A New American Town - Bentonville, Arkansas

Visit Bentonville
  • 4.8 (21)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Biweekly

Tune into Visit Bentonville’s podcast series for a weekly update on all things Bentonville, Arkansas. You’ll hear captivating stories and updates from our city—connecting you with the locals that make this town worth visiting.  

  1. 6d ago

    WUF World: Pets Bringing People Together

    Loneliness doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like a town full of people who never quite talk to each other. That’s why I loved sitting down with Joe Petrillo and Clint Misamore, co-founders of WUF World, to unpack a surprisingly effective community-building tool: pets. They call animals “Chief Icebreaking Officers,” and once you hear their stories, it’s hard to unsee how a simple “Do you have any pets?” can flip a stranger moment into a real connection. We trace WUF World’s origin to the pandemic era and the growing concern around isolation, then widen the lens to what happens when you design gatherings around the human animal bond. Joe and Clint explain why pets fit naturally with culture and storytelling, especially film, and how their work aligns with Bentonville Film Festival’s focus on stories that connect us all. We also get practical about the modern family and the workplace: even if most companies can’t allow pets on site, every employer can build pet supportive culture, policies, and benefits that recognize how people actually live. Then we get into the fun part: what to expect at the Momentary during Bentonville Film Festival. Think pet friendly screenings, food and drinks, local and national brand activations, and Best Friends on site with adoptable animals. They also share fresh updates like an ELF Beauty glam studio for you and your pet, plus a Saturday community hike with AllTrails. If you love Bentonville, love film, or just want an easy way to meet one new friend, this is your entry point. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a fellow pet lover, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. What’s one way a pet has helped you feel at home somewhere new? A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.   You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.

    16 min

  2. May 29

    Inside Bentonville Film Festival 2026: Premieres, Panels, And Previews!

    We catch up with Wendy Guerrero to break down what makes Bentonville Film Festival 2026 feel big, buzzy, and still welcoming. We share the biggest premieres, the new experiences beyond screenings, and the simplest way to plan your first trip to Festival Village at the Momentary.  • how Bentonville Film Festival stands out through programming, conversations, networking, and community events  • how the festival mission elevates underrepresented voices and authentic storytelling  • what festival week feels like in Bentonville, including red carpets, outdoor screenings, and family activations  • highlights from the 2026 lineup, including Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick plus Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie premiere  • why world premieres matter for filmmakers, press, and distribution momentum  • what to watch for in documentaries and audience favorites like Cookie Queens  • new programming focused on the creator economy, Coffee Talk, microdramas, and STEAM sessions on AI and technology  • how tickets, passes, and free Impact Day programming fit different budgets and schedules  • first-timer tips for planning, picking must-see events, and using Festival Village as your hub  So go to our website www.bentonvillefilm.org, and you can find the lineup.  Check the show notes for links to our website, social channels, and our newsletter. A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.   You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.

    20 min

  3. May 22

    Introducing the Oz Trails Bike Park with Gary Vernon and Brandon Kelly

    A chairlift bike park in the Ozarks sounds like a wild idea until you hear how Oz Trails Bike Park was actually built: carefully, deliberately, and for everyone. We’re joined by Brandon Kelly, director of Bella Vista, and Gary Vernon, who runs the bike park day to day, to share the story behind the park’s long path from rumor to ribbon cutting, with the grand opening set for June 12. We get practical about what a day looks like at the park, from rolling into the base area to loading your bike on the lift, cruising to the top, and choosing trails by skill level. Gary explains how they focused on families and first-timers without watering down the experience for serious riders, including a standout beginner trail called Firestarter that’s designed to build confidence fast. We also talk about what makes this a true destination beyond riding: the Oz Trails HQ building, Ozzy’s Ride and Dine restaurant, and a full setup for bike rentals, retail, and bike school, so you can arrive with almost nothing and still have a great day. Not a rider? You’re still invited. We dig into lift rides for sightseeing, ADA accessibility, patio views of the action, and the way the park preserves the natural beauty of Bella Vista’s old-growth forest, limestone bluffs, and deep ravines. We also touch on the Whistler connection through Gravity Logic, why the trails will keep evolving, and how Bella Vista vacation rentals plus Bentonville’s downtown make trip planning easy across both towns. If you’re curious about Northwest Arkansas mountain biking, family-friendly bike parks, or the next big outdoor attraction in Bella Vista, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave a review so more people can find the show!  A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.   You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.

