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  • Sheila Harris Mother nature is playing no favorites across the nation this week, as unseasonably cold weather, snow and ice have affected, or are affecting, the majority of states. Millions in the U.S. are without power. In Barry County, both Barry Elec

Cross and Selby, Barry County’s first and only local podcast

PictureAbove is a typical recording of an episode of Cross and Selby: Local Cast from their base of operations, located within the Cassville Chamber of Commerce. From left to right, hosts Michael Holycross, Rachael Selby Freeman and producer Laura Holycross.
October 23, 2019
Vinnie Roberts


Podcasting is one of the fastest growing entertainment mediums around today. From people on the jog trying to catch up with the news to office employees looking to spice up their day-to-day with on-the-go talk radio, the podcasting boom has branched into nearly every area of interest imaginable.

One of the fastest growing markets for podcasting is the localized podcast. These are shows that have very little in terms of scope, having to do with hyper-localized content, but make up for it with the level of deeper information about local issues and concerns.

For the last few months, Rachael Selby Freeman, director of the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce, and her friend and co-host Michael Holycross are hard at work building their podcast, Cross and Selby: Local Cast, from the ground up.

“I’ve always enjoyed talk radio,” said Holycross. “I learned about podcasts a few years ago. I work in Rogers (Ark.) on the lake and some of the college-aged boys, they listen to podcasts and told me that I should do one about the lake. I’m very computer illiterate. I became friends with Selby a few years ago, and I thought that, since we were from Cassville and know a lot of great people here in the surrounding area, I thought that it would be a good idea to introduce people.”

“Michael asked what I thought about it and if anyone would listen, and the irony of it is, Michael doesn’t talk at all,” explained Selby Freeman. “So, I told him ‘Yeah, people might want to hear you talk for the first time ever’.”

Over a period of six episodes, Cross and Selby have developed a loose-interview format to create a relaxed atmosphere for guests.

Guests of the show include prominent local figures people such as: Sherah Farris, of Haven of the Ozarks; Cassville football head coach Lance Parnell; and Cassville and Monett superintendents Richard Asbill and Russ Moreland right before the Barry County Brawl.

“We’ve had businesses and people in the community that are influential in a way, so we’ve been able to get their insight on certain things, and help people to get to know them on a personal level,” explained Holycross.

“Laura (wife) and Selby have both been very involved in the community,” continued Holycross. “I wasn’t necessarily jealous, but I thought about what I could do to be involved. This is a very off-the-wall type of thing, but I want to be involved somehow. I’m not a huge people person. It’s helped me grow and talk to people.”

Laura Holycross, Michael’s wife, occasionally works with the pair as a producer, recording interviews, denoting times for possible edits and assisting in the editing process. She also recorded intros for the podcast.

The podcast is sponsored in part by Security Bank of Cassville. According to the duo, bank president Jon Horner had a hand in helping the podcast get off the ground and continues to sponsor the podcast.

“Jon Horner is a huge part of this community,” said Holycross. “They’ve been great about supporting a lot of different things in the community. He’s tried to help support us just to get it started. That’s been an eye-opener.

“It’s encouraging that he would do that,” said Selby Freeman. “We didn’t start this wanting any sponsors or any of that.”

Holycross and Selby Freeman both have an affinity for the medium, Holycross being a fan of a wide variety of local and historical podcasts.

“One of the first podcasts that I started listening to was one from a guy named Bo Mattingly who has a podcast called HogPod,” said Holycross. “It’s a podcast about the Arkansas Razorbacks and their whole athletic department.”

While both explained that they weren’t influenced by any specific podcast, some figures in the medium are inspirational to them.

“There’s a few guys that are inspirational,” explained Holycross. “There’s a guy named Jocko Willink who’s an ex-Navy Seal who has a podcast. He has a lot of Vietnam veterans on and some ex-Navy Seals.”

