh, goodness gracious.
SPEAKER_04So Brandon came and fixed something on Brock's dormer, told Brandon, well, you can be on my show to promote your business, and he said, No, but you can call Amanda and she'll come into your show. And I did, and I've probably been doing it for like four or five years. That's awesome. So he liked me enough.
SPEAKER_03What day are you the co host?
SPEAKER_05Mondays. Mondays, okay, very cool. And let's see, I think it was 2018, and I got asked to be on the actual radio show when he was at the radio. Oh, right. And he was out of town and I co hosted with Marcy, and it went amazing, and it was so So fun. And I got kept getting asked back. And so then I took a little hiatus, but I've been doing it for eight years, I guess, now. So on and off. And then I've recorded a I know you're a voice actor. I'm not a voice actor, but I somehow recorded a 40 chapter novel in like 20 years. You are a voice actor. So I did that. I did stand-up comedy. I MC'd event. So I've just kind of, I don't know, a microphone feels very comfortable to me.
SPEAKER_02Stand-up comedy.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I don't know if I would do it again, but I used to. So I can't put a joke. No, I'm not. I feel like you know what? I always feel like it's like Nemo where the dad's like, I'm a clownfish. Like I'm not, because they're always wanting him to tell a joke. But no, I just am funny looking these days.
SPEAKER_04Nah, but I'm like, I mean, not that's not where my microphone skills started. My mother put me in pageants when I was younger. So that was how long were you in pageants for? I think it probably started it was before I could walk. And then I think I was about 14 when I told her I didn't want to do them anymore. I didn't even know that. Sounds about the right time to tell mom.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it got it was getting a little too too much.
unknownApril.
SPEAKER_01April 25th. Do you remember that?
SPEAKER_02Is it April 23rd?
SPEAKER_05April 25th.
SPEAKER_03April 25th. That's why I remember.
SPEAKER_05They never put me in pageants. I was like more like grabbing the jump rope and walking out in front of people to entertain them while my grandma was still making supper or something. You know, they knew better. But I can see Amanda being in pageants. I love it.
SPEAKER_04Well, my talent was singing.
SPEAKER_03I was just gonna ask what your talent was. That's what it was. Okay, so what songs did you sing? Do you remember?
SPEAKER_04So I had a voice coach in Little Rock, and she would put mash-ups of songs together. Like there was like this 50s melody thing that I would sing, and I had like dances too. Oh, I don't know that I could remember. I mean, but I did I sing a lot of country. Of course. My voice is very fitting for that. The Juds a lot. Like my grandmother and I used to sing the Juds concert was awesome not very long ago.
SPEAKER_03This was like pre-glee and pre-oh pitch perfect, too. So your your voice coach was she was ahead of the times.
SPEAKER_04She was, she was a cool lady. I remember she had an orange shag carpet in her studio, and this big, huge gram, like flat grand piano that I would sit on while she would make me do my warmups. That's so funny. Do you still sing? I mean karaoke, but there's some karaoke down at my house not very long ago. Yeah, I mean I do I will, but it's more or less like, you know, that shot's past kind of thing. But I do enjoy singing.
SPEAKER_05I've been writing a lot, and so I've been writing songs, so I'll take them over to Amanda's and be like, can you just sing this and tell me what it sounds like? I think it's I think it'd be a good song. Yeah, that's awesome. It's been fun.
SPEAKER_02I think you have ideas for your next podcast if you do another one. Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_05We'll write songs and then you sing them. And then I'll just sing them. Exactly. People will surely take it. Rock will love sitting here to produce that, I'm sure. Yeah, maybe. He likes singing.
SPEAKER_04Oh no, he's not fooling anybody. He likes to sing a little ditty every once in a while.
SPEAKER_02Okay, so back to the podcast. What how do you guys keep it positive and hopeful when you're you know, when you have a guest and maybe you are talking about really hard topics?
Keeping The Story Hopeful
SPEAKER_02Because I know as you know, a podcaster and interviewing people sharing sometimes hard stories, you know, you have to manage, you know, the energy in the interview and loop it around to that positive and how they can help. How how do you guys manage that?
