Podcasts about rural communities

In this episode of *The Rural Voice*, Chris, Melissa, and Bill talk with Rebecca “Becca” Burnfin, a 9th–12th grade social studies teacher and PLC lead at Garden City High School in rural western Kansas. Becca shares what it means to teach in a community where students speak more than 40 languages and bring rich lived experiences shaped by immigration, rural life, global conflict, and family history. The conversation explores how high-quality instructional materials have helped her reduce planning time, keep social studies relevant beyond stale textbooks, support new and veteran teachers through PLC collaboration, and create more engaging, experiential lessons for students. Becca also speaks candidly about rural teacher recruitment and retention, post-COVID pressures on educators, and the importance of honoring student dignity while helping young people connect history to the world unfolding around them.

A small central Hawkes Bay community is still taking the long way round, more than three years after Cyclone Gabrielle damaged their bridge and their patience is wearing thin. Hundreds of locals have signed a petition calling for the bridge to be replaced or repaired. It was presented to the Central Hawkes Bay District Council this morning. Farmer Dave Ellison made the case for action, and spoke to Lisa Owen.

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The conversation discusses the growing issue of data centers in the U.S., with thousands planned. Special Envoy John Rich emphasizes the importance of data centers as declared national security assets by the president. He notes Secretary Rollins' stance on the right and wrong ways to build these facilities and mentions his role in shaping a framework for data centers. Rich, known for his music career, has taken a voluntary position to advocate for landowners, aiming to give them a voice in feder

In counties along New York's Southern Tier, the number of homeless people nearly tripled between 2019 and 2025. But without all the sidewalks, subways, and shelters of a big city, it's more difficult for street outreach workers to find and help homeless people. WNYC's Jimmy Vielkind talks with us about how the state's street outreach program has adapted to rural communities. Photo: Jimmy Vielkind -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bongani Bingwa speaks to Alpha Ramoshwana, EWN Reporter, about the dangerous makeshift bridge built by residents of Mafarafara in Limpopo to cross the flooded Tubatse River and access healthcare, highlighting ongoing infrastructure failures and service delivery challenges in rural South Africa. 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio7See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this West Virginia Morning, affordable dental care is a little-talked-about challenge low-income families face in this state, but there is an effort underway to change that. The post Mobile Dental Care A Lifeline In Rural Communities, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Roost News Interviewer, Louise Gallagher chats with Marissa Volpe, AARP State Office Associate State Director (ASD) for Outreach and Community Engagement and AARP Colorado State Office volunteers Cristy Moran, Niki Delson, and community partner Frank Sgambati. They share their story of successfully partnering with the Libraries in Colorado to support their rural community.

Sally Round, host and producer of Country Life, joins Emile to talk about what's on the show. This week Country Life is at a locust farm where the insects are bred for petfood and human snacks and joins a drone pilot on a farm in Canterbury.

Tomorrow the cost of posting a letter will shoot up yet again. NZ Post is increasing standard mail letter prices by 70 cents, meaning a medium-sized letter will cost $3.60, a large letter $4.90, and an oversize letter $6.20. NZ Post says it's facing rising costs and needs to keep their services reliable, but critics say the price rises are coming at the same time as postal services are becoming less accessible, especially for rural communities. We'd love to know what you think about the price rises, but also how often you post mail, 2101 on the text machine. To tell us how the price changes impact those who live and work rurally, Perlina is joined by Sandra Kirby, Chief Executive of Rural Women New Zealand.

A $1 million initiative through the Rural Health Transformation Program aims to help rural EMS agencies expand access to health care in rural and underserved areas of West Virginia. We spoke with Secretary of Health Dr. Arvin Singh to understand how the program is designed to work – and who it will focus on first. The post Improving Health Care Access In Rural Communities, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

American Farm Bureau Federation research finds strong interest in skills development, business training, and leadership opportunities.

