Podcasts about rural communities

This episode of the Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast features Dr. Beatrix Haggard, an associate professor in Oklahoma State University's Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, whose teaching mission is to make sure students know what plant they're looking at—and how it works. Dr. Haggard walks us through her journey from FFA land judging in Texas to soil science at Tarleton State and LSU, to a regional soil fertility role in the Louisiana Delta, and finally to a teaching-heavy, tenure-track position at OSU. Along the way, she explains how those experiences shape how she teaches, from intro plant science to senior seminar, crop judging, and soil morphology.The crew also explores major shifts in today's student body and how they change the way agronomy is taught. They discuss students working full-time jobs while in school, the rise of pre-vet and ag business majors, the growing number of non-traditional and out-of-state students (from California to New York and Indiana), and why judging teams and hands-on greenhouse work are powerful ways to build confidence and real-world skills. If you care about who will be scouting your fields, writing your recs, and leading your ag businesses in 10–20 years, this episode is a great look at how OSU is training that next generation.Top 10 takeawaysTeaching-focused, tenure-track agronomy roles are rare—and powerful.Dr. Haggard holds an 85% teaching appointment at a land-grant university, which she describes as a “unicorn” compared to more common research-heavy roles. That lets her invest deeply in core plant and soil courses that hundreds of students pass through every year.Intro plant science at OSU is huge and foundational.Plant 1213 serves ~600 students a year, mostly freshmen, and often becomes their first exposure to plant science, agronomy and OSU's ag culture. What happens in that class heavily influences which majors students choose—and whether they ever consider crops or soils.College is about “learning how to learn,” not just memorizing content.Dr. Haggard uses her own career—soil scientist turned crop teacher—to show students that the real value of college is learning how to tackle new subjects and roles. If she can go from soil formation to crop growth stages on the job, they can pivot in their careers too.Judging teams teach life skills: travel, teamwork and resilience.Beyond plant and seed ID, crops and soils judging expose students to long trips, new regions and tight-quarters team dynamics. For some, it's their first time crossing the Mississippi River or even flying. Dr. Haggard jokes it's a successful trip if everyone is still talking on the way home.Today's students juggle far more than class.Many students work full time, commute home on weekends and carry heavy concurrent credit loads from high school. That changes how instructors design assignments and study expectations—“go to the library all weekend” doesn't match many students' realities anymore.OSU agronomy is no longer just rural Oklahoma farm kids.The department now attracts students from California, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, New York and beyond, plus metro and suburban areas like Edmond and Oklahoma City. Many arrive with little or no farm background, which reshapes how faculty introduce basic equipment and practices.Ag majors are fluid—pre-vet and ag business are big destinations.Dr. Haggard sees many students start in animal science or pre-vet and then migrate to ag business, economics or plant/soil majors once they experience different classes and discover where their interests really lie. Flexibility in degree paths is key.Plain language and memory tricks matter in technical fields.Rather than keeping content “unattainable,” Dr. Haggard leans on layman's terms and memorable phrases like “all cats manage kittens ammonium naturally” to help students retain complex ideas such as the lyotropic series in soil chemistry. Those small tools make a big difference for freshmen.Extension and classroom teaching are two sides of the same coin.Josh points out that he loves teaching the same agronomic concepts to two very different audiences: landowners and consultants on the extension side, and students in the classroom. The goals and depth differ, but both are about helping people apply agronomy in real life.Stable, passionate teachers anchor a department.Brian notes how important it is for a department to have long-term, high-quality teachers in core classes. With Dr. Haggard and Dr. Abbott, OSU Plant and Soil Sciences has a consistent foundation for teaching the “fundamentals” to every student who comes through the program. Segment Timestamps00:00–02:00 – Opening & introductions02:00–06:30 – What Dr. Haggard teaches at OSU06:30–11:30 – Her path into soils and agronomy11:30–15:30 – First “real” job & learning crops on the fly15:30–19:30 – Why she loves teaching19:30–24:30 – Building a teaching-heavy career at a land-grant24:30–29:30 – How Josh and Beatrix coordinate teaching29:30–26:00 – Judging teams and what students gain26:00–33:30 – How students and learning have changed33:30–36:35 – Who OSU agronomy students are now & close RedDirtAgronomy.com

Health Calls Season 6, Episode 6 focuses on addressing food insecurity in rural communities. Host Brian Reardon and Executive Producer Josh Matejka welcome Lindsey Meyers, MBA, Vice President of Communications, PR, and Community Engagement at Avera Health. Lindsey shares how Avera's community health needs assessments revealed rising food insecurity across its largely rural footprint, prompting the creation of wellness pantries within clinics. These pantries provide emergency food supplies and connect patients to sustainable resources, complementing mobile food pantries and partnerships with Feeding South Dakota. Lindsey explains why food access is essential to whole-person care and how collaboration among clinicians, volunteers, and community partners drives success. The conversation highlights the program's rapid growth, its impact on patients, and underscores Catholic health care's commitment to meeting social determinants of health and evolving to serve community needs. Health Calls is available on the following podcast streaming platforms:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLearn more about The Catholic Health Association of the United States at www.chausa.org.

