Everywhere Radio with Whitney Kimball Coe

In this Beyond the Clock episode, Ash Hanson from Department of Public Transformation and Anna Claussen from Voices for Rural Resilience converse with Eastern Kentucky-based artist and advocate, Lacy Hale about resilience, restoration, and reciprocity in rural places. In this conversation, they explore the role of the artist in times of disaster and division. Lacy inspires us to advocate for our rural people and places with projects like "No Hate in My Holler" and to support our communities, while still caring for ourselves. 

What's it like to cover the renewable energy transition in rural America? Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton spoke with Canary Media's Kari Lydersen during a live show recording at the Rural Journalism Collective on May 14, 2025. This week, we're bringing you an edited version of that conversation.Kari has spent extensive time reporting on coal mining communities and the clean energy transition in the Midwest. Her recent work follows individuals who participated in a state-funded clean energy job training program in rural Decatur, Illinois. Kari joins the conversation with Claire and Julia to discuss her reporting process as well as some of the joys and challenges of reporting on energy topics in rural places.Read Kari's story here.The Rural Journalism Collective is a space for journalists and media professionals who cover rural places to network, share ideas, and uplift excellent work.

Today's story takes us to western North Carolina, where the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is working to preserve the Cherokee language.  Their dialect of Cherokee is considered “severely endangered” by UNESCO.  To help revitalize the language, community leaders opened the New Kituwah Academy in 2004.  It's a Cherokee language immersion school for elementary-age students.  A partnership with a print-making instructor at Western Carolina University is bringing beautiful, hand-printed classroom materials to the Cherokee language learners. 

In the final episode of Twang, host Lane Wendell Fischer and Daily Yonder reporter Ilana Newman explore queerness in country music's past and present. Though there is only one openly queer artist currently signed by a major country music label, the rising popularity of artists like Chappell Roan, Orville Peck, and Brandi Carlile mark the increasing visibility of queer artists in the genre. Lane and Ilana discuss these contemporary artists – and the lesser known queer musicians who came before them – and the mark they've made on country music. Artists discussed include: Chappell Roan, Orville Peck, Brandi Carlile, Tracy Chapman, Kacey Musgraves, Wilma Burgess, Patrick Haggerty.Listen to the episode companion playlist here.

In the third episode of Twang, host Lane Wendell Fischer is joined by writer, marketing specialist, and country music enthusiast Tracy Staley to discuss the role women have played in the development of country music. Despite the genre's conservative reputation, iconic artists like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Reba McEntire have used country music as a platform to discuss issues from birth control to domestic violence. In this episode, we explore how these songs, and the women who sing them, fit into a musical ecosystem currently dominated by ultramasculine ‘bro-country.'Artists discussed include: Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Gretchen Peters, The Chicks.Listen to the episode companion playlist

This week, Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton are continuing the conversation about environmentalism in rural places. In this episode, Claire and Julia dig deeper into the conservative corner of the climate movement. They speak with Chris Barnard, the president of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing young conservatives around environmental action. Points of conversation include popular rural clean energy sources, state-level clean energy action in conservative districts, and how the media can build trust with conservatives.ANNOUNCEMENT: Join us for a live recording of the Rural Reporter's Notebook podcast next week! Claire and Julia will be interviewing Canary Media's Kari Lydersen as part of the Rural Journalism Collective virtual event on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Register for a spot here.Photo: Robert F. Bukaty/AP.

In the second episode of Twang, host Lane Wendell Fischer is joined by music journalist and cultural critic Taylor Crumpton to explore the deep-rooted, often erased contributions of Black, Mexican, and Indigenous artists to the genre. From Southern guitar traditions and borderland ballads to the Chitlin Circuit to Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, we trace how cultural exchange shaped the sound of country music — and why its public image remains so whitewashed. Artists discussed include: Linda Martell, Beyoncé, Mahalia Jackson, Charley Pride, Shaboozey, and Darius Rucker.Listen to the episode companion playlist.Read Lane Wendell Fischer's commentary about this episode

