Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast

Judge Raymond Abramson joins Rex Nelson to talk about the Delta region on the latest installment of the Southern Fried podcast. Abramson, a native of Holly Grove, talks about growing up in the Delta in the 50s and 60s, and how the region has changed as technology has greatly reduced the need for farm labor — a major factor in the shrinking populations of rural communities across Arkansas.

As Arkansans gear up for the Fourth of July weekend, Rex Nelson sits down with Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Stacy Hurst to talk about the many ways to enjoy the state’s natural and cultural amenities on the latest episode of the Southern Fried podcast. More podcasts from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:  https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/podcasts/

Rett Tucker, chairman of Moses Tucker Real Estate, joins Rex Nelson on this week’s episode to talk about the past, present and future of downtown Little Rock’s growth and development.

Skip Rutherford joins Rex Nelson on the latest episode of the Southern Fried Podcast to talk politics as they recap the May 24 primary and discuss their expectations for the November election. Rex and Skip also talk about the recent plans by Lyon College and private investors to convert much of the Heifer International campus in downtown Little Rock into dental and veterinary schools. Get the latest election news: https://www.arkansasonline.com/elections/

The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau is geared up for a comeback year after weathering two years of a pandemic that hit travel, tourism and hospitality industries particularly hard. Libby Lloyd, director of communications with the bureau, joins Rex Nelson on this episode of the Southern Fried Podcast to discuss upcoming events and initiatives they’re working on to promote Little Rock in 2022 and beyond.

Arkansas Cinema Society executive director Kathryn Tucker joins Rex Nelson on this episode of the Southern Fried podcast. Tucker, an award-winning film director and Little Rock native, discusses the state of the filmmaking industry in Arkansas. She lays out her vision for the future, which includes incentives to keep talent in the state, as well as fostering the next generation of Arkansas filmmakers. Tucker also talks about her latest project, “A Good Campaign,” an inside look at her brother, state Sen. Clarke Tucker, during his ultimately unsuccessful 2018 political campaign against U.S. Rep. French Hill. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, April 27, so some of the events discussed have already happened.

Jimmy Moses, founder and chairman of the board at Moses Tucker Partners, joins Rex Nelson on the latest episode of the Southern Fried podcast. Moses, an executive boardmember of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, talks about his love of Little Rock and what growth he would like to see downtown. Moses recently wrote a guest column in the Democrat-Gazette in which he stressed the importance of University of Arkansas, Little Rock to the city’s future. He and Rex discuss what the university could mean to the growth of Little Rock.

Arkansas Travelers CEO Rusty Meeks joins Rex Nelson on this episode of the Southern Fried Podcast as the Travs are set to play their first game of the season in Frisco, Texas. Meeks talks about the latest upgrades at Dickey Stephens Park, including a high-definition video board and some new menu offerings at the concessions stands. He also breaks down the slate of facility requirements for minor league stadiums handed down by Major League Baseball last year. The club is in negotiations with the City of North Little Rock, the owner of the ballpark, over the financing of these renovations.

John Kirk, author and Donaghey Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, joins Rex Nelson on this week’s episode of the Southern Fried podcast to talk about his latest book, “Winthrop Rockefeller: From New Yorker to Arkansawyer, 1912-1956”

Real estate developer John Flake recently wrote an opinion article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette addressing the uptick of crime in Little Rock. In it, he called for a consolidation of law enforcement agencies in Pulaski County. Flake and Rex Nelson discuss ways to improve public safety and the overall health of Little Rock in the latest episode on the Southern Fried podcast. Read John Flake’s opinion article: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/feb/11/enough-is-enough/