Best Mike Rusch Podcasts (2025)

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the Van Winkle Family with Barbara Carr (ep 2, 37). 48:41

1d ago48:41

48:41

Send us a text We close this season with the voice of Barbara Carr, great-granddaughter of Aaron Anderson “Rock” Van Winkle, an enslaved boy brought to Northwest Arkansas in the 1830s who became one of the region’s most skilled builders after Emancipation. His hands helped construct homes, courthouses, churches, and Old Main at the University of Ar…

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Getting back to work with metal artist Rae Ripple 1:15:30

9d ago1:15:30

1:15:30

Rae Ripple returns to The Fabricator Podcast with updates on her life, metal art, and wild adventures. She shares stories about her move from Texas to Tennessee, major projects with Hypertherm, Northern Tool, Lincoln Electric, Harley-Davidson, Northeastern Junior College, and her passion for FABTECH. You’ll also hear how she freehand plasma-cut a 1…

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the Van Winkle Family with Jerry Moore (ep 2, 36). 1:05:19

10d ago1:05:19

1:05:19

Send us a text Aaron Anderson Rock Van Winkle was born into slavery and is believed to have been one of the first enslaved persons to be brought to Northwest Arkansas. After emancipation, he became a landowner, father, and community member in Bentonville, Arkansas. But even today, his story remains largely absent from public memory. In this episode…

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the founding ideologies with Dr. Todd J. Stockdale (ep 2, 35). 1:02:43

17d ago1:02:43

1:02:43

Send us a text From Enlightenment ideals to the myth of the American frontier, the founding ideologies of the United States have long shaped how we define humanity, progress, and belonging. In this episode, Dr. Todd Stockdale invites us to trace how these ideologies, especially the Western liberal view of the autonomous individual, intersected with…

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Art of design in fabrication with James Geier of 555 International 1:12:38

23d ago1:12:38

1:12:38

In this episode, James Geier, founder of Chicago-based 555 International, shares how the business has evolved into a design-driven fabrication business known for delivering immersive, high-impact brand environments all across the country. Founded in 1988, Geier developed 555 into a go-to partner for custom fabrication projects across industries—fro…

1
the president & religion in the south with Dr. Jared Phillips (ep 2, 34). 1:16:38

24d ago1:16:38

1:16:38

Send us a text Religion in the South is more than tradition; it’s a force that has shaped politics, belonging, and identity across generations. In this episode, we return to Dr. Jared M. Phillips to ask for a historical view to try and understand where that power comes from, and how it takes root in the South and places like Northwest Arkansas? Thr…

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the organizer with Irvin Camacho (ep 2, 33). 1:06:18

1M ago1:06:18

1:06:18

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Irvin Camacho, a Community Rights Organizer and immigrant advocate based in Northwest Arkansas. Irvin shares how his family's experience—his parents working in the region’s poultry plants—shaped his understanding of labor, language, and belonging. Through his work on language justice, immigrant right…

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"Fun & Games / Competition" July 13th, 2025 (Teacher: Shannon Barrowcliff) 30:16

1M ago30:16

30:16

ALL ARE WELCOME!!!You can find out more about us at our website www.gracechurchnwa.orgIt is a priority for us at Vine & Branch to make LGBTQIA+, all ethnicities and races, those with disabilities, and other marginalized people groups feel accepted, included, and valuable to the life of our community!…

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"Testimonies" July 6th, 2025 (Teacher: John Ray) 27:42

1M ago27:42

27:42

ALL ARE WELCOME!!!You can find out more about us at our website www.gracechurchnwa.orgIt is a priority for us at Vine & Branch to make LGBTQIA+, all ethnicities and races, those with disabilities, and other marginalized people groups feel accepted, included, and valuable to the life of our community!…

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the workers with Magaly Licolli (ep 2, 32). 1:27:24

1M ago1:27:24

1:27:24

Send us a text In Northwest Arkansas, the poultry industry has long been a cornerstone of the region’s economic growth. Behind the refrigerated cases and production lines are thousands of workers, many of them immigrants, whose stories and experiences are rarely part of the public conversation. In this episode, we sit down with Magaly Licolli, co-f…

