The Growing Small Towns Show

This is a first on the podcast and a great ending to the first part of Season 5 (we'll be back in September with more episodes!) One of Rebecca's children joined us for the funnest episode ever about small towns through the eyes of a kid: what he loves, what he'd like to see, and the frustrations he experiences as a kid in a small town. About Carter: Carter is Rebecca's 13-year-old son, the middle child, and a small-town connoisseur and font of wisdom about how to connect with and make small towns great places for kids. In this episode, we cover: What Carter loves about his small town What he'd like to see in his small town How to connect with kids and involve them in small towns Carter's Shout-Outs: The Butcher Shop, Inc.: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083102392378 The Bakery Shoppe - Oakes: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088962675005 Hearthside Vineyard and Winery: https://www.facebook.com/HeaOakesrthsideWinery Sweets n' Stories: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063629827416 Feel Good Foods: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095018709672 Wild Wolff: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086460336567 Oakes Area Chamber of Commerce: https://www.facebook.com/oakeschamber Irrigation Days FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/970957665097391 MacDaddy's Food Vendor: https://www.facebook.com/PhillyandMaceatery Small-Town Shout-Out! We're celebrating the combined communities of Chamberlain and Oacoma. They have a trail system, and they're building their very first bike-optimized trail! Sometimes, trail systems with options for both walking *and* biking aren't prioritized, so major snaps to these communities for getting this done! A Note on Seasons: Our new format means that we'll be taking a break for summer and picking back up in September. Don't worry, we'll still have plenty of content to share and we can't wait to hit the ground running this fall. Follow us on Instagram (@growingsmalltowns) and Facebook (facebook.com/growingsmalltowns)  New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

This episode is about the rural lawyer shortage, why it's happening, why it matters, and what we can do about it. This is a new-to-us topic, and we're so excited to share it with you because it's way more important and impactful than we realized. Lawyers have a crucial place in our small communities, from providing essential government services like prosecution to supporting small businesses and helping them thrive. Our guest, Hannah, is a law professor and author who took a deep dive into this issue, and we're so glad she did. We learned a lot, and we think you will, too! About Hannah: Hannah Haksgaard is a Professor at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law, where she teaches and writes in the areas of property law, family law, and the rural practice of law. Hannah's new book, The Rural Lawyer: How to Incentivize Rural Law Practice and Help Small Communities Thrive, is available on Amazon or through your favorite local bookseller. In this episode, we cover: Why do we have a rural lawyer shortage? Why that shortage matters How can we address it? Resources Mentioned and Projects They Serve:  Hannah's Book: https://a.co/d/1iJyV9j Small-Town Shout-Out! This week's shout-out is to the small town of Burke, SD. We love hearing what different people love about their small towns, and Burke sounds like a fantastic place to live. Meredith loves the Get Fit with Jenny classes, Kelsey's all about the Farmer's Market and the town's gorgeous park space, and Cheyenne appreciates that the town is about love and legacy built on a foundation for the future. Wahoo, Burke, for being amazing in so many different ways! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

We focus a lot on belonging here at Growing Small Towns, and one of the most important groups (that sometimes gets neglected by traditional community development) is youth. Kids need to feel at home and welcome in our small towns, too, and when our young people are engaged, active, and have good places to hang out with their friends, the effect is like a shockwave in the best way. Today's episode is with the amazing Karen Pifher, who is helping communities support their youth in very real, material ways.  And with lots of food, because apparently that's key for kid hangouts.  About Karen: Karen Pifher is a powerhouse of heart, hustle, and humor, with a Master's in Community Development, a Business Strategy Certificate from Harvard, and as a member of the international "Board of Experts" (what's that- check it out online and reach out with questions). As the founder of Creating Community Consulting, Karen has become a go-to force for turning bold ideas into thriving, people-centered projects. She knows firsthand what it's like to face hardship — as a teen mother, Karen learned resilience, grit, and the power of community early on. Today, she channels that experience into her mission to create stronger, more connected places where everyone belongs. Her secret weapon? A wicked sense of humor, a bias for action, and the ability to make strategy feel exciting — even fun! Outside of her work, Karen is a devoted wife, mom, and outdoor enthusiast, happiest when she's paddling a river, hiking through the woods, or wrangling life's chaos with laughter and love. Creating Community Consulting isn't just a business; it's the evolution of Karen's lifelong passion for community, innovation, and change — built on grit, late nights, and a lot of coffee. She's living proof that small-town roots and big dreams can shake up the world, one project (and one punchline) at a time. In this episode, we cover: Why Karen decided to get involved in making communities better places for youth The whole amazing story behind CornerStone Community & Youth Center How Karen and her organization help other small towns become great places for kids Resources Mentioned and Projects They Serve: Creating Community Consulting and AI Grant Writer tool: https://www.creatingcommunityconsulting.com/ CornerStone Community & Youth Center: https://www.cornerstonefrazee.org/ Wannigan Park: https://wanniganpark.com/ Clay County Family Resource Center: https://claycountyfrc.com/ Economic Development in Frazee Small-Town Shout-Out! This one is from our friend Jerome from Platte, South Dakota, and we're shouting out two things that he shared with us. The first is the community's multi-church youth group: the community recognized the benefit of having one large group of kids coming together rather than a bunch of little ones, and we love this (and the kids do too!) The second is the restored Lyric Theater. It's a beautiful building that was in rough shape, which was purchased by an incredibly generous individual who restored it and brought it back to life, proving that when people care, big things happen. A big high-five to Platte for youth, collaboration, and restoration! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

When we think of politics, I think a lot of us feel intimidated or like there isn't room for us in the process–we're not “political,” or we don't have time, or we're not the right kind of person. Today's guest shows that being an unlikely politician may actually be the best thing, and why we need more real people in politics (yes, that means you!) About Erin: Erin Oban is a lifelong North Dakotan and proud, Class B kid, raised in a farm family in Ray, ND. Her professional career has included experience as a middle school math teacher, in nonprofit management and educational leadership, and in politics and public service. In 2014 and again in 2018, Erin was elected to represent central Bismarck's District 35 in the State Senate. In 2022, she received an appointment from President Biden to serve as North Dakota's state director of USDA Rural Development, a federal agency responsible for making financing and technical assistance accessible to rural and Tribal communities across the country. When not engaging in issues of importance and finding ways to make an impact, big or small, in her community, Erin enjoys a cold beer on the patio with friends, a cup of coffee with a stranger, live music and comedy, traveling, and being comfy at home in Bismarck with her husband, Chad, and their son and favorite human, Evin. In this episode, we cover: How Erin became involved in the legislative world (kind of by accident!) Why voucher schemes and school choice don't help our small towns How every single one of us has something we can offer and something we can do about the things we care about Resources Mentioned: https://www.ndforpublicschools.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ND4PublicSchools Think Again by Adam Grant Small-Town Shout-Out! Wahoo to the unincorporated community of Guelph, ND (just a stone's throw from Oakes) for showing that no town is too small to do big, cool things when people care. Two cool things we're highlighting: Off the "Sheulph" Guelph purchased the old school building, where they host markets throughout the year and rent out the historic wood gym for events, and a young couple transformed the old train depot into a beautiful Airbnb, giving visitors a reason to come and stay. Good job, Guelph!! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

Meredith is easily one of the most interesting and unusual people we've ever had on the podcast, and her story is a testament to just how much small-town living appeals to all kinds of people, even people that you may not expect. This episode is all about how Meredith–a Marin County, California native–found herself in rural South Dakota, and what we can do to make our small towns more welcoming for all different kinds of people who want to make their lives here.  About Meredith: Meredith McMurray was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. She was home-schooled for all but one of her twelve grade school years. Then, in 2006, she enlisted into the US Marine Corps at age 18 and served four years active duty, deploying twice during that time. After an Honorable Discharge, Meredith began an exploration into the world of health and healing practices such as yoga, neuromuscular therapy, meditation, self-inquiry, and performing arts! She began learning Aerial Acrobatics in 2012, at first as a hobby. By 2016, Meredith began making a living off of teaching and performing Aerial Acrobatics. In May 2019, Meredith was presented with an opportunity to take over ownership of Aerial Arts Fairfax (IG account no longer managed), a local beloved Aerial Academy in Fairfax, CA. The offer was for Meredith to purchase the business and facilitate over 200 actively enrolled students to continue their training—or watch it close and cease to exist due to the original founder opting to retire earlier in 2019. Out of pure love for the art form (and a lack of awareness of what was to come), Meredith took a risk and invested five figures of borrowed money into purchasing the business. Aerial Arts Fairfax had eight great months under Meredith's leadership, and then March 2020 came along... Obliterated by the statewide lockdowns and dysfunctional social practices implemented by the majority in the San Francisco Bay Area, Meredith consciously chose to no longer serve that community with her business nor her physical presence. Meredith had heard former Governor Kristi Noem say, "All South Dakotans are Essential." So, after sixteen total months of fighting to regain any sense of meaning or purpose in California, Meredith packed her Prius and drove to South Dakota with no plan. Once she arrived, Meredith was able to shake hands with Gov. Kristi Noem and thank her for standing up for the people of South Dakota and their occupations. Then, Meredith was able to work a seasonal job in South Dakota and earn enough to pay herself back from the five-figure financial wound created by the State of California. After that, Meredith moved across state lines four times before eventually returning back to South Dakota, where she has been living for the last 2.5 years. By no means is Meredith walking off into the sunset... She continues to wake up every morning wondering how she can best serve the community, make real friends, and express important messages in whatever form. Please enjoy the speech Meredith recently gave at the Black Hills Aerial Cup: https://youtu.be/Y15XccuXMFw?si=IGgYzsz8jtsfQqpA In this episode, we cover: How Meredith went from Marin County, CA to small-town South Dakota What she loves about small towns What she'd love for her own small-town experience Resources Mentioned: Freedom Fest: https://freedomfest.com/ Speech for anyone who's ever felt "non-essential”: https://youtu.be/Y15XccuXMFw?si=IGgYzsz8jtsfQqpA Meredith's website: www.DanglingDance.com Get in touch: DanglingDance@gmail.com Small-Town Shout-Out! Big high fives to Ellendale, our county seat! A major economic development project—Applied Digital—is happening right there, and the revenue it brings is game-changing. But we're especially cheering for Ellendale because growth like this brings big challenges, too. Just because something big is happening doesn't mean anything was ever wrong before. We see you, we support you, and we're in it with you. New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