Open spaces, a sky full of stars, and sleepless nights seem to be ill-fitting partners when it comes to sleep issues in rural areas. On today's episode, we will look at some of the shortcomings associated with sleep care in rural areas as well as some of the unique issues many in those wide open spaces face when it comes to getting a good night's sleep.

Determine what would've been some well known common forms of 18th Century Colonial American Tavern Entertainment? Discover how one could best define what entertainment's meaning meant during the 17th & 18th Centuries. Agree if it's fair to say that tavern business owners in urban centers competed amongst one another for customers. Figure out whether dinners in most urban taverns followed English customs. Go behind the scenes and learn everything possible about multiple types of spaces in colonial taverns. Learn how the level of privacy a guest obtained depended heavily on their societal status. Understand exactly why 18th Century entertainment took place in a tavern versus someone's personal home. Discover if the key difference between urban & rural taverns lied in the variety, quality, including fanciness of food presentation. Get an understanding behind why drinking was the most popular of all tavern activity practices during the 18th Century. Learn what was considered to be the most widely popular distilled liquor in Britain's 13 North American Colonies as well as which beverage got regularly served at every tavern event. Learn the significance behind Sugar in Colonial American times. Agree if sleeping arrangements in taverns varied over time as well as from place to place. Discover in colonial times how it wasn't uncommon for multiple people to sleep in the same bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get a better way to stay informed at https://ground.news/winston and see through biased media. Subscribe through my link for 40% off unlimited access. In this episode of The Winston Marshall Show, I sit down with Allison Pearson, journalist and columnist at The Telegraph, for a revealing conversation about the collapse of Britain's asylum system, media bias, and the cultural denial gripping the political class.Allison exposes how caseworkers are being forced to grant asylum to known sex offenders and violent men, including those on the sex offenders register, due to loopholes in Britain's asylum laws. Drawing on her bombshell reporting, she explains how hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants have vanished into the system, how Home Office staff are incentivised to approve asylum claims without vetting, and how police and terror checks were suspended to meet political targets.We discuss the BBC's censorship and bias, the moral blindness of Britain's ruling elites, and what Allison calls the nation's “suicidal empathy” — a refusal to protect its own people out of fear of being called racist. From asylum hotels and rising community tensions to the far-centrism of the establishment, this is an unflinching look at how Britain lost control of its borders and what it will take to reclaim them.Check out Allison's podcast with Liam Halligan, Planet Normal here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVC4Y-6d5MVBccDib2wsOhXa-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------To see more exclusive content and interviews consider subscribing to my substack here: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Substack: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/X: https://twitter.com/mrwinmarshallInsta: https://www.instagram.com/winstonmarshallLinktree: https://linktr.ee/winstonmarshall----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:56 Shocking Revelations from Allison's investigation 03:49 Challenges in the Asylum System09:33 Automatic Asylum and Loopholes18:47 Historical Context and Broader Implications22:34 Impact on Rural Communities 43:22 Media Bias and the BBC 49:11 Far Centrism and Its Consequences 1:05:44 Allison's Social Media “offence”1:08:07 Legal Action and Broader Implications1:20:02 Impact of Public Speech and Legal Consequences1:22:45 Multiculturalism and Its Impact on Free Speech1:26:26 Historical Context and Legal Responses1:27:39 Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dirk Harkins says Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation saved his life. Now, he's working to ensure more rural Ohioans have access to the medical treatment.

On this special crossover episode, Dane Carlson joins Joe Barker on the Rural Strong Podcast to talk about Sitehunt, entrepreneurship, and the power of AI to help rural and small-community economic developers compete at scale. In this episode of Rural Strong, Joe and Dane explore how AI tools like Sitehunt automate site analysis, RFI responses, and data collection — giving small EDOs the same analytical firepower as their big-city counterparts. Dane shares his unlikely journey from early-2000s internet entrepreneur to chamber president in the Sierra Nevada foothills to Texas economic-development director to startup CEO. They discuss why feedback matters more than features, why execution beats ideas every time, and why even the smallest communities need a modern website, a plan, and the willingness to pivot. Dane also unpacks how child care, housing, and workforce shortages have become the new pillars of competitiveness, why AI is best thought of as a “dim-witted but persistent intern,” and how rural leaders can use technology to take back the information advantage from site selectors. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Treat AI as an intern, not an oracle. Feed it data and context to get useful answers. Launch before you're ready. Iterate in public and let real feedback drive improvement. Build a website that sells your community. Clear contact info and photos matter more than fancy graphics. Use LinkedIn as your industry newspaper. Learn from and connect with other EDOs daily. Start a local podcast. It's the best modern BRE tool and a non-threatening way to engage businesses. Plan but pivot. No plan survives first contact with reality; stay nimble. Address child care and housing head-on. They're workforce issues now, not social ones. Prioritize execution over ideas. A mediocre idea well executed beats a brilliant idea untried. Save cash for the long haul. Entrepreneurs fail more often from running out of runway than from bad concepts. Ask for feedback early and often. It's how both products and communities get better.

