Advertise on podcast: Small Town Girl with Gwen Faulkenberry

Greg and Sid Adams learned that their son, Kerry, had a fatal brain condition and would not survive. They chose to induce labor, allowing them to hold their son, say goodbye and grieve with the support of their community. But today, that choice isn't available for Arkansas families. Sid and Greg had access to the type of care that is now banned in Arkansas. Many, like our host Gwen, grew up with preconceived ideas on the type of people and situations that led to abortions. Sid and Greg share their story not only to spread awareness but also to combat those stereotypes. Chapters (00:00:00) - Opening Reflection: Choice and Freedom(00:01:12) - Introductions and the Decision to Share Their Story(00:03:12) - Sponsor Message(00:03:53) - Naming Baby Carrie and Early Pregnancy(00:06:10) - Sensing Something Was Wrong(00:09:05) - Alarming Test Results and the Weekend of Waiting(00:11:47) - The Ultrasound and the Diagnosis(00:13:42) - Weighing the Options and Finding Clarity(00:18:21) - Choosing Induction and Preparing to Go to the Hospital(00:20:03) - Telling Laura and the Journey to the Hospital(00:22:41) - Labor and Delivery(00:25:25) - Meeting Carrie and His Final 90 Minutes(00:28:23) - Memorial Service and Grieving Carrie(00:29:50) - Laura's Later Questions and Life After Loss(00:31:19) - Why They Feel Compelled to Share Their Story(00:34:34) - Reflecting on the Word 'Abortion' and a Right to Life Call(00:35:31) - The Street Protester in D.C.(00:39:49) - Canvassing for the Abortion Rights Amendment(00:41:33) - How the Abortion Narrative Got Hijacked(00:43:12) - Growing Up With a Different View of Abortion(00:45:36) - Complex Cases and the Limits of Simple Moral Rules(00:48:01) - Oversimplification and the Logic of Pro-Life Arguments(00:53:40) - Life as a Continuum and the Need for Humble Policy(00:55:45) - There's No Such Thing as Other People's Children(00:59:11) - Class, Access, and Inequity in Reproductive Choice(01:02:28) - Government in the Room: A Tragedy Compounded(01:06:28) - Small Town Values and the Need for Reasonable Lines(01:08:33) - Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

In this episode of Small Town Girl, Gwen sits down with Dr. Jim Mark Ingram, an allergy physician who spent much of his life hiding a fundamental part of who he was. Growing up in a small, conservative Arkansas town and a Southern Baptist family, Jim knew from a young age that he was gay, but he didn't have the language, community or understanding to make sense of those feelings. What happens when the life you've built no longer matches the person you know yourself to be? Listen & Subscribe! Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/ Listen to past episodes! ARKANSAS ONLINE: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ NORTHWEST ONLINE: https://www.nwaonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/

In this deeply personal episode of Small Town Girl, Gwen Faulkenberry sits down with Dr. Rose Smith, the therapist she credits with helping change her life. Gwen opens up about the difficult period following her 2020 election loss, the physical toll of chronic stress, and the moment she began to understand that her body had been trying to tell her something. Together, Gwen and Dr. Rose explore what it means to live an authentic life, recognize when our internal truth conflicts with outside expectations, and find the courage to listen. Listen & Subscribe! Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/ Listen to past episodes! ARKANSAS ONLINE: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ NORTHWEST ONLINE: https://www.nwaonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ Chapters (00:00:06) - Introducing Dr. Rose Smith(00:01:49) - Gwen's story: election loss, marriage crisis, health scare(00:05:11) - Meeting Dr. Rose and beginning therapy(00:06:57) - Sponsor: Southern Loft furniture(00:07:20) - Opening invocation and setting intentions(00:09:20) - Listening to your body vs. cultural expectations(00:11:56) - Faith, the body, and 'spirit vs flesh'(00:12:47) - The 'falling down at the ball game' moment(00:15:55) - Saying thank you: reframing painful awakenings(00:21:26) - Finding your 'pod': shared struggles and connection(00:25:32) - Small towns, authenticity, and living truthfully(00:29:32) - Grief after her father's death(00:31:32) - Debunking the stages of grief(00:34:38) - Why some people grieve well and others get stuck(00:37:17) - Building resilience in children and adults(00:40:09) - Reframing and emotional regulation(00:44:01) - Feelings aren't right or wrong(00:45:39) - The rain meditation and being the ocean(00:47:46) - Riding grief's waves like a riptide(00:50:18) - Physiology of grief and self-care(00:52:07) - Closing thoughts and where to find Dr. Rose

