I Am Northwest Arkansas®

About the Show:Olivia Trimble is Uniting Northwest Arkansas and Beyond Through Love and ArtWe recently sat down with Olivia Trimble,  Artist, and Owner of Sleet City Art and Supplies in Fayetteville. Olivia is the daughter of Eric Snodgrass, and she is a second-generation sign painter. You may be more familiar with her artwork as she has done many murals and signs throughout Northwest Arkansas.  She did the “Love Your Neighbor” and “Love Unites Us” murals and signs for Pink House Alchemy, Experience Fayetteville, and several signs for Ozark Beer Company.  Several of Olivia’s murals are now yard signs seen throughout NWA. You can check out all of Olivia’s hand-painted signs and murals right HERE.Olivia is not only impacting Northwest Arkansas with her signs and murals, but she has taken her show on the road to the Delta, where she won an award to help with Rural Placemaking through art in Eudora, AR, and Fox, AR.  These are two communities in need of public art, and Olivia will do a collaborative public art project with several local artists. Olivia also talks about her partnership with the folks from My T By Design, Lakisha Bradley and Stacy Harper, for the Graffiti Feeds program.  Olivia is profoundly inspirational, and we are thankful for our time with her doing this podcast. Take a listen; you can see what we are talking about yourself. All of this and more on this week’s episode of the I am Northwest Arkansas Podcast.Important Links and Mentions on the Show*Email Olivia TrimbleWebsite for Olivia TrimbleWebsite for Olivia Trimble hand-painted signs and muralsSleet City Art & Supplies on InstagramSleet City Art & Supplies on FacebookSleet City Art & Supplies on YouTubeEric SnodgrassPink House AlchemyExperience FayettevilleOzark Beer CompanyWebsite for My-T-By-DesignLight House Solutions on Facebook This episode is sponsored by*Signature Bank of Arkansas "Community Banking at its Best!" Try Canva For Free Today! Northwest Arkansas Council - "Life Works Here!" *Note: some of the resources mentioned may be affiliate links. This means we get paid a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you use that link to make a purchase.Connect more with I am Northwest Arkansas:Grab our Newsletter Email Us at hello@iamnorthwestarkansas.comConnect With Our Facebook Page Connect With Us on Threads Connect With Our Instagram Connect With Our LinkedIn PageJoin The Facebook Group Connect with our Fearless Host, Randy Wilburn on LinkedInThank you for listening to this I am Northwest Arkansas podcast episode. We showcase businesses, culture, entrepreneurship, and life in the Ozarks. Consider donating to our production team to keep this podcast running smoothly. Donate to I Am Northwest Arkansas Mentioned in this episode:FindItNWA.com🎧 This episode is brought to you by FindItNWA.com – the hyper-local business directory made for Northwest Arkansas. From local eats to trusted pros, it’s the go-to spot for discovering what’s great nearby. 📣 Are you a business owner? Get listed today and connect with thousands of locals looking for what you offer. 👉 Visit FindItNWA.com to explore or join now. FindItNWA.com

About the Show:Swimming is one of my favorite exercises. I don’t get to do it often, but I feel at home in the water. Our guest, Bonnie Adams, is the Founder of Joys of Swimming and Swim OZ, and she feels the same way about swimming. Located in Bentonville and originally from Oklahoma, Bonnie has been swimming since she was a kid. A former University of Arkansas Swim Team member, Bonnie has not met a pool that could hold her. Her love of swimming and competition is probably one of the reasons that she created the Swim OZ Open Water swimming event, known as the Walmart OZ Mile. If you’ve spent time on Beaver Lake, you know what a fun time that can be!  Imagine doing an Open Water swim in Beaver Lake for time and achievement.  That was Bonnie’s original dream when she created the Walmart OZ Mile event to find another way to enjoy the natural scenery and beauty of Northwest Arkansas and the Natural State.  Open-water swimming is a bit of a different animal, especially when you do it in the Ocean - think Ironman triathlons. A lake can be equally challenging when it comes to open-water swimming and the second year of the Walmart OZ Mile event will be no exception. The race features a one-mile triangular route around the Beaver Lake Dam and is open to all ages and levels of swimmers. In 2021, swimmers from around the state descended on Northwest Arkansas for the only sanctioned open-water swimming event in the Natural state.  Since the inaugural Swim OZ open water race, Bonnie is not looking back.  Swim OZ has created a weekend of activities and events surrounding the race, and participants from as far away as the West Coast have registered for this year’s event.   Bonnie has found her niche. If you are free on Sunday, September 25th, 2022, we have a special rate for your registration for the Walmart OZ Mile if you or someone you know wants to participate in the race. For a discount, visit the Walmart OZ Mile to register and enter the listener coupon code IANWA. We hope to see you there this year and in the future.  Happy swimming!The Walmart OZ Mile:Sunday, September 25, 2022, Beaver Lake Dam Site, Eureka Springs, ARAll this and more on this episode of the I am Northwest Arkansas podcast.Important Links and Mentions on the Show*Email The Joys of Swimming Website for The Joys of SwimmingThe Joys of Swimming on InstagramThe Joys of Swimming on FacebookThe Joys of Swimming on TwitterThis episode is sponsored by*Signature Bank of Arkansas "Community Banking at its Best!" Try Canva For Free Today! Northwest Arkansas Council - "Life Works Here!" *Note: some of the resources mentioned may be affiliate links. This means we get paid a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you use that link to make a purchase.Connect more with I am Northwest Arkansas:Grab our Newsletter Email Us at hello@iamnorthwestarkansas.comConnect With Our Facebook Page Connect With Us on Threads Connect With Our Instagram Connect With Our LinkedIn PageJoin The Facebook Group Connect with our Fearless Host, Randy Wilburn on LinkedInThank you for listening to this I am Northwest Arkansas podcast episode. We showcase businesses, culture, entrepreneurship, and life in the Ozarks. Consider donating to our production team to keep this podcast running smoothly. Donate to I Am Northwest Arkansas Mentioned in this episode:FindItNWA.com🎧 This episode is brought to you by FindItNWA.com – the hyper-local business directory made for Northwest Arkansas. From local eats to trusted pros, it’s the go-to spot for discovering what’s great nearby. 📣 Are you a business owner? Get listed today and connect with thousands of locals looking for what you offer. 👉 Visit FindItNWA.com to explore or join now. FindItNWA.com