    22 min

  4. May 15

    Bikefest: How Bentonville Turned Bike Culture Into A Festival with Kenny Belaey

    Bentonville Bikefest didn’t get big by only talking to bike people. We’re joined by Kenny Belaey, world champion trials athlete, Red Bull athlete, and the founder of Bentonville Bikefest, to explain how a week of riding in Northwest Arkansas turns into something closer to a true festival: races, exhibits, demos, kids zones, and a constant nudge to stop spectating and start participating. We dig into what Kenny saw early on that made Bentonville different from other mountain bike destinations. The trails and the Razorback Greenway matter, but so does the unique concentration of corporate brands and suppliers in the region. Kenny shares how that sponsor ecosystem can fuel action sports the way mainstream brands fuel major leagues, helping Bikefest grow in production, reach, and ambition while still feeling welcoming and local. Then we get into what’s new for year six, including Red Bull Double Down. Kenny breaks down the format: a BMX rider and a mountain biker drop in together, time their speed, cross mid-air, and bet it all on one jaw-dropping trick. We also talk about why e-bikes and cargo bikes belong at a bike festival, how coaching helps beginners get comfortable fast, and what we hope you take home: the sense that you might not need your car for every trip, plus the excitement of finding the right bike for your life. If you’re planning a Bentonville trip, searching for a mountain bike festival, or just curious how a town becomes “bike-centered,” this conversation is your roadmap. Subscribe for more stories from our new American town, and if you enjoyed this one, share it with a friend and leave a review. A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.   You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.

    23 min

  5. May 8

    Looking Ahead: The Crystal Bridges Expansion with Moira Anderson

    A museum can add square footage without changing how people feel inside it. Crystal Bridges is doing the opposite. We talk with Moira Anderson, Director of Public Programs for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary, about the June 6-7 opening that doubles gallery space and introduces a major new Learning and Engagement Hub built for rest, play, and hands-on creativity. If you have ever thought, “Museums aren’t for me,” this conversation is for you! We get into what’s actually new: studio spaces including ceramics, a community lounge that welcomes you before you ever pick up a brochure, and performance and gathering rooms that make the museum feel like a place to stay, not just pass through. Moira explains why access means more than free admission, and how drop-in art making is designed for the person who has never touched a paintbrush, the family member who gets tired halfway through, and the first-time visitor who needs a clear signal that they belong.  Then we preview the celebration weekend: creating alongside artists, a bike-powered pottery wheel, screen printing, and musicians from Jazz at Lincoln Center performing among the artworks and in the new Commons. We also talk about Bentonville, Arkansas as a fast-growing destination, the way Crystal Bridges blends art, architecture, and the Ozark landscape, and how programming connects across Crystal Bridges and the Momentary, including what’s coming next at the Momentary.  If you’re planning a trip or looking for the best things to do in Bentonville, this will help you map a day that feels inspiring instead of exhausting. Subscribe, share this with a friend who “isn’t an art person,” and leave a review with the part of the museum experience you wish every city had. A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.   You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.

    19 min

  6. May 1

    A Pro Cyclist’s Family Trip To Bentonville with Lawson Craddock

    We sit down with Lawson Craddock, former Olympian and longtime pro road cyclist, right after he visited Bentonville with his wife, two kids, and his parents. Without the pressure of racing or training, Lawson gets to experience the town the way most of us do, looking for great rides, great food, and a simple way to spend the day together. What he finds is a place that’s shockingly easy to navigate, packed with trails, and built for making memories. We talk through the full trip: driving, ending up in a walkable downtown, renting e-bikes, and discovering how Bentonville’s cycling infrastructure supports a range of speeds and comfort levels.  From exploring museums, the farmers market, Onyx Coffee lines, and ice cream on the square, there is something for everyone!  A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas, with guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.   You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.   A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.   You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.

    14 min

  7. Apr 24

    What If Dessert Felt Like A 15 Minute Vacation

    Meet Tamara Keefe, founder of Clementine's Ice Cream, as she breaks down what separates truly great ice cream from the rest — think small-batch production, all-natural ingredients, and a butterfat percentage that actually changes how flavor lingers. Tamara shares why Bentonville's walkable dining scene and the Walmart Home Office campus made the perfect home for her Midwest-born brand, and what she wants every guest to feel when they walk out the door. Spoiler: it's a 15-minute vacation in a scoop.  A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.   You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.

    21 min

  8. Apr 17

    Passing the Baton: Introducing the New Host, Graham Cobb

    Beth Bobbitt records her final conversation as host and hands The New American Town to Graham Cobb, a strategist who’s worn plenty of Bentonville hats and still talks about the city with fresh-eyed wonder. Graham shares the story of his first real Bentonville visit in 2017, which started with a bike and gets more interesting from there... We dig into his consulting work at Paceline Strategies and pull back the curtain on the #BecauseBentonville and why it resonated beyond marketing. Graham also lays out his vision for the podcast and some fun facts: he was in a punk rock band!? Listen in for more! A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.   You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.

    21 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Tune into Visit Bentonville’s podcast series for a weekly update on all things Bentonville, Arkansas. You’ll hear captivating stories and updates from our city—connecting you with the locals that make this town worth visiting.  

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