The Good Influencers

Becky Shaffer—survivor of childhood abuse, former foster youth, and founder of Saving Grace NWA—shares how faith, forgiveness, and grit turned deep trauma into a life of advocacy. We dive into breaking generational cycles, the difference between religion and relationship with God, what aging out of foster care really looks like, and how Saving Grace helps young women build stable, independent lives.🔗Learn More/Get Involved with Saving Grace: https://www.savinggracenwa.org/✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/thegoodinfluencerspodcast/

When a life-changing injury could have ended everything, Sean Kent, founder of Ozark Adaptive Sports Association (OZASA) in Northwest Arkansas, turned his recovery into a mission to help others.In this episode of The Good Influencers Podcast, Ty Manning dives into Sean’s powerful story of resilience — from a devastating spinal cord injury and six months of rehab, to building one of the region’s most inspiring adaptive sports programs.From wheelchair rugby to mountain biking, Sean shows how purpose, perseverance, and community can transform not just one life — but an entire region.🔗Ozark Adaptive Sports Association (OZASA) in Northwest Arkansas: https://www.ozasa.org/✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/thegoodinfluencerspodcast/

What does it truly mean to give someone a second chance? In this heartfelt conversation, Ty Manning sits down with Chaplain Jim Dixon, founder of the Northwest Arkansas Chaplain Ministries, to talk about faith, redemption, and the unseen heroes working inside jails and police departments.From his former life as a radio broadcaster chasing success to decades serving those behind bars and on the front lines, Jim shares how God turned his failures into a mission of compassion. Together, they explore forgiveness, leadership through service, and why real transformation begins when someone simply believes in you again.🔗Northwest Arkansas Chaplain Ministries: https://nwachaplains.com✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/thegoodinfluencerspodcast/

In this powerful episode of The Good Influencers Podcast, we sit down with LaDawnya Faulkner, founder of Lost Ozark Dawn Community Heritage, who shares her deeply personal story of addiction, trauma, and finding healing through an unexpected tool: a sewing machine.After years of alcohol dependency, painful family dynamics, and personal loss, LaDawnya chose recovery—and discovered that sewing wasn’t just a hobby. It became her therapy, her purpose, and a way to rebuild her life while helping others do the same.In This Episode You’ll Learn:What alcohol was really covering up for LaDawnyaWhy boredom and abandonment are dangerous in recoveryHow sewing became her daily act of healingThe importance of having something to fill the voidWhat one co-worker’s courage taught her about compassionHow she turned a creative outlet into a nonprofit helping others healThe power of community, purpose, and starting smallThis Episode Is for You If...You or someone you love is navigating addiction or recoveryYou’ve ever felt stuck and unsure how to start overYou want to transform your pain into purposeYou’re passionate about helping others through creative outletsYou believe in second chances, small beginnings, and healing through community🧵 Learn more about Lost Ozark Dawn Community Heritage: https://www.lostozarkdawn.org✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/thegoodinfluencerspodcast/

What happens when the life you’ve been handed is filled with opportunity but still feels empty? In this powerful episode, Dylan opens up about his personal journey from addiction and survival to recovery, health, and purpose.Raised in a supportive environment with every opportunity at his fingertips, Dylan still found himself lost in substance abuse. His story is not just about hitting rock bottom. It is about what it takes to climb out of it. Today, Dylan uses his past to inspire others and redefine what it means to truly live.In This Episode You’ll Learn:Why addiction does not discriminate, even in privileged environmentsThe moment Dylan knew he needed to changeWhat recovery looked like one day at a timeHow fitness and faith became anchors in his healingThe importance of community and vulnerabilityWhat it means to live a purpose-driven life after addictionDylan’s advice for anyone struggling in silenceThis Episode Is for You If...You or someone you love is battling addictionYou have ever wondered if recovery is possibleYou feel stuck in survival mode or are searching for purposeYou want to hear an honest and hopeful story about changeKey Timestamps:08:27 – First experience with marijuana and how curiosity led to harder drugs14:07 – The role of discomfort in recovery and breaking unhealthy patterns22:35 – What is the "pink cloud" in addiction recovery and why it's dangerous25:28 – Replacing bad habits with structure and purpose44:00 – The moment Dylan decided to change and commit to sobriety47:00 – Practical tools that helped Dylan stay clean after treatment✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/thegoodinfluencerspodcast/