In the first episode of Twang, host Lane Wendell Fischer unpacks the origin story of country music with Tim Marema. We explore how a rich mix of rural traditions became a genre — and how race, class, and geography shaped which stories got told. From front porch fiddles to the invention of the “hillbilly” record, we trace the transformation of a diverse musical culture into a commercial industry that told a narrow narrative. Artists discussed include: The Carter Family, Waylon Jennings, The Chicks, and Luke Smathers. Listen to the episode companion playlist

More than 55 years after the first U.S. Earth Day was celebrated in small towns and cities by people of all political stripes, the term “environmentalism” conjures different connotations today. Media coverage might have something to do with it. Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton are joined by Meg Haywood Sullivan and Amelia Joy of Nature Is Nonpartisan, a new organization working to reframe the narrative about protecting the planet.Meg and Amelia, who come from opposite ends of the political spectrum, discuss the exclusion of rural environmentalists from the media, the climate culture wars, and the irony of being disconnected from community in the age of social media.To learn more about Nature Is Nonpartisan, visit natureisnonpartisan.orgThis story is part of The 89 Percent Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now. Learn more about the initiative at 89percent.orgPhoto: Claire Carlson/Daily Yonder.

For Christians around the world, the lead up to Easter is a time of fasting. Lent is an opportunity to give up your vices and turn your thoughts to God.But for many churches in Appalachia, this time is less about abstaining and more about creating some of the richest, most delicious candies you've ever tasted: Chocolate Easter Eggs.

Over the weekend, demonstrators organized in more than 1,200 cities and small towns across all fifty states to protest actions taken by President Donald Trump and his billionaire advisor, Elon Musk. For Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton, the demonstrations are the latest response to a question that's been floating around their newsroom for several weeks: What does dissent look like in rural communities right now?In this episode, Claire and Julia share dispatches from the rallies and town halls they've attended over the past month—events which were organized and attended by rural voters across the country. They share what they learned on the road as a way to contextualize the demonstrations this weekend, and look ahead to what organized rural dissent means for substantive action.Image: Tony Guerrero/Hays Post

 How does a community balance historic extractive industries like logging, fishing, agriculture, and mining with tourism and recreation? It's not as simple as wanting to move away from extraction and toward tourism. In this episode, we're headed to Ilwaco, a small town on the coast of Southwest Washington. The communities of Pacific County have historically relied on fishing and logging, and the town of Ilwaco is currently working to balance these historic industries with recreation and tourism.

Welcome to the Beyond the Clock Podcast! Ash Hanson from Department of Public Transformation and Anna Claussen from Voices for Rural Resilience are your hosts on a journey into the hearts, minds, and imaginations of rural artists, cultural workers, and change-makers across the country. In this episode, Anna and Ash converse with rural Minnesota-based artist and “slow-cycle change” champion, Nancy X. Valentine about reciprocity in placed-based artistic practice. In this conversation, they explore how celebrating diversity and shared humanity fosters connection and allows us to give and receive love to our community, even when our community sometimes doesn't love us back. Be inspired to expand your capacity for love in order to find greater affinity for one another!

Low snowpack, drought, flooding, wildfires, warmer winters. Climate change is causing temperature shifts and natural disasters that affect outdoor recreation and the small town economies that depend on recreation. In this episode, we're headed to New Hampshire ski towns with Daily Yonder reporter Julia Tilton and learning about how winter recreation economies in New England are changing because of warmer winters and less snow. We also learn why rural communities are more vulnerable to climate change with Daily Yonder data reporter Sarah Melotte.

This week, Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton unpack a recent conversation Claire had with former USDA official Jonathan Coppess, who served under President Barack Obama. Discussion points include changes at the USDA, what Coppess thinks journalists get wrong when covering agriculture, and why the government breaking a contract is the same as us breaking a contract with ourselves.

National parks capture the imagination of many travelers and road trippers seeking the Great Outdoors. But what do national parks do for the communities that serve as their gateways? We take a trip to New River Gorge National Park, the newest national park in the national park system, with Daily Yonder reporter Sarah Melotte, to learn about what Fayetteville, West Virginia is dealing with around the park designation.