This episode is a listener-submitted Small Town People Problem, and it's one we hear a lot: What do we do about local negativity? How do we deal with it when the people in the town are the ones being the Negative Nancies (or Negative Normans), and what can we do about it? We are joined by the amazing Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer, who, as it happens, is someone who knows quite a lot about local apathy and what to do about it. About Heidi: Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer barely escaped law school. She became a freelance writer in 2006, the Mayor of HeidiTown.com in 2007, and a community builder in 2023 when she formed HeidiTown Consulting. Through years of visiting small towns as a writer and Mayor of HeidiTown.com, Heidi recognized that while she loved every small town she visited, the town's locals were often apathetic about where they lived. Today, Heidi reminds people to love where they live by telling them how to and why it is important. She believes it starts with the individuals in a community. They are the ones who have the power to make their town extraordinary.   "This isn't economic development and this isn't tourism; it is that sweet spot that inspires pride in place so that when they come, whether as a new resident or as a visitor, they are happy to be there." ~Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer In this episode, we cover: Why it's easy to get apathetic about our own small town What to do about a negative narrative Who our “front-line” people are and how we can help them be better ambassadors Resources Mentioned: HeidiTown Consulting: https://www.heiditownconsulting.com/ HeidiTown.com: https://www.heiditown.com/ Heidi and Ryan's Business: http://www.rtsfurnituredesign.com/ Knight Foundation: https://knightfoundation.org/sotc/ Small-Town Shout-Out! This week, we're celebrating Sean Miller and the City of Pullman, Washington. Congratulations on opening your newest coworking space, the Gladish Collective! You know we love a coworking space ‘round these here parts, because creating beautiful spaces to gather, work, collaborate, brainstorm, and do cool stuff helps make our small towns so much better. High fives to Sean and Pullman, Washington! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

We underestimate the power of love–or maybe limit the places where we deem it appropriate–but that's silly because love is the most powerful motivator on the planet. We believe that love can actually be the key to unlocking the answers to some of our biggest questions and challenges in small towns. In this episode, Rebecca talks about all the ways that love can make our communities better places and what it looks like to show up with love. In this episode, we share three challenges for you to start using love as a force for good and change in your communities: Focus on doing more of what you love Ask yourself: What would make me love my town more? Pour out your love on the people who do the things that make you love your small town more.  Links + Resources Mentioned: Jeff Siegler's book: Your City is Sick. Deb Brown's book: From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town with these Uniquely Do-able Ideas, Projects, and Success Stories Inland Northwest Partners Cougar Cheese Sarah Kane of LaCrosse Community Pride Terri Cooper of Medical Lake Medical Lake's Vacant Buildings Ordinance  Small-Town Shout-Out! This week's shout-out is for the town of Medical Lake, Washington, and its mayor, Terri Cooper. In their small town, they have strong code enforcement policies around vacant buildings on Main Street to eliminate people owning buildings and just sitting on them and letting them fall apart. That takes tremendous courage and bravery because there's no way that was universally popular. This is a bold, audacious move that is rooted in love and pride of place. They want their business district to be vibrant, to look good, and to be the kind of place where people want to have a business and that people want to visit. We salute them, their courage, and their love for the community! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

Each season, we're going to have a few episodes that directly address *your* small-town people problems. For our first one, we're starting off with a question from a listener about one of the most common difficulties in small towns: what to do when the neighboring towns treat each other as competition instead of working together. Sometimes we'll bring in a guest, sometimes it'll be a solocast with Rebecca like today's episode. Do you have your own small-town people challenge? Call in to the show and we'll address it on-air! 701-203-3337 In this episode, we cover: The three ways we see this competition show up most often Four mindset shifts to help address the problem  Links + Resources Mentioned: Episode 107 with Melissa Nelson: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode107   Small-Town Shout-Out! There's something in the water in Vergas, Minnesota. A listener wrote in to tell us that Vergas is the kind of community where you can feel the community pride in every single business. They decided that, despite being a destination lake town, they wanted to be more than just a tourist town, so they focus on what it feels like to the people who live there every single day, too. Walk into any business on Main Street and you'll get the very felt sense that they want you there and you belong there. That's what it's all about! Big shout-out to Vergas, Minnesota! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

The “Returner” phenomenon is a very real thing: people leave their small towns as young people and come back later when they're ready to settle down, and there is a huge opportunity for both the returners and the small towns they're coming back to–but we're not always open to these boomerangs. This episode is about inviting people back, creating spaces, and growing as communities so they everyone is thriving. We think you'll love it! About Jessica: Originally from Winner, SD (pop. 2,852), Jessica Meyers was raised in Winner and Vermillion, SD, and earned her bachelor's degree at South Dakota State University in Brookings. Jessica and her husband Matt followed the flight pattern of many young adults and left the small towns of SD for bigger cities. After 10 years of living in some of the largest cities in America, she now lives in Sioux Falls with her family. Pairing over 20 years of sales and recruiting experience, Jessica discovered a unique opportunity for the Midwest. She is co-founder and CEO of PorchLight, a talent recruitment firm that partners with rural communities to prepare for the 21st-century workforce and connect rural workers to employment opportunities. Jessica created the first-of-its-kind PorchLight Certification and created the platform where rural development and job opportunities connect. Personally, Jessica has been married for over 20 years to her high school sweetheart Matt, and they have three daughters, Eve, Grace, and Juliet, who live in Sioux Falls, SD. In this episode, we cover: What is a returner? A different approach to thinking about housing (hint: it's not just workforce housing we need to consider) Why “People don't want to work anymore” is a myth Why remote work *works* for small communities What every single one of us can do to support our community's small businesses Links + Resources Mentioned: PorchLight's Website: https://porchlight-services.com/   Small-Town Shout-Out! This shout-out was blatantly stolen from the webinar with Saveyour.town, and in the chat, Jamie Shanks from Glendive shared an idea inspired by a Reimaginig Rural Event: They've recently formed a group focused on action vs meetings, and they call themselves the “VigiPlantes.” Their efforts are centered around planting new ideas, community beautification, planting actual trees and plants, and sometimes doing things in the wee hours so people in their community wake up to a surprise. Can you even?! Snaps to Jamie, Glendive, and the VigiPlanties for this very stealable, very amazing idea. New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

Deb Brown is one of our favorite people in the world, and we're so glad to have her on the show with us to share her words, her new book (!!!) and all the work she's doing to help small-town dreamers just like you. This episode is all about approaching big problems in small towns in idea-friendly ways and starting small to build big. About Deb: Deb Brown is a dynamic small-town advocate and community development expert with a wealth of experience empowering rural communities. As the co-founder of SaveYour.Town, she has been working alongside Becky McCray for a decade, providing practical advice and innovative solutions to shape brighter futures for small towns. Deb's background is diverse and practical. She served as a Chamber of Commerce Executive Director for 4 years, holding certification from the Institute for Organization Management. Prior to that, she was a Tourism Specialist for 4 years. Her varied business experience includes roles as a foreign casualty insurance underwriter, retail manager, and bartender. Deb specializes in addressing common rural challenges, including: - Revitalizing empty buildings - Downtown rejuvenation - Youth retention - Marketing and promotion for small towns - Business development and economic growth - Innovative rural business models Deb excels at building connections, storytelling, and active listening. She guides people in taking small steps toward their ideas and helps them find the resources and connections needed to bring those ideas to fruition. Her presentations are interactive and engaging, designed to provide attendees with actionable ideas they can implement immediately. Deb has spoken at local and national conferences, addressing chambers, economic developers, tourism specialists, museum experts, volunteers, residents and business groups. Deb is the author of "From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town with these Uniquely Do-able Ideas, Projects, and Success Stories," a comprehensive workbook filled with practical strategies and real-world examples for small-town revitalization.  Through her work with SaveYour.Town, Deb provides weekly newsletters focused on small-town challenges and offers exclusive video content to Megaphone Members. Deb Brown's passion for community development and her ability to provide real-world, practical solutions make her an invaluable resource for small towns looking to create positive change and build a thriving future. In this episode, we cover: The process of writing and publishing her book Who and what her book is for Why you don't need permission to do cool stuff Her favorite stories and concepts from the book  Links + Resources Mentioned: From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town with these Uniquely Do-able Ideas, Projects, and Success StoriesSaveYour.Town - Practical steps your rural community can take now Free Newsletters - Get your tips to address rural challenges Deb's Speaking Site - Take a look at how Deb can help you Andrew Laddusaw's YouTube ChannelTrolls in DL website (from Small Town Shout-Out) Episode 49 with Becky and Deb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMo32Jzm5aM   Small-Town Shout-Out! The biggest shout-out to Becker County, Minnesota's Project 412. They had the audacious goal of bringing world-renowned Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo to the area--and it happened! “Trolls in DL” is one of 130 permanent art installations around the world. We love a BHAG (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal) and we're proud of you, Project 412. Thanks to Cody Piper for sharing this big freaking deal with us.  New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

Joy can feel a little soft, or a little touchy-feely, but helping people find joy is a catalyst for positive change. This week's guest is all about helping teachers and educators with professional development that focuses not on a list of things to do, but rather helps them re-discover their joy and passion for teaching and learning. The best part? This episode applies to anyone who is making a difference, pushing for change, and looking for joy. About Darcy: Darcy is the Founder of The Educators' Lab USA and a board member of The Educators' Lab Global. After more than a decade in the classroom teaching English and theatre, Darcy now creates the type of PD she always wanted, driving change in education and empowering teachers as changemakers. Through her work, teachers reconnect with their purpose, rekindle their spark for teaching, and reignite the JOY of teaching and learning. She specializes in professional development design and implementation, interactive strategies for the classroom, meaningful tech integration, and building relationships with students. Darcy holds a Master's of Secondary Education, is an ISTE Certified Educator, an experienced international presenter, and believer in the power of education. She lives in Fargo, ND with her husband Jeff, and triplets, Kurt, Ben, and Cora. In this episode, we cover: The inspiration for the Joy Lab Why AI isn't going to replace teachers How helping teachers find JOY is so important Why competition and “good enough” can be antithetical to positive change  Links + Resources Mentioned: The Educators' Lab The Teacher Empowerment Incubator Joy Labs   Small-Town Shout-Out! This week we're shouting out Julia McCray and The Market Village in Tionesta, Pennsylvania. The Market Village is a seasonal shopping pop-up “village” that has become an incubator for new small businesses, made even better by being made “cute af,” in Julia's words. It's a creative solution to several problems, is prettier and more interesting than a vacant lot, and serves the community well. We love it! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org   Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