SPEAKER_05Well, I cry. So I mean that's how I manage to let it out in a big old cry. I'm sorry, does Brock let you cry on the microphone? Because he doesn't let me know. What is that all about? Um, for example, we had meant for more. So I don't know how much of the story I went into on the podcast with them, but I'm like three, four years old. I got an abscess tooth. My mom is partying, she doesn't understand what's going on, right? I'm old enough to know this lady is not doing the mom thing where I'm supposed to feel better right now, right? So the next day my grandma came and got me and she took me to the dentist. Turned out I had abscess tooth, right? So my grandma had the funds, she had the transportation to help me. But when I hear mint from we're talking about these kids who don't have the transportation, they don't have the funds. You know, I was so lucky that my grandparents could step in when my mom wasn't capable of doing what she needed to do. And so those are those hit me. You know what I mean? Like mighty by design. She's sitting here telling us like she quit her whole corporate world and went broke. You know what I mean? Which if you've never been broke before, that's gonna be hard to relate to. I happen to have been broke before, so I related to that, you know? And so I think the the whole thing is though, we know the outcome. We know there's a redemptive story, and that even though they went through that, there's something good that comes out of it, right? Like I was telling the dentist, I don't have anxiety when I go to the dentist, and I wonder, is it because when I was little, when my mom couldn't help me, the dentist did. You know, so he could be doing that. So I mean, I'm definitely getting my feelings about it, and I do cry easy, so I just let it I just try to let it be. You just have to learn.
SPEAKER_04Like she said, the story at the end is going to be that that of a happy one, and that kind of shifts the energy to where you just listen and you let them talk about what it is that has made them passionate about doing what they're doing, and try not to let that affect you because I'm a sucker for animals and we've had a shelter on, and just to hear that these dogs get dumped, and it makes me like honestly, I could tear up about that right now, but at least there's someone there that's trying to help them because we can't save them all, but we're doing the the best we can to save as many as we can, and so you just kind of have to think about that. I mean, because it's real easy. I get my feelers a lot too.
SPEAKER_02So I know you have a lot of you know, you've covered a lot of nonprofits. Are there some that are maybe more in need right now than others, or some that you'd like to highlight at least?
SPEAKER_04I think the dog situation or the animal situation in Northwest Arkansas is is very bad. Yeah. I think that people dump a lot of dogs. I mean, I could get on that that soapbox because I care about animals more than I care about people. That's just who I am. But I think that there's just a lot of need for like staying new to your pets. I mean, even if it's astray that you've adopted, like obviously, like dogs will come from a mile away when there's a dog in heat. You know what I mean? Like, do what's responsible if you're going it's a responsibility just like having a child, in my opinion. I mean, I'm not comparing the two. I'm just saying that it's a responsibility as well.
SPEAKER_05And so that's somebody like I'll always she's not telling you to spay and neuter your children. No, I'm not.
SPEAKER_04But I you know, I just think take care of your animals.
SPEAKER_03I'm saying take care of your animals.
SPEAKER_04And if you don't want the animal, don't just dump it on the side of the road.
SPEAKER_02Yes, I agree.
SPEAKER_04That always disturbs and don't buy an animal just because your child wants a bunny and then you don't do the research to see how one takes care of a bunny, and then you try to give it away or whatever. Like there's a responsibility. Sure. So that's my passion.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that is a good passion. But how do you manage not having a bleeding heart for everything? I know that you guys are pretty new into this podcast, so you've done a few episodes so far, but you obviously have
Helping Without A Bleeding Heart Burnout
SPEAKER_03a heart for people, heart for animals, and a heart for the community. But what how as you think about like having a bleeding heart for all of these causes and wanting to do this? And the reason why I asked this question is I used to work in higher ed and I worked at a at a I worked at John Brown University, which is a private school. And so a lot of times during chapel, they would bring in like all these different organizations, and I had students who would come to me and say, Danielle, I just can't take it anymore. I don't know what to give my attention to. I don't know who I should help, when I should help, what I should do. There's it's just so much it overwhelms me because I want to help everybody, but I don't have the capacity to help everybody. So taking that idea and putting it, the concept into your podcast and you're providing a platform for everyone to share. How do you think you're gonna manage so far and as you move forward with this, that kind of bleeding heart and that like how do you find the balance and all of that? Does that make sense?
SPEAKER_04I think we're we're at this point. I feel like we're trying to be involved in some of the if they have events, we're trying to be involved in those events, donating, like yeah, bro. I'm like, I got pee pads for your doggy. Yeah, like I've already I went to Sam's immediately after she was on here and went and bought, like, she's named three things. I went and bought them in bulk and and took it to her. And just doing stuff like that. I mean, I I don't I can't answer that for moving forward, but right now that's what we're trying to do because I could foresee that. I hadn't even thought about it, honestly. But I can foresee that being hopefully not in too much, but just having to figure out for some like getting older certainly has helped me realize what my limits are, you know?