About the Show:Chef Matt Cooper is a friend of the podcast and one of the finest Chefs in Northwest Arkansas, if not the United States. We originally featured him on episode 28 of the I am Northwest Arkansas podcast discussing his return to Northwest Arkansas and the inspiration behind his original restaurant here, The Preachers Son. Fast forward a couple of years, and with everything going on in the world, Chef Matt has decided to open another restaurant in Downtown Bentonville.  Enter Conifer, which has Chef Matt’s thumbprint all over it, from the expansive open kitchen to the Wood Burning stove to the restaurant's overall feel that blurs the line between outside and inside. He has not left any stone unturned.  Chef Matt and Conifer provide one of the most eclectic gluten-free Farm to Table dining options in Northwest Arkansas. Located in one of the newest downtown Bentonville urban dwellings, Conifer is right on the Greenway trail system and is just a stone's throw from Bentonville Square. The restaurant will be open for dinner only Tuesday thru Saturday. When you visit Conifer and Chef Matt Cooper, you are in for a treat.  Be sure to tell him that the good folks over at I am Northwest Arkansas sent you!All this and more on this episode of the I am Northwest Arkansas podcast.Important Links and Mentions on the Show*Email Matthew Cooper, ChefEmail Downtown Bentonville Inc.Website for Downtown Bentonville Inc.Downtown Bentonville Inc. on InstagramDowntown Bentonville Inc. on FacebookDowntown Bentonville Inc. on LinkedInWebsite for AY MagazineConifer Restaurant on InstagramThe Howard East Central, located at 321 Southeast 2nd Street, Bentonville, AR 72712501-626-4414 This episode is sponsored by*Signature Bank of Arkansas "Community Banking at its Best!" Try Canva For Free Today! Northwest Arkansas Council - "Life Works Here!" *Note: some of the resources mentioned may be affiliate links. This means we get paid a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you use that link to make a purchase.Connect more with I am Northwest Arkansas:Grab our Newsletter Email Us at hello@iamnorthwestarkansas.comConnect With Our Facebook Page Connect With Us on Threads Connect With Our Instagram Connect With Our LinkedIn PageJoin The Facebook Group Connect with our Fearless Host, Randy Wilburn on LinkedInThank you for listening to this I am Northwest Arkansas podcast episode. We showcase businesses, culture, entrepreneurship, and life in the Ozarks. Consider donating to our production team to keep this podcast running smoothly. Donate to I Am Northwest Arkansas Mentioned in this episode:FindItNWA.com🎧 This episode is brought to you by FindItNWA.com – the hyper-local business directory made for Northwest Arkansas. From local eats to trusted pros, it’s the go-to spot for discovering what’s great nearby. 📣 Are you a business owner? Get listed today and connect with thousands of locals looking for what you offer. 👉 Visit FindItNWA.com to explore or join now. FindItNWA.com