In this episode of Small Town Girl, Gwen Faulkenberry sits down with Dr. Gail Choate, executive director of the Arkansas Civic Action Network, to talk about what it really means to be an engaged citizen. Dr. Choate discusses why so many people feel overwhelmed or disconnected from the political process and how her organization is working to change that by giving Arkansans practical tools to understand their government, become confident voters and make their voices heard. Listen & Subscribe! Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/ Listen to past episodes! ARKANSAS ONLINE: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ NORTHWEST ONLINE: https://www.nwaonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ Follow Small Town Girl, Gwen Faulkenberry: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwendolannfaulkenberry?igsh=Mm9iNnNkcjhoMDQ3&utm_source=qr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gwendolann.faulkenberry?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=VOmgTu5JpLnHLqcy&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1K7exmtJRN%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr# TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@user6617143631818?_r=1&_t=ZT-92dPCrpt4id X/Twitter: https://x.com/gwenfaulkenber1?s=21 Learn more about the Arkansas Civic Action Network: Web: https://www.arkaction.net/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkaction/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkactionnet/ Join the conversation: Email [email protected] ! New episodes drop every other week! #smalltowngirl #smalltown #civicengagement #politics #arkansaspolitics The opinions expressed are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Danielle Williamson moved to Little Rock with her husband in 2021, excited to begin a new chapter in Arkansas and start a family. After struggling to get pregnant, Danielle and her husband turned to IVF. When they finally learned they were expecting their first child, they believed their dream of becoming parents was coming true. But at 18 weeks, a routine ultrasound changed everything. Doctors discovered that their baby had no kidneys or bladder and had not developed lungs because of the lack of amniotic fluid. Danielle was told the baby would either be stillborn or die shortly after birth, but because of Arkansas’ abortion law, she could not receive the care she needed in her home state. Today, she sits down with our host, Gwen Faulkenberry, to tell this important story. Listen & Subscribe! Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/ Listen to past episodes! ARKANSAS ONLINE: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ NORTHWEST ONLINE: https://www.nwaonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ Follow Small Town Girl, Gwen Faulkenberry: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwendolannfaulkenberry?igsh=Mm9iNnNkcjhoMDQ3&utm_source=qr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gwendolann.faulkenberry?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=VOmgTu5JpLnHLqcy&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1K7exmtJRN%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr# TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@user6617143631818?_r=1&_t=ZT-92dPCrpt4id X/Twitter: https://x.com/gwenfaulkenber1?s=21 Learn more about AR Abortion Support: https://www.arabortionsupport.org/ Join the conversation: Email [email protected] ! Thank you to our furniture sponsor @MySouthernLoft ! Check out their expansive inventory at: https://mysouthernloft.com/ New episodes drop every other week! #smalltowngirl #smalltown #healthcare #politics #arkansaspolitics The opinions expressed are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Chapters (00:00:06) - Danielle Williamson(00:01:27) - ZOOM: Danielle's Story(00:03:42) - My IVF Baby Had No Amniotic fluid(00:13:57) - The decision to terminate the pregnancy after learning of a heart condition(00:22:41) - The Abortion Crisis in Illinois(00:32:35) - Arkansas women speak out about the abortion law(00:38:45) - Arkansas women speak out about forced abortions(00:42:13) - Arkansas Abortion Petition Signers(00:45:34) - Danielle Williamson on Her Fight for Arkansas's Abortion Ban

