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- [00:02]
A
Hello and welcome to arnet, the show that shines a light on the trailblazers, game changers and hardworking heroes driving Arkansas forward. From bold entrepreneurs to community champions, we bring the stories that inspire and ignite progress. Now here's your host, David Bratton.
- [00:28]
B
Welcome everyone, to the arnet podcast. Today I've got the Mallard Island Lawn Service mobile studios and I am set up here at Race World usa Signs and graphics. And I am sitting here with the owners, Jeremy and Kelly Murphy. How are you guys?
- [00:49]
C
We are amazing. We're so glad you're here, man.
- [00:51]
B
I'm glad you had me here. This is a nice place you have here.
- [00:55]
C
Yes, welcome to our new space.
- [00:57]
B
Yes, ma'. Am. Ma', Am, this is great.
- [00:59]
C
Thank you.
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B
If you would tell our listeners a little bit about what you guys do here.
- [01:05]
C
So here we do a variety of things, anywhere from design to production to installation of signs, graphics. We do marketing supplies as in business cards, any kind of banners, table runners, decals, labels, exterior signs, just a little bit of everything.
- [01:28]
B
No kid, no kidding. Okay, I see, I see some of your signs here in your store and it is very nice.
- [01:34]
C
Thank you. Thank you so much.
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B
Your shop here, I mean, that's really good work.
- [01:38]
C
Thank you.
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B
You guys do an amazing job. Now, I know you guys have been growing, right?
- [01:46]
C
Absolutely, y'.
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B
All. Because when I talked to you a few months ago, we were at an event and you guys had just moved into a new place and you've already left that place and moved into this place.
- [01:59]
C
We did. We actually started out in our garage and a couple bedrooms in our house. And then last July, August, we moved into our first brick and mortar in, in Cabot. And then we outgrew that and we just moved into this place in November, middle of November.
- [02:17]
B
Okay, what is the address here?
- [02:19]
C
It is 1013 North Second Street, Suite A. And that's in Cabot. We're in the little strip mall right by AR Refresh Wellness and Advanced Nutrition.
- [02:28]
D
Okay, so. And we'll be easy to notice because we've got American flags across all four windows of our storefront there.
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B
That's great. Now where did the name. Race World, Where'd that come from?
- [02:40]
C
I'm gonna let Jeremy answer that.
- [02:41]
D
Actually, back in 2001, my brother in law and I were both racing IMCA modifieds and we were spending quite a bit of money on graphics and then turning around and having to get them repaired or replaced as we had to repair the car. So in 2001, my dad decided to buy a basic plotter in the program, and we started lettering our own race cars. Within that year, we had a few friends start wanting us to do theirs. Next thing you knew, we were doing sheriff department cars, Cabot police department, fire trucks. And it just started growing from there. So my parents founded it back in 2001 just to help us out, and then now it's our livelihood as we've taken it over.
- [03:25]
B
Yes, sir. Oh, my goodness. Okay. Well, your parents started the business in 2001. What was it like growing up in a family business? It was.
- [03:36]
D
It was exciting just to see it come together and the family work together. Of course, it. Sometimes it would be stressful because working with family can. Can do that, but it. It was really neat just seeing the growth and the process of it and what we learned from dad. You know, one of the things that stands out to me that he taught us was that, you know, make a little bit over and over from a repeat customer so that your pricing stays affordable, and that'll bring them back instead of making a whole lot off of one sale and then them going. Looking for somebody else the next time. So I think that's really helped us with our growth by keeping that practice going.
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B
Oh, yes, sir. I agree. Yeah, no, that's. That's good. You want to keep your repeat customers coming back.
- [04:27]
C
Absolutely.
- [04:28]
B
Sure. Now, we had spoken off air before we. Before we started this up, and you guys started. You took over when it was a tough season. What was going through your minds when you decided to take the big leap to. To build your business?
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C
Wow, this is scary. And is this really what God is wanting us to do right now? It was probably the scariest step that we've ever taken, but it was the necessary step that we need to take.
- [05:04]
B
Yes, ma'. Am. Yeah, I'll be doing okay. Well, I know you've grown it, and it looks. It looks amazing. And I'm. I'm gonna go ahead and make a prediction. You're not going to be here too much.
- [05:17]
D
We.
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B
We.