Housing is one of the biggest challenges for popular destination communities around the country. Second home owners and vacation rentals drive up prices in our recreation communities and locals get priced out. In this episode we're headed to Moab, Utah, to learn about the Community Land Trust and the work they're doing to support affordable housing. We'll also visit Taos, New Mexico with Daily Yonder reporter Anya Petrone Slepyan to learn about the town's housing challenges and potential solutions.

Introducing the Rural Reporter's Notebook, a behind-the-scenes look at rural stories from across the country. An evolution of their coverage on the Keep It Rural podcast, Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton host this biweekly series. Bringing in voices from inside and outside the Daily Yonder's newsroom, Claire and Julia unpack today's biggest headlines and what they mean for life in rural places.

Introducing the Rural Reporter's Notebook, a behind-the-scenes look at rural stories from across the country. An evolution of their coverage on the Keep It Rural podcast, Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton host this biweekly series. Bringing in voices from inside and outside the Daily Yonder's newsroom, Claire and Julia unpack today's biggest headlines and what they mean for life in rural places.In this episode, Daily Yonder reporter Ilana Newman joins to discuss her new podcast, Getaway, a five-episode series about what it means to be a rural recreation community. You can listen to episodes now on the Rural Remix feed.

In our first episode we talk to a few people who study the recreation industry and how it intersects with rural communities. We start out in Montezuma County, Colorado, Ilana's home in Southwest Colorado and also visit Monte Vista, Colorado, another small town in Southern Colorado. These two communities are not necessarily known as tourism destinations, but the towns are invested in recreation development for locals and developing sustainable tourism along the way.

Welcome to the Beyond the Clock  Podcast, where rural stories take center stage! In this podcast, Ash Hanson from Department of Public Transformation and Anna Claussen from Voices for Rural Resilience are your hosts on a journey into the hearts, minds, and imaginations of rural artists, cultural workers, and change-makers across the country. In this episode, Anna and Ash converse with Beyond the Clock Resident Artist, Eliza Blue, and share their hopes and ideas for this season's podcasts. They explore the concept of ruralness, embracing tensions in identity, and the role of rural artists as stewards and storytellers.

From slashing electric vehicle infrastructure to cutting grants for farmers, the Trump administration's attempt to “trim the fat” off government spending has caused chaos and confusion in Washington D.C. and beyond. Claire and Julia break down how two spending freezes have affected folks on the ground in rural America.(Photo credit Claire Carlson)

President Donald Trump has made it a priority in the first weeks of his second administration to cut diversity, equity and inclusion—DEI—programs across the federal government. Universities and corporations are largely following suit. On this episode of Keep it Rural, Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton are joined by Lane Wendell Fischer, a small-town Kansas native and Yale University alumnus whose recent commentary explores the impact of DEI efforts on rural populations. Fischer is also a reporter for the Daily Yonder, where he frequently covers education.Photo: Beth Harpaz/AP

The recent Los Angeles wildfires have highlighted something rural people already knew: no place is safe from fire as climate change exacerbates the conditions that make sparks fly. This reality makes federal disaster relief more important than ever, but the new Trump administration could make it harder for victims to get government help.Photo: Noah Berger/AP

On the heels of the news that 2024 was the hottest year on record — beating out 2023 for the top spot — Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton reflect on winter past and future. Claire shares stories from her holiday travels to rural Pennsylvania, where her grandparents met as young people on a frozen toboggan slide that hasn't run since 2014. Julia shares stories from her grandmother's upbringing in New Hampshire and New York, where seasonal snow piles once towered so high they lasted well into the spring months. Photo: New London, NH. 1957.

Host Sara June Jo-Sæbo explores the transformative power of Recovery Court in Southwest Virginia, an innovative alternative to incarceration for individuals struggling with addiction. Through deeply personal stories from participants and judges, “On the Rebound” reveals how the program combines accountability, compassion, and fitness to support recovery and examines the pervasive impact of drug culture on rural communities.

