Top of Main Podcast

Bob Bonnar
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Get off the page with Bob and Alexis: A deeper - but less formal - look at the issues that matter to the people of Newcastle and Weston County. Join the reigning Wyoming Journalist of the Year and a former president of the Wyoming Press Association as they dive deeper into the topics that deserve a little different look.

  1. 2D AGO

    Episode 50 — Is Weston County Ready for AI

    This milestone episode marks a turning point for Top of Main as Bob Bonnar and Alexis Barker reflect on more than two and a half years of conversations, growth, and community engagement—and look ahead to what comes next. The heart of Episode 50 focuses on a topic that will shape rural America for decades to come: artificial intelligence. Drawing on Bob’s recent experience at the Four Corners AI Conference, the discussion explores how AI can be a practical tool for rural communities, small businesses, and local journalism—not a threat to them. Alexis addresses the tension between innovation and public trust, particularly in newsrooms, and explains how human judgment and editorial oversight remain central even as AI improves efficiency and accuracy. The conversation does not shy away from hard truths. Bob and Alexis confront the resistance to technology in rural governance, the widening economic gap between urban and rural regions, and the risk of communities falling further behind by opting out of change. Joined by Summer Bonnar, the episode also examines AI’s impact on education, workforce preparation, and professional standards, underscoring the need for strong fundamentals alongside new tools. Episode 50 is both a reflection and a challenge: a clear-eyed look at how AI is already reshaping rural communities, and a call for local leaders, institutions, and citizens to engage with the technology thoughtfully — and keep small towns competitive in a rapidly changing world. Check us out at newslj.com to keep tabs on this story, or for more news from Newcastle, Weston County and the Black Hills of northeast Wyoming!

    1h 2m

  2. DEC 12

    Episode 49 — Home for the Holiday

    Bob and Alexis share stories from their holiday in Newcastle and discuss the value of staying connected to the community as remote workers and how important it is to stay engaged with hometown projects while living elsewhere. They also dive into the nuts and bolts of local journalism and governance and how conversations with readers shape reporting priorities, including a new emphasis on covering crime and the challenges of doing so in a small town. They also confront the realities of modern media: fragmented audiences, low engagement, and the need to meet people where they already are, and invite the public to view the thinking involved in a decision to make social media more useful by responding directly to community questions with reporting they’ve already done. From the Wyoming budget battle to the promise of AI tools that can help streamline communication, the episode underscores the ongoing effort to strengthen local journalism and deepen community dialogue. At a time when trust and transparency matter more than ever, both hosts make the case for supporting the work that keeps Newcastle informed. Check us out at newslj.com to keep tabs on this story, or for more news from Newcastle, Weston County and the Black Hills of northeast Wyoming!

    50 min

  3. NOV 23

    Episode 48 — Reviving Newcastle: Challenges and Chances

    In this episode, we take a candid look at the economic and civic headwinds facing Newcastle, Wyoming, as Bob and Alexis go off the page with former Chamber of Commerce director Susan Love to evaluate the local business climate heading into the holiday shopping season and to confront the broader forces shaping the town’s future. The discussion cuts straight to the core issues: declining civic participation, shrinking population, gaps in civics education, and a Main Street struggling to keep pace with changing expectations. We examine how social apprehension, limited housing, and a weakened retail sector create a cycle that holds back growth — and what it will take to break that cycle. While the conversation is frank about the challenges, it is equally focused on opportunity. From the need for stronger collaboration among businesses to the importance of retaining young families and building a more vibrant downtown, this episode lays out the conditions Newcastle must address to strengthen its economy, attract new industry, and build a community where residents feel empowered to engage. Check us out at newslj.com to keep tabs on this story, or for more news from Newcastle, Weston County and the Black Hills of northeast Wyoming!

    59 min

  4. OCT 27

    Episode 47 — Wyoming's Weird and Wicked — Weston County Style

    In honor of Halloween, we go way off the page this week to delve into some of the supernatural legends of Weston County. We welcome guest host Kazen Barker to the program to bring a kid's perspective to the holiday, and visit with horror author and News Letter Journal contributor Michael Alexander. We're also joined by Dean Petersen, host of the "That Doesn't Happen Everyday" Podcast, which features odd and macabre stories from across the Cowboy State. From haunted hotels, restaurants and cemeteries, to Sasquatch, Ouija boards and cattle mutilations, this episode is bound to have something to give even the most stoic skeptic a bit of a chill or thrill! Check us out at newslj.com to keep tabs on this story, or for more news from Newcastle, Weston County and the Black Hills of northeast Wyoming!