- [05:18]
D
We hope to be, but we hope that we need to move
- [05:23]
B
it. Absolutely. Now, Kelly, you have a background in nursing. What's the big. What was the big difference going from nursing to running your own business and making graphic signs?
- [05:36]
C
Nursing was my dream job, everything I've ever wanted to do. I'm not a business person per se. I'm a. I'm a help person. I'm the empathy person. And so having to go to the business side and charge money to people for doing things is different for me. I know that sounds nuts, but that's been a really big thing because in nursing, you know, everyone that you help is happy with you.
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B
Right.
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C
In business, that's not really the way it is. So that's been hard for me. Learning those hard conversations and, and, you know, trying to keep customers happy and, and doing things that way. That's been the hard thing for me.
- [06:19]
B
Well, you have to be in business to be profitable. If you're not profitable, you're not going to be in business long.
- [06:23]
C
Absolutely.
- [06:25]
B
Was there any experiences as a nurse that transferred over to this role?
- [06:30]
C
I think the empathy part, because we really, we have a heart for small businesses. And so in that comes, you know, understanding their struggles and the things they're going through and the things that they need and don't need. And so I think that's one of the things is really taking the time to really care about people is, is the main thing that came from nursing.
- [06:51]
B
Sure. And I can tell, you know, I can tell you guys care about your, your clients because I follow your social media and going through your TikTok and your Facebook stuff. I can just tell. And I'm seeing you guys out in the real world, you know, at these different events. I know you are community driven people. For sure.
- [07:12]
C
We are. The Cabot community means everything to us. This is where Jeremy grew up and we knew that this is where we wanted to raise our children. And being a part of it now, we went from working both in North Little Rock and coming back and being a part of our community is one of the most important things to us. And they have supported us, just welcomed us with open arms and, and just rallied around us to help, and it's been amazing.
- [07:40]
B
That's great. Now living here and working here, that sure helps a lot because I cannot stand driving to north Little Rock and
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C
Little Rock, it does.
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B
Traffic gets crazy out here.
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C
It was terrible. It was terrible. We did carpool together, but this commute is much smaller. This 1.6 mile commute is amazing. We love it.
- [08:01]
B
Yeah, that is good. Now, you guys, faith, we are speaking off there, and faith plays a big part of your story. Can you share a moment when you really had to rely on your faith to get you through something in business?
- [08:20]
D
Well, the first, the first thing that comes to mind on On Me is when we first decided to get a printer. We actually found a really good deal on one, drove all the way to Indiana, picked it up. It was supposed to be working great. Everything is good with it. Got it home and it didn't work. And so we had invested that money in purchasing it and picking it up, coming back, doing some repairs that were supposed to fix it. And that really made me doubt whether we were in position for me to be because we were getting to the point where I needed to be home with her and due to the health issues that were, that were going on and we just didn't know how we're going to survive on it. So we prayed on it. Our church family prayed on it with us.
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C
We took every, we had. We invested all of our savings into that printer and the tramp to get it.
- [09:14]
D
Yeah, so, so we were, we were kind of at a, a make or break point of, you know, how are we going to survive this? And then just the clarity and the peace of knowing, hey, there's gonna be a way. So we ended up finding someone that bought that printer for parts. And my dad stepped in and helped us to be able to get Lola back here. And it's just been an absolute blessing then. I mean, he's just paved the way through it all and I couldn't be just more grateful for that guidance.
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B
That's awesome.
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C
Piggyback. Sorry, Piggybacking off of that. We, speaking of faith, at first when we were doing it part time, we said that we were giving it to God, but we really weren't. We had, you know, his income as a, as a fallback. But when we took that leap and he decided to leave his full time job and do this and we bought the printer, it took care of itself. Like, it's like God opened a floodgate and the business just came and we had no idea where it was coming from except for Him. And so that was one big thing for us. It taught us just don't half heartedly do something. Don't, don't give something to God and then take it back. When you give it to him, you give it to him fully. And so that's really, really taught us big lessons.
- [10:44]
B
That's amazing. Now you mentioned Lola. What exactly is Lola?
- [10:49]
D
That is the 54 inch printer that we have that we run or run everything on. So Kelly has her daily. What is it? Outfit of the day.