Pastor Jonathan Hall joins Stan Reeder and Nate Gilmore to discuss his ministry in rural, small-town churches. He shares insights from following long pastorates and introduces the "Dirt Roads Network." They explore its core values—missionary mindset, discernment, and being "rivers, not lakes"—and the vital role of small congregations.   https://www.dirtroadsnetwork.com/    To reach out to Jonathan, email him at dirtroads.nazz@gmail.com

Crime rates in Ohio's rural communities are often just as high as in the state's cities.

The Associated Press says reopened USDA offices are helping farmers access $3 billion in aid and key services.

Most crops were harvested, though immigration raids rattled some farm communities.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson about the devastating storms that hit the country this week, the calls for a review of the warnings issued ahead of the recent weather event in the Waitomo District and his take on the Alliance shareholders vote to sell 65% of the co-op to Dawn Meats, as well as the impending vote by Fonterra shareholders to sell the co-op's consumer products business to Lactalis... He talks with Hamish Murray from Rotoiti Farm in North Canterbury about being named the 2025 Lumina Lamb Breeder of the Year, how he achieves consistency and some of the challenges he's faced along the way... And he talks with Dan Lewis and Belinda Coco, managers of the Makikihi Hotel, about winning the Rural Guardian 2025 South Island Country Pub of the Year, why it's such a popular venue and the role it plays in the community. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

There have been calls for a review of the warnings issued ahead of last week's weather event which brought down hundreds of slips, closed dozens of central North Island roads, inundated farms and flooded homes. An orange warning was issued, but the Mayor of the Waitomo District and the Minister for Rural Communities are questioning whether that should have been uprgaded. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin was in Waitomo.

Send us a textOn this episode of Connected Nation, we begin our coverage from Calix ConneXions 2025, taking place in Las Vegas Nevada. We talk with Jacob Smithee, the Director of IT from a Co-op in Alabama, about the challenges of bringing high speed internet to extremely rural areas. Plus we find out what he hopes for connectivity in his state and how his company recently helped the Navajo Nation with a completely different problem.Recommended links: Calix ConneXions 2025Flash Fiber website

We talk with Beth Macy about her new book "Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America."

Send us a text*It's school holidays so we have a special intro and outro for the podcast.G'day and welcome to episode 64 of the A Place To Call Home Podcast.In this episode, Stuart Austin shares his journey in agriculture, discussing his experiences from managing large farms to his aspirations of owning land and cattle. He emphasizes the importance of financial literacy, mental health awareness in rural communities, and the shift towards regenerative agriculture.Stuart also introduces his new venture, Audacious Ag, aimed at helping others succeed in the agricultural sector through innovative partnerships and coaching. The conversation highlights the significance of building relationships and the need for open discussions about mental health in the farming community.In this episode we chat aboutStuart Austin career in AgricultureTheir journey to finding "A Place To Call Home"Why financial literacy is crucial for success in agriculture.Regenerative agriculture and its focus on improving land health and biodiversity.Mental health being a significant issue in rural communities, and why open conversations are essential.Audacious Ag and its aim to help others in agriculture.How Innovative partnerships can provide pathways to land ownership.Why building relationships is key to finding opportunities in agriculture.Health and well-being are foundational to success in life and business.Resources MentionedRCS Farm Management Professional Development Australia - Resource Consulting ServicesMarcus Oldham College - We mean business.Codie SanchezThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett | No.1 PodcastYou Inc by John McGrath - 9780732276362Follow Stuart Austin and Audacious Ag

A decade ago, if Ben 'Wundy' Wundersitz spotted a mate's ute parked on the main drag in town he'd assume they were at the pub sinking a pint. These days, there's more chance of Wundy finding his mates working out at the gym across the road from the pub in his local town of Maitland in South Australia, which has fully embraced the Fat Farmers movement.Fat Farmers began 13 years ago when Wundy and a couple of his middle-aged farming mates looked in the mirror to see years of self-neglect - too much time sitting in tractors and eating fast food on the run. They decided to do something about it.  From their very first gym session together they've created a grassroots movement that's inspiring rural communities across Australia to get moving, improve well being and save lives. They've just launched the Fat Farmers Health Hub, a mobile medical screening truck which Wundy hopes will do the field day circuit across the country providing simple health checks for blokes.Wundy chats with Oli about breaking down barriers to fitness participation and health care in the bush. Chapters00:00 Harvest Challenges and Adapting to Dry Seasons in Agriculture05:47 Work-Life Balance and Personal Growth08:09 The Birth of Fat Farmers10:58 Building a Supportive Community13:57 Health Initiatives and the Launch of Fat Farmers Health Hub16:23 Encouraging Health Checks in Rural Communities19:12 Future Aspirations and Community InvolvementFind out more about Fat Farmers and ways you can support this impactful initiative. You can hear more episodes of Humans of Agriculture here. If you enjoyed this episode, share with a friend and let us know your thoughts at hello@humansofagriculture.com.  Don't forget to rate, subscribe, and leave a review!