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Today's HeadlinesAmended sacrilege law is a new reality for believers in Punjab StateThree key challenges facing the church in LaosUsing the World Cup to reach others

Dr. Stroope is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology at Louisiana State University. Stroope's research includes three overlapping areas: co-benefits of active transportation, public health approaches to increasing rural physical activity, and access to nature, with an overarching interest in how physical activity contributes to community thriving. Stroope is on the leadership team for the Physical Activity Policy, Research, and Evaluation Network (PAPREN) Rural Hub and serves on the Dissemination and Translation Board for the U Mass Prevention Research Center. Before joining the LSU School of Kinesiology, she spent ten years working for Cooperative Extension, with most of those years serving as the LSU AgCenter's physical activity specialist. In that role, she partnered with Extension agents, small towns, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, rural librarians, schools and other community partners to increase access to physical activity, with a particular focus on helping communities pursue funding for active transportation infrastructure. Description In this episode of the Elevate Yourself podcast, Rob sits down with Dr. Jessica Stroope to discuss how communities can be designed to support healthier, more active lives. Drawing from her experiences in public health, Cooperative Extension, and community-based research, Jessica explores the powerful role that active transportation, access to nature, and the built environment play in shaping physical activity behaviors. She shares lessons learned from working with rural communities, transportation departments, schools, libraries, and local leaders to create environments where movement is a natural part of everyday life. The conversation highlights how seemingly small environmental changes can have a meaningful impact on health outcomes, why partnerships across sectors are essential, and how community design influences far more than physical activity alone. Whether you're interested in public health, community development, or simply creating places where people can thrive, this episode offers practical insights into building more accessible and active communities. Learn More Physical Activity Policy, Research, and Evaluation Network (PAPREN) LSU School of Kinesiology LSU AgCenter Selected Publications: Stroope, J., Ballis, L. E., Seals, K., Garn, A. C., Holston, D. (In press). Rural Physical Activity in the Mississippi Delta: the moderating influence of stray dogs. Journal of Healthy Eating & Active Living. Stroope, J., Umstattd Meyer, M.R., Gabbert, K., John, D.H., Orzech, K., Wende, M.E., and Kellstedt, D. (2025). Physical Activity Policy, Systems, and Environment Change through Extension SNAP-Ed: A Multi-State Perspective. Health Promotion Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399231221779 Stroope, J., Jones, M., Nunes, B., & Holston, D. (2024). Improving Access to the Transportation Alternatives Program for Rural Communities. Journal of Healthy Eating & Active Living. https://doi.org/10.51250/jheal.v4i3.94 Stroope, J., Garn, A., and Cadmus-Bertram, L. (2022). Active transportation and self-reported change in physical activity. Journal of Transport & Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2022.101528 Seals, K., Stroope, J., Freightman, J., Moles, A., Ainsworth, L, and Holston, D. (2022). Empty houses, loose dogs, and engaged citizens: Lessons learned from community participatory data collection in rural areas. Health Promotion Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399221111181 Stroope, J. (2021). Active transportation and social capital: The association between walking or biking for transportation and community participation. Preventive Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106666

By applying commoning practices in rural towns in the Italian Alps, Bianca Elzenbaumer, a community economies designer and cofounder of Brave New Alps, is catalyzing many new forms of rural development and ecosocial transformation. Working from a repurposed railway station in Vallagarina, the group relies on radical pedagogy, "feral approaches" to community economies, and lots of DIY making and organizing. Projects don't aim for market development and conventional investment, but for participatory vehicles that honor social imagination, improvisation, and collective impact. For more on the commons, go to www.Bollier.org.

