In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Ashleigh Buckley, an attorney and the founder of The Buckley Firm, who also serves as Vice President for the Sebastian County Bar Association. We talked about advocating for people who feel like they don’t have a voice, navigating a male-dominated field, and the emotional weight of prosecuting child abuse cases. It was a real conversation about justice, resilience, and purpose, and I think you’ll enjoy hearing her perspective on finding strength through service—and why she’d be just fine living off-grid with horses.Visit: arkansasminds.comFollow @arkansasminds on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTubeChapters:00:00 Intro01:22 Why Ashleigh Became an Attorney03:47 Making the Legal System Accessible06:12 Transparency and Ethics in Law08:01 Women in a Male-Dominated Field10:13 Standing Her Ground in Court12:00 The Weight of Legal Decisions14:02 Protecting Children Through Law16:50 Emotional Challenges of Justice Work19:40 Life and Law in Arkansas22:46 Breaking the Cycle of Abuse25:04 How Law School Shapes Thinking27:06 Finding Confidence and Purpose29:06 If Money Wasn’t a Factor30:45 Childhood, Country Roots & Horses33:09 Faith and Family34:58 What People Don’t Know About Ashleigh37:02 Community, Mentorship, and Fort Smith41:02 Would You Rather: Arkansas Edition44:14 How to Connect with Ashleigh#ArkansasMinds#SupportLocal#PodcastLife

In this episode, we sit down with Emily, a content manager turned Director of Marketing at Discover Fort Smith, who shares her incredible journey of winding career paths, life-changing experiences abroad, and reflections on burnout, career shifts, and finding balance. From her time teaching in Mississippi to her love for theater, French, and marketing, Emily’s story highlights resilience and self-discovery.

In this episode, we talk to Kerrie Taber, an author and educator whose incredible journey led to the creation of her book, Quarantining Hate. Kerrie shares the shocking story of discovering her grandfather’s role as a World War II war criminal and how it inspired her to confront hate and fear in society. Together, we discuss the roots of prejudice, the importance of dialogue, and how small actions can lead to big societal changes. https://a.co/d/0NYjlK3