What happens when you leave behind everything you know—your language, food, customs, and even climate—to start fresh in a completely different world? For Srividya Venkatesubramanya, that experience of cultural shift, isolation, and rebuilding identity led not just to personal resilience, but to community transformation.From her own words, “I don't feel guilty anymore because through Ra-Ve, I'm helping others hold onto what makes them who they are.” This one sentence captures Srividya’s transformation from navigating her own identity loss to building a platform that helps others preserve theirs.From growing up in India immersed in classical music and dance to building a new life in the U.S., Srividya’s journey is a powerful testament to the immigrant experience. She opens up about loneliness, cultural guilt, raising bicultural children, and how founding the Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation became a way to reclaim and celebrate identity while helping others do the same.In This Episode You’ll Learn:What it really feels like to start over in a new countryThe emotional complexities of being a first-generation immigrant parentHow cultural guilt shows up—and how to let it goThe power of art, language, and tradition in healing identity woundsWhy Srividya believes representation isn't optional—it's essentialHow one woman turned cultural loss into cultural leadershipThis Episode Is for You If...You’ve ever struggled to feel like you belongYou’re an immigrant or child of immigrants balancing two culturesYou believe in the power of storytelling and community healingYou’re passionate about culture, tradition, and raising empowered childrenYou want a reminder that your voice—and your heritage—mattersKey Timestamps:01:25 – Moving from Chennai to Delhi: childhood culture shift 06:00 – Early passion for classical Indian dance and music 20:40 – The cultural shock of moving to Minneapolis 25:10 – Crying every day and the shift to finding purpose 29:00 – Navigating motherhood and heritage guilt in the U.S. 42:50 – The birth of the Ravi Cultural Foundation 53:00 – How Ra-Ve helped Srividya heal and help others🌐 Resources & Mentions:Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation: https://www.ra-veculturalfoundation.org/✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/thegoodinfluencerspodcast/

What happens when a survivor of trauma decides to stop running—and starts helping others heal? In this raw and redemptive episode, Wendy Henson shares the truth about what it takes to break generational cycles and turn unimaginable pain into purpose.In this powerful episode, Ty sits down with Wendy Henson—licensed counselor, survivor, and relentless advocate for healing. Wendy opens up about the raw realities of childhood trauma, addiction, and the long road to emotional and spiritual recovery. From surviving cycles of abuse to becoming a therapist who now walks with others through their own pain, Wendy’s story is a reminder that redemption is always possible. Her honesty will break your heart—and her courage will put it back together.In This Episode You’ll Learn:How Wendy’s early experiences with addiction and abuse shaped her callingWhy healing isn’t linear—but absolutely possibleWhat Wendy wishes people understood about trauma survivorsHow faith, counseling, and community helped her rewrite her storyThe moment she realized she was meant to help others healThis Episode Is for You If...You’ve experienced trauma or loss and want hope for the futureYou’re curious about the power of therapy and self-forgivenessYou’ve ever struggled to break generational cyclesYou want to hear what real, raw redemption sounds likeKey Timestamps:[00:01] Struggles that shape purpose[03:57] Called to be a counselor[08:43] Building her Habitat home[17:42] Losing mom and brother[20:16] Centerton Cares is born[27:39] Obeying the call to run[47:28] “Adversity grows us”✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/thegoodinfluencerspodcast/

What happens when someone who grew up surrounded by addiction, lived years on the streets, and battled methamphetamine use… chooses to rise and lead others out of the same darkness?In this raw and redemptive episode, Daniel shares his deeply personal story growing up in Arkansas, falling into addiction at a young age, and ultimately finding purpose through community work, recovery, and compassion. From being homeless and incarcerated to now helping others through programs like Pick Me Up and Seven Hills, Daniel’s journey proves that hope is never lost.In This Episode, You’ll Learnr:What it’s like growing up with addicted parentsThe realities of youth drug exposure and the foster systemHow Daniel’s turning point led him into recoveryWhat the Pick Me Up program is and how it supports the unhomedThe importance of compassion in leadership and recoveryWhy purpose—not perfection—is key to lasting changeThis episode is for you if:You’ve struggled with addiction or traumaYou work in recovery, outreach, or mental healthYou believe in second chancesYou want to understand the real human stories behind homelessnessYou're looking for inspiration rooted in honesty and hope✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/thegoodinfluencerspodcast/

What does human trafficking look like in our own neighborhoods? In this raw and powerful episode, survivor and advocate Kachia Phillips shares her personal story from early vulnerability and exploitation to healing and leadership at Hub of Hope. You’ll learn how traffickers operate, the signs to watch for, and why education is the most powerful weapon we have to protect our youth and community.Whether you're a parent, teacher, or concerned citizen, this episode is your wake-up call and your guide to action.In This Episode, We Cover:The early red flags of trafficking most people overlookHow traffickers target the vulnerable in schools, homes, and onlineKachia’s journey through addiction, recovery, and redemptionWhy education and awareness are crucial in breaking the cyclePractical tips for parents and communities to protect at-risk youthThe transformative work being done at Hub of HopeHow Kachia’s pain became purpose and how you can helpKey Takeaways:Traffickers often know their victims and use trust, coercion, and false empowermentVulnerability especially in youth is the most common target for exploitationAsking for help is not weakness. It’s powerful and life-savingSurvivors don’t just need rescuing, they need a voice, a path, and a communityLocal organizations like Hub of Hope are critical, but they need volunteers, advocates, and support✦ SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES ✦🔗Hub of Hope Webiste:  https://www.hubofhope.org/🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubofhopenwa/🔗Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubofhopenwa/✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/thegoodinfluencerspodcast/