Dr. Arreaza: Hello, everyone, my name is Dr. Hector Arreaza, I am a family physician and an associate program director in the Clinica Sierra Vista – Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program.  Today we're discussing one of the most powerful predictors of health that many people rarely think about: geography. Where someone lives can influence everything from access to physicians and emergency care to chronic disease outcomes and life expectancy. Joining us today is Peyton, who will be taking a deeper look into the matter. Peyton, thank you for being here — can you start by introducing yourself, please? Peyton: Hello, thank you for having me. My name is Peyton, I am a 4th year medical student with Western Atlantic University, and I am from a very small town in South Dakota.  Dr. Arreaza: Peyton, you are on your last few days in your FM rotation, when are you graduation?  Peyton, you prepared this topic and it is great. When people hear the phrase “your ZIP code can determine your health,” what does that actually mean? Peyton: It basically means that where someone lives can significantly influence their health outcomes and even life expectancy. A person's ZIP code can affect access to physicians, hospitals, transportation, emergency services, and preventative care. Arreaza: Talking about prevention. The American Heart Association agrees with you because Zip code is not part of the cardiovascular risk calculator called PREVENT. I invite everyone to take a look at this new calculator. I think a lot of people assume healthcare is equal as long as hospitals or clinics exist nearby, right? Peyton: Yes, patients may still struggle with overcrowded healthcare systems, which can lead to long wait times. In fact, a national physician appointment survey found that average wait times for new patient primary care appointments in major cities can exceed three weeks, with some cities reporting significantly longer delays depending on specialty access and provider availability. Dr. Arreaza: And when patients experience those kinds of delays, they may frequently switch between providers, which becomes much harder to establish consistent long-term care. Peyton: One of the biggest issues many patients face is continuity of care — having consistent follow-up with the same provider over time. Dr. Arreaza: And that continuity really matters in medicine, especially family medicine, it is one of our keywords: continuity of care. Peyton: Exactly. Preventative care and chronic disease management work best when patients have long-term relationships with healthcare providers. But in many underserved communities, patients may wait months for appointments, frequently change providers, or rely on emergency rooms instead of primary care clinics. Dr. Arreaza: And urgent care too. When care becomes fragmented, conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and chronic illnesses can become much harder to manage. Peyton: Exactly. Delayed screenings, missed follow-up appointments, and lack of preventative care often lead to patients presenting later with more advanced disease that could have been treated earlier. Dr. Arreaza: And urban communities may face some of the same challenges, but rural communities are at a different level of barriers to health care. Peyton: Absolutely. Rural communities often experience significant physician shortages. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, over 100 million Americans live in primary care shortage areas, and nearly 65% of those shortage areas are located in rural regions. Peyton: I think one of the biggest solutions starts with strengthening primary care and investing more heavily in underserved communities, especially rural areas. Dr. Arreaza: And that includes increasing the number of physicians going into family medicine and primary care specialties.  Peyton: Here is an interesting fact: According to the Graham Center, Northeastern states receive high graduate medical education (GME) funding but produce relatively fewer primary care physicians. Northwestern states receive low GME funding but perform relatively better, producing slightly above the U.S. average (70.8 vs 69.8 primary care physicians per 100,000 people). However, even this remains far below Canada's average of 119 primary care physicians per 100,000 people.  Right now, the United States is facing a growing physician shortage. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the country could face a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, with primary care being one of the most affected areas. Arreaza: Another group that may help address the physician shortage is International Medical Graduates. We'll cover this in more detail in a future episode, but it's worth mentioning briefly here. We have highly trained physicians, including neurosurgeons, driving Uber. There is nothing wrong with that work, but their medical skills could be used to help more people. I'll leave our listeners with that thought: IMGs can help. So, Peyton, are you interested in rural medicine? Peyton: I am very interested in Rural medicine, in fact my next few rotations will be back in South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Actually, the Pine Ridge Reservation is the poorest Indian Reservation in the country.  Peyton: The measure of any healthcare system is not how well it serves those closest to its centers of power, but how far its reach extends to those who need it most. If we are serious about health equity, the road forward must run through every small town, every county clinic, and every community that has been told to wait its turn. Their turn is now. References Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projections From 2021 to 2036. https://www.aamc.org/workforce American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Rural Practice and Physician Recruitment.https://www.aafp.org Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rural Americans at Higher Risk of Death from Five Leading Causes.https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0112-rural-death-risk.html Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Rural Hospital Closures.https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/programs-projects/rural-health/rural-hospital-closures/ Chetty R, Stepner M, Abraham S, et al. The Association Between Income and Life Expectancy in the United States, 2001–2014. JAMA. 2016;315(16):1750–1766. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2513561 Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/shortage-areas Rural Health Information Hub. Healthcare Access in Rural Communities.https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/healthcare-access Rural Health Information Hub. Transportation to Support Rural Healthcare.https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/transportation Rural Health Information Hub. Rural Residency Planning and Development. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/rural-residency-programs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health and Access to Care in Rural America.https://www.cdc.gov/ruralhealth/index.html Measure of America. A Portrait of Los Angeles County 2026. Social Science Research Council.https://ssrc-static.s3.amazonaws.com/moa/APortraitofLosAngelesCounty2026.pdf Merritt Hawkins. Survey of Physician Appointment Wait Times and Medicare and Medicaid Acceptance Rates.https://www.merritthawkins.com/news-and-insights/thought-leadership/survey/survey-of-physician-appointment-wait-times/ Fenster, T. L., MD, Park, J., PhD, Huffstetler, A. N., MD, & Topmiller, M., PhD (2026). Graduate Medical Education Funding Does Not Flow to Primary Care Physician Production. American family physician, 113(4), 321–322. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42101593/ Theme song, Works All The Time by Dominik Schwarzer, YouTube ID: CUBDNERZU8HXUHBS, purchased from https://www.premiumbeat.com/. Even without trying, every night you go to bed a little wiser. Thanks for listening to Rio Bravo qWeek Podcast. We want to hear from you, send us an email at RioBravoqWeek@clinicasierravista.org, or visit our website riobravofmrp.org/qweek. See you next week!