- [11:00]
C
Lola's outfit of the day. Lola. Jeremy used to call my GPS Lola when, when she'd give us wrong directions, he'd say, oh, Lola's been drinking again. You know, she's. And so it just had, it just seemed like Lola was a girl, she was sassy, had an attitude. And so when we got the printer, I was like, she needs a name. And I was like, lola, that's Lola. So she's just kind of become a character within herself. Like people ask me about her, how's Lola? Or we got an order today and said when Lola's up and running. And I just, I think it's hilarious and I just, I love it. It's, that's just who we are.
- [11:36]
B
That's incredible. Now you guys work together, husband and wife team. My wife and I, we work together also. So I know there's times when that can, can be interesting. How do you guys, how do you guys work it out when your business and marriage overlap? What's it like working together?
- [12:00]
C
It takes a lot of prayer, a lot of prayer and laughter. I was really concerned, honestly concerned about being with him 24 hours a day. But it has been the most pleasant surprise I've ever had. We laugh all the time and if we're not laughing, we're crying together. And like I said, it took a lot of prayer, but we, I mean, I wouldn't change it for the world. He's my best friend. So. Yeah, just, just a lot of grace, a lot of prayer and a lot of laughter.
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B
Absolutely, absolutely. You know, my wife and I, we're. Same situation.
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C
Yeah.
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B
We run our own little business and you know, we're together all the time.
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C
I love that. It's, it's such a blessing.
- [12:46]
B
It really is. I have to agree with you now, Jeremy, you're a hands on guy from the idea through the production up to the installations. Walk us through a typical product or. Yeah. Project from the idea into the finished product.
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D
Okay. Well, I mean, as far as, I mean starting from absolute scratch, I have had people actually just bring in, truly. I mean you hear about it, you know, this project started from a napkin. I've actually had someone bring in an idea that they drew out on a, on a napkin and then, you know, we just start talking about it. I will take a picture of it and I can actually upload it into the computer. Use that as, you know, I'll set it next to the template. As we start designing, we, we can look at, you know, all kinds of options together. Sometimes the, the best way is to do it just from the idea and then me send them something new. Other times we have the options to schedule an appointment, have them sit down with me and we can actually walk through the design together. And that, you know, can usually cut down time frames but not everybody has that option to be able to sit down because designs can take, you know, they can take 15 minutes, they can take three days. You know, so, so you know, we definitely try to be flexible on that part of it. Then once we get to that point, we set it up to do our printing. That process will take, you know, two days in most cases because you've got to let them dry once they're printed and all that. Then we will laminate it, cut it, and then install it. So it is just. My dad has actually got a hold of a. Bought us a bucket truck so that we have that option to, to install signs. It's come in very handy with some of the jobs that we've got to do around here and, you know, just whatever the customer needs. We try to be flexible and work in, in their time frame too. Sometimes, you know, the customer will set up and, well, I'm not three, four weeks out on this, so, you know, we've got time. Other ones are like, hey, I need this by Friday. If we can, we try to accommodate whenever possible.
- [15:04]
B
Sure, sure. Now, I bet that it's pretty challenging because obviously. Well, not obviously, but I can't draw at all. So if I was going to draw you something out, it'd be like a stick figure or something and I would want you to transfer it into something amazing.
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D
Well, what's funny about that is. Yes. And what's funny about that is I would do the same thing. I can't draw with my hand for anything, but I've Learned over the 25 years of U.S. doing this, that of how to make the computer do it. So. So that's been the beauty of it. Technology is great.
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B
Absolutely.
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D
Most of the time.
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C
Yeah, most of the time.
- [15:38]
B
And then you guys take the finished product here and go install it to wherever they need it installed.
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D
To wherever. Yes. And. And we've actually, we've been blessed to gain some partnerships with others around the state.
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B
Yes.
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D
That we can actually do anything from a decal on a door to large, you know, industrial signs that need cranes and things. So. So we have definitely been blessed with other believers that are, that are business owners too. That's been one of the great. And I know I'm going off on tangent here, but that's been one of the greatest blessings is starting our own family business or small business. Finding out how many other small business owners are believers too. It was so refreshing to be able to spark up those kind of conversations through small business.
- [16:31]
B
That's, that's good stuff. Now you guys were speaking off air. I know you guys have been through a lot, personally and professionally. Is there any one thing that sticks out as a turning point where things really started to click. And you knew this was going to be successful and not just in survival mode.