Awhile back, we were having a conversation with Brodie on the podcast and he mentioned that he hires based on a “vibe check,” and given his success not only hiring but keeping long-term employees (many of whom are Gen Z *gasp*) we needed to bring him on to hear more about just what what means. This episode is all about how to hire and lead well for small businesses in our small towns and why culture is important, even when it's not formalized with a mission statement on a wall. About Brodie: Brodie Mueller is a longtime Friend of the Pod and is our podcast producer and editor! He also happens to be the owner of Market on the Plaza in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Brodie has lived in Aberdeen for the past 8 years and owns the downtown business Dakota Territory Brewing Company.  Dakota Territory is the first and oldest brewery ever in Aberdeen and services the community by creating small-batch craft beer, root beer, and cold brew coffee.  Brodie has a Masters Degree in social work and has been involved in community building both downtown and city-wide through different groups and projects. The brewery is involved with various community projects and fundraisers throughout the year, gaining a reputation as a business that supports the community.  As a fellow downtown business owner, Brodie is committed to making downtown better by supporting new ventures and The Market on the Plaza is a shining example of bringing new and innovative services to the neighborhood. In this episode, we cover: How Brodie uses a vibe check when hiring new employees (and what that even means) Why we can't expect employees to love a small business as much as an owner or founder–and why they don't need to in order to love the work How to give employees ownership and inspire buy-in Babysitting vs. management Links + Resources Mentioned: Brodie's past episodes: Episode 127, Episode 82, Episode 72 and Episode 146The Market on the Plaza website: https://themarketontheplaza.com/ The Market on the Plaza Instagram: @themarketontheplaza The “Posing with Coffee Like Men Pose with Fish" Reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFLIOHYuMI7/   Small-Town Shout-Out! This week, we're high-fiving Chris Border and his entire community in Hope, Kansas. Chris is a new resident of the town, and he told us that despite living there for only two years and having no previous ties to the community, that little 200-person town welcomed him with open arms and made him feel like he belongs. This is a big deal because we know more often than not that in small towns, you can live there for years and still be “new,” which doesn't exactly make people feel like they're home. Thank you, Hope, Kansas and Chris Border, for giving us all more hope! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

It feels like you can't go five minutes without hearing about AI–and often for good reason! We're back with our favorite AI expert to talk about a “Hope over fear” approach for integrating AI into how we do life and business. We often face a skills and resource deficit in small towns, and AI can be an incredibly useful and powerful tool for bridging that gap, helping us work smarter, not harder, and even outsourcing tasks that we don't love so we can spend more time on the things that make us light up. About Scott: Scott Meyer (@MrScottMeyer) is an entrepreneur and former professor working to scale and democratize education.   His experience founding the digital marketing agency 9 Clouds and launch an entrepreneurship center and accelerated learning program in higher education sparked his interest in combining education and web3 - what he calls ed3. He recently launched Ed3.gg - a consultancy working to scale education. Subscribe to learn more (http://digest.ed3.gg). In this episode, we cover: Where AI can fill core needs for people in small towns Replacing tasks vs. jobs AI as an idea machine and action catalyst Examples of tasks and applications for AI  Links + Resources Mentioned: CHIPP Website: https://www.chipp.ai/CHIPP Substack: https://substack.com/@chipp?utm_source=about-page Episode 96 with Scott: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode96 Small-Town Shout-Out! This week's shout-out is for the city of Wilmer, Minnesota. They've just recently completed their first comprehensive plan for their community since 2009. The cool part? It's the first time in the city's history that community engagement is a priority in their plan. The way they discovered they needed that for their small town was by intentionally including diverse groups of people in the plan's development. That's how you create more engagement, more relevant and interesting output, and more interesting and diverse voices at the table: you invite them and include their perspective. Wahoo, Wilmer, Minnesota!   New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

Our small towns are ours to save–no one is coming to do that for us! However, sometimes it can feel nearly impossible to make changes in our small towns. Our guest this week has a different approach, and it's different than The Way We've Always Done It but it really works, and is more accessible to small-town changemakers who want to get things done.  About Becky:  Becky McCray believes small towns have a future. She watches the global trends in the economy, technology, and society, then she delivers practical steps rural people can implement right now to shape the future of their town. Her advice is based on her real-world experience as a lifelong entrepreneur and cattle rancher. She makes her home in Hopeton, Oklahoma, a town of 30 people. She doesn't just talk about rural issues; she lives them. In this episode, we cover: Why we need to empower small communities to save themselves Why our solutions have to change with the world around us Becky's “Start Small” approach to community transformation How starting small can lead to tackling the big stuff, too Links + Resources Mentioned: 10 Years of Rural Insights webinar: https://learnto.saveyour.town/10-years-of-rural-insights-webinar SaveYour.Town Website: https://saveyour.town/SmallBizSurvival.com: https://smallbizsurvival.com/Invite Becky to your town or event: https://www.beckymccray.com/Becky's only current social channel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckymccray/ Episode 49 with Becky and Deb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMo32Jzm5aM   Small-Town Shout-Out! This week, we're celebrating Lander County, Nevada. They're making the most of a recent boom in gold mining (yes, seriously) and focusing on how to make their community a better place to live by making it easier for people to clean up and improve their own property. They've got a unique approach that we love: with funding from the county, everyone in the community gets up to $500 to the local hardware store to get what they need to improve their property, whether it's paint or weedkiller or something else. We love tailor-made, interesting approaches to small-town improvement so all the confetti for Lander County! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

One of our favorite things is the impact of great employers on individuals, small towns, and the overall culture of the communities they operate within, and this episode is all about what happens when an amazing work culture fosters amazing things outside of the workplace. Amanda Gregory and Joe House both work for a manufacturing company called Design Ready Controls and co-founded MAKE (Manufacturing, a Kid's Experience) in 2023 as a way to foster awareness about and interest in manufacturing in a way kids can understand. MAKE is about showing kids what kinds of possibilities exist in the manufacturing space and helping parents who work in manufacturing share what they do with their days in a kid-friendly way. Although entirely separate from their “day job,” the collaborative, open culture of Design Ready Controls directly influenced Amanda and Joe's efforts and takes workforce development and passion to a whole new level, and we're here for it. About MAKE: MAKE was founded in 2023 by Amanda Gregory and Joe House to educate children about manufacturing. The MAKE platform began with sharing stories about manufacturing through Blake Explores Manufacturing. Now with a monthly newsletter, Future Makers, they continue to inspire through building activities and manufacturing tours & experiences. About Joe: Joe started with Design Ready Controls in 2022 as Chief Commercial Officer, working alongside sales, marketing, and supply chain teams to strengthen our industry-leading customer and supplier partnerships. Prior to joining the team, Joe spent 9 years in sales leadership at an electrical distributor, where he worked as both a supplier and customer of Design Ready Controls. Joe graduated from the University of Saint Thomas in 2013 with degrees in Mathematical Economics and Business Management. About Amanda: Amanda joined the Design Ready Controls team in 2015, starting in office management and 5S initiatives. She quickly advanced to take on leadership roles in marketing and now leads marketing, sales development, internal communications, and office management. Amanda earned a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication with a minor in Marketing from Winona State University. Her professional background includes account and project management, as well as marketing experience in the produce and manufacturing industries. In this episode, we cover: What MAKE is and how it started The culture at Design Ready Controls and how it relates to MAKE Why supporting passion is so important in cultivating the next generation How a company's culture can completely change the perception of its industry Links + Resources Mentioned MAKE Website where you can learn more, subscribe to Future Makers or purchase Blake Explores Manufacturing: www.makepublishing.comMAKE on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makepublishingllc MAKE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/make_publishing MAKE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-publishing/ Community Venture Network: https://brookshireco.com/services/community-venture-network/ New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

Friends and neighbors (virtual and IRL): we are so excited to share this episode with you. Now, we know we say that every week, and what can we say, we're excitable folks. But we're *extra* excited for this one because it's the first podcast of the rest of our lives, and we're introducing the new format and components of this show, and giving you a peek behind the curtain into the behind-the-scenes and the future of Growing Small Towns. Instead of a guest, we have a guest host interviewing Rebecca about the changes in the podcast and the renewed vision and clarity for Growing Small Towns. Our guest host is Winona Dimeo-Ediger, who is not only one of our beloved past guests but also a GST board member. We love her and think you will too! This episode is an honest take on the work we and so many of you are undertaking, and we can't wait to for you to hear it. About Winona: Winona has been a digital content creator for nearly a decade, writing about culture, travel, and politics for publications like National Geographic, Rolling Stone, and NPR. For the past few years, she's been able to dig into her love of place marketing and talent attraction content as the editor-in-chief of Livability.com. She's a lover of bookstores, vintage boots, dive bars, and bad jokes. The number of times she's seen Celine Dion in concert may disturb you. In this episode, we cover: The new format and new segments of the show The behind-the-scenes work that's been happening over the last year Why having the right support is critical (and what that means) Where GST is headed and what work we'll be doing Our very first small-town shout-out!  Links + Resources Mentioned Ep. 92 with Winona and Tim: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode92 Fresh Air - This Anti-Social American Life: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tpFsNrlrRcP0kXbuP5aj5?si=Fq-DzwM5SYes59qX24yA4w Plain English - The Anti-Social Century: America's Epidemic of Solitude–And How to Fix It: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0FaZtbkN0wOz1zjtYJNQeq?si=-35pYo_FR7SwlzEKjAIZTA New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:   “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org   Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

  Our last Moments of Growth episode is about another event that will become at flagship bit of programming for Growing Small Towns: the Rural Mastermind.    The first Mastermind group was inspired, in part, by Rebecca's own experience with a Mastermind. Really good Mastermind groups can be pivotal and life-changing, and she wanted to bring that same experience to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Oakes. This episode features perspectives from all sides: one of our beloved coaches, several of our participants, and two of the participants' mothers.    Masterminds bring all kinds of people together to learn and grow. As the participants will tell you, the magic is in having a group of like-minded people in different stages of their business who are doing the dang thing, and the result is really, really cool.    In this episode, we hear from:  Kim Nagle, author, entrepreneur, and coach Haley Moen - Hearthside Vineyard and Winery Addison Magill - Addison K Creative Co. Kim and Kausha - mamas to two Mastermind participants () Jake Kubela - Kubela Hedging Brittney Harty - The Bakery Shoppe Oakes   Links and Resources Mentioned: Kim Nagle's Website: https://www.damnplan.com/ Hearthside Vineyard and Winery: https://www.hearthsidewinery.com/ Addison K Creative Co.: https://www.addisonkdesign.com/ Kubela Hedging: https://www.kubelahedging.com/ The Bakery Shoppe Oakes: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Bakery-Shoppe-Oakes-100088962675005/ FitBar (run by Kim's son, Chris, who was a Mastermind participant): https://www.fitbargym.com/ Episode 130 with Kim Nagle: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode130 Episode 131 with Kausha Magill: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode131 Episode 118 with Haley Moen: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode118 Episode 129 with Haley Moen: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode129   New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: call in and tell us about something amazing that you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.    If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear your messages! 