“We don't do agricultural lending." That's the common phrase uttered across America, but why? Phil Love, the leader of Pactola, and Mark Ritter delve into the benefits of agricultural lending, how to approach it, and the advantages for lenders.WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:✅ How agricultural lending empowers credit unions to support small businesses in farming communities.✅ The role of credit unions in providing operating lines of credit and real estate loans for sustainable local food production.✅ Key challenges and opportunities in agriculture lending, including navigating commodity markets and risk management.✅ How credit union agricultural lending strengthens rural communities and supports America's food supply.Subscribe to Credit Union Conversations for the latest credit union trends and insights on loan volume and business lending! Connect with MBFS to boost your credit union's growth today.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Phil's role at Pactola, a credit union service organization focused on agricultural lending, and describes his farming activities, including harvesting honey06:48 Phil explains the three types of agricultural lending: real estate loans, equipment loans, and operating lines09:48 Discussion on how credit unions in rural communities can leverage credit union agricultural lending to support farming as community banks consolidate11:56 Phil outlines the challenges in agricultural lending, including assessing small business balance sheets, succession planning, and external risks such as commodity markets and weather17:45 Discussion of beef prices, carryover debt, the One Big Beautiful Bill, inflation, interest rates and oil pricesKEY TAKEAWAYS:

The Government has signed off changes that let NZ Post cut back to just two delivery days a week in towns and three in rural areas. Postal Workers Union co-president John Maynard said to Ryan Bridge that they are 'very critical' of the decision as it appears NZ Post prioritises returning a dividend to the Government over it's customers. But NZ Post says nothing is changing yet, and rural communities will still get extra protections under this new deal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Otago sheep and beef farmer is also the Minister for Rural Communities, the Associate Minister for Agriculture and the Associate Minister for Regional Development. He’s back from China, where he was exploring opportunities for New Zealand wool. Plus, what he’s learned about farmer mental (and physical) health from his rural roadshows.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Habitat Day reminds us that housing is a basic human right, yet in many Nigerian cities, that right remains out of reach. From people sleeping outside shops to drivers spending nights in their cars, the struggle for shelter has become part of daily life. In this episode of Nigeria Daily, we explore the realities of homelessness in Abuja's outskirts and hear what experts say can be done to change the story.

JD Garza is the Associate Director of the California Area Health Education Center (AHEC), hosted at UCSF Fresno, and a board member of the National AHEC Organization. His career centers on partnering with community organizations to serve medically underserved communities. In this episode, JD breaks down how AHEC recruits, trains, and retains health professionals for rural and underserved areas—at scale. We get into AHEC Scholars (a two-year, interdisciplinary track with community projects), clinical placements across community health centers, and why elevating CHWs, MAs, and CNAs is key. He also shares a standout youth diabetes coaching partnership, outcomes to date, and a practical burnout-prevention curriculum (“Healing from the Heart”) co-built with Hennepin Healthcare.What You'll Learn From This Episode:Introduction to JD Garza and AHEC Overview of California AHEC California AHEC Centers and Partnerships AHEC Programs and Initiatives AHEC Scholars Program Burnout Prevention and Resiliency Program Future Plans and ConclusionResourcesCalifornia Area Health Education Center (UCSF Fresno) National AHEC Organization HRSA Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program Hennepin Healthcare — Institute for Professional Worklife (burnout resources)Stanford Youth Diabetes Coaching Program The CSRHA has been a go-to resource for rural healthcare and community leaders since 1995. The CSRHA brings an accumulation of actionable insights to the next generation of rural healthcare leaders. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on Facebook.If you enjoy This Is Rural Health, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this!Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.

Explore the evolving identities, histories, and rights of farmworkers across Mexico and the United States. Panelists—including scholars, organizers, and agricultural leaders—discuss cross-border migration, labor conditions, cultural heritage, and the impact of policies on communities. The conversation highlights the role of indigenous and Catholic traditions, the legacy of the Bracero Program, and the continuing struggles and resilience of agricultural workers. It also examines how economic and environmental pressures shape migration, labor organizing, and efforts to create sustainable, dignified livelihoods for future generations. Series: "Future Thought Leaders" [Public Affairs] [Agriculture] [Business] [Show ID: 40584]

Explore the evolving identities, histories, and rights of farmworkers across Mexico and the United States. Panelists—including scholars, organizers, and agricultural leaders—discuss cross-border migration, labor conditions, cultural heritage, and the impact of policies on communities. The conversation highlights the role of indigenous and Catholic traditions, the legacy of the Bracero Program, and the continuing struggles and resilience of agricultural workers. It also examines how economic and environmental pressures shape migration, labor organizing, and efforts to create sustainable, dignified livelihoods for future generations. Series: "Future Thought Leaders" [Public Affairs] [Agriculture] [Business] [Show ID: 40584]