In this episode of Small Town Girl, host Gwen Faulkenberry sits down with Kristin Foster, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Arkansas and a longtime advocate for civic engagement and public policy. Kristin breaks down what’s happening with Arkansas’ budget following the state’s latest fiscal session, including the growing costs of incarceration, the state’s planned 3,000-bed prison, Education Freedom Accounts, tax cuts and what it all means for public schools and local governments. Listen & Subscribe! Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/ Listen to past episodes! ARKANSAS ONLINE: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ NORTHWEST ONLINE: https://www.nwaonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ Follow Small Town Girl, Gwen Faulkenberry: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwendolannfaulkenberry?igsh=Mm9iNnNkcjhoMDQ3&utm_source=qr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gwendolann.faulkenberry?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=VOmgTu5JpLnHLqcy&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1K7exmtJRN%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr# TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@user6617143631818?_r=1&_t=ZT-92dPCrpt4id X/Twitter: https://x.com/gwenfaulkenber1?s=21 Follow Kistin Foster: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristinhasnotes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinhasnotes Chapters (00:00:06) - Kristen Foster on Small Town Girl(00:02:06) - Kristen Kirkpatrick on Keeping Up With Arkansas Politics(00:04:42) - Kristen Gets Real About Her Background(00:06:29) - Arkansas Political Columnist on Spending Issues(00:09:06) - Arkansas budget: Spending priorities has changed(00:16:59) - Local perspectives on prison spending(00:20:58) - On Educational Freedom Accounts(00:22:12) - Arkansas Senate debate on spending(00:27:22) - Arkansas on a Fiscal Cliff(00:37:05) - Local concern about dyslexia screening(00:40:06) - What are some of the other places(00:48:19) - Republicans on Tax Cuts(00:49:54) - Arkansas lawmaker: The People's Agenda

In this episode of Small Town Girl, Gwen Faulkenberry sits down with Porter Hays, creator of The Ozarker and co-host of the Hawg Talk podcast, to discuss the power of small-town pride, community storytelling, and revitalizing rural Arkansas. Porter shares how growing up in Ozark shaped his passion for serving his hometown, the mentors who influenced his life, and why he launched The Ozarker to spotlight local businesses, restaurants, events, and the people who make the Arkansas River Valley special. From promoting tourism to celebrating community success stories, Porter believes positive storytelling can help small towns thrive. Listen & Subscribe! Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/ Listen to past episodes! ARKANSAS ONLINE: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ NORTHWEST ONLINE: https://www.nwaonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ Chapters (00:00:07) - Meet Porter Hayes, The Ozarker(00:07:12) - Ozark County Sheriff's Office presents(00:09:20) - Porter: I Was Raised in Ozark(00:14:13) - Bob Rippy on His Influential Coach(00:15:55) - Rednecks in Ozark(00:17:47) - Hog Talk(00:20:12) - Visit Ozark(00:21:07) - Visit Ozark: Small Towns Will Be Included(00:24:45) - Ozark: Positive Changes in the Town(00:28:47) - Ozark Restaurant Open for COVID(00:32:55) - What would you bring back to town?(00:33:38) - Tyler Porter on the Benefit for Jackson Tedford(00:39:02) - One Autism Dad's Story(00:46:25) - Porter on revitalizing Ozark: "(00:52:07) - Covid on Podcast(00:53:03) - Sam Harris on Community Policing

From a small town in Arkansas to BookTok fame in New York City! In this episode of Small Town Girl, Gwen Faulkenberry sits down with Cody Vest, former Arkansas educator, literacy advocate, and viral BookTok creator with more than 300,000 followers across platforms. Listen & Subscribe! Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/ Listen to past episodes! ARKANSAS ONLINE: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/ NORTHWEST ONLINE: https://www.nwaonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/  Chapters (00:00:06) - Cody Vest on Small Town, Girl(00:02:36) - Cody Fern on Becoming an Influencer(00:03:50) - Viral Furniture Designer at Southern Loft(00:09:35) - Interviewing Min Jin Lee on a Podcast(00:10:04) - Talking to Reese Witherspoon About Her Book(00:11:49) - Judy Blume Meets Her Fans(00:13:49) - Black History Talk: The Great Migration(00:20:38) - Ocean Vong at the Literary Festival(00:22:35) - Gaining Out Of Education(00:27:08) - Teachers speak out about the challenges of teaching(00:32:39) - Black People on Colson Whitehead's 'To Kill A M(00:37:54) - Read Just Mercy: The Justice System's Failure(00:39:09) - Cody on Growing Up Gay in Arkansas(00:41:59) - Coming Out: Gay People's Stories(00:46:11) - Coming to Terms With Your Queer Identity(00:49:41) - What is Pride and Why It Matters?(00:56:12) - Black Lives Matter: Individual Freedom vs. the Greater Good(01:01:33) - Cody Case on Starting a Content Channel(01:06:01) - Cody Best on Social Media

