Living In The Ozarks

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Brian Hood, Springfield native, Army veteran, CIA contractor, and author, to talk about what it takes to keep living when life gets dark. We cover the identity crisis men face after leaving the military, the power of gratitude and the pause, and why checking on your brothers might be the most important thing you do this week — and why it matters deeply to men across the Ozar...

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Katrina and Alec Hagan, founders of Sensitively Sweet Bakery and The Safe Spoon Café, to talk about how a lupus and alpha gal diagnosis became the unlikely origin story of an allergen-free food business. We cover Katrina’s five-year health journey, how she taught herself to bake without gluten, dairy, eggs, or nuts, and how word-of-mouth from a Facebook group turned into a F...

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Lucas Walker, a Springfield-based business consultant with ten years in the field, to talk about what it actually takes to help small business owners grow. We cover why practical beats clever every time, how personal development and business success are inseparable, and what the Ozarks market taught Lucas about going national.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience ser...

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Victor McNeary, owner of Vine and Vibes, to talk about his journey as an entrepreneur and his vision for a zero-proof event center in Springfield, Missouri. We cover community engagement, nonprofit collaboration, and how his space is creating opportunities for connection and growth across the Ozarks.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focused on the people ...

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Steve Belden, Operating Partner at AMP Recreation LLC, and Gabby Kuehnel, Events Manager at the Sunshine Event Center, to talk about building a food, beverage, and entertainment hub in Springfield, Missouri. We cover hospitality leadership, event experiences, and the vision behind creating a destination district in the Ozarks.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience...

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Hunter Bartelt, Director of Operations at the Discovery Center in Springfield, Missouri, to talk about STEM education, workforce development, and hands-on learning for kids. We cover early exposure to the skilled trades, new interactive exhibits, and how local initiatives are helping shape future career paths in the Ozarks.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience se...

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, host Duston Farrell sits down with Sigi Hill of CSSI Services to explore how cost segregation works and how it can help commercial property owners reduce tax liability through accelerated depreciation. Sigi explains the engineering-based approach behind cost segregation studies and why this strategy can create significant financial advantages for investors and building owners.

The convers...

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Jodie Hieber of The Yellow Door, a classical acupuncture and herbal medicine practice in Springfield, Missouri. We talk about what acupuncture actually is, why she focuses on treating the whole person rather than just symptoms, and how her clinic is using auricular therapy (SAT) to help people dealing with allergies — including alpha-gal.

This episode is part of the Ozarks Ex...

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Ken Childers, Director of Outreach for the Ozarks Film Foundry and the Southwest Missouri Film Office, to talk about building a real film industry in Springfield and the Ozarks of Southwest Missouri. We discuss film production, regional economic impact, and why local storytelling and creative infrastructure matter for the future of our region.

This episode is part of the Ozar...

Anjanette Labellarte, Executive Director of Hospice Foundation for Outreach, joins us to talk about what hospice really is, the difference between hospice and palliative care, and why families often wait too long to have critical end-of-life conversations. We discuss the caregiver crisis in Missouri, frontline medical education, and how preparation can bring clarity, dignity, and even hope during life’s hardest seasons.

This episode...

In this episode of Living in the Ozarks, we sit down with Chris Phillips, owner of Easy Clean Outs, to talk about building a service business grounded in quality, legal compliance, and community impact. The discussion covers handling complex cleanouts, working with local nonprofits, and why doing the job the right way matters to people and communities across the Ozarks.

This conversation is part of the Ozarks Experience series, focu...

In this episode, we sit down with Joshua Alger, owner of Alger Studio, to talk about fine art photography, oil paintings from photographs, and creating physical artwork that lasts in a digital-first world.

Joshua shares how Alger Studio blends mobile, on-location portrait photography—often in natural Ozarks settings—with hand-painted oil portraits designed to become heirloom pieces. We discuss his artistic journey, early influences,...