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Creative collaboration and welding with Brandon Minga of House of RAD 54:50

1M ago54:50

54:50

Brandon Minga is an artist, welder, and entrepreneur based in Wisconsin. Minga is the creative force behind House of RAD, a Milwaukee-based collaborative workspace for over 60 resident artists and makers. Minga has a background in illustration and graphic design, which led him to work in the metal fabrication, welding, and sculpture world. Some of …

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the companies with Olivia Paschal (ep 2, 31). 1:13:57

1M ago1:13:57

1:13:57

Send us a text In this episode, we confront one of the most culturally significant topics in Northwest Arkansas: the role of Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt in shaping not only the economy, but the entire identity of the region. These companies have brought immense opportunity, visibility, and resources to Northwest Arkansas. But they’ve also c…

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the history of latino immigration with Dr. Steven Rosales (ep 2, 30). 1:19:39

2M ago1:19:39

1:19:39

Send us a text For decades, Latino immigrants have come to the United States in search of stability, opportunity, and a better future. But what brought them specifically to Arkansas—and to Northwest Arkansas in particular? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Steven Rosales, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Latin American and Lat…

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"Purity Culture" June 22nd, 2025 (Teacher: John Ray) 32:22

2M ago32:22

32:22

Let me share with you a passage from CS Lewis’s seminal work Mere Christianity “I want to make it as clear as I possibly can that the centre of Christian morality is not [sexual behavior]. If anyone thinks that Christians regard unchastity as the supreme vice, he is quite wrong. The sins of the flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins.…

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the ozarks with Dr. Jared M. Phillips, part 2 (ep 2, 29). 45:44

2M ago45:44

45:44

Send us a text In part two of our conversation with Dr. Jared Phillips, we trace the transformation of the Ozarks from an agrarian culture built on land, memory, and mutuality into a region shaped by corporate industry and consolidated power. We explore how poultry integration, economic policy, and the rise of companies like Tyson and Walmart resha…

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"The B.I.B.L.E." June 15th, 2025 (Teacher: John Ray) 35:12

2M ago35:12

35:12

This summer we’re taking time to look back on specific elements of experiences that are common to those who have gone to camp, specifically but not limited to church camp, and examine these experiences in light of what we are all coming to know and practice about our faith now. We may not need sunscreen or bug spray, but it will take an adventurous…

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Bead rolling art with Jarrod Klassen of Twisted Metal Sign Company 45:20

2M ago45:20

45:20

Jarrod Klassen is the owner of Twisted Metal Sign Company, a business in Saskatchewan focused on creating intricate metal artwork using bead rolling techniques. While working in corrections, Jarrod discovered bead rolling as a hobby and has honed his skills over the past several years. He has gone from using a homemade bead roller to upgrading to p…

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the zoning policies with Alli Thurmond Quinlan (ep 2, 28). 51:02

2M ago51:02

51:02

Send us a text In this episode, we continue the story of Southeast Fayetteville—this time by examining the systems that helped shape, and often erase, its historic Black community. Architect and former Fayetteville Planning Commissioner Alli Thurmond Quinlan joins us to uncover how zoning policies, preservation rules, and land use codes have operat…

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the historic district with Tommie Flowers Davis (ep 2, 27). 1:16:32

2M ago1:16:32

1:16:32

Send us a text In this episode, we speak with longtime Fayetteville resident Tommie Flowers Davis about the disappearing legacy of Southeast Fayetteville’s Black community—and the movement to establish a Black Historic District before it’s too late. As a native of the neighborhood, a former educator, a developer, and a member of the Fayetteville Hi…

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Metal shaping and power hammering with Chris Rusch and Mike Wagner 1:00:49

3M ago1:00:49

1:00:49

This episode of The Fabricator Podcast features a conversation with Chris Rusch, formerly of Rusch Machine & Design, and Mike Wagner of Cornfield Customs. They discuss the history and development of metal shaping equipment, particularly the power hammer, and how it has enabled a resurgence in this specialized craft. Chris and Mike describe the tech…

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the civil rights and labor with Dr. Michael C. Pierce (ep 2, 26). 1:18:31