Donald Trump is preparing for his second term in the White House by making nominations for key Cabinet positions. Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton discuss two of Trump's picks – those slated to lead the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Agriculture if approved by the Senate. Julia provides background on Lee Zeldin, the former New York Congressman Trump has nominated for the EPA. Claire and Julia discuss how Zeldin's past positions on fracking and rural communities might influence his leadership at the EPA. Claire digs into Brooke Rollins' work at the America First Policy Institute and what it could say about her vision for the country if appointed US Secretary of Agriculture.If you like what you hear on Keep it Rural and the Rural Remix feed, consider supporting rural, nonprofit journalism by donating to the Daily Yonder. Right now, all donations up to $1,000 are matched dollar-for-dollar. Go to  dailyyonder.com/newsmatch to get started. Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP

North Cove, Washington once had the fastest eroding shoreline on the West Coast. For the 72 cranberry farmers who call the area home, the erosion was an existential threat to the local community and economy. That was, until Connie Allen and her late husband David Cottrell got involved. Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton bring you the story of “Wash Away No More”, a grassroots effort to keep erosion at bay along a rural community's beach.

The Associated Press called the presidential election in favor of former president Donald Trump at 5:34 am on November 6th, the morning after Election Day. But even before that, political pundits and TV reporters had plenty to say about rural voters and their role in re-electing Trump.  Now that the numbers are in, host Olivia Weeks examines these assertions in the latest episode of Backroad Ballots, and takes a closer look at what happened on November 5th.  In this bonus episode, Weeks talks with Tim Marema, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Yonder, and Sarah Melotte, the Daily Yonder's data correspondent. Their conversation focuses on high-level election results and the rural voter's role in deciding the outcomes of the presidential race and state-wide ballot measures.

Former President Donald Trump's re-election to the White House has many looking at rural America to understand his victory. Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson is joined by Keep it Rural producer and fellow reporter Julia Tilton to discuss why focusing on small-town voters alone is misleading. They break down data analyzed by the Daily Yonder to show that rural voters are only part of Trump's success story. Plus, Claire and Julia chat about what's to come in the months ahead, particularly as President Joe Biden works to preserve his legacy on climate policies.If you like what you hear on Keep it Rural and the Rural Remix feed, consider supporting rural, nonprofit journalism by donating to the Daily Yonder. Right now, all donations up to $1,000 are matched dollar-for-dollar.  Go to dailyyonder.com/newsmatch to get started. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP

Once upon a time, it was not unheard of for a voter to cast a Republican vote for president and a Democratic vote for a down-ballot candidate like a congressman or state representative – or vice versa. In the 1970s and 80s, an estimated 25% of voters split their ballots this way.Now, this type of voter is rarer than ever because of the political polarization that defines modern-day American politics. This week, Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson discusses the decline of the split ticket voter and what it might mean for Montana's Senate race.

In the newest episode of the Backroad Ballots podcast, we asked our staff what they are paying close attention to between now and the election. Host Olivia Weeks interviewed Daily Yonder publisher Dee Davis, and Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Sarah Melotte about election denial, how Democratic policy affects rural America, campaign communication, whether rural voters are truly over represented in the Electoral College and Senate, how Hurricane Helene could disrupt voting infrastructure in North Carolina, and more. 

This week, Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson talks about the dangers of misinformation in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton. As Claire points out, a lot of the misinformation comes from climate change deniers.

We bring you a special Keep it Rural this week. Claire speaks with her colleague, Daily Yonder reporter Sarah Melotte about the devastating hurricane Helene. Sarah is currently unable to get to her home in Bakersville, North Carolina. She lives in the western part of the state where roads in and out are completely flooded. Claire talked with her about what it's been like to see her community reeling from a hurricane, and what it all means for rural Appalachia.  If you have reporting ideas about Hurricane Helene or want to share your experiences, email Sarah Melotte at sarah@dailyyonder.com To contribute to Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, visit: Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina: https://homewardboundwnc.org/The World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/All Hands and Hearts: https://www.allhandsandhearts.org/

Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson talks about some of the hidden and not so hidden benefits of rest stops on American highways.