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. Check out the Organ Transplant Surveillance Dashboard: https://tableau.hdw.hrsa.gov/t/HDW/views/AOOS-NonUseDashboard/AOOS-NonUseDashboard?%3Aembed=y Read the study on urban hospitals reclassifying as rural: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/urban-hospitals-increasingly-reclassified-as-rural News sources for this episode: Diane Eastabrook, “Home health groups press for a piece of rural health funding,” September 2, 2025, https://www.modernhealthcare.com/post-acute-care/mh-rural-health-transformation-fund-home-health/, Modern Healthcare. National Rural Health Association, “Rural Health Transformation Program Summary,” https://www.ruralhealth.us/nationalruralhealth/media/documents/advocacy/2025/rural-health-transformation-program-summary.pdf Lindsey Culli,  “Urban Hospitals Increasingly Reclassified as Rural, Drawing Medicare Benefits Meant for Rural Communities,” August 1, 2025, https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/urban-hospitals-increasingly-reclassified-as-rural, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Yang Wang et. al, “Sharp Rise In Urban Hospitals With Rural Status In Medicare, 2017-23,” August 4, 2025, https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.00019?journalCode=hlthaff, Health Affairs.  Jamie Godwin et, al, “Medicare Advantage Enrollees Account for 25% of all Inpatient Hospital Days,” August 26, 2025, https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-advantage-enrollees-account-for-a-rising-share-of-inpatient-hospital-days/, Kaiser Family Foundation.  Arielle Zionts, “Rural Hospitals Questions Whether They Can Afford Medicare Advantage Contracts,” April 8, 2025, https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/rural-hospitals-private-medicare-advantage-contracts-reimbursements/, KFF Health News.  Madeline Ashley, “20 hospital closures in 2025,” August 25, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/2-hospital-closures-in-2025/, Becker's Hospital Review.  Paige Twenter, “HHS expands oversight into organ transplant network,” August 29, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/patient-safety-outcomes/hhs-expands-oversight-into-organ-transplant-network/, Becker's Clinical Leadership. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “HHS Expands Oversight of Organ Transplant System with New Surveillance Tool,” August 27, 2025, https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hrsa-organ-allocation-dashboard.html.  Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

On this week's episode of The Rural Woman Podcast™, you'll meet Alexandra Brochu.Alex, a grain and flower farmher in Northern Alberta's Peace Country, runs a successful floral business alongside her farming operations. As part of The Northern Rural Chicks committee, she empowers women in agriculture through events, workshops, and markets focused on connection, health, and farming expertise.For full show notes, including links mentioned in the show, head over to wildrosefarmer.com/231 . . .THIS WEEK'S DISCUSSIONS:[05:36] - Farming Practices and Challenges[13:35] - Evolving Roles on the Farm[16:10] - Transitioning Roles on the Farm[21:43] - Transition Planning in Family Farming[28:10] - Community Impact and Support for Rural Women[35:31] - Planning Women's Events in Rural Communities. . .This week's episode is brought to you by Patreon . . .Let's get SocialFollow The Rural Woman Podcast on Social MediaInstagram | FacebookSign up to get email updatesJoin our private Facebook group, The Rural Woman Podcast Community Connect with Katelyn on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest. . .Support the ShowPatreon | PayPal | Become a Show SponsorLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts | Take the Listener SurveyScreenshot this episode and share it on your socials!Tag @TheRuralWomanPodcast + #TheRuralWomanPodcast. . .Meet the TeamAudio Editor | MixBär.Patreon Executive ProducersSarah R. | Happiness by The Acre. . .More with KatelynOne on One Podcast Consulting | Learn More

Opioid misuse and overdoses are a serious public health crisis across Washington state and nationwide. From 2019 to 2021, the annual number of opioid drug overdose deaths in the state nearly doubled. About 55 people in America die each day from an overdose of prescribed or illicit opioids, including fentanyl and heroin.It's crucial to get real information and education on opioid use to communities. Washington State University faculty and staff, including assistant professor Nicole Rodin at the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, have teamed up with colleagues across Washington to get accurate and useful facts out to people and try to prevent overdoses. They've focused on rural communities hit hard by opioid use, often with limited medical facilities and support.Rodin talks with Washington State Magazine editor Larry Clark about the scope of the opioid epidemic, effective education, reducing stigma, and how we can all lend our support.There's a need to treat substance use disorders as health care, Rodin says. “It is a disorder. It is a medical condition, and we have yet to treat it that way as a society.”Read more about WSU efforts on curbing substance use and addiction in the Spring 2024 issue of Washington State Magazine.Other resources:Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Collaborative (Northwest Region 10)Opioid Overdose Prevention, Recognition, and Response (Washington State Department of Health)How to talk about substance use (Washington State Magazine, Spring 2024)WSU PEAR—Program of Excellence in Addictions ResearchWSU APPL—Analytics and PsychoPharmacology LaboratorySupport the show______________________________________________________________________________Want more great WSU stories? Follow Washington State Magazine: LinkedIn @Washington-State-Magazine Bluesky @wastatemagazine.bsky.social X (formerly Twitter) @wsmagazine Facebook @WashingtonStateMagazine Instagram @WashingtonStateMagazine YouTube @WashingtonStateMagazine Email newsletter How do you like the magazine podcast? What WSU stories do you want to hear? Let us know. Give to the magazine