Today's episode is a heartfelt dive into the wild, wonderful world of rural health care, featuring the utterly inspiring Tami DeCoteau. We explore everything from Native American trauma to the magic of telemedicine and, of course, the political circus affecting mental health funding. Why does Tami love her rural practice? How do social media and AI impact our minds? And what's the deal with farmers feeling more stressed than a coffee addict on decaf? Heidi and Joel also discuss upcoming Senate and governor races, focusing on Sherrod Brown's potential return to the Senate, the political landscape in Ohio, and insights into key electoral strategies. They analyze the implications of recent political developments and candidate choices, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the current US political climate.In this episode:The explosive need for mental health services in rural and Native American populationsHow telemedicine is becoming the unsung hero in rural mental health careChallenges of attracting providers to North Dakota—money, roads, and reputationThe importance of trauma-informed care and how childhood experiences shape nervous systemsThe impact of economic stress, especially on farmers, and rising political tensionsHow social media and AI are rewiring our brains—think of it as mental cord-cutting gone wrongThe future of rural health policy (more resources, better pay, and less stigma)The missing link: the pipeline of Native American psychologists and why rural providers are hard to findPlus, a quick political roundup, because who doesn't love some political banter?Guests:Tami DeCoteau - DeCoteau Trauma-Informed Care & PracticeAnd don't forget to tell your friends, especially the ones who believe mental health is just "a phase," because Tami proves it's a lifelong mission.The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project. To learn more, visit OneCountryProject.org, or find us on Substack (Onecountryproject.substack.com), and on YouTube, Bluesky, and Facebook (@onecountryproject). (00:00) - Introduction to Rural Health Care Challenges (03:01) - The Importance of Telemedicine in Rural Areas (05:43) - Understanding the Demographics of Mental Health Clients (09:00) - Building Trust in Rural Communities (11:43) - The Impact of Trauma on Mental Health (14:52) - Economic Stress and Mental Health in Farming Communities (17:58) - The Role of AI in Mental Health (20:57) - Policy Changes for Rural Mental Health (23:27) - The Need for More Mental Health Providers (26:37) - Future Directions for Rural Mental Health Services (33:52) - Sherrod Brown's Senate Race Prospects (36:46) - Political Landscape and Implications for Ohio

The number of young people not in jobs, studying or training has jumped dramatically in the last year in regional communities, as much as 40 percent in some places Opotiki youth advocate Alex Le Long spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Send us Fan MailIn 2013, nine rural telephone companies came together with one goal: bringing urban-level connectivity and services to rural communities. On this episode of Connected Nation, we sit down with a representative from CBS Oregon to discuss how that collaboration turned into a success story for rural broadband. She also shares insights from her role as chair of the planning committee for Fiber Connect 2026 and what attendees can expect from the industry's biggest conversations moving forward.Recommended links:Jessica Koch LinkedInConsolidated Business Services websiteFiber Connect 2026 website

A roundtable conversation focuses on the benefits and challenges of rural public transportation.