When we were thinking about the kinds of people we wanted to talk to for this Moments of Growth series, we knew we needed to include people who have been impacted in some way by the work we do at Growing Small Towns.    Some of these guests use Growing Small Towns in an official capacity—they have a formal role in economic or community development, or something similar, and have utilized our programming professionally. Others are members of our local school board, have engaged with us on a personal level, or for a small business. However their involvement, though, we treasure these thoughts and words from the people we serve, and we hope you'll enjoy this episode!    In this episode, we hear from:  Anna Sell - Superintendent of Oakes Public School Sonia Meehl - former Oakes Public School board member Matt Marshall - Member Services, Rates & Economic Development Manager at Minnkota Ashley Berg - owner of Main Street Boutique in Rugby, ND  Bob Wurl - board member for Southern Valley Economic Development Association Justin Meidinger - Director, Ellendale Opera House Dawn Mandt - Executive Director of Red River Regional Council Justin Neppl - former Economic Development Director for Southern Valley Economic Development Association Roberta Forward - board member for North Dakota Grapegrower's Association, Riding for Dreams, and Oakes PTO Chapter  Jeremy Nelson - founder, Arthur Market Melissa Beach - Economic Development Administrator, Minnkota   Links and Resources Mentioned: Oakes Public School: https://www.oakes.k12.nd.us/ Minnkota Power Cooperative: https://www.minnkota.com/ Main Street Boutique in Rugby, ND: https://mainstreetboutiquerugby.com/ Southern Valley Economic Development Association: https://www.facebook.com/Southernvalleyeda/ Ellendale Opera House: http://www.ellendaleoperahouse.com/ Red River Regional Council: https://redriverrc.com/ North Dakota Grapegrower's Association: https://www.ndgwa.org/ Riding For Dream: https://www.ridingfordreams.com/ Oakes PTO: https://www.oakes.k12.nd.us/families/parent-teacher-organization Arthur Market: https://www.thearthurmarketnd.com/ Episode 21 with Ashley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f503Im7Q3i4 Episode 135 with Jeremy: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode135

This Moments of Growth installment features some of the businesses/organizations and the people in them who are aligned with our beliefs and our hopes for GST.   These are people without whom we could not do this work, and we want you to know them!    This work can feel very lonely and so gathering up people who are passionate about the same things makes it feel less so. The links to all of their organizations are below, and if you are someone doing things in your small town, reach out to them! We all need partners, and these are some of the best.    In this episode, we hear from:  Jordan DeGree - Co-Founder and Executive Director, Rural Ideas Network  Mike Knutson - Learning Network Orchestrator and Community Coach, Dakota Resources Paula Jensen - VP of Program Development and Community Coach, Dakota Resources Nick Fosheim - Client Relationship Director and Community Coach, Dakota Resources Shane Akers and Jon Pedersen - Principals with Hometown Housing Christy Dauer - Executive Director, North Dakota Women's Business Center Jasmin Fosheim and Cassidy Blade - Realizing Rural   Links and Resources Mentioned: Rural Ideas Network: https://www.ruralideas.net/ Dakota Resources: https://dakotaresources.org/ North Dakota Women's Business Center: https://ndwbc.com/ Realizing Rural: https://www.realizingrural.com/ Episode 69 with Jordan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFpYytI5MlU Episode 123 with Realizing Rural: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rs73PTv-kU Episode 143 with Mike: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode143

When we first launched Growing Small Towns, we did it with a bus tour. We loaded a bunch of business professionals from the Fargo-Moorhead area onto a bus and held them hostage for eight ours (okay, not really, they were completely willing participants!) and we did a tour of the area, visited local businesses and our building, and had such a ball that a bus trip of some sort has become a repeat event.    It's a flagship thing for GST and one of our favorites because of how unique it is, and the magic that happens when you get different kinds of people together, get them out of their comfort zones, and drive them around rural America for a bit.    This episode features four bus tour participants (some multi-year participants!) and they're here to talk about how they even heard about the tour, what they loved most about it, why it's such a unique experience, and other things they learned while sort of captive on a bus for hours with a bunch of people they didn't really know In this episode, we hear from:  Dr. Ruchi Joshi Bhardwaj, Senior Program Manager of Education & Research at Grand Farm Lee Schwartz, Marketing Director at North Dakota State College of Science and Founder of Small Town Labs Leah Reed, Operations Manager at Do Good Better Consulting Emma McIntyre, Manager of Development and Partnerships at Folkways   Links and Resources Mentioned: A whole episode about the bus tour: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode87 Lee was a guest! Hear his episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiWP2iyctUA

This episode of the Growing Small Town Show features three humans that have, in some way, shape, or form, partnered or funded some of the work that we do here at Growing Small Towns. Because we're a nonprofit, we are always looking for partners who believe in this work as much as we do to help make it happen.    Our philosophy is “Work with the willing and love the rest,” because we don't believe in forcing people to support this work if it's not their thing! But, we do dearly love and appreciate the humans and organizations who come alongside us to bring the mission of Growing Small Towns to the communities that want and need our help.    This episode features three of those humans, and each of them share why and how they chose to get involved with GST, why they're enthusiastic about what we do, and what it means to them and their organization to partner with us.    In this episode, we hear from:  Bernie Sinner, President and Senior Lending Officer at Bank North, and a member of our board Kathy Marquette, Associate Professor of Business Administration and Management at North Dakota State College of Science Paul Matthys, CEO of Cass County Electric Cooperative  

This week's episode is the next in our Moments of Growth series, and this one is about one of our favorite subjects: art!    Lots of people think that art is a “nice  to have” in a small community, but it's really a need. Art and art programming gives people an opportunity to not only view and experience art made by other people, but to create their own through workshops or events. Tapping into our creative side means we make more vibrant, interesting, fun, and beautiful communities, and who doesn't want that?! (Not us, because our building is designed to show off local artists' work and hold workshops and classes so we're obviously very into art!) Art encompasses so many of the things that make our world more rich and beautiful—music, paintings, photography, dance, amazing food, sculpture, and so many others—and we want every small town to be bursting at the seams with art and creativity!   In this episode, we hear from:  Amanda Hagen, a local artist and owner of Heartstrings Studio. LesleyAnne, a local artist and one we contracted with to create some art for the building, including our beloved timeline and entryway.  James Bergman, a Fargo-based musician and songwriter Lauren Starling, a Fargo-based artist whose art will soon get to be part of our small town!   Links and Resources Mentioned: Amanda Hagen's Website: https://www.heartstringsartstudio.com/ LesleyAnne's Website: https://www.lesleydidthat.com/ James Bergman's Website: https://www.artistjamesbergman.com/ Lauren Starling's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/starlingpaints/?hl=en Amanda was a guest on the podcast! You can find her episode here: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode84 StartUp Brew: https://www.emergingprairie.com/startupbrew-fargo/

This week's episode is the first in a limited series we're calling “Moments of Growth.” We had some big milestones this year, and we wanted to look back and talk to people that we've worked with and share the progress they've made (and us, too!) this past year.    This first episode is about mental health programming. Awhile back, our local healthcare network, Catholic Health Initiatives, did a needs assessment for our community. Like many rural communities, mental health was at the top of the list. We formed a Mental Health Coalition comprised of people in our community who are simply interested in and willing to work on this issue in our community, and you're hearing from some of the people involved with that today!    In this episode, we talk about the challenges of mental health programming in rural areas, COVID-19's impact on mental health, and suicide awareness, among other things, and hear from four people deeply involved in this work in different ways.    In this episode, we hear from:  Josh Gow, Director of Mission at CHI Oakes Hospital Monica McConkey, Licensed Professional Counselor and Mental Health Consultant Michele Thorpe, psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner Dani Dinger, Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent with NDSU   Links and Resources Mentioned: Monica was a guest on the podcast! You can find her episode here: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode117

Things are changing a little around here (don't worry, we're not going anywhere! You're stuck with us!) and we're very excited to share the future of the Growing Small Towns podcast with you. Brodie Mueller, one of our favorite people and frequent Guest of the Pod, is here to talk about what that looks like, how he fits in, and what we would like to hear from YOU, our listeners.    About Brodie:   Brodie Mueller, owner of Market on the Plaza, has lived in Aberdeen for the past 8 years and owns the downtown business Dakota Territory Brewing Company.  Dakota Territory is the first and oldest brewery ever in Aberdeen and services the community by creating small-batch craft beer, root beer, and cold brew coffee.  Brodie has a Masters Degree in social work and has been involved in community building both downtown and city-wide through different groups and projects. The brewery is involved with various community projects and fundraisers throughout the year, gaining a reputation as a business that supports the community.  As a fellow downtown business owner, Brodie is committed to making downtown better by supporting new ventures and The Market on the Plaza is a shining example of bringing new and innovative services to the neighborhood.   Brodie also just happens to be a podcast editor, audio-quality snob (in the best way) and someone who really understands podcasting world—hence why here's here with us talking about the show!   In this episode, we cover: Our goals for the pod in 2025 How those goals fit in with the overall mission of GST Why podcast metrics are crucial but tricky, and how listeners can help  Some new ideas for podcast episodes and series What we need from YOU, our listeners!    Links + Resources Mentioned Brodie's past episodes: Episode 127, Episode 82 and Episode 72 The Market on the Plaza website: https://themarketontheplaza.com/ Brodie's Recording Equipment Recs: RØDECaster Pro II Condenser Mic Headphones Brodie's Podcast Library: SD SportScene Podcast Shrink Rap the Podcast Minnesota Youth Ultimate Podcast     Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

