Discover Fort Smith

Discover Fort Smith
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Places & Travel

Discover the story of Fort Smith in people's lives—recorded in places and spaces around town where the stories are unfolding! Hear from chefs, the Mayor, Miss America, and more... about why Fort Smith is a great place to visit, live, and work.

  1. 2d ago

    Dr. Sandy Johnson on Skin Cancer, Sunscreen & Staying Natural

    Dr. Sandy Johnson of Johnson Dermatology joins Josh Buchfink and Emily Horn to share how a blind date brought her to Fort Smith, and how she and her husband built a 12-provider practice that's celebrating 20 years. She breaks down the two skin care habits that put you ahead of most people, clears up myths about Botox and fillers, and explains why getting a skin check matters as melanoma rates climb. Dr. Johnson also talks about her roles with the American Academy of Dermatology and the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce. She wraps up with her ultimate Fort Smith food tour and why she trains at a HYROX gym. Relevant Links Calico County: ⁠https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/calico-county/34/⁠Doe's Eat Place: ⁠https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/does-eat-place/45/⁠21 West End: ⁠https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/21-west-end/26/⁠Phở Việtnam: ⁠https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/ph%E1%BB%9F-vi%E1%BB%87tnam/786/⁠Inka Su Mare: ⁠https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/inka-su-mare/736/⁠Harvest Moon Bakery: ⁠https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/harvest-moon-bakery/422/⁠Fort Smith Coffee Co. at Bakery District: ⁠https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/fort-smith-coffee-co-at-bakery-district/393/⁠Hispanic-Owned Eateries: ⁠https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/blog/post/hispanic-owned-eateries/⁠International Food in Fort Smith: ⁠https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/blog/post/global-restaurants/⁠Food Trucks: ⁠https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/dine/food-trucks/⁠ #DiscoverFortSmith #FortSmithArkansas #SkinCancerAwareness

  2. Oct 7

    From Kansas Radio to UAFS: Chris Kelly's Fort Smith Story

    Chris Kelly, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Marketing at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, joins Josh Buchfink and Emily Horn to share how a drive down from Kansas led him to buy a house and fall for Fort Smith. He talks about his 20 years in radio, reading graduates' names at commencement, and what's ahead as UAFS gets ready for its centennial in 2028. Chris also covers new programs like the two-year nursing degree and the advanced manufacturing engineering program, plus how UAFS keeps college affordable. He wraps up with his Exploration Saturday adventures, local favorites and his work with Fort Smith Rotary and the Good Samaritan Clinic. #DiscoverFortSmith #UAFS #FortSmithArkansas Relevant Links UAFS & Grand Avenue Region: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/blog/post/uafs-grand-avenue-region/UAFS Gallery of Art and Design: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/uafs-gallery-of-art-and-design/412/Fort Smith Regional Art Museum: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/blog/post/regional-art-museum/U.S. Marshals Museum: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/blog/post/us-marshals-museum/Peacemaker Festival: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/blog/post/peacemaker-festival/Fort Smith Farmers Market: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/fort-smith-farmers-market/278/AJ's Oyster House: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/ajs-oyster-house/27/Bookish: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/bookish/546/10th Street Bookery: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/10th-street-bookery/746/Fort Smith Events Calendar: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/events/

  3. Oct 7

    How to Find a Trusted Builder in Fort Smith | DeAnne Hankins with the Home Builders Association

    DeAnne Hankins, Executive Director of the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders, joins Josh Buchfink and Emily Horn to talk about how the association advocates, educates and networks for the local building industry. She explains their free, two-year residential construction apprentice program at Peak Innovation Center and how to use the member directory to find trusted, licensed contractors. DeAnne also walks through the year's big events, including the Home Show at Kay Rodgers Park, the scholarship golf tournament, the Showcase Home and the Parade of Homes. To wrap up, she shares her favorite Fort Smith spots to eat, sip and bowl. Relevant Links Kay Rodgers Park: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/kay-rodgers-park/832/2026 Home Show: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/articles/post/2026-home-show/Parrot Island Waterpark: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/parrot-island-waterpark/211/Calico County: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/calico-county/34/Geno's Pizza: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/genos-pizza-by-the-slice-central-mall-food-court/488/Fort Smith Coffee Co. at Bakery District: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/fort-smith-coffee-co-at-bakery-district/393/810 Billiards & Bowling: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/listing/810-billiards-&-bowling/575/Best Places to Eat in Fort Smith: https://www.discoverfortsmith.com/dine/Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders: https://www.fortsmithhomebuilders.com (not a DFS link, see notes) #DiscoverFortSmith #FortSmithArkansas #HomeBuilders