From Springdale to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN and back to Arkansas, Dr. Alejandra Campos shares her family’s powerful immigration story and how it shaped her work as a political science professor at the University of Arkansas. In this episode of Small Town Girl, we talk about immigration in Arkansas, growing up as a Latino family in Northwest Arkansas, the poultry industry, voting rights, identity, education, and the complicated realities behind today’s political debates. Alejandra opens up about her parents’ journey from Mexico to Springdale in the 1990s, the sacrifices they made to build a life for their children, and how education, family, and curiosity helped shape her and her siblings’ paths. Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/  Opinions are of the host and guests and don't necessarily reflect the views of NWA Democrat-Gazette.

From rural Arkansas to international law and academia, this episode features an in-depth conversation with legal scholar and author Lisa Pruitt about education, class, politics, identity, and the growing divide in America. Lisa shares her journey growing up in Jasper, Arkansas, becoming a first-generation professional, studying law at the University of Arkansas, and eventually building a career teaching law in California after years spent working across Europe and beyond. Along the way, she opens up about sexism in higher education, culture shock between rural and urban America, and how her relationship with her mother helped shape her understanding of politics and class. Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/  Opinions are of the host and guests and don't necessarily reflect the views of NWA Democrat-Gazette. Chapters (00:00:00) - Meet Lisa Pruitt: Small Town Girl(00:04:23) - Lisa Rappeport on Fighting for Women's Rights(00:13:32) - Teaching Retiring at 27(00:17:07) - Teaching Students to Stop Educated Arrogance(00:25:39) - Arkansas Tech Ozark: The Journey of Students(00:28:25) - Arkansas teacher on wokeness and indoctrination(00:36:20) - On the Problem of Ask Where I'm From(00:44:28) - Law School Professors on Their Syllabus(00:52:09) - Breitbart News: Patriotism(00:55:10) - How Can We Heal the Political Divide?(01:00:30) - The New York Times and Conspiracy Theories(01:10:22) - White Privilege and the Trump conversation(01:12:19) - Law Students on the Right and the Left(01:15:27) - Lisa Pruitt on Personal Responsibility

Welcome back to Small Town Girl! In this special episode, we step out of the studio and into a breathtaking lavender field just outside Eureka Springs. And trust me, it’s as magical as it sounds. I’m joined by my longtime friend Kat, who shares the incredible story behind her journey from art teacher to lavender farm owner and entrepreneur. What started as a simple dream turned into a full-blown passion project filled with purpose, beauty, and community. If you love small-town charm, inspiring stories, and scenic escapes, this is a place you’ll want to add to your list. Check them out: https://lagrangelavender.com/ Listen & Subscribe! Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/ Opinions are of the host and guests and don't necessarily reflect the views of NWA Democrat-Gazette. Chapters (00:00:00) - Small Town, Girl(00:02:06) - Vinovating a Barn(00:05:11) - A caregiver's dream to retire to a lavender farm(00:09:33) - Farmers grow lavender in Northwest Arkansas(00:16:01) - Exploring a cow pasture in Eureka Springs(00:18:47) - Farmworkers renovating a barn(00:21:51) - How I Met My Husband On Christian Mingle(00:27:29) - Where Everything Clicks: Lavender Cafe(00:32:24) - Bachelor in the Barn(00:33:55) - What Do You Provide For a Wedding Venue?(00:35:23) - Kat's dream: The Lavender Bloom