Hypertension and other chronic diseases affect over a billion people in low- and middle-income countries. Learn how the Global Health Advocacy Incubator strengthens primary care to close treatment gaps and bring life-saving care to millions: https://www.advocacyincubator.org/program-areas/health-systems-strengthening/primary-health-care Global Health Advocacy Incubator City: Washington Address: 1400 I Street Northwest Website: https://www.advocacyincubator.org/

Chris Holman welcomes back Keith Lambert, COO of LEAP, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, Lansing, Michigan serving mid-Michigan. Welcome back, remind the business community about LEAP? Bob, completion of LEAP's Small Town Enhancement Grant Program Delivered Big Wins for Rural Communities, tell us about that? A big win last month, IONETIX set to invests $25.75M in Delta Township Facility, Creating 53 High-Tech Jobs and Advancing Lansing's MedTech Leadership, what else should we know about this? What have been some other highlights from the first half of 2025, perhaps the recent Benchmarking report? What else is on the horizon for the Lansing area? » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Watch MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ Completion of LEAP's Small Town Enhancement Grant Program Delivered Big Wins for Rural Communities Program created lasting impact for small towns and communities across Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties LANSING, Mich. (June 18, 2025) — The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), proudly announces the successful completion of its first ever Small Town Enhancement Grant Program, which invested nearly $90,000 across five rural communities in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties. Launched in early 2024, the program empowered small towns to breathe new life into community spaces that define local identity and economic potential. With projects now complete, the results speak volumes—showcasing how targeted investments can foster pride, encourage gathering, and create lasting impact. “We believe that thriving, beautiful places are a cornerstone of economic growth,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP. “This program proves that with the right support, our small towns can build spaces that preserve their charm while embracing the future.” “Everyone was really excited to hear the bell ring again,” said Becky Austin, Vermontville village clerk when referring to the town's historic bell tower dating back to 1862. “This building has always been a gathering place. It means so much to our community to see it restored and honored.” The project was celebrated with a community ribbon-cutting in November, capping off a journey that began with LEAP's traveling “Small Town Road Show” and check presentation earlier in the summer. Over in Maple Rapids, local favorite Phillips Cider Bar & Pizzeria received a long-overdue facelift, restoring the façade of the 120-year-old building while maintaining its vintage appeal. The revitalization is already helping reenergize the small town's downtown corridor. “We've had people stop by while local contractors were still finishing the job—just to say how excited they were,” said Gregg Smyth, owner of Phillips Cider Bar & Pizzeria. “This grant helped us invest in the town we love. There's new energy here, and it's just the beginning.” The project was unveiled during a November ribbon cutting that drew crowds and cemented the site's renewed role as a centerpiece of the community. Other completed projects include the City of Ovid, which enhanced Main Street with new banners; the City of Leslie, which installed a new community pavilion; and the Village of Stockbridge, where a $25,000 grant transformed a vacant patio area next to Village Hall into a walkable community space designed for relaxation and connection. About LEAP The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) is a coalition of area leaders partnering to build a stronger community for all — working every day to grow, retain and attract business to the Lansing, Michigan, region.

What does it look like to organize in areas outside of the urban 'norm'? Cam Cardinale is the president of the queer advocacy group Lower Adirondack Pride, and he shares the crucial role that such advocacy plays in supporting his community. To find out even more, you can visit https://www.loweradkpride.org/ , or contact them at info@loweradkpride.org .

In rural Bangladesh, only 33% of third-grade students can read at their expected level, according to UNICEF. Innovative grassroots educational initiatives are succeeding where traditional systems fail by using mobile delivery, local languages, flexible scheduling, and community networks. Visit https://www.lotus-ministry.org/post/education-focus-lotus-ministry-trust-initiatives-programs for more info. Lotus Ministry Trust City: San Francisco Address: 2269 Chestnut St Website: https://www.lotus-ministry.org/

State leaders and industry voices will discuss lending, labor, water costs, and more at August 5 meeting.

