319. Meleek Thomas: Steel City Made
The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly
Arkansas freshman guard Meleek Thomas didn’t just arrive ready — he was built that way. Raised on the streets of Pittsburgh, Meleek learned grit, toughness, and resilience long before the spotlight found him. In this episode, he shares how his upbringing shaped his mindset and helped turn him into one of the top freshman guards in the country. Hear what truly drives him, the trust and bond he’s built with Coach John Calipari, and how competition and brotherhood fuel his relationship with Darius Acuff. Meleek also opens up about expectations, pressure, and just how good he believes this...
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318. Bonnie Deas: Bringing Aussie Grit to Arkansas
The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly
In this week’s episode of The Hog Pod, we sat down with Arkansas freshman Bonnie Deas to dive into her journey from Melbourne, Australia to the SEC. From her international basketball background and medal-winning experience with Australia, to carving out a role in Fayetteville through hustle, physicality, and relentless rebounding.
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317. Chris Bucknam: Passing the Baton
The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly
In this episode of The Hog Pod, newly retired Arkansas men’s track & field coach Chris Bucknam sits down for an honest, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about closing out his 18-year run leading one of college sports’ most storied programs. Bucknam talks about clearing out his office, leaving trophies where they belong, and wrestling with the memories — the SEC Triple Crowns, 18 podium finishes, two national titles, and the one-point heartbreaks that still stick with him. He shares candid stories about replacing a legend in John McDonnell, what it felt like to sit in “that...
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316. Ryan Silverfield: All In
The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly
New Arkansas head football coach Ryan Silverfield sits down for his first in-depth conversation since arriving in Fayetteville, opening up about the whirlwind transition from Memphis, the moment he knew the Arkansas job was real, and why he believes the Hogs are primed for a breakthrough. Silverfield details his unconventional rise—from a career-ending high school injury to becoming the youngest position coach in college football, to seven years in the NFL, to leading Memphis to multiple 10-win seasons. He explains the work ethic that has driven him since age 18 (“I’d do this job for...
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315. Taleyah Jones: Out with a Bang
The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly
Arkansas guard Taleyah Jones joins the Hog Pod to share her journey from a Hello-Kitty-loving kid in Tulsa to one of the SEC’s most dynamic playmakers. She opens up about growing up in a military family, developing confidence through adversity, and the moments that shaped her — including her 37-point high school performance and learning point guard on the fly as a college freshman. Taleyah reflects on her evolution under Coach Kelsi Musick at ORU, why family proximity mattered, and the emotional decision to follow her coach to Arkansas. Now in her final season, she talks about...
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314. John George: The Voice of the Razorbacks
The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly
In this episode of The Hog Pod, we sit down with John George, the iconic voice of Razorback athletics for more than 45 years. From calling women’s basketball games on a RadioShack stereo to becoming the PA announcer for Arkansas football, men’s basketball, and the SEC Tournament, John shares the unforgettable journey that shaped his legendary career. He reflects on the “adrenaline on steroids” moment he first tried out for the men’s job, the pivotal day Nolan Richardson told him to “jazz it up” to match 40 Minutes of Hell, and the biggest game-day moments that still give him...
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313. Keegan Smith: The Save & the Setback
The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly
Razorback goalkeeper Keegan Smith has faced it all — from celebrating an SEC Championship to battling one of the rarest injuries in sports. In this conversation with Hogs+ host Tera Talmadge, Keegan opens up about her small-town New York roots, the family ties that led her to Arkansas, and the powerful influence of her sister and her mom’s longtime friendship with Razorback legend Amber Shirey. She also shares what it’s been like to sit on the sidelines, support her teammates, and rediscover her love for the game. ---- The full video version of this episode is available exclusively...
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312. Ellen Calipari: Mrs Cal
The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly
Ellen Calipari has spent nearly four decades living life beside one of the biggest names in college basketball. In this episode, she opens up about her journey from small-town Missouri to the center of the college hoops world — sharing what it’s really like to be a coach’s wife, raise a family through constant moves, and still find humor and grace along the way. From “roommate” and “princess” nicknames to brownies for players and John’s quirky superstitions, Ellen gives a rare, candid look at the woman behind the man who never stops coaching. ---- The full video version of this...
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311. Trevon Brazile: This is It
The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly
Trevon Brazile’s journey at Arkansas has been anything but straightforward. From explosive potential to frustrating setbacks, the Razorback forward has battled injuries, inconsistency, and expectation. Now entering what could be his final season, Brazile sits down with Matt Zimmerman to reflect on the highs and lows, how adversity has shaped his mindset, and why he’s approaching this year with complete freedom and urgency. He opens up about feeling held back in the past, stepping into a leadership role, dragging coaches into the gym, and embracing a “this is it” mentality. In a candid...
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VAULT: Put Em' in the Heisman Pt. 1—Darren McFadden & Houston Nutt
The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly
VAULT: To celebrate the announcement of Darren McFadden's #5 jersey being honored, we're bringing back the audio versions of the Hogs+ original film, 'Put Em' in the Heisman'. ________ For the first time, Darren McFadden and Houston Nutt sit down and relive the 2006 and 2007 football seasons. In Part 1 of this bonus Hog Pod series, the two cover the 2006 season, winning 10 straight games and clinching an SEC West title. ------------- The full video version of this episode is available exclusively on Follow us on social media! This episode of The Hog Pod is brought to you by...
info_outlineNew Arkansas head football coach Ryan Silverfield sits down for his first in-depth conversation since arriving in Fayetteville, opening up about the whirlwind transition from Memphis, the moment he knew the Arkansas job was real, and why he believes the Hogs are primed for a breakthrough.
Silverfield details his unconventional rise—from a career-ending high school injury to becoming the youngest position coach in college football, to seven years in the NFL, to leading Memphis to multiple 10-win seasons. He explains the work ethic that has driven him since age 18 (“I’d do this job for free”) and the mentality behind his program’s core mantra: ALL IN.
He breaks down how he approaches roster building in the NIL/portal era, how he evaluates current players, and what he’s looking for in his staff. Silverfield also shares personal stories—raising 10-month-old identical twin girls, his love for dogs, and a few surprising chapters from his life he’s saving for future episodes.
Most importantly, Silverfield delivers a direct message to Razorback fans: he knows the frustration, he embraces the challenge, and he’s here to work relentlessly, build relationships, and win championships.
A raw, energetic, and revealing first look at the man now leading Arkansas football.
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The full video version of this episode is available exclusively on HogsPlus.com
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This episode of The Hog Pod is brought to you by South by Northwest Hospitality