In this episode of Small Town Girl, we sit down with Justin McCormick, Executive Director of Main Street Ozark, to talk about the heart, hustle, and hope behind revitalizing small-town Arkansas. From growing up in Altus and Coal Hill to working in larger cities and ultimately returning home, Justin shares his powerful journey of rediscovering purpose in the place that raised him. We dive into the challenges and opportunities facing rural communities, the importance of investing in local businesses, and what it really takes to bring a downtown back to life. If you care about small towns, entrepreneurship, or creating vibrant communities where people want Connect with Justin & Main Street Ozark: Main Street Ozark Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mainstreetozark?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Web: https://mainstreetozark.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnszNXAOLsNt8-ExWHFCs9id8OSDi5rf_lDMyylJihB1oczaHD8Ouxb9yYVmQ_aem_Q3cT7qhGHx-dkAoszQ2l-w Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MainStreetOzark/ Email: [email protected] Howdy Co.: @thehowdycompanyAR Listen & Subscribe! Chapters (00:00:00) - Small Town Girl(00:01:03) - Meet the Furniture Designer from Southern Loft(00:05:28) - Super-involved girl at school(00:07:48) - Coming Out: Growing Up Gay in Arkansas(00:10:50) - Gay Voices on Growing Up(00:15:28) - On Masculinity in the Southern Women's Perspective(00:18:27) - Graduating from Fayetteville with a journalism degree(00:22:00) - One Gay Couple Adopt a Child(00:24:04) - Adopt a Little Boy from Arkansas(00:25:04) - Farmhouse in Denning, Oklahoma(00:26:35) - Who is the Main Street Ozark volunteer?(00:28:42) - The new executive director for the Ozark Chamber(00:34:00) - A Christmas gift for a hillbilly(00:37:18) - Reveal: The Western Market in Altus(00:41:17) - Farmers' Market and Springfest(00:43:55) - Howdy & Co: Help revitalize Downtown Ozark(00:51:30) - Ozark's potential on the river(00:53:27) - Ozark Mayor on the Future of the Town(00:58:57) - Main Street Ozark: How to find someone?

In this episode of Small Town Girl, Gwen Faulkenberry sits down with Colt Shelby, a sixth-generation Arkansan from Cecil who is running for governor as a Libertarian against Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Shelby shares how a proposed 3,000-bed prison project near his hometown sparked his entry into politics. What started as concern over a development in his community led him down a deeper path of researching state government, criminal justice policy, education, and economic challenges facing rural Arkansas. Listen & Subscribe! Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/  More on Colt Shelby: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/feb/23/colt-shelby-opponent-of-franklin-county-prison/

In this episode of Small Town Girl with Gwen Ford Faulkenberry, Gwen sits down with longtime friend Corrie Radtke, a former missionary whose life journey has taken her across continents, cultures, and through profound spiritual questions. Corrie shares her story of growing up in a charismatic Christian environment, entering the mission field with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), and spending years serving in Europe and the United States. Along the way, she wrestled with deep questions about faith, church culture, and the systems that shaped her spiritual life. Through various experiences, Corrie reflects on the moments that began to shift her perspective and lead her into a process of faith renovation and deconstruction. Listen & Subscribe! Read Gwen’s Column: https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/gwen-faulkenberry/  Check out Corrie's Work: https://substack.com/@corrieradke

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Small Town Girl, Gwen sits down with Emily Waldorf, an Arkansas mother, physical therapist, and plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the state’s near-total abortion ban. Emily shares the heartbreaking story of a life-threatening pregnancy complication that forced her to leave Arkansas to receive emergency reproductive care. What began as a hopeful pregnancy turned into a traumatic medical crisis that left doctors unable to act under current state law. After days of waiting in the hospital while her condition worsened, Emily was ultimately transferred out of state for the care she needed to survive. This conversation explores the human side of a deeply polarizing issue, focusing on compassion, medical decision-making, and the real-life consequences families can face when politics and healthcare intersect. ⚠️ Content note: This episode discusses pregnancy loss, medical trauma, and reproductive healthcare. Abortion in America https://abortioninamerica.org/