Salmon have always had a perilous journey returning home to spawn. Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson explains how climate change has made their mere existence perilous.

The opening discussion from this year's Rural Assembly Everywhere, Lead for America Co-founder Benya Kraus and Wahpetunwan Dakota artist, writer, and midwife Autumn Cavender — in conversation about what it takes to nurture thriving communities

Four experienced arts administrators discuss agency in storytelling and community voice. • Francisco Guajardo, Chief Executive Officer of the Museum of South Texas History in Edinburg, Texas; • Madeline Matson, Executive Director of the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco, Washington; and • Gwendolyn Trice, founder and Executive Director of the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center (MHIC), a museum located in Joseph, Oregon.• Stephen Gong, executive director of the Center for Asian American Media

This week on Keep it Rural, Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson talks about how in rural communities, where access to resources and support is already limited, the aftermath of disasters often brings a second wave of hardship.

This conversation was originally recorded for the Rural Assembly Everywhere virtual event. In this episode, Center for Rural Strategies President Dee Davis sits down with political scientists Kathy Cramer, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Hahrie Han from Johns Hopkins University. They discuss the challenges facing American democracy, rural resentment and economic populism, and what it means to rebuild trust in struggling communities.

How have rural and urban economies diverged in recent decades, and what effect has that had on the geography of American politics? In this episode, Daily Yonder reporter Olivia Weeks speaks with historian Keith Orejel and journalist Nick Bowlin about the history of “small-town boosters,” the outsized effect of the Great Recession on rural America, and the lack of corporate accountability in sparsely populated places.

Hours-long lines, faulty vehicle permitting systems, and poorly maintained facilities beg one question: are there too many people visiting national parks?

Who is the rural voter and what does she stand for? In conversation with political scientists Nicholas Jacobs and Chelsea Kaufman, Daily Yonder reporter Olivia Weeks discusses the demographics of the rural electorate. In this episode, learn more about who actually turns out to the polls and the values that motivate their decisions.

Rural Assembly Everywhere virtual event is August 1st, 2024 at 1 pm Eastern. Register now! In a year marked by elections and challenges, it's essential to shift our focus toward envisioning what it truly means for rural areas to flourish. That's why this year's Rural Assembly Everywhere will explore a diverse range of topics, all centered on nurturing ourselves and our rural communities. Hear from rural leaders, organizers, community workers and artists as we explore what it means to nurture a thriving community. REGISTER NOW! Read more about our panels and speakers here!

In this episode of Backroads Ballots, Daily Yonder reporter Olivia Weeks asks what the post-2016 years have taught us about progressive organizing in small-town America. With rural movement builders Annie Contractor and Anthony Flaccavento, they discuss the role of the labor movement in rural life, the “branding problem” facing Democrats, and the mismatch between short-term election cycles and long-term structural change.

Kamala Harris is most likely the new Democratic nominee for president. Does she have what it takes to win rural voters?

Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson's recent bat encounter on a camping trip prompted this episode all about the only mammal that flies. Over the past decade, a fungal disease has killed millions of bats in North America. The struggle to contain the disease illustrates how little control we humans have over illness and death, much to our own chagrin.

Are rural communities prone to conspiracy? Not necessarily. Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson breaks down this misconception by looking at the notorious Bundy family and the election denial movement.

Lois Keller is an avid baker and a spokesperson for the Kansas Wheat Commission. In this episode, she speaks about how her son's diagnosis of Celiac disease has been a part of her baking history and all about many unique German bread recipes.  Check out recipes, show notes, and more on our website.

On this episode we are learning all about the art of making biscuits! Appalachian leader Margo Miller speaks about how a middle school competition led to a lifelong passion for biscuits and how she is returning to her roots through crafting and baking.   Check out the recipe, show notes, and more on our website.

With the recent conviction of former President Donald Trump, juries have been in the news. And on the mind of Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson who just reported for jury duty. In this episode, she discusses her experience and questions if certainty beyond all doubt is possible in courtrooms.