“I wouldn’t say I was inspired by a podcast to start one,” said Selby. “It’s more that I have a degree in communications. I did sports broadcasting and different things like that. I really like the communication medium.”

Selby Freeman is also a fan of sermon podcasts. This is a form of podcast that takes a live recording of a preacher giving a full-length sermon and distributes it, either in chunks or as a whole, as a single episode. Specifically, Selby Freeman notes her fandom of long-running televangelist Joyce Myers.

“She’s been a pastor for like 35 years,” Selby Freeman explained. “They’ve been taking some of her sermons in 15-part series. I really enjoy the marketing of things like that.

“The podcast that I listen to the most is Social Media Examiner,” she continued. “I talked to someone the other day about listening to podcasts and they told me that some of them feel like they are continued education in their field. That’s how I feel. It makes me feel like they’re helping me being better at my job.”

The duo explained that, in addition to providing information about key figures in Barry County, the podcast also serves as an excellent business opportunity for local industry heads to promote and explain their businesses.

Cross and Selby: Local Cast posts new episodes every two weeks. New episodes can be found and downloaded on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, as well as through third-party apps.

Catch this interview, in its entirety, on this week’s episode of Cross and Selby, expected to be posted this week.

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  • Home
  • This Week's Issue
    • New 39th Circuit, county clerk appointments made
    • Cookbook sales benefit Backpack Program at Cassville R-IV
    • DeGraffenreid, Shelter Insurance Foundation Sponsor Scholarship
    • Health department taking names for vaccines
    • Letter to The Editor
    • Roark Family Health to host free COVID-19 testing clinics
    • Exeter High School celebrates homecoming
    • Freedom Bank helps bringweather stations to Cassville R-IV
    • Purdy Eagles improve to 13-4
    • Cox, Mercy collaborate to vaccinate
    • Area crashes result in moderate, minor injuries
    • Purdy High School crowns homecoming royalty
    • Hwy. 76 closed, 2/11, 12 - 4 p.m.
    • Herschel Stehlik receives recognition
    • Tip-off royalty crowned at CHS
    • CHS Class of '65 donates to museum
    • Going wins spelling bee for second consecutive year
    • Arning Restructures Board of Directors
    • Contest on ballot area school boards
    • Health department reports COVID-19 death
    • Local Shriners Honored
    • Five Wildcats on National Signing Day
    • Southwest's Sickles wins road race debut
    • Beloved Angels of Valentine's Day 2021
    • Stokes plays historic game at MSSU
    • Crowder cancels Tuesday classes
    • Liberty Utilities warns of blackouts
    • Barry Electric issues alert
    • Resident reminds of property tax credit for eligible seniors
    • Property rights: When private and public collide
    • Eunice Thomas Elementary to see change in leadership
    • Winter blankets the county
    • CoxHealth changes starting wage, compensation model
    • General Municipal Absentee Voting Begins Tuesday, February 23, 2021
    • Purdy R-II purchases bus radio system
    • Walmart Pharmacies offer COVID-19 vaccines
    • Health department postpones vaccine clinics
    • Beck Farm recognized as Missouri Century Farm award
    • Applications being accepted for 2021 Century Farm
    • DHSS collaborates with area agencies to ensure vaccine access for seniors
    • Basketball tournament brackets released
    • Blue Eye edges Southwest
    • Eunice Thomas January Students of The Month
    • Purdy January medalists announced
    • Southwest Elementary Students of The Month Named
    • Understanding County Aid Road Trust (CART) Funds
    • The Wildcat Takedown Club brings home awards
  • Classifieds
  • Obituaries
  • Advertising
    • Advertising Rates
    • Place Ad
  • Contact us
  • Archives
  • Subscription
  • Sheila Harris Mother nature is playing no favorites across the nation this week, as unseasonably cold weather, snow and ice have affected, or are affecting, the majority of states. Millions in the U.S. are without power. In Barry County, both Barry Elec