It's really easy to give people the highlight reel and act like everything is all hunky-dory, but that wouldn't be authentic, and we're all about authentic, so this episode is a bit of the Real Reel about some things Rebecca has been thinking and feeling during a bit of a hard season that a) we'll all resonate with and b) are incredibly wise and things we should all keep in our back pockets.    (Remember, Cassidy from our team writes these show notes so this is not Rebecca writing in the third person so she's allowed to call it like it is and tell you that this episode is a Good One.)    In this episode, we talk about some things that help keep us grounded and moving in the right direction, especially when things get tricky: Having It All Together is a facade How to offer support, and how not to The importance of joy Why it's important that we share our appreciation Why moving in is often the thing to do when we disagree How to show ourselves the grace and kindness we deserve Why your community needs YOU.  Links + Resources Mentioned Brene Brown's Braving the Wilderness: https://brenebrown.com/book/braving-the-wilderness/   Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org   Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

We're back with another one of our favorite kinds of episodes: real stories of real people doing really cool things in their small towns.    This episode features Terry Sando, a retired Air Force officer who's built a brewery in his small town of Hillsboro, ND. We love this story because Terry was inspired to build a business to serve his community…so he did! He's kept the community at the heart of everything he does, and he's such a great example of what can happen with a dream, willingness to learn, and lots of hard work.   About Terry:   I was born and raised in Valley City, ND. In the summers, I worked on my grandparents' farm south of Rogers, ND. I graduated from Valley City High School and went to college before joining the Air Force in 1979. I did 5 ½ years of enlisted time with my final assignment being a crew member on the B-52 at Grand Forks AFB. Duties included pulling nuclear alert and flying training missions.    In November of 1984, I joined the 119th, the Happy Hooligans to become an Intelligence Officer and trained at Lowery AFB in Denver. My son Travis was born during my assignment there and my wife Deb wouldn't tell me on the phone if it was a boy or girl! Happily, I was granted emergency leave and flew back to Grand Forks to see my son.    I had different assignments at the 119th and returned to active duty to gain space operations background for future Air Guard missions in 1998. During my six years in Colorado Springs, I was assigned to Peterson AFB, Schriever AFB, and Cheyenne Mountain. 9/11 happened while I was stationed at AFSPC (Air Force Space Command) and I was selected to help stand up NorthCom. I was the first Guardsman to be qualified to stand watch at Cheyenne Mountain for NORAD/NorthCom. It was my most challenging assignment, but also my best assignment during my career.    My next assignment in 2004 was at the National Guard Bureau in Washington D.C. and from there I went to the Air War College at Maxwell AFB where I got my Master of Strategic Studies. My final assignment was Plans and Requirements at 1st Air Force at Tyndall AFB.    During this assignment, I grew an appreciation for craft beer brewing. I had a coworker who was a great homebrewer, and he got me interested in learning to brew beer. I had to put it into my bucket list of things to do when I retired.    I retired in November of 2009 and came home to Grand Forks. After retirement I had jobs at the University of North Dakota as the Emergency Manager, Grand Forks Region EDC working on building the UAS ecosystem, a Norwegian company eSmart doing UAS operations for utility line inspections, and finally Mobile Recon a small UAS startup company.    I decided to get into brewing in 2019 and started construction of a brew pub in Hillsboro. This became Goose River Brewing, and the pub has been open for two years. Two beta batches of beer were done in July of this year, so we're officially brewing! Part of the goal was to have a blue-collar craft beer lovers social gathering location that would help make Hillsboro's downtown a destination. We are working on building relationships with our local malt barley growers. We also have been giving our spent grain to a local cattle grower to use in the cattle feed ration. The pandemic had a big impact on raising the cost of construction and pushing out the opening date. My goal is to build a local team that will take over operations and then I can slow down and take advantage of retirement.    In this episode, we cover:  What inspired Terry to get into brewing beer in the first place  How COVID threw a wrench in the plans for the brewery and what they did to compensate Why businesses like this one could be a really cool opportunity for someone from a city who wants to move to a small town The importance of community and relationship-building in long-term success and buy-in Why you are never too old to learn or try something new    Links and Resources Mentioned: The Goose River Brewing Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GooseRiverBrewing

This is our first-ever LIVE podcast recording! This episode was recorded on the main stage of the 2024 Main Street Summit in Watford City, ND and features guests Pat Bertagnolli of Job Service North Dakota and Mike Knutson of Dakota Resources.   When we got asked to host this live show during the summit, we took to the socials—as we do—to ask what our people needed the most help with. Overwhelmingly, the idea of how to get more people involved in making our communities great emerged as the topic, so that's what this episode is about and we're so excited for you to hear from these two amazing guests!   About Pat:   A native of Montana, and a North Dakota resident since 2011, Bertagnolli earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Carroll College in Helena in 1990 and has held his certification as a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources since 2015. Prior to his appointment, Bertagnolli served in a variety of leadership roles in both human resources and operations, and most recently was the Community Enhancement Director in Watford City, ND.   Bertagnolli was first appointed to the Workforce Development Council in 2014 by then-Governor Jack Dalrymple. He continues to serve on this council, as well as the State Board for Career and Technical Education, Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Administrative Committee for Veterans Affairs, State Information Technology and Advisory Board, Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems committee, and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies.   In February of 2022, Governor Doug Burgum appointed Patrick Bertagnolli to serve as the Executive Director of Job Service North Dakota. Job Service North Dakota has a statewide footprint and impacts North Dakota's workforce through many workforce programs to connect employers and job seekers, through the unemployment insurance program to provide benefits to eligible workers, and through the labor market information department which provides education and insights for informed decision making.   About Mike: Mike facilitates and orchestrates the Dakota Resources Community Learning Network. He also serves as a community coach for rural communities. He has spent 15 plus years working in rural community development. His commitment to rural communities began when he recognized that his own behaviors (i.e. – the lack of community involvement and buying locally) were contributing the decline of his community. Since 2008, Mike has operated his own business, MAK(e) Strategies, working primarily as a facilitator and coach in rural settings. Among his volunteer activities, Mike has served as the chairman of the board for Glacial Lakes Tourism, Dakota Wesleyan University Alumni Association, Rural Schools Collaborative, and Southeast SD Tourism. Mike grew up outside of Hartford, SD, and graduated summa cum laude from Dakota Wesleyan University.   In this episode, we cover:  Why the “Same Ten People” can be frustrating for people on both sides The idea of civic apathy and how it develops How to combat civic apathy What to do about Gen-Z (hint: they're not really that different from generations prior) How recruiting volunteers goes hand-in-hand with recruiting new community members Links and Resources Mentioned: Ben Winchester's episode: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode75 Jeff Sigler's episode about combating apathy in small towns: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode99 Jeff Sigler's episode about growing communities for humans: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode120 Job Service North Dakota: https://www.jobsnd.com/ Dakota Resources: https://dakotaresources.org/

Have you ever heard of the Norborne Soybean Festival? You might have, thanks to their recent recognition as the Cenex Hometown Throwdown Grand Prize Winner, but even if you haven't, you're going to love this episode. It's about building amazing community events and what it looks like to swing for the fences.    About Kyle:   Kyle Durham is a sixth-generation farmer from Norborne, Missouri, an agricultural community of 700 residents. Kyle and his father farm 2,500 acres of soybeans and corn in the Missouri River bottoms.   In addition to farming, Kyle is involved with numerous local, state, and national organizations as a board member and volunteer. These include the United Soybean Board, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, his state and county Farm Bureaus, Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Norborne Soybean Festival. He also owns and operates The Slaboratory, a custom woodworking business in his hometown, specializing in unique handcrafted furnishings.   Kyle and his wife Courtney have two sons, Simeon, 16, and Elijah, 12.   In this episode, we cover:  What the Norbone Soybean Festival is  The Hometown Throwdown contest Their plans for the prize money How a good community event can be a catalyst for community involvement The power of the “microask”    Links and Resources Mentioned: The famous Hometown Throwdown video entry: https://www.facebook.com/NorborneSoybeanFestival/videos/1055942345557323 The Norborne Soybean Festival Facebook, home of the Festival Friday updates: https://www.facebook.com/NorborneSoybeanFestival A few articles about the contest and the festival:  https://www.kttn.com/norborne-soybean-festival-wins-hometown-throwdown-grand-prize/ https://www.kmzu.com/news/norborne-soybean-festival-crowned-best-in-the-nation-part-2/article_02d0a756-21d6-11ef-bf71-cb75605b6185.html https://www.agriculture.com/missouri-hometown-hero-kyle-durham-8385148

Mental health is something we're incredibly passionate about here at Growing Small Towns, which most of you likely know by now given how much we love to talk about therapy and feelings and support around here! We are so appreciative of mental health practitioners like Jordyn Koski who are building practices aimed at helping our (sometimes secretly struggling) rural communities access better mental health.    About Jordyn:   I'm Jordyn Koski, therapist and Founder behind It's A Part Of, PLLC. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of North Dakota and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Minnesota. Providing individual therapy, family therapy, and couples counseling. I have had the opportunity to work within various systems including group home settings, inpatient hospitals, human service centers, and private practice. I have been able to see clients in all parts of their journey and appreciate being able to go alongside clients to work toward their goals in life. Outside of clinical work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, children, and family being outside and going on adventures. I love my circuit and I am an avid Pinterest enthusiast!    In this episode, we cover:  How to fight the stigma around mental health, especially in rural areas What telehealth is and how it can help Some of the most common questions and concerns about therapy What we can all do to support mental health in our communities How it's all a part of life, and how therapy and mental health services can bolster resilience   Links and Resources Mentioned: It's a Part of Website: https://www.itspartof.org/ It's a Part of Insta: @itsapartof It's a Part of Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091817127486