How do you lead one of the fastest-growing cities in America… without losing the heart of a small town? In this episode of The Good Influencers, I sit down with Mayor Bill Edwards of Centerton, Arkansas, one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S to hear how he’s managed 15 years of explosive growth while staying rooted in connection, transparency, and community-first leadership. From his early days as a police officer and JB Hunt manager to overseeing a full-time fire department and championing local development projects, Mayor Bill Edwards reveals how he's done exactly that in Centerton, Arkansas—through hands-on leadership, community connection, and an unwavering focus on people over politics.If you’ve ever wondered what community-driven leadership looks like in action, this one’s for you.Key Takeaways:Why listening is a mayor’s most powerful toolThe story behind Centerton’s population boom and how it’s being managedWhat it really takes to build a walkable, connected communityHow Mayor Bill helped bring Bentonville West High School to CentertonWhy small-town values still matter in a fast-growing cityThe health scare that shifted his personal prioritiesHow Mayor Bill uses Facebook as a modern-day town squareKey Timestamps:[00:00] Intro — Meet Mayor Bill Edwards[01:14] From law enforcement to public service: His path to mayor[04:00] Why community involvement inspired him to run[05:28] Lessons from 15 years of leadership[07:10] Using Facebook to stay connected with residents[10:55] Centerton’s biggest challenges: roads, growth, and funding[15:01] Community center plans and vision for city amenities[17:42] What community really means to Mayor Bill[20:00] The drive to maintain Centerton’s small-town feel[28:13] Surviving a major health scare and living with purpose[30:27] Accomplishments he’s most proud of[33:33] Reflections on legacy and advice to the next generation of leaders✦ SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES ✦📍 City of Centerton Website: https://centertonar.us/📧 Email Mayor Bill Edwards: bedwards@centertonar.us📞 Mayor’s Office Phone: (479) 795-2750 ext. 101💬 Follow Mayor Bill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063626054653🏛️ Community Center Plans: Visit the city website to view the schematic designs✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// a...

What if saving a stray cat could spark a wave of healing in your entire community? In this episode of The Good Influencers, I sit down with Jennifer Pokrandt, founder of MEW Cat Rescue in Northwest Arkansas to unpack how a few stray cats turned into a full-blown rescue that has saved over 4,500 lives. This episode is about cats, yes. But it’s really about purpose, resilience, and stepping into leadership even when you don’t feel ready.Jennifer didn’t have a blueprint. She had a heart that couldn’t say no—and that was enough to start something that’s now changing lives across Northwest Arkansas. From trauma scenes and heartbreaking rescues to joy-filled adoption stories, this is a raw look at what it really takes to make a difference.Key Takeaways:The real reason MEW Cat Rescue was foundedWhy TNR (trap-neuter-return) is critical to solving cat overpopulationHow volunteers and fosters truly keep rescues runningThe heartbreaking and hopeful moments behind the scenesWhy rescue work is as much about people as it is about animalsWhat Jennifer learned from saving 4,500+ cats (and counting)The truth about burnout, boundaries, and leading with compassion✦ VISIT MEW CAT RESCUE ✦https://www.mewcatrescue.com/✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/thegoodinfluencerspodcast/

What if the moment your life started to change was when everything completely fell apart?Tommy’s story isn’t just about addiction, it’s about rebuilding your life from ground zero when the world has given up on you… and when you’ve given up on yourself.In this episode of The Good Influencers, Tommy shares how growing up surrounded by addiction shaped his beliefs, how he hit rock bottom, and the unexpected moment that helped him believe in change. From jail time to becoming a firefighter and recovery center director, this is a raw and honest story of transformation, purpose, and community.Key Takeaways:The impact of growing up in a neighborhood affected by addictionWhy desperation was the true catalyst for changeHow joining a small-town fire department became a turning pointWhat genuine community support looks likeThe truth behind the "choice" narrative in addictionWhy full commitment is critical to recoveryThe power of tough love and clear boundaries when helping loved ones✦ LISTEN ON ✦Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cLA6L4hoqFxE21VetsW3P?si=851e12258eba4c28Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-influencers/id1822428424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodInfluencersPodcast✦ CONNECT WITH US ON ✦Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576199604347Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/thegoodinfluencerspodcast/

The Good Influencers is a podcast about people who are making a difference—whether in quiet ways or on a bigger stage. I’m Ty Manning, a restoration business owner who’s curious about the “why” behind what drives people to do good.Each week, I sit down for real, laid-back conversations with people from all walks of life—those serving their communities in big ways and small. Some have large platforms. Others have none. But all have a story worth hearing and a sincere desire to make things better.These honest interviews shine a light on impact in all its forms—and remind us that influence isn’t about popularity, it’s about purpose.You’ll leave each episode with a fresh perspective, a little inspiration, and maybe even a deeper appreciation for your own community. New episodes drop weekly.