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. 2d ago

    The 3W Podcast: Chris Seawood and Meredith Lowry Chat About TheatreSquared - Part 1

    A great theater doesn’t just put on plays. It builds a place where strangers sit shoulder to shoulder, feel something real at the same time, and walk back out into the city a little more connected. That’s what TheatreSquared is trying to do in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the behind-the-scenes story is even more interesting than most people realize. We’re joined by Chris Seawood, corporate giving manager at TheatreSquared, and Meredith Lowry from TheatreSquared's Corporate Council. Chris breaks down what it means to be a producing theater, where sets, lights, sound, costumes, and production talent are built and managed in house. We also talk candidly about being a nonprofit theater, why ticket accessibility matters, and how corporate partners and community donors help keep professional live theater within reach across Northwest Arkansas. We chat about the rest of Season 21 with titles like "Louisa May Alcott's Little Women," "The 39 Steps," "Eureka Day," and "Cowboys & East Indians," plus the season-wide focus on community and relationship repair. Then we zoom out to the building itself: The Commons Bar/Cafe, rentals and events, and the intimate seating that makes every show feel close enough to touch. If you care about arts in Arkansas, theater education, or simply want a better night out downtown, press play and come meet the people doing the work. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves live performances, and leave us a review with the last show that stayed with you. This week's podcast is guest hosted by Ashley Fitzsimmons, managing editor of 3W Magazine.

  2. 6d ago

    The 3W Podcast: Ryan Faust - Part 2

    Teachers are saying yes to jobs and then backing out for one simple reason: they can’t find a place they can afford near the schools they’re hired to serve. That’s the pressure point McAuley Place tackles head-on, and the deeper story is why this Bentonville development was already drawing national attention before the doors even opened. We sit down with Ryan Faust of BUF Studio to unpack how McAuley Place became what it is today: a rare partnership between a foundation, Mercy, Bentonville Schools, banking partners, and state support, all pulling in the same direction. We talk about why workforce housing has to be more than “cheap rent,” how walkability changes outcomes, and why placing affordable housing far from town often just swaps housing stress for transportation stress. If you care about community health, public education, and keeping essential workers in the fabric of a city, this model is worth understanding. Then we get practical. We break down the mix of apartments and cottages, who qualifies, and what makes the cottages so different: the HOMES program (Home Ownership Mutual Equity Solution), where a major portion of rent can return to residents after five years to help fund a down payment. We also dig into the early childhood building as a resource center, including financial literacy and life-skills programming designed to support long-term stability. If this kind of affordable housing and homeownership pathway is what your town needs, share this episode, subscribe for more community-focused conversations, and leave a review so more people can find it.

  3. Sep 25

    The 3W Podcast: Ryan Faust - Part 1

    He started an architecture firm in January 2020, then watched the world change a few weeks later. Ryan Faust, founder of BUF Studio, joins us for a candid conversation about what it takes to build a design practice in Northwest Arkansas while the region grows at full speed and the economy keeps shifting under your feet.  We dig into what BUF Studio actually does across architecture, interior design and the broader built environment, plus the story behind the name: buffalo don’t run from the storm, they turn into it. That simple idea turns into a real leadership framework for how we handle hard news, tight timelines and the everyday pressure to do good work for real people. We also talk about Ryan’s core values, including “how you do anything is how you do everything,” and what “no bad days” looks like when you take it seriously. Some of the most memorable moments come from projects that carry meaning. Ryan shares the Children’s Safety Center story and how the team honored kids from the old space by projecting their handprints onto the new building, night after night. We also get practical about health care design and adaptive reuse, including how clinics inside existing buildings can expand access faster and how warmer, more familiar spaces can reduce fear while still meeting strict clinical standards.  If you care about Northwest Arkansas growth, affordable housing, the missing middle, and how design shapes culture, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves NWA, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

  4. Sep 10

    The 3W Podcast: Send 3W Your 2027 Event Dates!