We all know about TED Talks and how wildly popular and cool they are. But, what about a TEDx event in RURAL AMERICA? Can you even?    We can't, either, but Jeremy Ratliff could. This is an episode about audacious ideas, small towns getting it done, unexpected support, and dreaming big.    About Jeremy:   I grew up in the Midwest and graduated college from North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My first radio job was at WTMJ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  I have worked with Cox Media Group since 2007, when I joined the WOKV news team in Jacksonville, Florida. During my radio career, I have been a producer, news anchor, host, Assistant News Director and Program Director. I have been on-air on multiple stations for years. I have lived in six different states, including here in North Dakota of course, where I have lived since November of 2020. I also host the Rendezvous Region Today podcast, which shares local stories here in northeast North Dakota. I have an amazing wife, two fantastic daughters, a dog and an outdoor cat.     In this episode, we cover:  How Jeremy even arrived in Cavalier, ND, and how his work has thrived since moving here How the TEDxCavalier event was born What moments he most remembers from the day Why you should never discount local support The value of surrounding yourself with positive problem-solvers   Links and Resources Mentioned: Twitter: Twitter.com/jeremyratliff Facebook: facebook.com/JeremyRatliffRadio Podcast: https://rendezvousregiontoday.podbean.com/ TEDxCavalier site: https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/56314

Oh, friends and neighbors, are we excited for this episode. We love education, and we love educators who love education, and we love a different take on education. This week's episode checks every single boxes as we talk to a Superintendent who is doing things just a little differently in his North Dakota community.    About Cory:   Dr. Cory Steiner is currently the Superintendent of the Northern Cass School District for the past 10 years. He has been an administrator for 17 years. In his current role, he has worked with a dedicated and passionate group of educators to shift their entire system to personalized competency-based learning. He has served on the Governor's Task Force on Innovation which has challenged North Dakota's education system to think differently. Northern Cass was a finalist for the Yass Prize and they received $500,000 to develop a Full-Service Community School.     Dr. Steiner believes every learner can change the world; therefore, we must provide a world-class education. It is a moral imperative we change our educational system to one which is uncompromisingly learner-centered. He also serves on the Education Standards and Practices Board, The Village Family Service Center, Rural Cass Special Education, and the Southeast Education Cooperative Board of directors. He is an adjunct professor for the University of Jamestown and the University of North Dakota. He is married to his wife, Jess, and has two children, DelRae (22), and Kelsa (19).   In this episode, we cover:  How Northern Cass is different What people love about it  Why things being hard doesn't mean they're not working Why “Kids these days” are different, and why we should embrace that But what about college admissions?   Links and Resources Mentioned: Nice Bike book: https://nicebike.com/about-the-book/ Northern Cass School District: https://www.northerncassschool.org/

You know we love the idea of placemaking, Main Streets, and small things that have a big impact. Jaime Izuireta does, too, and has an architect and designer, he focuses not only on storefront design but the interaction between users and the built environment. This episode goes way beyond “How do we make Main Streets pretty?” to “How do we create an amazing Main Street experience?”   About Jaime:   Jaime J. Izurieta is an architect, designer and author focused on improving the quality of the interaction between users and the built environment. Jaime is the founder of Storefront Mastery, an award-winning creative agency that imagines and designs local experiences by working with place management organizations and local businesses. Jaime is also the author of Main Street Mavericks and The Ten No-B.S. Rules For Successful Storefront Design.    With over 20 years of experience as small business owner, urban designer, Placemaker, and economic development consultant, Jaime proudly serves communities all over the nation from Montclair, New Jersey.   In this episode, we cover:  What “street experience” means and why it matters Why it's easy to “right-size” the idea of urban vitality  The difference between transactional and experiential Jaime's advice for business owners about where to start when it comes to experience, their business, or where they can start when thinking about storefront design What every business owner can do to improve the street experience Links and Resources Mentioned: Storefront Mastery: https://storefrontmastery.com Main Street Mavericks: https://mainstreetmavericks.carrd.co SM's Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/storefrontmastery Jaime's LinkedIn profile: https://linkedin.com/in/izurietavarea Book mentioned: Drawing for Architecture by Leon Krier

Most of us probably think we're good neighbors. But…most of us probably actually aren't. The Lost Art of Neighboring is something that David Burton is bringing back to help small towns and the people who live in them thrive.    About David:   David Burton has been a community development specialist with the University of Missouri Extension since 2001. He is headquartered in Springfield and creates educational programs focused on leadership and becoming an engaged neighbor.   In 2021, David created Missouri Good Neighbor Week. The Governor signed a bill making Missouri Good Neighbor Week official in 2022. Then, in 2023, Missouri Good Neighbor Week was named America's Neighboring Program of the Year by Neighborhoods USA. His Engaged Neighbor program was also named the program of the year by the University of Missouri Extension.   MU Extension programs and events like "Neighboring 101," “Show Me Neighborhood Art Week” “Missouri Good Neighbor Week” and “Neighbor Kindness Day,” help to raise awareness about the importance of being an engaged neighbor and the positive impact each of us can have on our neighbors, our neighborhood and our community.   Born and raised in Ash Grove, Mo., David is proud to call the Ozarks home. He is a two-time graduate of Drury University (1988 and 2001) with degrees in political science, journalism, and integrated marketing and communication.   David is a prolific writer and still writes “Live and Learn” each week for the Greene County Commonwealth, and a monthly column on neighboring in the Springfield Daily Citizen.   David and his wife, Stacey, live in Republic. Their family includes their dog Otis and their two grown children: Lauren and Matthew (and his wife Megan). They are active at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield, where David has served as Chairman of Deacons, twice chaired the pastor search team, and is preparing to lead their Neighborhood Mission Trips.    In this episode, we cover:  How David even got started in this whole neighboring thing Why we don't need more good neighbors, we need more engaged neighbors Why grassroots neighborliness actually works  How to navigate change and push against the norm What we can each do about being neighborly in our own communities Links and Resources Mentioned: David's website: engagedneighbor.com David's blog: https://we-are-neighbors.blogspot.com/ University website where you can enroll in Neighboring 101 for $25 or find other Engaged Neighbor programs: https://extension.missouri.edu/ Missouri Good Neighbor Week: https://www.missourigoodneighborweek.com/ National Good Neighbor Day: https://nationalgoodneighborday.com/ Take the Engaged Neighbor Pledge: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EngagedNeighborPledge Subscribe to my Engaged Neighbor newsletter: https://extension.missouri.edu/media/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/dotdigital/preferences/county/Greene/Preference-en.html?utm_campaign=1020591_Becoming%20an%20Engaged%20Neighbor%20-%20%20%20February%202024%2C%20Issue%201&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email&dm_t=0,0,0,0,0

Some of our favorite kinds of stories are the ones that feature people with a dream in their hearts to do something amazing in their small towns who then go ahead and get it done. This episode is about a dream, a restaurant, and the woman who made it happen.    About LeAnn:   LeAnn Moen always wanted to own her own restaurant, but between raising children and being active on the family's farm, the timing was never quite right. Once her children were grown, though, she knew it was time. She started looking for spaces in her small town of Twin Valley, Minnesota that could accommodate the picture she had in her head, and finally, the stars aligned, and the perfect space became available. After more than a year of renovations, LeAnn's dream became a reality last December with the opening of The Grove. The Grove is more than a restaurant--it's also a bakery, a cafe, and a gathering place for her community that has quickly become the vibrant local hub she's always dreamed of.    In this episode, we cover:  The vision LeAnn had for a business in her small town How that vision became The Grove Why, when things fall through, it can actually be a good thing Why sharing your vision with employees is so important What has surprised her in the first few months of running the business Links and Resources Mentioned: The Grove website: https://thegrovekitchen.com/ The Grove Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Grove-Kitchen-Coffee-and-Bake-Shop-100091526800096/?locale=af_ZA

We love small-town events (duh) and we love the people who make those events happen (also duh.) Thus, we love this whole episode. We get to talk to Jeremy Nelson about an amazing market he's started and grown in his small town of Arthur, ND, and it's become kind of a whole thing. This episode is a transparent, honest look at what it looks like to do something big in a small town!   About Jeremy:   Jeremy was born in Northfield, MN and earned my BA in social studies secondary education in 2000 from Bethel College in St. Paul. He began his teaching career in St. Charles, MN, and spent six years teaching history along with several other courses, some of which were outside of his licensure area (welcome to small rural schools!), and helped create the girls' soccer program.    Jeremy married his wife, Amanda, on New Year's Eve 2003 and they moved to Fargo, ND, in June of 2007 to pursue a career opportunity for Amanda. He continued his teaching career at Park Christian School in Moorhead, MN that fall and is now wrapping up his 17th year at that school.    In 2017 they moved our family into a big old house in Arthur, ND, about 35 miles NNW of Fargo. In 2018, he received his Masters Degree in administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead, and in 2020 he stepped into the role of community coordinator for the City of Arthur, a fantastic side hustle that has allowed him to exercise his administrative chops. While in that position, he's been in charge of a monthly newsletter, submitting grant requests for municipal projects, and organizing a variety of community events.    One big idea he brought to life is the Arthur Market, a farmer's and maker's market held three times each year. Started in 2020 as simply an event under the community coordinator position, the Arthur Market has grown to such an extent that during the winter of 2023/2024 he worked to establish it as a separate nonprofit LLC in the state of North Dakota. The heart of the organization is to support, promote, and collaborate with local small businesses in order to create a thriving rural community.   In this episode, we cover:  What the Arthur Market is and who it's for Lessons he's learned heading into year five of the market Why he decided it was time to create a separate nonprofit for the market Why impact is the lens he uses when thinking about community events Why having a sandbox mentality is so important Links and Resources Mentioned: Arthur Market Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093882913776 (Website coming soon!) Get in touch: thearthurmarket@gmail.com

What does it look like to enhance communities through art, partnership, and general change-making? Well, we can't think of anyone better than Maggie Strong to talk to about it. Maggie loves to work with communities to spur the change they know they need, and do so in a way that makes communities better and more beautiful for all.    About Maggie:   Maggie Strong is a community builder. She founded Strong Consulting in 2016 to help organizations and communities think creatively and act strategically. A former economic development vice president and marketing executive, Maggie has 20 years of experience in strategic planning, communications, and public engagement. She gets excited about people and data and how combining the two can empower and position communities to achieve real change with lasting impact. Maggie works with civic and nonprofit clients to research, develop, facilitate, and implement strategic plans, assessments, and communication plans. She coaches community leaders, nonprofit executives, and their governing boards on how to be more effective and impactful. Maggie brings authenticity, humor, and urgency to her work and a deep respect for all people.   Maggie holds a bachelor's degree in arts management and a master's degree in business administration, both from Quincy University. She is an expert facilitator, trained in the McNellis Compression Planning® methodology, and is certified in Nonprofit Board Consulting through BoardSource. She is a lifelong learner, pursuing her certification as an AI Consultant for Nonprofits. She has served on several nonprofit boards primarily for organizations with missions focused on young people and the arts. Maggie and her husband, Aaron, spend their time raising their kind and courageous kids, Alex, Charlie, and Cecilia, and renovating their beloved 100-year-old bungalow in their hometown of Quincy, Illinois.     In this episode, we cover:  Why art is so valuable for small towns How to embrace the subjective nature of art (and other things) for small-town development What it means to “Be the Change” in small towns Why we don't have to personally love something in order to recognize its value The power of partnership Links and Resources Mentioned: www.MaggieStrong.com (Under construction, but the new website should be up soon!) https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiestrong/ https://www.facebook.com/strongconsultingquincy

