After two decades producing some of television’s biggest reality hits — America’s Got Talent, Jersey Shore, Joe Millionaire, Chrisley Knows Best — I learned something simple but profound: the best stories aren’t about fame, they’re about why. Why people dream. Why they fall. Why they get back up. That’s where the real story lives.
When the world shut down and Hollywood began to unravel, I followed love and landed in Bentonville, Arkansas — a small town that changed everything I thought I knew about community. What I found here was a place built on connection, creativity, and purpose. From the world-class art of Crystal Bridges and The Momentary, to mountain bike trails that wind through the Ozarks, to neighbors who still wave from their porches — Bentonville has become my favorite place in America.
Now, GoodTimes is where I chase that same why through the voices of the people building this new frontier — chefs, founders, artists, and dreamers who remind us that success isn’t about spotlight, it’s about story.
Because when you understand why people do what they do, you don’t just tell a story — you feel it.
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After two decades producing some of television’s biggest reality hits — America’s Got Talent, Jersey Shore, Joe Millionaire, Chrisley Knows Best — I learned something simple but profound: the best stories aren’t about fame, they’re about why. Why people dream. Why they fall. Why they get back up. That’s where the real story lives.
When the world shut down and Hollywood began to unravel, I followed love and landed in Bentonville, Arkansas — a small town that changed everything I thought I knew about community. What I found here was a place built on connection, creativity, and purpose. From the world-class art of Crystal Bridges and The Momentary, to mountain bike trails that wind through the Ozarks, to neighbors who still wave from their porches — Bentonville has become my favorite place in America.
Now, GoodTimes is where I chase that same why through the voices of the people building this new frontier — chefs, founders, artists, and dreamers who remind us that success isn’t about spotlight, it’s about story.
Because when you understand why people do what they do, you don’t just tell a story — you feel it.
On this episode of The GoodTimes Show, Damon Epps sits down with the guy who’s been quietly changing the game in Northwest Arkansas, Gary Vernon.
If you’ve ever hit the trails in Bentonville and thought, “Wait, why is this so nice?” you can probably thank Gary. Working with The Runway Group, Gary has been a driving force behind turning Tom and Stewart Walton’s big ideas into real-life outdoor magic.
It all started with a five-mile bike trail that’s now known as Slaughter Pen. That little project? Yeah, it’s turned into one of the country’s most talked-about trail systems. Shoutout to Progressive Trail Design for making it happen on the ground, but it’s Gary who’s been the glue holding it all together — like the conductor of a symphony made of bikes, berms, and community energy.
Damon and Gary talk about what it takes to turn vision into impact, how trails are way more than just dirt paths, and why outdoor recreation is fueling everything from economic growth to social connection in the Ozarks.
Whether you’re a mountain biking diehard, a trail runner, or just someone who loves a good local success story, this one’s for you.
Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Blake St. Presents
GoodTimes with Damon Epps
After two decades producing some of television’s biggest reality hits — America’s Got Talent, Jersey Shore, Joe Millionaire, Chrisley Knows Best — I learned something simple but profound: the best stories aren’t about fame, they’re about why. Why people dream. Why they fall. Why they get back up. That’s where the real story lives.
When the world shut down and Hollywood began to unravel, I followed love and landed in Bentonville, Arkansas — a small town that changed everything I thought I knew about community. What I found here was a place built on connection, creativity, and purpose. From the world-class art of Crystal Bridges and The Momentary, to mountain bike trails that wind through the Ozarks, to neighbors who still wave from their porches — Bentonville has become my favorite place in America.
Now, GoodTimes is where I chase that same why through the voices of the people building this new frontier — chefs, founders, artists, and dreamers who remind us that success isn’t about spotlight, it’s about story.
Because when you understand why people do what they do, you don’t just tell a story — you feel it.