    September doesn’t ease in, it hits like a full calendar alert. With school back, routines returning, and the heat still hanging on, we’re also stepping into the busiest stretch of the year for Northwest Arkansas nonprofit events. I’m flying solo on The 3W Podcast to talk through what’s coming, what we’re seeing across the community, and how we can all make fall fundraising season smoother for donors, sponsors and the organizations doing the work. We zoom out on what 3W Magazine is built to do: share the who, what, where so people can show up and give with confidence. September is already packed with luncheons, runs, golf tournaments and gala-style nights, and that means planning matters. I also dig into one of the biggest community moments of the month, the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. It’s an LPGA tournament week, but it’s also a 5K, food, family activities, and a reminder that so many great events here directly benefit local nonprofits. Then I get to the main point I don’t want any nonprofit to miss: send us your 2027 event dates now. Waiting costs you, because other groups are planning too, venues are booking, and audiences can only be in one place at a time. If you care about turnout and impact, getting on the calendar early is a real strategy, even if you only have a month and a TBD. Subscribe, share this with a nonprofit friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show, then tell me what you’re planning this fall.

  5. Jul 17

    The 3W Podcast: Frankie Rankin - Part 2

    Rent is due, daycare is expensive, the car needs gas, and somewhere in the middle of all that a single parent is supposed to finish a degree. We sit down with Frankie Rankin from the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas to talk about what actually helps parents stay in school and why the real obstacles are rarely academic. We unpack how their single parent scholarship program works from application to interviews, including the community volunteer panels that turn a stressful moment into one filled with support. Then we get specific about the 360 approach that makes this nonprofit stand out: scholarship dollars can cover tuition, but they can also cover rent, utilities, childcare and other essential bills that determine whether a parent can keep showing up. Frankie also explains the wraparound services that change day-to-day life, including free mental health counseling for recipients and their children, plus a “dry pantry” stocked with essentials like toilet paper, detergent, and hygiene products that SNAP benefits often cannot buy. We also talk education pathways across Northwest Arkansas, from NWACC and the University of Arkansas to online programs and fast credential tracks in allied health and the trades. Finally, Frankie shares the behind-the-scenes story of landing a $1 million challenge grant and pushing a capital campaign toward a new Springdale location, the Pat Walker Center for Success, built to bring services under one roof and closer to the families who need them. If you care about breaking the cycle of poverty through education, listen, share this conversation and help us spread the word. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what support would make going back to school possible for a single parent you know?

  6. Jul 10

    The 3W Podcast: Frankie Rankin - Part 1

    We talk about the winding path from a psychology degree at the University of Arkansas to weekend childcare at a children’s shelter, and how that “temporary” choice turns into a real calling in nonprofit work, social services and community impact. Frankie also shares what it feels like to step into the CEO seat at the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas after years of learning fundraising, development and endowment campaign work from the ground up. She’s honest about walking in confident, then realizing leadership is a daily education especially through curveballs like COVID and organizational change. If you’re searching for nonprofit leadership lessons, career pivots, or how people actually grow into executive roles, you’ll hear the unpolished version here. Then we go full real-life: raising two boys into adulthood, surviving the “bro” phase, dealing with school calls, and trying not to laugh at the exact wrong moment. We also talk about being a people person who still needs quiet downtime, plus a few lighter detours into cornhole, horseshoes and karaoke picks. If you like this kind of honest conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s figuring out their next step and leave a review. What part of Frankie’s path sounds most like your own right now?

  7. Jul 3

    The 3W Podcast: Ashley Starnes - Part 2

    You can’t fake a venue that feels effortless. Ashley Starnes, owner of Osage House, joins us to share how one of the most sought-after wedding venues and event venues in Northwest Arkansas came to life, starting with 54 acres, a blank page, and a lot of listening. She walks us through the early research meetings with planners, photographers, caterers and DJs that shaped the core requirements: real capacity, true versatility and natural light that makes every photo look like a magazine spread. We also tour the property through conversation, from the last-minute origin of The Reserve to the scale of The Hall and the emotional pull of The Chapel. Ashley explains what guests rarely notice but always feel, including flow, flexibility and those hidden rigging points that make massive floral installations possible. Along the way we talk wedding trends, how couples now care about the full planning experience, and why personal details beat “more stuff” every time. As Northwest Arkansas grows, expectations rise, and Ashley gets candid about building relationships in a crowded market, maintaining hospitality without becoming transactional, and why the preferred vendor list is a real process, not a random spreadsheet. We wrap with practical advice for couples, nonprofits and corporate teams, plus a peek at Osage House open house themes and what new community-facing events might look like next. If you love weddings, entrepreneurship or hospitality done right, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend planning an event, and leave us a review.

  8. Jun 26

    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?

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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
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The 3W Podcast
  • Show Website
    The 3W Podcast