    59 min

  5. OCT 5

    Episode 46 — Convention of States

    We’re going off the page with a timely conversation about one of the most talked-about constitutional issues in the country. In the wake of President Donald Trump publicly throwing his support behind a potential Article V Convention of States, we sit down with Julie Baker, a volunteer for the Convention of States movement here in Wyoming. Baker’s group will be hosting a Town Hall in Sheridan on October 22, and she walks us through the nuts and bolts of what an Article V convention is, why it matters, and what it will take for Wyoming to become the 20th state to officially sign on to the effort. With 34 states needed to trigger a convention, the stakes are high—and Baker explains how grassroots advocates are working to get there. Join Bob and Alexis as they dig into the national surge in support, the history behind Article V, and what this movement could mean for the size, scope, and power of the federal government. Check us out at newslj.com to keep tabs on this story, or for more news from Newcastle, Weston County and the Black Hills of northeast Wyoming!

    1h 13m

  6. SEP 24

    Episode 45 — Christ, Charlie and God's Plan

    Bob and Alexis go off the page of the Good Book this week to visit with News Letter Journal contributor Dean Butler about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, his position as a martyr for Christ, and what it all means for us. Learn about the call to Christ from the author of Dean's Bible Blog (newslj.com) and Dean's Bible Bits (NLJ), and find out why you don't have to be religious to be a believer in the Lord and Savior. Join us as we find out why there is cause for hope in the wake of the horrific event at Utah Valley University, and how Christian message carried by Charlie Kirk holds the key to our nation emerging from its present state of darkness and political divisiveness to come together again under the one true God. Check us out at newslj.com to keep tabs on this story, or for more news from Newcastle, Weston County and the Black Hills of northeast Wyoming!

    1h 11m

  7. AUG 31

    Episode 44 — Is Newcastle a Dying Community?

    Bob and Alexis go off the page this week to tackle the toughest question of all — Is Newcastle a Dying Community? According to our weekly News Letter Journal poll, the overwhelming majority of our readers think so, and we discuss what local leaders should be doing about it — if anything. We also talk about the role citizens should play in determining the region's future, and it begins by becoming more informed and getting more engaged in helping to make the choices that will determine the fate of Newcastle and Weston County — and whether or not they and their families can continue to enjoy the benefits of living there. Check us out at newslj.com to keep tabs on this story, or for more news from Newcastle, Weston County and the Black Hills of northeast Wyoming!

    1h 11m

  8. AUG 13

    Episode 43 — How We're Saving the NLJ

    Bob and Alexis go off the page in the wake of the unexpected closure of 8 Wyoming newspapers to explain the state of the newspaper industry, and outline for NLJ readers what efforts are being made to preserve local independent journalism in Weston County, Wyoming. We discuss the pressures on small-town businesses, and the difficulty associated with maintaining product quality in an industry where operating budgets are drastically reduced from a decade ago — and share the monumental efforts being made by the Wyoming Press Association and its leading members to preserve the free press in our state. We also take a deep dive into the newspaper's latest transparency battle with the Weston County Commissioners, and reveal the swamp-dwelling tactics local elected officials used to avoid honesty and accountability in an effort to convince the public that they should be paying higher taxes. Video of Weston County Commissioners Video of Legislature's Joint Corporations Committee Check us out at newslj.com to keep tabs on this story, or for more news from Newcastle, Weston County and the Black Hills of northeast Wyoming!

    1h 30m
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About

Get off the page with Bob and Alexis: A deeper - but less formal - look at the issues that matter to the people of Newcastle and Weston County. Join the reigning Wyoming Journalist of the Year and a former president of the Wyoming Press Association as they dive deeper into the topics that deserve a little different look.

Information

  • Creator
    Bob Bonnar
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Top of Main Podcast
  • Show Website
    Top of Main Podcast