The 3W Podcast: Welcome Back

The 3W Podcast returns after a brief break with host Kasie Yokley sharing updates and reintroducing the mission behind 3W Magazine, a 17-year publication dedicated to Northwest Arkansas nonprofits.

Transcript

Welcome Back After Six Months

Speaker 1 0:03

Hey everyone , welcome back to the 3W podcast . I'm Kasie Yokley . I am always the one hosting this and usually I have guests with me . But I don't have any guests with me today because I just wanted to hop on here and say hi and welcome back , because it's been six plus months since we've done a podcast . 3w is a super small business and , with full transparency , I just wanted to come on here and just be myself and I tell you that we had a few snags along the way coming back to you , but all of that has been resolved . It was mostly all out of our control , so we are back full force . So hopefully these will still come out every other week or maybe weekly , I don't know , we'll see . We're going to do a bunch of new things this year per se or this season of podcasting , so we'll just hopefully you'll tune in and just see what continues to happen . If you are new here , thank you . If you're returning , thank you as well , but I will tackle onto the new people . If you're new here , just quick snippets about me .

Speaker 1 1:07

My name Kasie Yokley . I'm a transplant to Northwest Arkansas , originally from Oklahoma . Yes , I bleed orange , but I will absolutely cheer for your Razorbacks . I think that is so fantastic to have that school right down the road . It's such a great school .

Speaker 1 1:22

And um ,

About 3W Magazine's Mission

Speaker 1 1:23

but 3W Magazine it stands for the who , what , where . It's a local annual publication devoted entirely to the nonprofits in Northwest Arkansas . Um , it's 17 years old . I'm sorry for saying um , so I apologize . Also , I have notes in front of me so I do have to continuously look down at them , so just bear with me . I guess Also I've said so a bunch Good times . Anyways , the magazine is 17 years old , so we've been doing this for a crazy amount of time . We have survived a recession and a pandemic and now it's just onward and upward .

Speaker 1 2:01

I feel like actually , I didn't just start it alone . I have a great . I am the sole owner now but I have a great team of people behind me , but it was Leslie Zanoff and I that started it 17 years ago . She's moved on to a health and wellness journey full of meditation and public speaking , so that's exciting for her . And then I'm just going to continue on the publishing path because that's what's exciting for me . And then I'm just going to continue on the publishing path because that's what's exciting for me and I absolutely love dot connecting and raising funds for our area nonprofits via awareness . So I just I love the nonprofit world . I did not know that almost 20 years ago when we started this , but I truly have a heart for them .

Speaker 1 2:46

Another that's exciting Northwest Arkansas is a special little bubble . I like to say that's why 3W exists . A few years ago , benton County was voted the most giving county per capita in the country and it makes me sad that Washington County wasn't included in that because I truly think had they been looped together , they would have been the most giving two counties in the country per capita . But I don't like the rules , so it's okay . Regardless , it's essentially why I have a job . Before all the fancy foodie eateries and amazing trails and the consistent and electrifying music scene that we have , I mean the culture has absolutely evolved , but

Northwest Arkansas Philanthropy Stats

Speaker 1 3:31

almost 20 years ago when we started this magazine , the culture was nonprofit events . That's where you went to be seen and to do good in the community and it's just I kind of fell in love with it . So that's why 3W exists . How exciting is that ?

Speaker 1 3:48

3w also is not anyone , it's not , it's not just me . I have Ashley , who you all see all over town covering all the events , getting all the social media posted . We have an amazing photographer , courtney Matthews , who is so great and creative , and we have Laura Taylor , our designer . So , and then we also have interns . We have a new intern starting , I think , at the end of May , so that's exciting . I always love to get new people back in and kind of pick their brains and see what they are into . So she goes to the University of Alabama . So how fun is that going to be ? Don't hate on her just because she says Roll Tide , it's good to love everyone . 3w keeps us super busy . You know . We also have the magazine that's the first and foremost baby . Then this podcast that takes a little bit of time , and then we , you know , hit all the events and try to deliver and post and do all the good content for you all .

Speaker 1 4:51

I am a mom also of two boys . I have a 15 year old and a 10 yearyear-old . Actually , he'll be 11 at the end of the month , but for the sake of this , he's still 10 , and he is my baby . They play baseball and soccer , so you won't see me at very many events these days , because I'm always on the field cheering them on , and that's where I want to be . So 3W the day job . I'm always at work but I don't get to hit as many events as I used to . But don't worry , I'll be back . You know I don't get to chauffeur them around or attend all their games forever , but hopefully 3W will be around forever anyways . So I love all of those things and , like I said , this is super fast , quick end and you know I have my notes and have to read from them Side note , and I'm all over the place . So I apologize . I have very consistent , well polished notes , but I'm not feeling very notey right now . So I apologize because we're like all over the place and zooming around or I am .

Speaker 1 6:01

Did you know ? Going back to the per capita and the giving counties , did you know that Benton and Washington County have over 4000 nonprofits ? I think that's an insane number and that is just a true testament to how philanthropic Northwest Arkansas is . It is a shiny little gold bubble that steps up for its neighbor in any shape or form , and I could not be more proud to live here . I just think that's insane and awesome . So I just I hope you all leave with that fun little nugget of information .

Speaker 1 6:35

Change is the only constant . While scary , it's what we need . Change is good . You just need to be open to receiving it and seeing it . That is why we have 4,000 plus nonprofits . I think it was like 15 years ago . Someone asked us how many nonprofits there were and we did a quick Google search and I think it was like 2700 in the two counties and now we have 4000 plus and I only expect that number to grow up , to grow as our population grows . But I just think that is that's the good change that you see , and also the amount that's being raised is the good change that we want to see , because that's furthering the nonprofit submissions all over our area and that only benefits us . So it's very cyclical and I like it and it's just a giant hug on Northwest Arkansas .

Speaker 1 7:31

Speaking of change , the 3W podcast has an official sponsor

Hershey's Salty Snacks Sponsorship

Speaker 1 7:36

this year . So that's fun and I meant to stop and get some , but I was running late from a board meeting to record this podcast . But it's Hershey's . And not just Hershey , but Hershey's Saucy Snacks . Did you know they have Skinny Pop and Dot's Homestyle Pretzels ? Yum , I mean . Skinny Pop is always in the office and definitely always at home , and when I pick the boys up in the afternoon . I always throw bags of skinny pop in there for him . But have you had the dots homestyle pretzels that are cinnamon and sugar ? Because if you haven't , please let me know . I will absolutely drop off a bag to you at work or at home . They're freaking amazing Like they're such an amazing guilty pleasure . It sounds kind of like an odd combo , but it is so good . So definitely give them some love . Shout out to Hershey salty snacks . Definitely grab you some skinny pop , popcorn or dots pretzels the next time you're at Walmart , because those snacks are where it's at and with that I'm done .

Speaker 1 8:45

I told you I was going to be super fast . I don't want

Closing Thoughts on Maycember

Speaker 1 8:48

to take up a lot of time . It's Maycember . We're all in the throngs of Maycember . It is such a delightful , chaotic time of the year . I cannot believe there are just days left in the school year . So I can't wait for summer . I just want you all to enjoy the May , the chaos that is coming our way . Welcome back to the 3W Podcast and please keep inspiring a culture of giving Till next time , everybody . See you later .