Growing Up Southern

Behind the Badge: Arkansas Game Wardens

I sit down with the two game wardens from my home county to discuss a wide range of topics related to being a game warden in the state of Arkansas.  Dennis Hovarter and Andrew Watson share stories from their time as wardens and answer a number of questions that I had throughout our conversation.  

Episode Update

A short update about a recent episode that I recorded and what to expect over the next few months on the Growing Up Southern podcast.

The Mayfly and The Mentor

I sit down with Matt Bearden to talk about The Mayfly Project, a non-profit organization that introduces children in foster care to fly fishing and connects them to the outdoors.  Matt is the lead mentor for the Texarkana, Ar project and he shares some of the history of The Mayfly Project, how it was started, as well as sharing some personal and memorable stories from his time as a mentor.  
www.themayflyproject.com
 

The CALL

In this episode, I sit down with Holli Boyett and Mandy McLelland who are both county coordinators for The CALL, a Christian non-profit organization that offers support to foster children and foster families throughout Arkansas.  
They share information about The CALL, the many ways you can support the organization and the immediate need for foster families in our area and throughout our state.
The CALL is an Arkansas organization but there are certainly other organizations like it throughout the United States.   A simple internet search can lead you to similar organizations in your state.
If you live in Arkansas and want more information on The CALL, visit their website: www.thecallinarkansas.org

Keep it Cooley Part Two with Dustin Cooley

In this episode we discuss losing our dads and the situations surrounding each of their passings.  We also talk about having daughters who have faced a critical/chronic illness and how those situations, along with losing our dads, tested but strengthened our faith.

Keep It Cooley with Dustin Cooley

Part One of my sit down with Dustin Cooley.  He talks about his time growing up in a small town and those who influenced his life.  He's also an avid outdoorsman who loves to hunt and fish, and he shares several memorable stories from hunting game in south Arkansas.
We share a lot of laughs in this episode and Dustin sets the record straight about the "Doe pee" story that the Curtis boys told in their episode several weeks ago.

The Turkey Hunting Taxidermist

In this episode, I sit down with Dusty Walker, a die hard turkey hunter and a man who makes an outdoorsman's trophy last forever.  He's the taxidermist who I trusted to mount my daughter's biggest buck of her young hunting career.  
He's a good guy who does great work.  We talk taxidermy, turkey hunting, being a girl dad and hunting with our girls.  These things and more in this episode.

A Fishing Story

A short episode about a recent fishing trip where my son landed the biggest bass of his life, and how it reminded me of a very similar story from over three decades ago.

Faith and Friendship: Part Two with Jimmy Fry

In Part Two of my sit down with Jimmy Fry, we have a lengthy discussion about our faith and I share a portion of my testimony as we dive deeper into the faith discussion.   We also discuss friendship and his impact on the younger generation at the Hope Country Club.

Family and Fairways with Jimmy Fry

Part One of my two part episode with Jimmy Fry.  A man who I've played countless rounds of golf with over the years and a guy that I've always gravitated towards.  His friendly demeanor and constant encouragement, both on and off of the course, make him one of my favorite people to be around. 
We discuss his early years growing up on the family farm, we share a few hunting stories, then we transition into a discussion about a game we both love.......golf. 
Enjoy and stay tuned for Part Two of our sit down which will upload one week after this episode.