SPEAKER_05And I I think I used to not in a prideful way, but I think I used to think I could save the day. Like I really think I ended up save everyone, yeah. And so I think now I go, all right, this is an investment into our community. It's an investment of our time, it's an investment of our feelings, of all that stuff, just like they're investing, right? So we're just trying to meet them where they're at and give them a megaphone. You know what I mean? Trying to ask the right questions, give them a megaphone. And then what we hope to do is with our social media presence, continue, like Amanda said, to share the events, get involved in the events. And just, I mean, it's such a family of nonprofits that I feel like connecting is gonna be our biggest thing. Like we have a uh we're recording next week, and we were talking about this yesterday. There's two nonprofits that would just pair perfectly together. And while we're hoping to get both of them in here is so we can do a warm introduction because one can help the other. Yeah, and so a lot of these nonprofits already know each other, they're already connected. But I think when we realize, you know, our funds are limited, our time is limited, just like everybody else, we can't do everything that we want to do. So, what can we do? And it's just platform, platform, platform, share, share, share, share, share, right? So kind of I like her answer. That's a good answer.
SPEAKER_02Similar to kind of how, even though we don't always cover nonprofits. I love that because I actually when she asked that, it kind of made me think about how we cover it because we've been doing it for four seasons and there's always someone on here. You know, every time we have a guest, they're usually they have something that they're working on. Yeah. And so you kind of nailed it on the head, like how we do, which is we try to support every guest and whatever it is that they're doing, whether it's nonprofit or their business or you know, whatever it is that they're passionate about. We try to give focus to that and highlight them and then connecting. And I honestly think that is like the best thing that comes out of what we do. I love introducing people and then just wrapping a bow and be like, fly, fly, go for it.
SPEAKER_05I love it. Well, spread Jimmy. You have the tools just have your podcast about. I have a friend going to Book Fest this weekend, and I have another friend that just loves books, and I shared your podcast with two different people this morning. Because I'm like, oh, you would just love this. So yeah, even though it's connecting on the scale that we see, I know behind the scenes we're connecting people in other ways of like, hey, like I've gotten so many silly messages, and I say they're silly like in the in the most adoring way. Like I love it. And they're like, I didn't know so much stuff about Ducks Unlimited. And I'm like, I didn't either. I didn't either. And I love it. And so it's like on a on a scale where we're scheduling and all that stuff, yes, but it's like there's a sweet spot too that I know that we're connecting people, or especially because I've been in hiding. So don't think that somebody's not gonna go. Guess who's got a podcast now? You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_04Oh, I can guarantee because we didn't tell anybody, and we went from idea to boom in a very short time, and people were like, What? Yeah, you have a podcast? I'm like, I surely do. Check it out.
SPEAKER_05That not really, but that's what that's what you do. That's what it's connecting, and it's just a platform to do.
SPEAKER_02You guys are giving back to the community in such an amazing way. I and I actually think that what you're doing solves the question that she had or her students' question. I don't know what to give. Yeah, I like that you're giving a story because maybe not every story is gonna connect with somebody. Like you're talking about the dentist, maybe someone that doesn't connect for them, but yeah, the animals that does connect for them. Maybe they have an emotional sport animal or they are passionate. So I actually think what you do kind of solves that and it gives faces and a story behind the cause. So thank you guys for what you do. Thank you.
SPEAKER_03I want to do a couple of this or that questions because I came up with them and one's really fun. And also, we need to appreciate the fact that we're all laughing
Brock Lightning Round And Airstream Vision
SPEAKER_03because Brock is telling us to wrap it up and we're all like be quiet. These are our guests that like totally know what's up, and we're just like, whatever. I'm always the caper when he starts doing that. I'll be like, okay. Let's go, let's wrap it up. Brock some back. Some of our this or that questions. Let's just kick it off with my this or that Brock questions. Oh, perfect. Since Brock is our producer and your producer. He's a good producer. Okay, he's a great producer. All right. Brock with or without a microphone. Ooh, with. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_04I mean, but we can limit but we can limit some of the time if I were.
SPEAKER_05No, I love Brock.
SPEAKER_04Definitely give him a mic. Definitely.
SPEAKER_05Brock needs a mic. Brock's at his best when he's got a mic in his hand.
SPEAKER_03I like that. That's pretty good. Okay. Sleeps with it.
SPEAKER_05Brushes his teeth in one hand, mic in the other. He's geared up for the day.
SPEAKER_03Do we need a fucking problem like that? Brock or Ashton? Oh, Ashton.
SPEAKER_04Oh. Wow.
