The 3W Podcast

Kasie Yokley
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

From the people that bring you 3W Magazine, welcome to the 3W Podcast! We aim to serve our community by promoting awareness of Northwest Arkansas’ thriving philanthropic movement; To provide a guide of dates to help coordinate events so every nonprofit gets the coverage they need and deserve; To give financially to local charities each year.

  1. 4d ago

    The 3W Podcast: Ashley Starnes - Part 1

    Northwest Arkansas feels like it grows overnight, and sometimes the weirdest part is realizing you still haven’t explored the place you call home. We’re joined by Ashley Starnes of Osage House for a wide-ranging, very real conversation that starts with summer break logistics (two-boy households know) and turns into what it’s like to watch Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville and Bella Vista transform from open stretches of green into a packed, opportunity-filled region.  We also get personal about home design and decision fatigue. Ashley shares how an architect’s minimal instincts can clash with an eclectic, cozy vision, why committing to bold choices can be hard, and how low-commitment spaces like a powder bath can be the perfect place to take a swing. If you love interior design, architecture, and creating a home that actually feels like you, you’ll recognize the constant tug between timeless neutrals and the fun stuff you’re afraid you’ll regret.  Then we trace the kind of career path that looks random until you see the pattern: fundraising and development, catering and events, and even an energy auditor job that literally involves crawling through attics. Those experiences build the people skills and grit that matter when you’re building something bigger. We end by teasing part two, where we dive deeper into Osage House, the 54-acre vision, and what it takes to turn land into a destination wedding and event venue.  If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend in Northwest Arkansas, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. What’s one local spot you still haven’t made time for?

    21 min

  2. Jun 5

    The 3W Podcast: Twilla Brooks talks about Bentonville Film Festival

    Bentonville isn’t supposed to feel like a film capital, and that’s exactly why the Bentonville Film Festival works. We’re joined by Twilla Brooks to unpack how BFF has evolved over 12 years into one of the most welcoming, intimate and mission-driven film festivals in the country, rooted right here in Northwest Arkansas. We get into the real “why” behind BFF: Geena Davis’ passion project built to amplify underrepresented stories by women and people of color, in front of the camera and behind it. Twilla shares how partnerships with Walmart and Coca-Cola helped the festival scale without losing its heart, and why this year’s theme, “The Stories That Connect Us All,” matters when so many important films struggle to find screens. Then we run through what to actually do during June 15–21: the opening night buzz around “Family Movie” with Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick in town, the emotional punch of “Cookie Queens,” and the free family programming at The Momentary’s Geena Davis Outdoor Theater, packed with movies, food and hands-on activations. We also highlight Coffee Talks with Ree Drummond, Chef JJ Johnson, and Bobby Flay, plus Juneteenth screenings like “The Ebony Canal” on maternal health of Black women and a powerful Brittney Griner documentary. If you’ve ever wondered what makes Bentonville different, this is your guide. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a summer plan, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

    37 min

  3. May 15

    The 3W Podcast: Kasie Yokley talks about Maycember

    Maycember is real, and if you’ve ever stared at your calendar wondering how 12 events landed in one week, we’re right there with you. We’re talking straight from the messy middle of the end-of-school-year sprint: field trips for every grade, sports banquets, award ceremonies, teacher appreciation, spirit days, graduation parties and the nonstop “friendly reminder” emails that somehow turn into “last call” overnight. We also get honest about the emotional side. May isn’t just chaotic, it’s tender, because routines end and kids change right in front of you. One minute we’re proud and grateful, the next minute we’re crying in the carline or tearing up over seniors we don’t even know. We dig into why closures hit our brains so hard and how parenting a teen who’s suddenly gone all weekend can feel like a preview of bigger goodbyes ahead. Then we shift into survival mode with practical, doable coping strategies. We share how we manage decision fatigue, why “good enough” meals count as a win and how micro breaks can keep you steady when you’re tapped out. For us, that looks like short daily prayer, letting go of perfection, and blasting a car concert loud enough to reset the whole day. If Maycember has you feeling behind, you’re not alone. Subscribe for more real-life talk, share this with a fellow Maycember parent, and leave a review so more people can find us. What’s your go-to reset when May gets too loud?

    38 min

  4. May 1

    The 3W Podcast: Tricia Upshaw - Part 2

    Mother’s Day doesn’t just “get busy” at a flower shop. It becomes a full-scale logistics puzzle with real stakes: freshness, timing and the emotion tied to the moment. We’re back with Tricia Upshaw of Shirley’s Flower Studio in Rogers, and she walks us through what it actually takes to serve a whole community when Mother’s Day flower orders surge past expectations. We dig into how a local florist plans months ahead, why wholesale deadlines and price increases matter, and how Mother’s Day designs often start with the container first because so many customers want a keepsake vase. Trisha shares what consistently sells, how spring color palettes show up year after year, and why delivery isn’t just “drop it at the door” when you’re scaling from a normal day to a week that can mean hundreds of flower deliveries. Then we widen the lens to everything else happening at the same time: weddings, graduations, nonprofit events and prom season. We talk wedding flower consultations in the Pinterest and TikTok era, how real flowers change the final look, typical wedding lead times, and what trends are fading or coming back, from pampas grass to lighter pastels, soft blues with peach, and modern black-and-white wedding parties. We also get honest about prom bouquets replacing wrist corsages, boutonnieres, and the little traditions people still care about. If you love Mother’s Day flowers, wedding flowers, prom corsages, and hearing how a trusted Rogers florist keeps quality high under pressure, hit play. If you enjoy it, subscribe, share it with a friend who waits until the last minute, and leave us a review.