  4. Sep 23

    Building Community Through Creativity | Plus Grand Media's Kane & Carlos

    Plus Grand Media founders Kane and Carlos join Discover Fort Smith to talk about turning a chance studio meeting into a business partnership. They dig into balancing creative work with the discipline it takes to run a company, why they've chosen to keep building in Fort Smith instead of a bigger market, and how events like Cameras and Coffee and Artist Connects are growing the local creative community. Along the way they cover early mornings, favorite Fort Smith food spots, and what's next for their studio space. #FortSmithArkansas #PlusGrandMedia #DiscoverFortSmith

  5. Sep 16

    Bryan Alexis on Murals, Art, and Life in Fort Smith

    This episode features Bryan Alexis, professor of graphic design at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and the artist behind nearly 50 murals across the region, including Fort Smith favorites like the Gutenberg mural, Alfonso Trent, and the Woman of the River Valley series. Bryan walks through how a mural class born out of the 2015 Unexpected festival turned into a two-decade career, and gets candid about what AI generation means for graphic designers trying to protect their creative voice. The conversation closes out with his favorite places to eat around Fort Smith and his double life building screen-accurate costumes as a member of the 501st Legion. It's a fun, honest look at art, teaching, and staying creative in Fort Smith. #FortSmith #LocalArtist #DiscoverFortSmith

  6. Sep 14

    T. Ray Grandstaff on Faith, Film, and Finding Home in Fort Smith

    Episode 87 sits down with T. Ray Grandstaff, longtime director with River Valley Fellowship of Christian Athletes and film producer behind Woodlawn, End of the Spear, and the 2025 animated feature Light of the World. Ray shares how a simple invitation to FCA as a sixth grader in Greenwood set the course for a career telling faith-based stories on the big screen, and why he and his family chose Fort Smith as home. The conversation moves into community, touching on the upcoming Mayor's Prayer Breakfast featuring speaker David Beasley and the value of something as simple as waving at your neighbors. It's a conversation about faith, film, and what it looks like to create culture instead of fighting it.#FortSmith #FaithAndFilm #DiscoverFortSmith

  7. Sep 8

    Dr. Phillip McClure on Building Healthy Team Culture | Discover Fort Smith

    Dr. Phillip McClure, founder of McClure Professional Services, joins hosts Emily Horn and Josh Buchfink to break down what separates healthy workplace culture from "command and control" leadership. He shares his path from music school and 30 years in pastoral ministry to full-time leadership coaching, unpacks his "tell-ask ratio" framework for delegation, and weighs in on personality assessments like Birkman and Myers-Briggs. The conversation closes with his 21-year involvement in Leadership Fort Smith and his role on the board of the Western Arkansas Flying Disc Association. #FortSmithArkansas #LeadershipDevelopment #DiscoverFortSmith

  8. Aug 29

    Crystal Eckles on Fort Smith's Ronald McDonald House

    Crystal Eckles, Strategic Partnerships Lead for Ronald McDonald House Arkansas & North Louisiana, joins the Discover Fort Smith podcast to explain how the Fort Smith house has offered families a free home away from home since 2021. Hosts Emily Horn and Josh Buchfink hear personal stories from families who stayed there during NICU and ICU hospitalizations, plus how the nonprofit relies on donors, volunteers, and its annual Red Shoe Shindig fundraiser. A lifelong Fort Smith native, Crystal also shares her path from teaching into nonprofit work and what keeps her rooted in this community. #DiscoverFortSmith #FortSmithArkansas #RonaldMcDonaldHouse

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Discover the story of Fort Smith in people's lives—recorded in places and spaces around town where the stories are unfolding! Hear from chefs, the Mayor, Miss America, and more... about why Fort Smith is a great place to visit, live, and work.

Information

  • Creator
    Discover Fort Smith
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Discover Fort Smith
  • Show Website
    Discover Fort Smith