- [16:53]
C
It's funny that you say that because the beginning of this year, right after Christmas, I said, you know what, it's, it's crazy to switch gears from survival mode to we're running a business. So I really think moving in here, getting our website, we're finally out of survival mode and we feel like we're actually productive, if that makes sense.
- [17:18]
B
Oh, that makes a lot of sense. Absolutely.
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C
Yeah. A lot of, a lot of late nights. I mean, there's been times where we've worked almost 24 hours to get, to get things done.
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D
Oh, my longest day was 34.
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C
34 hours. Yes.
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B
Oh my goodness.
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C
I do not do. My body will not take. But he's, he's a beast.
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B
You're a machine.
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C
He really is.
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B
Absolutely.
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C
Yeah. And he doesn't want to let anyone down. So we're willing to do whatever we need to do. But we have good practices in place now that we know we need to, you know, be good to our bodies and take the time. And we're finally out of survival mode.
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D
I feel, I pray we've still got a lot of things to learn, but we are, we are doing well with it and open to the help that's been offered to us to, to learn those things. And, and I am, I'm finally starting to learn my, my limits on some things.
- [18:15]
C
Yeah, yeah.
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D
But, but yes, we, we are just continuing to feel like, like we're finally getting there. We had a long ways to go, but we're getting there to where we're not worried about what tomorrow's going to hold. We know it's going to, it's going to work out.
- [18:34]
B
Yes, sir. Okay. I know you guys, we had this scheduled for this morning and I text you at 6:30. I couldn't remember if we were meeting at 8 or 9 and you answered me back and you said we're here. I'm like, oh my goodness, it's 6:30 in the morning. You're already here.
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D
That's awesome.
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C
We're usually here later than we are earlier, but we are trying to be, you know, intent about getting early, starting with our Bible time together and then work. And so it's, it's a practice that we're trying to put into place.
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B
Oh man, that's, that's great.
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C
Yeah.
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B
All right. Through this whole journey, what's one thing you've guys learned about each other?
- [19:17]
C
He's Henry, let's all get out. No, he is so smart. I did not realize how smart smart he is. When we were doing a sign for Buckman's Brewhouse as an example. It's a sign, and you look at it, and it looks just like one big vinyl sticker, but it's actually 44 pieces of ACP metal that he designed, put together, did the template the way, and it had to be that way because their garage door has to open. So it has. It has to be able to flex.
- [19:50]
B
Sure.
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C
And I was just in awe. Just. I don't think I could ever figure that out in my life, and I
- [19:56]
B
can't figure it out. What you talking about?
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C
Right. And I'm just sitting there going. And I'm like, you are a genius. You know, to go from, how can you not put your towel in the hamper? But you're a genius. That's the thing I've learned is he's actually a genius. Just ornery man also. But, yeah, that is great.
- [20:15]
B
Jeremy, what have you learned about Jelly?
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D
I have learned her level of forgiveness and grace with me, because I do. I go off on tangents often, as I've already done in this conversation, but it happened. My mind goes 90 to nothing, so I just grab it, whatever's there. And she has been so supportive and helpful in keeping me focused and driven toward the right thing to get things accomplished. And her leadership skills, though she doesn't think she. She has them are amazing. And that's absolutely wonderful.
- [20:52]
B
Absolutely. Yeah. Kelly, you reached out to me, and, yeah, I can see that. You know, you are. You are a good front person. Absolutely. Now, looking ahead, what's next for Race World Signs? What does the future hold?
- [21:13]
C
Goodness, that's a hard question. We want to just keep progressing, to just keep learning, keep getting better. We want to get some. Continue to get some bigger accounts across the country, but we also want to stay helping our small businesses. Around Cabot. We have some big accounts. Like, we have an account Twisted Doe. It's out of Jonesboro. She was on Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars. So she is growing. She started as a small business in her kitchen, and now she. To watch her grow has been amazing. She has this big facility. They've been doing construction to get in. They're about to go into retail, and so we have that account. We would love to have some more accounts like that. We have some small, you know, labels across the country that we do, just small batches. We'd like to get into some bigger ones. I mean, that's. That's our dream is to get in big ones, but to stay where we can still help with our small businesses because we always want to. There's a lot of businesses that can't afford things for their business because they. They only have small batches of things and we want to be able to. To keep that affordable for them also.
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B
Yeah.