This is an episode about people and why how we treat them matters, as viewed through the lenses of politics and living in a small town. We cannot possibly agree on everything, and it feels as though nothing makes that clearer than politics. Given that we're headed for another election season (yay*) we wanted to share this reminder that people should be at the center of everything we do, and a better future starts with us, at home, with how we treat one another and how we learn and grow and literally do better.    Don't worry--this isn't a high-horse episode wherein we preach on high from our cloud of perfection. We're human, too, and so we know how hard it can be to keep it classy and cool when big issues are on the line. It's about what we can all do, right now, today, to make our communities better places, starting with how we treat one another.    (*that's real heavy sarcasm in case you hadn't noticed.)   In this episode, we cover five things you can do right now to make your community better:  Notice and call out the use of labels Employ the Golden Rule Consider the implications of selective rights and privileges Beware the echo chambers  Make repairs Links + Resources Mentioned Ep. 92 with Winona and Tim: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode92 Role Call Talent Attraction Summit: https://www.rolecall.pro/talent-summit Putting People Back in Politics Blog Post: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/putting-the-people-back-in-politics   Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org   Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

Young people moving to our small towns—either coming back or relocating from somewhere else—is imperative not only so we know the newest slang but also to keep our towns growing and thriving. Having a person dedicated to bringing in new people and making their transitions easier is a proactive way to achieve this. We're so excited to share this episode with our very own Relocation Specialist, TJ Roney!   About TJ:   My name is Taylor (TJ) Roney and I am the Relocation Specialist in Oakes, ND! I graduated from OPS in 2018 and then went on to NDSU for fashion and business. After pursuing a dream in Minnesota for a few years, I decided it was time to come back to Oakes and venture down a new path in life! It has been amazing being back here with all of my family and so many friends. I have many passions and hobbies that I enjoy spending my time doing, some of which include photography, sewing, ancestry, golfing, and jamming out to Taylor Swift (really any music!)   In this episode, we cover:  Why a pilot program is a great way to try out a new idea What problems TJ solves as a Relocation Specialist Why we can't leave relocation efforts to employers Why Gen Z are the perfect candidates to move to small towns How to bring back people who have moved away, too Links and Resources Mentioned: Oakes' Move Here Page: https://oakesnd.com/move-here.php

“Are Chambers of Commerce even relevant anymore?” In our humble (but not too humble opinion:) YES ABSOLUTELY.   While the idea of a Chamber of Commerce is an old one, an active, progressive Chamber can be an enormous benefit to small towns. We brought our very own Chamber Director to talk about everything she does and the benefits of an active, involved Chamber.    About Kausha:   Kausha lives on her family's farm and ranch about 15 miles north of Oakes. She and her husband Chuck have been married for 30 years and have three children: Dalton, who is married to McKinzee, and their daughter Nellie Mae; Addison and her husband Parker; and their youngest son Garret.   They are so proud to say that their sons are part of the family farm/ranch and so that legacy will continue for the Magill homestead. Their daughter is also involved in agriculture and has started her own Ag Marketing business where she designs and produces bull sale catalogs along with other creative advertising for ag-related businesses.   Kausha was an English Teacher in her early days then worked side by side with her husband for several years until their sons were able to be involved in the day-to-day operations. Then, the wonderful opportunity to become the Oakes Area Chamber of Commerce Director became her part-time job, and she's been serving in that capacity for nearly four years!   She can honestly say that she's never had a day where she dreaded coming to work and finds her job to be incredibly rewarding. She get excited thinking about the fact that there are young people who are coming back to Oakes because it's a thriving small town!   “We can actually boast that we don't have an empty building on Main Street even though we aren't immune to the challenges that come with being a rural community.”   She loves being able to help our chamber membership promote what they have whether that is merchandise, services, opportunities, or events for the public, as well as just promote Oakes as a whole.   In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family (especially her new granddaughter!) and work on puzzles and read in the winter. Her summers are usually filled with outdoor activities along with riding horses as much as she can!   In this episode, we cover:  What a Chamber of Commerce is, and how they're funded What Kausha does to help local businesses and events Why seeing things through the eyes of a newcomer can be so helpful The power of being helpful and welcoming Why we should never discount the passion of transplants  Links and Resources Mentioned: Oakes Chamber Website: https://oakesnd.com/chamber Oakes Chamber Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakeschamber/ NDSU Extension Community Impressions: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/extension-topics/leadership-and-civic-engagement/programs/community-impressions Irrigation Days: https://oakesnd.com/irrigation-days

We all want our small towns to grow and thrive, but often, we don't offer enough support to the people who are integral in making this happen: the entrepreneurs. Kim Nagle is an author, coach, speaker, and entrepreneur who helps her clients start profitable businesses, and she's here to share with us what supporting entrepreneurs could look like in our small towns. Hint: it's magic.    About Kim:   Known as The DAMN Plan lady, Kim is definitely a woman with a plan. Her life's work is evidence of her deep-seated love for all things entrepreneurial. She started her first business at 14 and has owned 6 businesses since. As a result of working with Kim, well over 250 clients have started profitable businesses they love.   Kim has been a passionate advocate for entrepreneurs since the late 1900's. As the founder of the SBA-funded Minnesota Women's Business Center she elevated women-owned businesses as powerhouse economic drivers in communities.   Kim is the author of The DAMN Plan® How To Find Freedom, Love, And Money In Your Business and soon-to-be-released Determined to Succeed. In her books, she presents lessons learned and core principles for success learned over 30 years of being in the trenches every day- doing the damn thing.   If you get a chance to work with Kim, she will show you how to magnify your determination, make decisions accordingly, and take action like your life depended on it. Because it does. Life on your terms is waiting. It's just one determined-decision away.   In this episode, we cover:  The #1 reason people don't start businesses in small towns Why do businesses “fail,” and what is failure, anyhow? The power of “How can I help?” Why embracing the process is worth it The messages we give to our children Links and Resources Mentioned: More about The DAMN Plan Book: https://www.damnplan.com/the-damn-book LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thedamnplan Facebook: www.facebook.com/thedamnplan  Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedamnplan YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/KimNagle Free 30-minute Coaching Call with Kim: calendly.com/kimnagle/30mincall  Order The DAMN Plan®: www.amazon.com/dp/1952233518

When we last talked to Haley, she was pushing full steam ahead on building the beautiful Hearthside Vineyard & Winery. She's still going full steam ahead but has had to push through some major, heartbreaking setbacks. This episode isn't the bright, shiny one she (or we!) was hoping for, but it's better because it's real and it shows how hard entrepreneurs work to get their dreams off the ground. Real life is rarely bright and shiny, but hard-won victories taste even sweeter—literally, in Haley's case, since her hard-won victories will end with a beautiful, amazing winery. This episode is for anyone who is building dreams and overcoming obstacle after obstacle to make them happen.    About Haley: Haley Moen, from Oakes, North Dakota, is the owner of Hearthside, a startup vineyard and winery. As a fifth-generation farmer who holds a Master of Science in Plant Science, Haley is well-equipped to make Hearthside thrive. Hearthside Vineyard and Winery was born from the love Haley has for her home state and the desire to explore growing less-heard-of crops in North Dakota. Haley will be dedicated to producing authentic North Dakota wines that truly reflect the uniqueness of the area. She is excited to share their wine with the world and can't wait for people to try the fruits of their labor.    In this episode, we cover: What to do when a crisis hits The value of working through knee-jerk reactions  How to effectively outwork a “no” response when it should be a “yes.” When “what doesn't kill you makes you stronger” is the dang truth Why keeping clarity in the long game and the “why” is necessary to get through tough times Links and Resources Mentioned: Hearthside Vineyard and Winery: https://www.facebook.com/HearthsideWinery Haley's past episode: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode118

Instead of bringing on a guest to end the year (or kick off a new one) we're going to do a yearly recap and reflect on some things we've learned. If you're a doer and a dreamer in a small town, this is for you.    10 Reflections From Us to You  (and from us to ourselves because we need to be reminded of these things on the regular)   Quit expecting people to behave in a way they don't. Let them act how they're going to act.  No one is ever unbiased. You included Try to not judge the closed-minded people the same way you feel judged by their unwillingness to look at new ways of doing things. Keep the invitation open. Community improvement isn't a project, it's a long game. It might look like a series of small projects but don't lose hope if you don't see immediate results, like you'd want to. Ideas aren't enough; we need to execute.  You can have nice things in your small town. Audacity is aspirational.  All business is personal; quit saying it's not. Community development is personal. Art is personal. What drives us is personal.  Whether you articulate the culture in your community intentionally or not, you DO have one.  All people yearn to feel important. Treating people as if they are important is not just stroking egos…it's treating people with the most humanity possible.   Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org   Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

We are so excited to start a new kind of episode here on the Growing Small Towns show where we check in with some of our favorite past guests to find out what's happened since we last had them on the show—which for some of our guests is a whole heckuva lot.    Brodie Mueller is the owner of The Market on the Plaza, among being a part of MANY other amazing things in his small town of Aberdeen, SD. This episode is part status check, part business convo, and part therapy sesh (as all the best conversations are.)    About Brodie Brodie Mueller, owner of Market on the Plaza, has lived in Aberdeen for nearly a decade. He has a Masters Degree in social work and has been involved in community building both downtown and city-wide through different groups and projects. The brewery is involved with various community projects and fundraisers throughout the year, gaining a reputation as a business that supports the community. As a fellow downtown business owner, Brodie is committed to making downtown better by supporting new ventures and The Market on the Plaza is a shining example of bringing new and innovative services to the neighborhood.   In this episode, we cover: What he's learned about business going on year three with The Market on the Plaza How he creates buy-in and fosters loyalty among his team Why he prefers partnership and how to find partnership even if you don't have one in your business How to create novelty in a business that also needs constancy The importance of building relationships as a business owner in a small town, and the Brodie Method for getting it done.  Links + Resources Mentioned Brodie's past episodes: Episode 82 and Episode 72 The Market on the Plaza website: https://themarketontheplaza.com/ SD SportScene Podcast Shrink Rap the Podcast Minnesota Youth Ultimate Podcast The Energy Bus   Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