3M ago1:18:31

1:18:31

Send us a text In this episode, Dr. Michael C. Pierce, labor historian and professor at the University of Arkansas, helps us unpack the deep connections between race, labor, and the struggle for civil rights in Northwest Arkansas. Long before the region was known for corporate giants and suburban growth, it was home to radical union organizing, soc…

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"Kings or Servants" June 1st, 2025 (Teacher: Betty Wilton) 26:00

3M ago26:00

26:00

Our passage this week talks about the posture that we must take as followers of Christ. It is one that invites us to acknowledge the privilege and power we have been given by the world, and to humble ourselves wholly to God for the service of others. In a time where Christians in the West are throwing themselves into positions of more power, creati…

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the people with Brad Sikorski (ep 2, 25). 36:03

3M ago36:03

36:03

Send us a text In this episode, we pause the historical narrative of Northwest Arkansas to check in with one of the region’s most important community leaders. Brad Sikorski is the new President and CEO of the Excellerate Foundation, stepping into the role after the transformative season under the leadership of Jeff Webster. With roots in Walmart, W…

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"Everything Belongs" May 25th, 2025 (Teacher: Mike Rusch) 30:18

3M ago30:18

30:18

This week we have the privilege of hearing from Mike Rusch. Mike’s life involves way to much to sum up here, but suffice it to say you don’t want to miss this Sunday. Among many other things, Mike is creator and host of The Underview podcast , which contributes significantly to dialog around what wholeness means, and takes, for our community. I enc…

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"Making Whole" May 18th, 2025 (Teacher: Laura Holland) 24:04

3M ago24:04

24:04

Making Whole 🧩 This week Laura led us to look at 1 Corinthians 2 and the gift of God’s spirit and the example of Jesus.You can find out more about us at our website www.gracechurchnwa.orgIt is a priority for us at Vine & Branch to make LGBTQIA+, all ethnicities and races, those with disabilities, and other marginalized people groups feel accepted, …

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Empowering a workforce with Kent Brown of O'Neal Manufacturing 57:59

3M ago57:59

57:59

Kent Brown joins The Fabricator Podcast talk about becoming CEO of O'Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS) in 2018, his leadership philosophy, emphasizing safety, empowering the OMS workforce, expanding the company's geographical footprint, and what it means to be a mainstay on our annual FAB 40 list. Brown discusses how OMS has experienced significant…

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the immigrants with Emily Pianalto-Beshears (ep 2, 24). 1:22:02

3M ago1:22:02

1:22:02

Send us a text This episode brings us to Tontitown, Arkansas—a community formed by Italian immigrants who carved out a place of belonging in the Ozarks through stone, song, and story. Our guest, Emily Pianalto-Beshears, Manager of the Tontitown Historical Museum and a descendant of the original settlers, invites us into her family’s deep-rooted his…

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the cries from the cotton field with Larry Foley (ep 2, 23). 57:14

3M ago57:14

57:14

Send us a text In the late 1800s, a group of Italian immigrants left the mountain villages of Northern Italy in search of opportunity and land in America. What they found instead was exploitation, malaria, and broken promises on the cotton fields of Sunnyside Plantation in Southeast Arkansas. In this first of a two-part series, filmmaker and journa…

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Addressing mental health and PTSD through metal art with Steve Kost 1:18:31

4M ago1:18:31

1:18:31

Steve Kost of Chicago-based Metal Health Artwork joins us this week to talk about how he turned to creating metal sculptures to help him cope with PTSD after serving in the military, and what started as just a hobby has become full-scale effort advocating for better mental health practices among veterans and other adults. Steve talks about his time…

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the state of education with Dr. Debbie Jones (ep 2, 22). 51:24

4M ago51:24

51:24

Send us a text In this episode of the underview, we sit down with Dr. Debbie Jones, Superintendent of Bentonville Public Schools, to explore the sweeping changes unfolding across Arkansas and the nation that are reshaping public education. Fresh off the end of the Arkansas legislative session, Dr. Jones helps unpack the implications of the newly si…

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Inside a forward-thinking fabrication business with Kirk McCauley 1:00:11