Monica McConkey, Eyes on the Horizon founder and rural mental health specialist, joins us on today's guest episode of Rural Health Today. Today we're talking about access to mental healthcare in rural communities. Monica is here to share her perspective as a leader in rural mental health. We'll talk about service closures, how stigma affects care, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health.  Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPod https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamcconkey/ https://www.eyesonthehorizon.org/ https://www.facebook.com/eyesonthehorizonconsulting

Send us Fan MailBroadband isn't just about infrastructure; it's about human equity. Sitting down at the Connected America Conference, Colorado Broadband Director Brandy Reitter explains the harsh realities of closing the Digital Divide. From mountain construction challenges and BEAD funding to AI opportunities and workforce shortages, Reitter breaks down exactly what it takes to bring reliable internet to rural Colorado—proving why high-speed access is about much more than just laying fiber.Recommended links:Brandy Reitter LinkedInColorado Broadband Office website

New data suggests households in parts of rural New Zealand are spending nearly a quarter of their total discretionary spending on fuel. Oxford Community Trust has been helping people in North Canterbury for 30 years. Its manager Jo Ealam spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

What issues do Trans patients face in rural communities?  Former VRHA Board member Dove Standley and her husband Tatum joined RHV to discuss the extra precautions they have to take when seeking care. If you want to learn more about concerns for rural Trans patients, check out Dove & Tatum’s chapter in the book: Medical Mistrust in Appalachia. VRHA’s Pride of Rural Virginia initiative has resources for LGBTQ+ patients and healthcare providers.

Building resilience in rural communities is important, to not just survive but thrive. In this episode brought to you by Rural Support Trust and Fonterra, special guests Michelle Ruddell and Gerard Vaughan discuss how Rural Support Trust and Farmstrong provide resources and practical steps to uplift and support rural communities. Check out more info at rural-support.org.nz See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Kashifa Ancer from the Douglas Murray Trust speaks to John Maytham about their court case in the Northern Cape regarding liquor and gambling laws in the province. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Chett Daniel, President, Crowder CollegeIn this episode, President Series #467, powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠, sponsored by the ​ELIVE 2026​ Conference in Denver, Colorado, April 19-22, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by CoursedogYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow does a rural Missouri community college use design thinking to build a strategic plan around the real problems students & employers are actually trying to solve?Why must colleges stop designing for the mythical 18 year old & start building relationships strong enough to withstand the weight of truth?What does a Marine Corps leadership philosophy have to do with putting employers in the room to vote Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum up or down?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to access to EdUp Leadership, the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed?

When Tracy K. Smith served as Poet Laureate of the United States, she used her platform to bring people together. In 2018, she traveled the country for a series called American Conversations: Celebrating Poems in Rural Communities. At these events, she encouraged people to share their thoughts, regardless of their background. While Tracy’s two terms as poet laureate ended in 2019, she is still using poetry to build connections. Her new book is Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times. GUEST: Tracy K. Smith: Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard. She served as the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019. Her 2011 collection Life on Mars won the Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book is Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times. You can find both of the poems Tracy reads on this episode, "Everybody's Autobiography" and "Charity," online. Special thanks to our former interns Vy Duong and Talei Ricketson. This episode originally aired on November 14, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Surekha Carpenter and Bethany Greene discuss the connections between the health of workers and the health of labor markets in rural communities. Carpenter is a senior research analyst and Greene is a regional economist, both at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2026/speaking_2026_04_15_rural_health_employment

Brad Wiley's family has farmed the same land since 1790. In this episode on our Farmer Stories series, he share shis wonder at the invisible web beneath his fields - and what it means to carry 200 years of family memory on a single piece of ground.Farmer Stories pulls the best conversations from The Regenaissance archive - real voices from American farmers on the systems, economics, and communities shaping food and land in the US.Timestamps00:00 — The biological web that makes Tesla look simple01:00 — Locust trees feeding cover crops across an entire field03:30 — Cover crops and grazing replace the lime truck05:30 — The moment Brad walked away from $30k in cash rent07:30 — The manure spreader sinks into dead soybean soil11:00 — 200 years of family memory on one piece of ground22:30 — Life is designed to be a struggleConnect with Brad:Otter Creek FarmFollow the tour on YouTube