About the Show:I can remember when I learned to ride a bike. I was about four years old and had a bike with training wheels. I couldn’t wait to get those training wheels off so I could ride on two wheels like the big kids in our neighborhood. I know that a lot of people don’t have that shared experience. According to a recent poll, about 100 million Americans bike each year in the United States. But, there are two big obstacles that keep more people off bikes than on - traffic safety while riding a bike and the lack of access to a working bicycle.  In an area like Northwest Arkansas, with miles and miles of bike trails, it almost feels like everyone here should own a bike and know how to ride, but that is not the case.  That’s where an organization like Trailblazers + ETHIC comes in to bridge the gap and create awareness around bicycling and bicycling safety. Anya Bruhin is the Bike Education Program Manager with Trailblazers + ETHIC. She joined us on the podcast to discuss the Adult Bike Education  “Adult First Ride,” program open to anyone who never learned how to ride a bike. Trailblazers+ ETHIC has created a program for adults to get on a bike, even if they don’t own one - they will make one available for you -  and learn how to ride.  There is no judgment, only encouragement for those who have never learned to ride a bike before becoming adults.  Now is their chance!Listen to this episode and learn how you can also find out what all the fuss is about when biking here in Northwest Arkansas.  The trail system will continue growing, which means more opportunities for you to safely ride a bike.  We hope to see you out there on the Razorback Greenway soon. If you see someone with an, I am Northwest Arkansas bike jersey make sure you say hello!All this and more on this episode of the I am Northwest Arkansas podcast.Important Links and Mentions on the Show*100 Million Americans Bike Each Year, but few make it a habit (Article)Email TrailblazersWebsite for Trailblazers + ETHICWebsite for TrailblazersTrailblazers on InstagramTrailblazers on FacebookThis episode is sponsored by*Signature Bank of Arkansas "Community Banking at its Best!" Try Canva For Free Today! Northwest Arkansas Council - "Life Works Here!" *Note: some of the resources mentioned may be affiliate links. This means we get paid a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you use that link to make a purchase.Connect more with I am Northwest Arkansas:Grab our Newsletter Email Us at hello@iamnorthwestarkansas.comConnect With Our Facebook Page Connect With Us on Threads Connect With Our Instagram Connect With Our LinkedIn PageJoin The Facebook Group Connect with our Fearless Host, Randy Wilburn on LinkedInThank you for listening to this I am Northwest Arkansas podcast episode. We showcase businesses, culture, entrepreneurship, and life in the Ozarks. Consider donating to our production team to keep this podcast running smoothly. Donate to I Am Northwest Arkansas Mentioned in this episode:FindItNWA.com🎧 This episode is brought to you by FindItNWA.com – the hyper-local business directory made for Northwest Arkansas. From local eats to trusted pros, it’s the go-to spot for discovering what’s great nearby. 📣 Are you a business owner? Get listed today and connect with thousands of locals looking for what you offer. 👉 Visit FindItNWA.com to explore or join now. FindItNWA.com

To see the complete Show Notes from the original podcast episode CLICK HERE!Mentioned in this episode:FindItNWA.com🎧 This episode is brought to you by FindItNWA.com – the hyper-local business directory made for Northwest Arkansas. From local eats to trusted pros, it’s the go-to spot for discovering what’s great nearby. 📣 Are you a business owner? Get listed today and connect with thousands of locals looking for what you offer. 👉 Visit FindItNWA.com to explore or join now. FindItNWA.com

To see the complete Show Notes from the original podcast episode CLICK HERE!Mentioned in this episode:FindItNWA.com🎧 This episode is brought to you by FindItNWA.com – the hyper-local business directory made for Northwest Arkansas. From local eats to trusted pros, it’s the go-to spot for discovering what’s great nearby. 📣 Are you a business owner? Get listed today and connect with thousands of locals looking for what you offer. 👉 Visit FindItNWA.com to explore or join now. FindItNWA.com

To see the complete Show Notes from the original podcast episode CLICK HERE!Mentioned in this episode:FindItNWA.com🎧 This episode is brought to you by FindItNWA.com – the hyper-local business directory made for Northwest Arkansas. From local eats to trusted pros, it’s the go-to spot for discovering what’s great nearby. 📣 Are you a business owner? Get listed today and connect with thousands of locals looking for what you offer. 👉 Visit FindItNWA.com to explore or join now. FindItNWA.com

This is a special episode of the podcast. We will be back with regularly scheduled programming next week. In the meantime, please listen to this one from the heart.Mentioned in this episode:FindItNWA.com🎧 This episode is brought to you by FindItNWA.com – the hyper-local business directory made for Northwest Arkansas. From local eats to trusted pros, it’s the go-to spot for discovering what’s great nearby. 📣 Are you a business owner? Get listed today and connect with thousands of locals looking for what you offer. 👉 Visit FindItNWA.com to explore or join now. FindItNWA.com