In this episode of Red Dirt Agronomy, the team sits down with Casey Hentges, host of Oklahoma Gardening, to celebrate the show's 50th anniversary. From its humble beginnings with live OETA broadcasts to its reach of millions globally via YouTube, Oklahoma Gardening has become a staple in the horticulture community. Casey shares her unique journey through horticultural landscapes—commercial, educational, and nonprofit—ultimately leading to her ten-year tenure as the longest-running host of the show. She reflects on the evolution of gardening communication, the importance of adapting content for new audiences, and her dedication to showcasing Oklahoma's diverse horticultural practices.Listeners will also hear about the behind-the-scenes strategies that keep Oklahoma Gardening fresh, fun, and science-based, including recreating classic segments and addressing common myths, such as the use of vinegar as an herbicide. Casey highlights how the show navigated challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, kept community engagement alive, and launched initiatives like "Plant a Row" to support local food banks. Plus, they're giving away a tiller and releasing a co-branded Eskimo Joe's shirt to mark the 50th anniversary. It's a fun, informative episode that honors the past while looking ahead to the future of gardening education in Oklahoma.10 Key TakeawaysOklahoma Gardening celebrates 50 years of horticultural education.Casey Hentges is the longest-running host in the show's history.The show maintains freshness by blending classic segments with new content.It prioritizes science-based gardening advice over trending myths.COVID-19 prompted innovative backyard filming and remote collaboration.Gardening interest surged during the pandemic.They conducted 96-plot Bermuda grass removal demonstrations.The show reaches 3–4 million global views annually on YouTube.Initiatives like “Plant a Row” encourage community food donations.A limited-edition Eskimo Joe's x Oklahoma Gardening shirt supports the show and student farm.Timestamps00:00 – Intro and upcoming Highland Journal Live Event07:17 – Welcoming Casey Hentges10:13 – Casey's journey from OSU grad to TV host17:47 – Oklahoma Gardening's 50th Anniversary celebration22:35 – Staying fresh with recurring garden topics24:50 – Addressing gardening myths and misinformation26:59 – Bermuda grass removal trials34:30 – COVID adaptations and new outreach strategies42:07 – Global reach and viewer demographics45:00 – Plant a Row campaign and tiller giveaway46:42 – Eskimo Joe's co-branded shirt launch RedDirtAgronomy.com

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Craig Calafati. Executive Vice President and Director of Lending for Arkansas Capital Corporation, a private nonprofit lending organization. Key Highlights:

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Craig Calafati. Executive Vice President and Director of Lending for Arkansas Capital Corporation, a private nonprofit lending organization. Key Highlights:

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Craig Calafati. Executive Vice President and Director of Lending for Arkansas Capital Corporation, a private nonprofit lending organization. Key Highlights:

July 23, 2025 - For rural communities, a physician assistant is the first and last source of available medical care. We talk about these important health care providers and expanding their capacity with Katie Compagni, a PA in central New York.

At the Richmond Fed's sixth annual Investing in Rural America Conference, three communities in Virginia and North Carolina shared how they have used on-demand microtransit to address the lack of public transportation options that create barriers for residents without cars. Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2025/speaking_2025_07_23_rural_microtransit

A Clare TD says the county is in urgent need of large-scale funding under the National Development Plan to prevent the death of rural Clare communities. A further €30 billion is to be be added to the revised plan, taking the total to €100 billion between 2026 and 2030. The amounts allocated to each department and utility will be announced later today while a full list of all projects set to receive funding is not expected for a number of months. Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney says business closures and population decline will continue in rural areas if infrastructural issues aren't addressed.

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson from Iowa's Second Congressional District and member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Select Committee on China, joined the Guy Benson Show today to discuss the Senate-passed recissions bill that will defund public media like NPR and PBS. Hinson discussed the passage of Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" and the benefit that it will bring Iowans, and she also weighed in on the potential of an open Senate seat in the state of Iowa. Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you held a rural digital equity summit for your community? Hear how Kanokla teamed up with AmeriCorps to identify local technology needs and work together to meet them!

My advice to artists would be drop every garb that you have, drop every piece of knowledge that you think you have. Head to the jungles, head to the rural places. We are living in a time of crisis. We need artists more than the scientists. We need artists more than the healers. We need artists more than anything because arts connect everybody. We need songs, we need stories, we need pictures, we need circles, we need Ubuntu to prosper. Traditional Western ways of, colonized ways of working will not save us as a species. They're not going to help us. They're only going to destroy. And the traditionally arts ecosystem exists like that everywhere in the world. Now we know that it's been going on for hundreds of years. We need to destroy that as artists and we need to head to where our roots are, which is in the soil. And our arts come from there.I met Lallan (Anirudh Lallan Choudhry) at the Sunshine Himalayan Cottage facility in the Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India. The managing host of this facility, Panki Sood, introduced us. Lallan, is a multi-disciplinary artist and socially engaged artist who practice is ‘rooted deep in working with the earthen, on a severe lookout for the conditions which enable genuine co-authors within communities, forming narratives through extra-human design and enquiry'. He is the founder of Baadii, a rural art-house in Himachal Pradesh where he currently lives and is also working on community arts projects at Sunshine Himalayan Cottage with Panki and his team, which you'll hear about in a few minutes. I want to thank Panki for introducing us and Lallan for this first conversation. Note: You can hear his latest musical production, Kyun, here). Below is a rough translation of the lyrics :Why is the world caught up in making excuses stillWhy are the machines continuously pumping smoke in the airBy whose permission did we dump all the garbage in the sea And who are the idiots building these dams trying to tie free rivers What is all this and why is this evenWhat is this world that humans are desiring? If everything is one day bound to be left here on the groundThen what is the use of constant fighting, over and over again?And why is it that we fill bombs and continue to drop them on our very own children? We are intoxicated by the notions of borders and religionAnd continue to revel in the blashpemy of it all So why is this evenThat destruction and more destruction is the only thing we want?  Those who can be quiet and just listen, where are they?Why are my torchbearers full of greed who want to sell the world?Those who divide the we into you and meWhy has everyone chosen them to lead?Those who dry down the rivers and erase forests Whar are they doing in everyone's share of the earthWhy are the deprived, still deprivedWhat kind of progress is this? Wherever you see, its filled of smokeWhat kind of a fire of hatred have they fueled  Douse it, douse it, douse itLet us breathe, of whatever breath is left Whatever little is left of life  Might also die, if you do not stop!Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI:Action pointsEmbrace traditional wisdom by learning from rural communities and their sustainable practices.Create art that addresses socio-political issues and promotes cultural movements.Build community art spaces that foster collaboration between artists, naturalists, and local populations.Highlight the cultural importance of ecological regions through art and storytelling.Negate purely aesthetic work in favor of art that drives social and ecological change.Story PreviewImagine an artist who champions rural wisdom, bridging ancient traditions with contemporary art to spark cultural and ecological movements. Discover how Lalan is building vibrant arts ecosystems in the Himalayas, proving that art can be a powerful catalyst for change.Chapter Summary00:00 The Call for Artists01:29 Setting Up an Arts Ecosystem03:25 Learning from Rural Communities06:30 Art as a Medium of Connection08:06 The Journey of a Self-Taught Artist10:01 Creating Impact Through Community Art12:28 Current Projects and Future AspirationsFeatured QuotesWe need artists more than the scientists. We need artists more than the healers… because arts connect everybody.The traditionally arts ecosystem exists like that everywhere in the world…We need to destroy that as artists and we need to head to where our roots are, which is in the soil.How can you as an artist live and create work in a rural so called remote setting where nobody even expects a doctor or an engineer to even work. So how can you make art there? Behind the StoryLallan's journey from documentary filmmaker to socially engaged artist is rooted in a deep connection to rural communities and a desire to address pressing ecological and cultural issues. His work challenges the dominance of Western artistic models, advocating for a return to traditional wisdom and collaborative art practices that empower local voices. *END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODESHey conscient listeners, I've been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). It's my way to give back.In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish fee ‘a calm presence' Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. Claude SchryerLatest update on July 8, 2025