"Community cats — it's really about the community. It brings the community together." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and the Feline Behavior Summit 2026. What does it take to build a community cat program from scratch in a rural, under-resourced area where nearly everyone — officers, residents, and administrators alike — is convinced it won't work? In this episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with TyAnn Sumpter, Manager of Shelter Support at Charleston Animal Society, to walk through one of the most compelling TNR success stories in recent memory. TyAnn came to animal welfare from the business world, and it was that entrepreneurial mindset that helped her see past the resistance and build something lasting in Florence County, South Carolina. TyAnn shares how she designed and launched the region's first TNR initiative using existing call log data, enthusiastic volunteers, and animal control officers who already knew which neighborhoods needed help. What started as a one-year, grant-funded pilot ended up spaying and neutering 1,700 cats in year one alone. By year two, the shelter that had previously taken in roughly a thousand cats annually had dropped its intake to just 73. The ripple effects are just as remarkable. Neighboring Darlington County started calling to ask why they didn't have a program, and TyAnn helped them get set up. Florence County eventually hired its own dedicated community cat coordinator, purchased its own transport van, and secured permanent budget funding — all things that would have seemed unimaginable when TyAnn first walked through that shelter door. She also makes a compelling case for using complaint call reductions and cost savings to win over skeptical municipal administrators. Press Play Now For: How TyAnn built Florence County's first TNR program with no roadmap and no buy-in Why mining call log data was the key to finding the community's hidden cat advocates The dramatic shelter intake drop — from 1,000 cats per year to just 73 How the program expanded into neighboring counties and became permanently self-funded The role animal control officers played in identifying colonies and building community trust Making the financial case to county administrators using complaint call metrics How Charleston Animal Society handles high-volume TNR surgeries two hours away Why a nonjudgmental, community-first approach is the most powerful tool in TNR The unexpected expansions: pet pantries, low-cost owned-cat spay/neuter, and more Resources & Links: Charleston Animal Society TyAnn Sumpter on LinkedIn Best Friends Animal Society United Spay Alliance

The Vice-President of the Canadian Fuels Association says diesel prices are currently at historical levels in Canada. Carol Montreuil has observed a lot of places across the country have diesel prices above $2.00 a litre with some in the range of $2.25 to $2.50 a litre. He says that's not the case yet in Saskatchewan but the trend, given the conflict in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, is not good.ANDRural communities and non-profit organizations across Canada interested in providing mental health education locally can now apply for the 2026 Community Fund for Mental Health.Executive Director of Do More Ag Merle Massie says the Fund, going into its 8th year, is managed by a partnership between the Do More Agriculture Foundation and Farm Credit Canada. She explains the program and how to submit an application.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rural populations in the United States face unique healthcare challenges. These communities tend to be older, have higher mortality rates, and experience higher rates of chronic conditions and physical disabilities compared to urban populations. Despite the increased need for palliative care in rural areas, access remains alarmingly limited. Even in hospital settings, where palliative care programs are more common in urban areas, only 35% of rural hospitals report having such programs, compared to 81% of urban hospitals. In this week's podcast, we explore the challenges and opportunities of delivering palliative care in rural communities with our esteemed guests Karl Bezak, Jeanie Youngwerth, Adie Goldberg, and Gregg Vandekieft. We begin by discussing what inspired each of them to focus on rural palliative care. From there, we dive into what rural palliative care looks like and examine how it differs from care provided in urban settings. Our guests also share insights into the challenges of delivering this care in resource-limited rural environments and explore innovative strategies to ensure patients and families receive the support they need (like providing remote fellowship training for docs living in rural areas!). We also tackle the role of telemedicine in rural palliative care, both the good part, connecting patients in remote areas with specialists who might otherwise be unavailable, and the bad part, the huge digital divide seen in rural areas.  Join us for what I thought were some valuable insights our guests brought on how we can better serve rural populations and create a more equitable system for palliative care delivery. And if you want to learn more, check out some of these resources: University of Colorado's Community Hospice and Palliative Medicine (CHPM) Fellowship, which allows mid-career providers to obtain training while continuing to live and work in their community supported through online and distance learning technology Master of Science in Palliative Care Program: Master of Science Degree The Rural Health Information Hub's Rural Hospice and Palliative Care Overview  Stratis Health's Rural Community-based Palliative Care resource center The Washington Rural Palliative Care Initiative website CAPC's Safety-Net and Rural Care website         The paper validating the AI Algorithm used to identify patient in rural ED for the TeleGOC Pause Model at UPMC (SafeNET)  A Google Site where Karl is hosting their most recent data related to the TeleGOC Pause Model 