About the Show:“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”GandhiAt least for the last 150 years, education has been an essential part of society. Every industrialized nation puts a high value on education and credentials.  One thing that is probably lost on most Americans is that higher education isn’t always the goal for all. Only one-third of the US population has a college education, while two-thirds have a High School Diploma.  Many individuals have been priced out of higher education due to the cost and commitment required.  Still, some are left out because they never finished High School. About 10% of the U.S. Population never finishes High School.  In our research on this subject, we discovered that this statistic alone could be incentive enough to encourage those to get their GED. The stakes for those that don’t get a High School diploma are undoubtedly high.According to a recently released CDC Study, “Again and again, the trends across educational levels indicate that adults with no high school diploma or GED are consistently at the greatest risk for the leading causes of disease and death.”If you are part of this group, our goal is not to bring you down or shame you. It’s quite the opposite. We want to encourage you that it is never too late to get your GED and improve your life skills in many areas.  We recently sat down with Jessica Ferguson and Ahu Johnson from the Stephen M. Percival Adult Education Program to learn more about available Adult Education and learning options. This Adult Education program is part of the Fayetteville Public School System. They offer Adult Education classes for those that want to get their GED, Citizenship, ESL, Job Training, and Workplace classes. The options are endless, and the opportunities are there for people in Northwest Arkansas to improve their situation through the classes offered by the Adult Education program.  All this and more on this episode of I am Northwest Arkansas. Important Links and Mentions on the Show*Email Fayetteville Public SchoolsWebsite for Fayetteville Public SchoolsFayetteville Public Schools on TwitterFayetteville Public Schools on InstagramFayetteville Public Schools on FacebookFayetteville Public Schools on YouTubeFHS TV - Fayetteville High - YouTubeThis episode is sponsored by*Signature Bank of Arkansas "Community Banking at its Best!" Try Canva For Free Today! Northwest Arkansas Council - "Life Works Here!" *Note: some of the resources mentioned may be affiliate links. This means we get paid a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you use that link to make a purchase.Connect more with I am Northwest Arkansas:Grab our Newsletter Email Us at hello@iamnorthwestarkansas.comConnect With Our Facebook Page Connect With Us on Threads Connect With Our Instagram Connect With Our LinkedIn PageJoin The Facebook Group Connect with our Fearless Host, Randy Wilburn on LinkedInThank you for listening to this I am Northwest Arkansas podcast episode. We showcase businesses, culture, entrepreneurship, and life in the Ozarks. Consider donating to our production team to keep this podcast running smoothly. Donate to I Am Northwest Arkansas Mentioned in this episode:FindItNWA.com🎧 This episode is brought to you by FindItNWA.com – the hyper-local business directory made for Northwest Arkansas. From local eats to trusted pros, it’s the go-to spot for discovering what’s great nearby. 📣 Are you a business owner? Get listed today and connect with thousands of locals looking for what you offer. 👉 Visit FindItNWA.com to explore or join now. FindItNWA.com

About the Show:In this short episode of the podcast, we reflect on the importance of Memorial Day and we talk about the history of the holiday and why it is such an important holiday of reflection and sacrifice here in the United States.We also shared a Memorial Day poem from Lenore Hetrick. OUR MEMORIES by Lenore HetrickIf we remember those who are goneThen they live again.They are here once more, they smile and speak,Just as do living men.So let's give our thoughts to the brave,Upon this Memorial Day.In spiritual fellowship, let us speak,And listen to what they say.For a soldier who died for his country must knowMuch that he could tell,And if we caught the message it mightServe us oft and well.So in our memories, let the deadLinger often and long.Recollections of that kind live,And are like a springtime song.All this and more on this episode of I am Northwest Arkansas. Important Links and Mentions on the Show* NoneThis episode is sponsored by*Signature Bank of Arkansas "Community Banking at its Best!" Try Canva For Free Today! Northwest Arkansas Council - "Life Works Here!" *Note: some of the resources mentioned may be affiliate links. This means we get paid a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you use that link to make a purchase.Connect more with I am Northwest Arkansas:Grab our Newsletter Email Us at hello@iamnorthwestarkansas.comConnect With Our Facebook Page Connect With Us on Threads Connect With Our Instagram Connect With Our LinkedIn PageJoin The Facebook Group Connect with our Fearless Host, Randy Wilburn on LinkedInThank you for listening to this I am Northwest Arkansas podcast episode. We showcase businesses, culture, entrepreneurship, and life in the Ozarks. Consider donating to our production team to keep this podcast running smoothly. Donate to I Am Northwest Arkansas Mentioned in this episode:FindItNWA.com🎧 This episode is brought to you by FindItNWA.com – the hyper-local business directory made for Northwest Arkansas. From local eats to trusted pros, it’s the go-to spot for discovering what’s great nearby. 📣 Are you a business owner? Get listed today and connect with thousands of locals looking for what you offer. 👉 Visit FindItNWA.com to explore or join now. FindItNWA.com