SPEAKER_03Okay, who knows Brock better? He's wounded. Dana or Amanda?
SPEAKER_04Oh, Dana. Well, Dana, probably. Yeah. All right.
SPEAKER_05Oh no, he's a hard one to get to know.
SPEAKER_04Who likes Brock better? Amanda for sure. I love Brock. Brock and I relate a little bit. Like we both have kind of our senses of humor the same, I think. Yeah, they do.
SPEAKER_05They're both very, I am like sloppy wet sense of humor. They're like dry sarcasm. Sloppy wet. I can see that. No, I'm saying, like, and I'm sorry. Immediately both of our moms went to the play. I got a song.
unknownOh no.
SPEAKER_05See, exactly. Exactly. I have a soggy personality and they have a dry personality. How's that?
SPEAKER_03Like or you have a clean personality.
SPEAKER_05I'm corny and cheesy, like and they'll say something. I'm like, wait, is that it? Was that a joke? Is that funny? Are they clever? I get it. It's like I'm at Mars. I have a delay.
SPEAKER_03All right. Okay. If you had to call. Never mind. I'm not going to ask that one. All right. We're going to move on from the brock question. So tell me a little bit about what my where did my list go? Sorry. I lost my. I have a question. Oh, go.
SPEAKER_02Where do you see the podcast going from here?
SPEAKER_05Man, I'll tell you. I want to buy an airstream and I want to turn it into a mobile podcast. And I want to go to events with it. And I want to sell memberships every month for people that can go and they can podcast out of it. They could rent it and travel too. I want Brock to be in there producing it.
SPEAKER_04I mean, that's my Yeah, we don't. I don't know that I've gotten the question of do you think that you would do it by your like without Brock? And I'm like, no.
SPEAKER_05But I think it would be so cool to have like a little mobile podcast camper and drive it around to go to events and like set up and like interview people that are coming and going. And I don't know. That I that really is a that's been a dream of mine for about 10 years. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_03I remember you telling me that dream like years ago.
SPEAKER_05I went to Startup Junkie and I remember meeting with Martha somebody. She's like, that's such a good idea. But at the time I was partnered up with somebody who didn't think it was a great idea, but now I got some freedom to do these kinds of things.
SPEAKER_03So yeah, that's my goal. That's a great idea.
SPEAKER_05I gotta learn to drive a camper first. Well, yeah, y'all can ride around with us and just chat.
SPEAKER_03Hopefully, Brock will say yes to it, even though you said that, yeah, you know, Amanda likes him better than you.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, but he likes Amanda better than me, so he'll he'll do it if she's on board. That may be true, but I'm not sure.
SPEAKER_02All fair. We like to end with what keeps you rooted here. You're a double boomerang. Yes. So you well, you kind of told us what you love about
Why NWA Still Feels Like Home
SPEAKER_02here. But what's keeping you rooted here now? I mean, now you have this awesome podcast celebrating the air the area and the nonprofits. What's keeping you rooted now?
SPEAKER_04I love outdoor area here. Like I'm an outdoorsy gal, and so it you're a hop, skip, and a jump from kayaking. I mean, like I just love it. Hiking, all of that jazz.
SPEAKER_03What's your favorite outdoor activity? Kayaking. Kayaking. Okay, cool.
SPEAKER_05I wrote something the other day and it goes, How's it going over yonder? I heard the distance makes the heart grow fonder. And I think if I left here, I would want to come back. It's home. Do you know what I mean? I've traveled a lot and I've been to a lot of places, and there's just something about my roots are here, literally in Fedville, you know. And so I think it's just memory, it's nostalgic a little bit. I've got family memories here and friend memories here, but man, I know the roads. I know, even though they're crowded now, you know, there's just that's important. There is, there's something about Hillbilly needs to know a back road, and I feel like I know the back roads, and so I love it. So this is home for me.
SPEAKER_03That's really awesome. Well, thank you so much for coming on our show. We're really excited for you guys to see your podcast grow. It's gonna grow fast. I can tell.
SPEAKER_02Thank you so much for having us. We appreciate it. Yeah, we appreciate you guys. Hey, thanks so much for listening today. If you liked what you heard, please consider subscribing to the podcast so you never miss an episode. You can also follow us on Instagram at People of NWA. Thanks so much.
SPEAKER_00People of Northwest Arkansas with the two Danielles, produced by me, Brock Short of Brock Entertainment. Please rate, review, and like us on any podcast platform where you listen. For more information about today's guests and the show, please check the show notes. Thanks for listening.