4M ago1:00:11

1:00:11

In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Kirk McCauley, owner of American Engineering and Metalworking (AEM) in North Canton, Ohio, shares his journey from the tool and die world to running a modern, full-service metal fabrication shop. McCauley explains how embracing automation, laser welding, and robotic material handling has helped AEM stay co…

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the trail of tears with John McLarty (ep 2, 21). 1:26:07

4M ago1:26:07

1:26:07

Send us a text In this episode of the underview, we sit down with John McLarty—geographer, regional planner, and longtime researcher with the Arkansas Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association. Over the past two decades, John has helped uncover and preserve the routes, burial sites, and stories of the Trail of Tears that run directly through Northw…

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the historic cane hill with Vanessa McKuin (ep 2, 20). 59:18

4M ago59:18

59:18

Send us a text In this episode of the underview, we travel to the southern edge of Washington County to explore Cane Hill—one of the earliest white settlements in Northwest Arkansas—and speak with Vanessa McKuin, Executive Director of Historic Cane Hill. Vanessa brings her personal and professional insight as a preservationist and native Arkansan t…

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the ozarks with Dr. Jared M. Phillips, part 1 (ep 2, 19). 45:25

4M ago45:25

45:25

Send us a text In this first part of our conversation with Dr. Jared M. Phillips, we take a necessary pause to consider not just what happened in the Ozarks, but how it began to feel. Before this region had a name, it had an identity-forming—shaped by those who came here looking for something hard, rugged, and remote. Dr. Phillips helps us explore …

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Finding deeper meaning in metalworking and art with Hector Ortega 58:08

4M ago58:08

58:08

In this episode, we sit down with Hector Ortega—sculptor and founder of Ortega Sculpture and Silver Lining Metals Stamps, based in the Phoenix metro area. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and problem-solving as an artist, from developing fabrication skills to exploring different materials and processes. Ortega discussed the chall…

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the early counties with Rachel Whitaker (ep 2, 18). 1:13:00

5M ago1:13:00

1:13:00

Send us a text In this conversation with historian Rachel Whitaker of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, we trace the early formation of Northwest Arkansas through the lens of power, policy, and people. Rachel offers an expansive look at how settler colonial decisions—such as the displacement of Native nations, the introduction of slavery, and the…

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the Peel family with Chelsea Stewart (ep 2, 17). 59:55

5M ago59:55

59:55

Send us a text In this episode of the underview, we explore the life and legacy of Samuel West Peel — the first native-born Arkansan elected to the U.S. Congress and one of the most influential political figures to emerge from Northwest Arkansas. Historian Chelsea Stewart of the Peel Museum joins us to trace Peel’s rise through family connections, …

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Fostering a new path: How two entrepreneurs revamped a metal fab shop 1:03:40

5M ago1:03:40

1:03:40

Lucy Minturn and Liz Kloster co-own FosterWorks, a sheet metal fabrication shop in Chicago. After purchasing the business a couple of years ago, they’ve worked to shape it with their own vision, despite having no prior experience in the industry. By combining their complementary skills and building a strong team, they’ve successfully grown the manu…

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the Anderson family with Steve & Rusty Anderson (ep 2, 16). 1:27:16

5M ago1:27:16

1:27:16

Send us a text In this episode of the underview, we sit down with brothers Steve and Rusty Anderson, sixth-generation descendants of Col. Hugh Allen Anderson—believed to be one of the first white settlers to arrive in Northwest Arkansas in the early 1800s. Through their family’s oral history and deep regional roots, we explore a story that reaches …

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the statue with Judge Barry Moehring (ep 2, 15). 17:49

5M ago17:49

17:49

Send us a text In September 2020, Bentonville’s Confederate statue was removed from the downtown square and relocated to a new park near the city cemetery. The decision came after years of debate, heightened by the national reckoning on racial justice following the murder of George Floyd. In this episode, Benton County Judge Barry Moehring reflects…

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the civil war with Dale Phillips (ep 2, 14). 56:39