    35 min

  5. Apr 24

    The 3W Podcast: Tricia Upshaw - Part 1

    She bought the flower shop, then immediately ended up doing the least glamorous owner task imaginable: pushing a van out of the snow. That’s how we kick off a real conversation with Tricia Upshaw, the new owner of Shirley’s Flowers on the edge of downtown Rogers, and one of the most respected floral designers in the region. We get into the origin story of Shirley’s Flowers, how a small local florist grew into a 50-year community staple, and why the best businesses don’t just sell products, they build relationships. Tricia shares how she started in the floral industry as a delivery driver, how she learned design on the job, and how education shaped her career through AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers), the Arkansas Florists Association, and years of competitions, judging and hands-on practice. Then we go behind the scenes: how flowers are shipped, processed and kept fresh, and why a “magical” arrangement is actually the result of systems, clean buckets and constant problem-solving. We also talk the real rules of floral design, symbolic meanings people still attach to certain blooms and the simplest tip for keeping flowers alive longer at home. If you love Rogers, Northwest Arkansas, small business stories, wedding flowers, or just want your next bouquet to feel more personal, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves flowers, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

    52 min

  6. Apr 10

    The 3W Podcast: Jennifer Martinez Belt - Part 2

    Skip the tux and keep your hands free, you’re going to want to touch everything. We’re joined by Jennifer Martinez Belt, Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville, to map out what makes the Amazeum UnGala one of the most talked-about fundraising events in Northwest Arkansas: it’s casual, fast-moving, and designed around play, not speeches. We dig into the why behind the UnGala and how the dollars translate into real community impact, especially expanding access to hands-on learning. Jennifer shares how the Amazeum operates as more than a building, with outreach that brings museum-style projects into schools, libraries and neighboring communities. If you care about early learning, family engagement, and practical philanthropy, this conversation lays out how a children’s museum fundraiser can fund far more than a single night out. Then we get into the fun mechanics: the Tipsy Chemistry competition where guest mixologists craft signature cocktails or mocktails and rally friends to tip in a friendly battle to raise big dollars. We also preview returning favorites and new activations, plus how the Amazeum expansion and construction energy show up with creative partners, maker moments, food trucks and surprises that make the night feel like a grown-up version of the museum itself. The Amazeum UnGala is 6-9 p.m. Friday, April 17, and it’s a 21+ adult evening. Grab tickets or explore sponsorships at amazeum.org, then come back and tell us what activation you’re most excited to try. If you like what you hear, subscribe, share the show with a friend and leave us a review.

    23 min

  7. Apr 3

    The 3W Podcast: Jennifer Martinez Belt - Part 1

    You can learn a lot about a community by the way it treats kids and the caregivers raising them. We sit down with Jennifer Martinez Belt, the philanthropy and fundraising leader at the Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville, to talk about the work that makes a children’s museum more than a fun stop - it becomes a place where families across Northwest Arkansas can actually belong. Jennifer pulls back the curtain on what it takes to keep admission affordable and expand access through programs like Wednesday Priceless Nights and sensory-friendly events. We dig into the Amazeum’s 10-year milestone and the big swing that comes with it: the Expanding Futures $25 million capital campaign. She breaks down what’s coming next, including the Early Learning Advancement Center for ages 0 to 6, plus new community spaces where people can grab a coffee, meet up, host clubs, and build connections without feeling turned away. Then the conversation gets personal. Jennifer shares her family’s path with her son Thomas, a nonverbal autistic teenager, and why advocacy for sensory-friendly public spaces matters. We talk about how sensory hours at Walmart started, why sensory nights at the Amazeum help remove barriers and what real inclusion looks like when you’re living it day to day. Along the way, you’ll also hear about Youth Makers, hands-on entrepreneurship for kids, and the energy behind her simple motto: Goonies never say die. If you care about early learning, nonprofit fundraising, sensory-friendly programming or just want a hopeful look at how Northwest Arkansas builds community, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

    41 min

  8. Feb 13

    The 3W Podcast: Kasie Yokley Talks About the 2026 3W Magazine

    Start the year with purpose and a plan. We’re looking at the 2026 3W Magazine and walking you through the Who, What and Where shaping Northwest Arkansas philanthropy — so you’ll know exactly who to support, what to attend and where your dollars change lives. We dig into EverHope, the evolved identity of the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter, and what a holistic model means for kids who need more than a bed. We spotlight the Circle of Hope from Hope Cancer Resources, a women-led giving circle that turns empathy into direct support for families in treatment. Then we sit with four trailblazing Razorback head coaches — women's golf, softball, gymnastics and women’s basketball — whose playbooks go far beyond the game, blending mentorship, motherhood and competitive fire to build programs with heart. Our Leading Ladies and Leading Lads series returns with standouts across food, retail, and CPG — voices who show up for causes all year long. Look for the chef who grows what he serves, corporate partners who actually attend the fundraisers they sponsor, and a Dickson Street hot dog vendor who doubles as a safe haven, calling rides and watching over students without asking for anything in return. We celebrate the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA’s push to build a comprehensive campus in Springdale and preview Arkansas Children’s Northwest’s Town and Country–themed gala, set to mix joy with generosity under seasoned emcees. Even the cover is a catalyst: an original painting created to be auctioned for a mission. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to re-engage, this is it — clear dates, real stories and trusted organizations that turn intent into impact. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves NWA, and leave a review telling us which cause you’ll back first.

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

From the people that bring you 3W Magazine, welcome to the 3W Podcast! We aim to serve our community by promoting awareness of Northwest Arkansas’ thriving philanthropic movement; To provide a guide of dates to help coordinate events so every nonprofit gets the coverage they need and deserve; To give financially to local charities each year.

Information

  • Creator
    Kasie Yokley
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The 3W Podcast
  • Show Website
    The 3W Podcast