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D
And. And feedback off of that. Right there is, we know as starting in the way that we have as a small business, that other small businesses is what's got us to this point. So we don't want to be like some other businesses that are. That forget about that and, and leave these people that have been trusting you for years to. To search for somebody new. You know, we love our customers. They're. They. They come in as customers and they leave as friends or family. And that. That's what's important to us. The money, it'll come and go. But your friends and family that you gain in this business is. Is, you know, priceless.
- [23:12]
B
Oh, yeah. As long as you're serving your. Your customers and your community, you know they're going to take care of you for sure. Yes, absolutely. Is there anything y' all want to say to the listeners? Anything that we haven't covered other than
- [23:32]
D
the fact that we cannot express our gratitude to the support that we get from our communities and our customers. And our community is not just Cabot. I mean, that's where we live and that's where we love. But I mean, we have people all over the country that suggest us and have people reach out to us that we have no idea until getting into the conversation and they'll finally say something about, you know, so and so recommended you to us. And, and it's. It's humbling to. To have people trust you enough to put their name basically supporting your company to other people.
- [24:11]
B
So.
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D
So thank you for that.
- [24:13]
B
That's amazing. You've got clients all nationwide, basically.
- [24:17]
C
Thank you.
- [24:17]
B
Yes.
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C
Yeah. It's crazy. That is crazy. We were. One thing that we didn't mention. We were selected last year as AMP's Best of Sign company in Arkansas 2025. And that's voted on by readers. And so that's customers. And so that meant the world to us. That was a big moment for us.
- [24:36]
D
Oh, that was. That was so shocking when we got that email that said congratulations. I mean, and then to have one of our local competitors, Action Signs, be listed in there as. Cause they listed three of them.
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B
I can't.
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D
Unfortunately, I can't remember the third one, but Action Signs being right here with us, been in business same amount of time and to be ranked up there with somebody of their caliber was. Was humbling as well, because I know, I know they do great work and do huge projects, so. Sure. So we're very grateful that our listeners love us or our listeners now, but our customers love us, love us enough to take the time out to do that because time is valuable. And, you know, for them to stop and vote for us to get us into that position was. Was very humbling.
- [25:23]
B
Oh, yeah, that's. That's incredible, you guys. I know you're just doing amazing work and I believe your faith has a lot to do with it.
- [25:30]
C
Thank you.
- [25:31]
B
That's growing your community.
- [25:33]
C
And that's one thing that we always put on everything is to God be the glory, because that's the ultimate thing. He's. He's the reason we're here, the reason we're going, and. And he's the reason we do everything we do.
- [25:44]
B
Yes, ma'. Am. What's your social media? Could you. Could you tell everyone what your social media is?
- [25:50]
C
Yes. We just got a brand new website. We're so excited. You can go to that. It's raceworldusa signs.com are. We're also on Facebook, raceworldusa signs and graphics. And we're also on TikTok raceworld USA signs and graphics. And that's.
- [26:09]
B
Yeah, your Tick Tock. I was going through that last night and I love the music you have.
- [26:13]
C
Thank you.
- [26:15]
B
I was really digging the 80s music.
- [26:16]
C
Thank you. Thank you.
- [26:18]
D
I may have to get Tick Tock so I can go watch it. I. I don't even get to watch it.
- [26:24]
B
All right. You'll be stuck there.
- [26:25]
D
Can't get out of it.
- [26:27]
C
Yeah.
- [26:29]
B
Oh, well, you guys, it has been an absolute pleasure sitting here visiting with you all this this morning and I appreciate you letting me bring the Mallard island lawn service studio to you guys and I appreciate y' all sitting with me. It's been. It's been a great conversation and I look forward to you guys growing and us doing this again in the future.
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C
Absolutely. Thank you so much.
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D
Thank you.
- [26:50]
C
All ours.
- [26:50]
B
Oh, thank you so much. Well, we're going to wrap it up right here. And Mr. Producer, we are sending this back to you, sir. Thank you.
- [27:01]
A
That's a wrap for this episode of the ARNET podcast. We're grateful to have you as a part of our community. If you enjoyed today's show, share it with a friend, or leave us a review. It really helps us keep telling these important stories. And don't forget to check out the podcast description for more on our guest and topics. Thanks again for listening and make sure to follow the show so you'll never miss an episode of the Arnet podcast. This has been a Mallard Island Media and Mr. Producer production.