5M ago56:39

56:39

Send us a text the civil war with Dale Phillips. In this episode of the underview, historian Dale Phillips, retired Superintendent of Lincoln Home National Historic Site, explores the Civil War’s impact on Arkansas, particularly Northwest Arkansas, and why its legacy still matters today. With over 40 years in the National Park Service, he unpacks t…

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Engineering creative fabrication projects with Mike McCarthy of DCL 1:05:22

5M ago1:05:22

1:05:22

Mike McCarthy, VP at Design Communications Ltd. (DCL), joins The Fabricator Podcast to talk about how DCL is at the intersection of engineering, design, and fabrication of some of the most recognizable creative large-scale projects around the country. DCL specializes architectural custom elements like signs, sculptures, and tech installations. They…

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the weary land with Dr. Kelly Houston Jones, part 2 (ep 2, 13). 50:57

5M ago50:57

50:57

Send us a text the weary land with Dr. Kelly Houston Jones, part 2. In the weary land with Dr. Kelly Houston Jones, part 2, we examine Arkansas’s secession and the Civil War’s impact on slavery. Dr. Jones explains how Governor Henry Rector and state leaders saw slavery as essential, with even Unionist Arkansans supporting it for economic stability.…

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Learning and mentorship in welding with professor Jo Mackiewicz 1:07:29

6M ago1:07:29

1:07:29

This episode of The Fabricator Podcast features an interview with Professor Jo Mackiewicz, an English professor at Iowa State University who also happens to be a welder. Mackiewicz discusses her research on communication and learning in the welding and fabrication trades, as well as her experience working part-time at Howe's Welding & Metal Fabrica…

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the weary land with Dr. Kelly Houston Jones, part 1 (ep 2, 12). 1:10:32

6M ago1:10:32

1:10:32

Send us a text the weary land with Dr. Kelly Houston Jones, part 1. In this first episode of a two-part series, Dr. Kelly Houston Jones, author of A Weary Land: Slavery on the Ground in Arkansas, explores how slavery was foundational to the state’s formation—shaping its economy, politics, and society from the beginning. We examine the rise of the “…

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the great river with Boyce Upholt (ep 2, 11). 1:07:31

6M ago1:07:31

1:07:31

Send us a text the great river with Boyce Upholt. The Mississippi River is more than just a body of water—it’s a force that has shaped the land, the people, and the very mythology of America. In this episode of the underview, I sit down with Boyce Upholt, author of The Great River, to explore how this river became the backbone of American expansion…

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the downstream people, the elders with Barbara Kyser-Collier (ep 2, 10). 1:29:12

6M ago1:29:12

1:29:12

Send us a text the downstream people, the elders with Barbara Kyser-Collier. In this episode of the underview, Barbara Kyser-Collier, a leader and elder of the Quapaw Nation, shares the history, resilience, and cultural restoration of her people. From the impact of federal policies that led to the loss of full-blood Quapaw to the ongoing fight for …

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Racing, wrenching, and welding with Mike Finnegan at PRI Show 54:17

6M ago54:17

54:17

Mike Finnegan joins The Fabricator Podcast live from the PRI Show in Indianapolis. The long-time host of Motor Trend's Roadkill series on YouTube, discusses his background in journalism and media, how he taught himself welding and fabrication skills, and his current focus on his Finnegan's Garage YouTube channel. The conversation also includes insi…

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the downstream people, the elders with Betty Gaedtke (ep 2, 09). 1:10:24

6M ago1:10:24

1:10:24

Send us a text the downstream people, the elders with Betty Gaedtke (ep 2, 09). In this episode, we sit down with Betty Gaedtke, an elder of the Quapaw Nation and the only known Quapaw potter actively reviving the traditional art of her ancestors. Through her work, Betty is not only shaping clay but reclaiming history, restoring cultural identity, …

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the doctrine today with Melissa Horner, part 3 (ep 2, 08). 57:31

7M ago57:31

57:31

Send us a text In part three of the underview with Melissa Horner, we explore how settler colonialism continues to impact Indigenous communities today, from intergenerational trauma to systemic challenges. Melissa highlights the importance of shifting from deficit-centered narratives to celebrating the resilience, agency, and cultural beauty of Ind…

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Mike Rusch Podcasts

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