Episode 73: Betsy Biemann, CEO of Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) Investing in Communities: Betsy Biemann on the Mission of CEI In this episode of The Boulos Beat, recorded in December 2025, guest host Drew Sigfridson sits down with Betsy Biemann, CEO of Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), to talk about her path from a Rotary Fellowship in Kenya to leadership roles at the Rockefeller Foundation—and ultimately to leading one of the country's top Community Development Financial Institutions. Drew and Betsy dive into CEI's mission to support low-income communities through financing, business advising, and targeted investments in sectors like farming and food manufacturing, aquaculture, childcare and renewable energy. They also discuss CEI's impact nationwide, including advancing affordable and workforce housing and rural manufacturing through key tax credit programs. The conversation touches on how CEI has helped small business owners navigate the evolving federal policy and economic landscape and why their work supporting entrepreneurs and local economies is more important than ever.

Nick Lemmer, Outreach & Communications Specialist for Goodhue County, Minnesota joined the podcast to discuss public communications. He talked about the challenge and importance of building trust in rural communities. He shared rebranding projects from his past position, communicating cost shifts in reduced federal funding, and public communication related to data centers. Host: Lauren Palmer

State Treasurer Fiona Ma is recognized for years of support for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

In rural communities across America, there are people traveling many miles from home to deliver babies. In the past five years, nearly 125 rural hospitals have stopped delivering babies or announced that they will. That's about two closings a month. On the next Us & Them, host Trey Kay hears from families facing that change, and how it's affecting prospects for their rural cities and towns. The post How Hospital Closures Are Affecting Rural Communities, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A roundtable conversation focusing on the benefits and challenges of rural public transportation.

Nicole Jones is the founder of Little Red Riding Hood, Inc., and today she joins us to talk about the hidden crisis of senior transportation in rural communities. Her story shows how one human moment can spark a solution that strengthens healthcare access, local economies, and community belonging. This episode is a testimony to how one moment and one person can inspire change, and a reminder to protect those who came before us so we can be stronger, more whole communities.  About Nicole: I am a 35-year-old who has made it her life's mission to help seniors in rural areas after finding a blind senior man lost in the middle of the road. My passions include weight lifting, writing (I have a novel coming out soon as a hopeful way to raise funds for the company), and the Professional Women's Hockey League (go Montreal Victoire!). I live in the small town of Bigler, PA, with my four rescue cats, two turkeys, and twelve ducks. In this episode, we cover: How a chance encounter with a stranded senior sparked a rural transportation startup Why senior mobility is directly tied to rural economic health What makes rural transportation different from Uber or Lyft How technology can work with seniors instead of around them Why honoring aging residents is critical to growing small towns Links + Resources Mentioned: Website: www.LRRHINC.com Email: Nicole@lrrhinc.com Phone number: 412-376-5145 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleelizabethjones Want to get your business in front of our audience? We are looking for podcast sponsors! Each season, we feature a select group of Small Business Partners—brands that share our mission to celebrate small-town life and big ideas. With a 4–6% average Facebook engagement rate (well above the industry average), 2,600+ loyal followers, and 45,000 monthly content views, we have an amazing, highly engaged audience of people who can't wait to learn more about you. When we feature you, your story, and your product/service, it's like a friend's recommendation, because it is. Want to know more? Reach out to us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org We have a membership! Join the GST Club — a virtual support community built for those leading change in small-town America. For $30/month, you'll get twice-monthly live calls with Rebecca, access to a private network of fellow small-town changemakers, replay recordings, frameworks, and early access to GST events. It's for anyone from volunteers and entrepreneurs to city officials who believe small towns deserve big ideas and better leadership. Part think-tank. Part pep-talk. Part creative jam session. All support.  We Want to Hear From You! We really, really do, and if you'll let us, we'd love to feature your actual message just like we did with Terri's (with your permission, of course!) 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 have two "participation dance" elements of 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!  

