Host: Cristan Engelke
Guest: Bob Bakken
VIDEO
DESCRIPTION
From farm boy in northwest Minnesota to 50+ years in broadcasting, radio, television, and print journalism — Bob Bakken has done it all. In this episode of the Southaven Business Beat, we sit down with one of DeSoto County’s most familiar media faces to hear the story behind decades of storytelling.
Bob shares what it was like covering everything from Barbara Bush’s school visit to high school state championships, why small-town journalism taught him to do ten jobs at once, and how a text from his wife’s friend led him to his next big adventure: Editor of the South Reporter newspaper in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
We also get into the real economic story developing along the DeSoto County–Marshall County corridor — new industry, Amazon expansion, and why Bob sees the Mid-South region as one blurred, interconnected growth engine, not a collection of county lines.
Whether you’re a local business owner, a journalism student, or just someone who loves the stories behind the people building this community — this conversation is for you.
CHAPTERS
- Coming Up (00:00 – 00:53)
- Intro & Welcome (00:53 – 01:01)
- Meet Bob Bakken (01:01 – 01:33)
- How It All Started: Farm Boy to Radio DJ (01:33 – 03:14)
- Wearing Every Hat in Small Town Radio (03:14 – 04:24)
- From Broadcasting to TV Writing to Print (04:24 – 06:16)
- Bob Reflects on a Career Behind and In Front of the Mic (06:16 – 07:00)
- Best Memory: Barbara Bush and the Secret Service (07:00 – 10:20)
- The Changes: From Teletype to Digital Recording (10:20 – 13:38)
- A New Chapter: Becoming Editor of the South Reporter (13:38 – 15:13)
- Why He Never Says No to a New Opportunity (15:13 – 17:44)
- Vision for the South Reporter and Holly Springs (17:44 – 19:13)
- DeSoto County, Marshall County and the Regional Growth Story (19:13 – 21:21)
- Why the Mid-South Is One Connected Economy (21:21 – 24:38)
- Advice for the Next Generation in Broadcasting (24:38 – 25:56)
- Lessons From 50 Years: Show Up, Build Trust, Stay Balanced (25:56 – 28:20)
- Closing Thoughts and What’s Next for Bob (28:20 – 31:59)
- Southern Manners, Mr. Bob, and Life in DeSoto County (31:59 – 33:01)
- Subscribe and Follow Along (33:01 – 33:39)
Follow Bob’s new column For What It’s Worth at the South Reporter.
Brought to you by the Southaven Chamber of Commerce and produced by Pure Focus Media and Wisdom Integrators.
Sponsors:
Pure Focus Media
The creative powerhouse behind this podcast! Pure Focus Media makes high-quality video and content creation accessible to businesses of all sizes. They specialize in helping you bridge the gap between physical and digital marketing to capture more attention.
Visit: PureFocus.media
Wisdom Integrators
Your strategic partner for the digital age. Wisdom Integrators designs tailored solutions for workflow automation and digital transformation, ensuring your business vision is backed by flawless execution.
Visit: WisdomIntegrators.com
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Email: [email protected]
Southaven Business Beat is your local resource for business news, community leadership, and growth happening in Southaven, DeSoto County, Byhalia, Holly Springs, and the greater Memphis Mid-South region.
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