Episode 11: Marilyn Hogan: Building Marr Street And You're Never Too Old

Episode 11: Marilyn Hogan: Building Marr Street And You're Never Too Old

This week on The CommerceCast: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt sit down with Marilyn Hogan, the creative force behind Mar Street Productions and a staple of the Pocahontas downtown square. Marilyn takes us back to the very beginning—learning piano at age 9 and eventually teaching out of the attic of the old Burks department store. Today, her studio offerseverything from violin and voice to ballet and Irish dance. Always a student herself; she shares the incredible story of deciding to learn the violin at age 40 alongside her sons, and teaching Taekwondo and eventually earning her 5th-degree black belt. All of this and more, on this week’s episode of The CommerceCast.   In This Episode: Building Marr Street: From buying an old department store to eventually taking over the Downtown Playhouse Theater. Black Belt Jazz Musician: The surprising story of how a momlooking for a martial arts class for her teenage sons ended up becoming a 5th-degree Taekwondo Grandmaster-in-training. The Science of Practice: Drawing on her 30-plus years as aspeech-language pathologist to explain why mandatory music practice is just as important as reading homework for a child's developing brain. Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber [https://www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber] Buy a ticket for Celtic Nights: www.marrstreetspa.org [https://marrstreetspa.org/product-category/marr-street-playhouse/] Check out the music and martial arts classes: www.marrstreetspa.org [http://www.marrstreetspa.org/]    Join the Conversation: Have a story we should tell? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out to the team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 10: District Judge Alex Bigger: From the Bench to the Gun Range

This week on The CommerceCast: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz are joined by the Honorable Alex Bigger, the District Judge for the 11th Judicial District covering Randolph, Lawrence, and Sharp counties. Appointed in the height of the 2020 pandemic and subsequently elected to a full term, Judge Bigger breaks down the mechanics of the state district court system and why it operates much like a multi-county business.  Judge Bigger also gives us an inside look at his "weekend job" as an elite, competitive 2-gun shooter. Currently ranked as a Grandmaster, he shares stories from his recent first-place victory at an extreme "run-and-gun" competition in Missouri and why the Pocahontas public range is becoming a premier destination for shooters across the South.    In This Episode: Inside the 11th District: What a typical day looks like for the District Judge, and the push to bring uniformity across the courts in three separate counties. The Butterfly Effect: Alex shares the hilarious and fateful story of reconnecting with his wife, Graycen, while studying for the bar exam in Fayetteville. The Grandmaster: A deep dive into the world of competitive 2-gun shooting, the cutting-edge "shoot house" at our local range, and the mental game of staying loose under pressure.   Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber    Join the Conversation: Guest Suggestions: Have a story we should tell? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out to the team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt andTodd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce  (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 09: Joseph and Belinda Ward: From the Farm to Your Freezer

This week on The CommerceCast: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz sit down with the 2025 Chamber Members of the Year: Joseph and Belinda Ward, the husband-and-wife team behind Two Rivers Land and Cattle. Taking a third-generation farm into the digital age is no small feat. Joseph and Belinda walk us through their transition from traditional farming to a direct-to-consumer model, leveraging social media, onlineordering, and local farmers' markets to bring high-quality beef right to their neighbors' doors. We break down the stark difference between buying meat from a massive packing plant versus a local farm, and how their faith drives their mission to feed their community. From battling the elements during the recent winter storm to setting up subscription boxes and their new on-site farm store, the Wards are the ultimate example of modern agricultural hustle.   In This Episode: The Direct-to-Consumer Pivot: How they launched theironline presence two years ago, navigating the challenges of high cattle prices and learning to sell cuts directly to families. The Quality Difference: Why grass-fed, grain-finished cattleraised on open acres produce a far superior product to the massive feedlots.   Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber Subscribe to 2 Rivers Land and Cattle’s newsletter: 2riverslandandcattle.com Follow: 2 Rivers Land and Cattle on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok!    Join the Conversation: Have a story we should tell? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out to the team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 08: Mike Thompson: The Business of Community and the Redskin Broadcasting Network

This week on The CommerceCast: We sit down for a "Take Two" with Mike Thompson, President of First Horizon Bank and former President of the Randolph County Chamber Board. Mike walks us through his journey from growing up in Pocahontas to traveling the country with Walmart, and finally making his way back home to northeast Arkansas. We discusshis deep commitment to community service, which ranges from his work with the BRTC Foundation and the Chamber, to finding quiet time off the grid at a duck club in Knobel. But Mike's passion extends far beyond the bank. He gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the explosive growth of the Redskin Broadcasting Network, which was recently a top-eight finalist for a state broadcasting award. He also shares his work with Imagine Arkansas—a nonprofit using comic books to boost childhood literacy—and the inside scoop on the upcoming Randolph County Business and Sports Hall of Fame.   In This Episode: The Adult at the Table: A candid discussion on local business, why hiring Ann Savage was a "home run," and the importance of Randolph County not siloing its efforts if it wants to compete with Paragould and Jonesboro. Redskin Broadcasting Goes Global: How a volunteer crew leveled up with StarLink satellites and wireless mics to broadcast games, gaining an international audience that includes Japan and the Marshall Islands.   Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber   Follow Redskin Broadcasting Network on YouTube: @redskinbroadcastingnetwork   Follow Imagine Arkansas on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567043615765   Donate to Imagine Arkansas: bonesyjonesycomics.com   Join the Conversation: Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out to the team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 07: Dr. Rodney Harris: Preserving the Past and the Grand Opening of the New Rural Life Gallery

This week on The CommerceCast: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz are joined by Dr. Rodney Harris, Department Chair at Williams Baptist University and President of the Randolph County Heritage Museum.   SPECIAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Join us Saturday, March 7, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. as we celebrate the grand opening of the Ruth Ann Cox Agricultural and Rural Life Gallery. This incredible new space more than doubles our exhibit area and helps us tell the powerful story of Randolph County’s agricultural roots like never before. Ribbon cutting at approximately 4:30 p.m.   With the museum's 20th anniversary on the horizon, Rodney gives us a sneak peek into the massive expansion happening on the building's second floor. We discuss the brand-new agriculture and rural life exhibits, the addition of a much-needed elevator, and the breathtaking generosity of local families like the Coxes, Trammels, and Jacksons who are quietly funding the preservation of our history. Rodney also shares his own remarkable journey—from his first college days to earning his PhD and tenure.   In This Episode: Opening the Second Floor: An inside look at the new exhibits exploring farming, banking during the Great Depression, and how the cotton crash shaped local agriculture. The Non-Profit Crisis: A sobering look at why the Heritage Museum (and all local volunteer organizations) must pivot to secure endowments as the baby boomer generation passes the torch.    Links & Resources: Follow the Chamber on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamber Connect with the Randolph County Heritage Museum: randolphcountyheritage.org870-892-4056rodneywharris@gmail.com   Join the Conversation: Have a story we should tell? Email us at commercecastpod@gmail.com. Chamber Inquiries: Reach out to the team at chamber@randolphchamber.com. Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios. Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz Produced by: FoxLion Studios Executive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark Holt Music by: AGI Special Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of Commerce  (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.