Are numbers enough to tell the full story of your impact? In this episode of the Common Good Data podcast, Drew Reynolds sits down with Cheralynn Corsack, founder of Local Insight Studio, to explore how mixed methods evaluation can produce deeper, more actionable insight, especially in rural communities.Evaluation conversations often center on numbers. Outputs. Outcomes. KPIs. But data alone rarely captures the nuance of lived experience. Cheralynn explains how pairing quantitative data with qualitative insight, including interviews, focus groups, and participatory analysis, reveals dimensions of impact that surveys alone cannot surface.The conversation explores:• What mixed methods evaluation actually means in practice• Why participatory approaches are especially powerful in rural communities• How qualitative insight can reshape and deepen quantitative findings• The challenges of data access and representation in rural contexts• Moving from deficit based narratives to asset based framing• Translating evaluation findings into language communities can understand and useCheralynn also discusses the importance of relationship building, trust, and co-creation in evaluation work, and why sharing findings back to communities is not optional but essential.If you work in nonprofits, philanthropy, or community initiatives and want your evaluation work to be rigorous, human centered, and useful, this episode offers practical insight you can apply immediately.Learn more about Cheralynn and Local Insight Studio at localinsightstudio.comExplore Common Good Data's free course, Break the Starvation Cycle, at commongooddata.com/coursesSubscribe for more conversations on evaluation, strategy, and data for social impact.

A rural Auckland community is wanting to see something done about dog attacks on their sheep, raising concerns a person could be next. Residents in Paremoremo are sounding alarm bells saying the risk posed by having a roaming dog in the area is a tragedy waiting to happen. They want to see something done before it's too late. Finn Blackwell has more.

Today, we're back talking with John Barnas, who answers your questions on how to maintain teleheath capabilities in rural settings. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! ⁠https://x.com/RuralHealthPod⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665⁠  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! ⁠https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠ ⁠https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠  Follow John Barnas on social media! ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-barnas-a7519115/⁠ Follow the Michigan Center for Rural Health on social media! ⁠https://www.facebook.com/MCRH91/

Today, we're back talking with John Barnas, who answers your questions on how to maintain teleheath capabilities in rural settings. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPod https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow John Barnas on social media! https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-barnas-a7519115/ Follow the Michigan Center for Rural Health on social media! https://www.facebook.com/MCRH91/

In this episode, Christian Milaster, MS, Founder and CEO of Ingenium Consulting Group, shares how thoughtful implementation, not just new technology, is critical to improving outcomes in rural health. He discusses CMS rural health transformation funding, digital health and AI trends, and why methodology and implementation science are essential to turning innovation into real impact.

Rural America has lost more than 10% of its family physicians since 2017, according to a report published late last year. What does that mean for patients and communities? On today's episode, host J. Carlisle Larsen speaks with Colleen Fogarty, M.D., the William Rocktaschel Professor and Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and lead author of the national study, about what the data reveals — and what happens when even one doctor leaves town. Next week, we listen to the second part of their conversation where they look at the forces driving this decline. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many are familiar with the three-legged stool of Holistic Management made up of Economic, Social, and Environmental legs. While conventional agriculture by and large does a great job of focusing on the environmental and economic legs we can tend to neglect the social leg. Even if we focus on caring for our people it is easy to neglect our community. Today we are joined by Desi King and Bill Milton of Winnett ACES an organization focused on revitalizing rural Montana through facilitating education in regenerative agriculture and making improvements to rural social and cultural infrastructure.Sponsors:Wineglass RanchRelevant Links:WinnettAces.orgSouth Dakota Grasslands Initiative Summit

Nels farms corn and soybeans in Iowa, including seed beans for major companies, while running a diverse lineup of equipment and managing challenges like field fires, weather swings, and land access as a next-generation farmer. He shares what it was like returning to the family operation, starting on his own acres, and building a farm business one decision at a time.We also dive into:Why he started sharing farm life on social media in 2019How simple things like rain gauge updates connect farmers and non-farmers alikeWhat it's like raising kids who actively help on the farmLessons learned from Iowa Corn's I-LEAD program and international trade missionsWhy community involvement — fire department, PTO, Lions Club — still matters in rural AmericaThe reality of farming through tough seasons, including multiple field fires in one yearThis conversation is a reminder that farming isn't just about acres and yields — it's about people, perspective, and showing the real side of agriculture. Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don't forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.