We are here with the longest episode in the history of Growing Small Towns because we just couldn't stop talking to our next guest. Ben Muldrow caught Rebecca's eye on Facebook, and he happens to have worked with Friend of the Pod Jeff Siegler. This is a long conversation but it's so good - around every corner is yet another amazing concept or idea and we know you'll love it as much as we did.    About Ben:   Ben Muldrow is a place branding and economic development expert who has spent the last 21 years assisting communities develop identities that attract investors and encourage private and public organizations to commit to community development projects that lead to economic vitality, environmental stewardship and social advancement.   As a partner at Arnett Muldrow & Associates and founding contributor at Proud Places, Ben has designed creative branding and marketing systems in over 800 communities across 40 states and 5 countries, making him a true global leader in place branding and cementing his ability to combine strategic planning, brand development, interactive marketing, public relations, and social media capabilities to preserve and promote the power of place.    In the Main Street world, Ben is known as a true innovator. Not only has been introduced the main street world to branding, he has introduced the ideas of Micro-retail incubation, Public Arts Master Plans, the Five Audiences of Main Street, and most recently he has created a template adopted across the country to communicate the effectiveness of our local programs. Ben has spoken at 15 National Main Street Conferences, Keynoted numerous State and Regional Main Street Conferences, and has spoken to over 250,000 people about the importance of America's downtowns.    In this episode, we cover: Why the first thing he looks for in the communities he serves is passion The power of the “first slow clapper” What to do about the wet blankets - and how they can be an indicator of when you've arrived Gender roles and economic development Investing in schools vs. invitations Links and Resources Mentioned: Arnett Muldrow website: http://arnettmuldrow.com/ Your City is Sick: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/your-city-is-sick-jeff-siegler/1143949924

This episode is for, well, the dreamers. The people who believe big things are possible, even (especially!) in a small town.    In this episode, we cover ten mindset reminders to help:  Bolster you, our small-town dreamer Help you navigate difficult situations Provide some inspiration and hope And, really, just encourage you to keep those big dreams coming   Links + Resources Mentioned Nome Schoolhouse Episode   Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org   Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

We live almost in two worlds now: the real one that we move around in physically, and the one online. The internet can be an amazing and helpful thing, but it can also be incredibly problematic. How do we navigate that balance and make sure that how we show up in the real world is not overly influenced by the engineered spaces we encounter online? It's a meaty topic, and we have an extra-long episode to talk about it!    About Chris: My name is Chris Burgess. I am a writer, editor, musician, teacher, songwriter, audio producer and a storyteller. I am also a former Navy Radioman holding a BA in Political Science, an MA in Medieval Studies, and an MA and PhD in English Literature with a focus on narrative emotion and rhetoric. I developed a deep appreciation for the relationship between leadership, storytelling, emotion and the art of persuasion through my academic studies. My tenure as the Campus Chief Steward for the graduate student union COGS/UE Local 896 at the University of Iowa provided real-world experience for these leadership skills. Upon completing my PhD in 2015, I explored the art of persuasion in the digital age, serving as an adjunct professor of English for six years. As a professor, I developed and taught a curriculum emphasizing persuasion, storytelling, critical thinking and digital and information literacy.   In this episode, we cover: The sense of groundedness that exists in the Midwest and how we could replicate that elsewhere Why authenticity is the most important part of storytelling What digital literacy looks like in an age where the algorithm is designed to divide us The antidote to division and bridge language vs. chasm language What a Doom Loop is and how to react to people who are stuck in one Links and Resources Mentioned: https://unlockingpersuasion.com https://dirtroadradio.com https://www.facebook.com/dirtroadradiostreaming

We love when we find people who support small towns doing big things in ways we've never seen before, and this episode features two people and a business that is doing just that. Jasmin and Cassidy are two sisters behind an organization called Realizing Rural that offers important services like grant-writing, project management, graphic design, and marketing to small towns and the organizations in them who may not have the staff to support those tasks but who need them to grow.    About Jasmin and Cassidy:   Jasmin Fosheim and Cassidy Blade are sisters living in rural South Dakota. Both balancing new families and serving their community in various capacities, Jasmin and Cassidy are passionate about the advantages of rural life. This passion and belief that rural is an asset, not a detriment, led them to create Realizing Rural. Since 2020, Realizing Rural has provided grant writing, project management, marketing, and consulting services for rural businesses, organizations, and communities in North Dakota, South Dakota, and beyond with the mission of shifting the rural narrative from surviving to thriving.   “We grew up running barefoot along the gravel roads of the Black Hills, chasing butterflies with nets and gathering wildflower bouquets. Our most formative childhood memories were built around fishing poles and fire pits, curled up in camping chairs and tucked into hammocks, making s'mores and reading books, all surrounded by those we loved most. It was in those moments that our love for rural was sparked. And it was in those fields and streams and tents and trails that we gained the curiosity that carries us, the compassion that comprises us, and the love that leads us. It was in those moments, years before the creation of our business, that we began realizing rural.”   In this episode, we cover: What Realizing Rural does and how they help Why grant money isn't really “free money” and why alignment with the funding or the project is so important  Why communities shouldn't hesitate or beat themselves up if they need help with grant writing or project management Their journey with imposter syndrome The difference between doing things you're good at vs. things you love Links and Resources Mentioned: Realizing Rural website: www.realizingrural.com Realizing Rural Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realizingrural Article on Time Management Quadrant: https://lindsay-jopson.medium.com/a-powerful-tool-to-show-us-where-to-spend-our-time-a8e564656bdf

We are so excited for another crossover episode with one of our most favorite people: small-town nonprofit expert and fun-haver Patrick Kirby. Hosted by Patrick, this episode is all about how to shift mindsets and rethink rural giving for small-town nonprofits.    In this episode, we cover: How the Rural Bus Tour works and… Why you need one of your own Why nonprofits are so important for small towns The thorny problem of self-limitation in the nonprofit world, both financially and… In the way that nonprofits think about the future   Links and Resources Mentioned: Uncharitable Movie: https://uncharitablemovie.com/ Do Good Better Consulting Podcast: https://www.dogoodbetterconsulting.com/dogoodbetterpodcast

This episode is about dreams, missions, storytelling, and how Cory Hepola combines all of those things into his life as a storyteller and documentarian and how he uses his gifts and skills to highlight small towns.    About Cory:   Cory Hepola is an Emmy Award Winning TV Anchor and Documentarian.    Currently, he serves as the Vice President of Communications, Growth & Strategy at The Brookshire Company where he helps businesses around the world reach their fullest potential through strategic connections, high-impact storytelling and inspiring purposeful partnerships.     A dynamic leader led by his core values and mission to empower others, Cory has earned two Emmy Awards for Outstanding TV Anchor at KARE 11, been named “100 People To Know” by Twin Cities Business Magazine as the creator & host of his own daily show on iconic WCCO Radio, developed and hosted the popular docuseries “Rural By Choice” and ignited a 3rd party Campaign for Governor of Minnesota.    Last year, Cory was honored by his alma mater, Concordia College, with the “Sent Forth Award” which is presented “to a young alumni who has made an impact early in their career, emphasizing service to others and demonstrating a strong vocational commitment.”   In this episode, we cover: Cory's road from broadcast journalism to his current role The power of learning more about yourself and your own mission, and planting the right seeds Why he's so passionate about rural America Why rural America isn't what many people think it is How the way we communicate has changed, and why it matters Links and Resources Mentioned: Brookshire's Community Venture Network: https://brookshireco.com/services/community-venture-network/ Rural By Choice: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuZ3BsRIR3ZIM83HKbgu-CYi_R60WwdHz Episode 112 with Erik Osberg: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode112

Jeff Siegler is back with an incredibly thought-provoking episode about built places, communities, assumptions, and loneliness, and why designing our spaces and cities and towns to promote community is so important. This episode has it all: hot takes, hard truths, hard-to-discuss-but-mega-important ideas, and solutions to forge a better path forward.    (Please tell us you also read that last sentence like Bill Hader's SNL character Stefon on Weekend Update.)    About Jeff:   Jeff Siegler is a writer, speaker, and consultant concerned with the powerful role place plays in our lives. He is the founder of the civic pride consulting firm, Revitalize, or Die and co-founder of the organization Proud Places. After obtaining his Masters in Urban Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University, Jeff went to work on Main Street. First as a downtown manager, and later as the Ohio Main Street State Coordinator. His first book, “Your City is Sick" is scheduled to be released on September 1st.. Jeff and his wife Amber and their four kids call Pittsburgh home.     In this episode, we cover: Why we need to be intentional about our communities Why beauty actually isn't all that subjective How the “urban” and “rural” labels can contribute to divisiveness and blind spots How much our built environment affects our health A better way forward Links and Resources Mentioned: Your City is Sick Website (almost ready! Keep checking back!) YourCityisSick.com Ann Sussman's Cognitive Architecture  Ep. 99 with Jeff - How to Combat Apathy in Your Small Town: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode99 

Strong small-town businesses are the backbone of our communities, and when our local small businesses are thriving, so are we. Aly Robins is a rural resident, business coach, and marketing expert and she joins us in this grab-a-pen episode all about business foundations, marketing, mindset shifts, and how small-town businesses can use all of them to put themselves on a path to growth and success.    Seriously, grab a pen and some paper, you're going to want to take notes!    About Aly: Aly Robins is a digital marketing strategist and business coach for agriculture and rural businesses. She grew up on a ranch outside of Helena, Montana, and got a bachelor's degree in rangeland management. After feeling unfulfilled working at her 9-5 job, she decided to take her marketing business full-time. Now, she helps her clients set up their business for sustainable growth so they can have a bigger impact on their family and community. She believes that when you can make good money you can then do amazing things in your life and for others around you.   In this episode, we cover: What good marketing is and why you need to do it What a marketing funnel is and how you can use it in your business How to take yourself out of the equation to better serve your customers and grow your business The four foundations of business Why small towns should care about any of this! Links and Resources Mentioned: Aly's Website: https://www.alyrobins.com/ Snowy Mountain Marketing: https://snowymountainmarketing.com/