In this week's Regional Roundup, we hear about the different ways people are staying cool this summer, and how extreme heat is taking a significant toll on rural communities. We also hear an audio postcard from Green River, Utah, about the tradition of melon growing, and a story about solar panels that could make farms more resilient. We finish up with a story about the Colorado researchers who are taking part in a major national study on hail.

How many cleaning supplies do we really need? How much is too much? And what's the best way to organize and store cleaning products? In episode #261 of The Clutter Fairy Weekly, Gayle Goddard, professional organizer and owner of The Clutter Fairy in Houston, Texas, offers strategies and best practices for organizing and storing cleaning products—plus other short topics suggested by our audience.Show notes: https://cfhou.com/tcfw261The Clutter Fairy Weekly is a live webcast and podcast designed to help you clear your clutter and make space in your home and your life for more of what you love. We meet Tuesdays at noon (U.S. Central Time) to answer your decluttering questions and to share organizing tools and techniques, success stories and “ah-hah!” moments, seasonal suggestions, and timeless tips.To participate live in our weekly webcast, join our Meetup group, follow us on Facebook, or subscribe to our mailing list. You can also watch the videos of our webcast on YouTube.Support the show

To talk about the ways that climate change is affecting rural communities in Alaska, host Douglas Haynes is joined by ProPublica and KYUK journalist, Emily Schwing. The post Rural Communities in Alaska Face Down Climate Change appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

In this Voices of the West episode, Haley is joined once again by Kacie Scherler, a fifth-generation farmer, regenerative rancher, and founder of RE:FARM in Oklahoma. Kacie joins us to share how her personal health journey led her back to ranching and how regenerative ranches became a calling. She shares stories of community skepticism, scalable ranching solutions, and some of the benefits you could expect from increasing your regenerative practices - one pasture at a time. Topics[0:00] Intro: Kacie's Journey[3:46] Health Crisis and Regenerative Farming[7:30] Navigating Skepticism in a Rural Community[13:44] Soil Health Principles and Real-World Applications[16:54] The Generational Impact of Ranching[21:01] What's Next: Frontier Ranch Management and Expansion[27:58] Closing Thoughts and ResourcesLinksRE:FARMNoble Research GroupNeed professional help finding, buying or selling a legacy ranch, contact us: Mirr Ranch Group 901 Acoma Street Denver, CO 80204 Phone: (303) 623-4545 https://www.MirrRanchGroup.com/

Happy Pride month, y'all! Please help me to welcome lifelong activist and Arizona Drag Show organizer, Christopher Jay Hall, to the pod. Earlier this week, Christopher and his father were featured in a CNN article & this episode is a timely follow-up. Listen in as Christopher shares about his upbringing in rural Arizona, and how he & his dad have repaired their relationship in recent years. Despite his dad's early-on rejection of his queerness, Christopher came out as a teen and fell heart-first into LGBTQ+ activism. He shares how working with countless nonprofits led to the emergence of his drag persona, Miss Nature. Miss Nature LLC travels regionally, working in collaboration with rural organizers to create inclusive spaces and provide information and resources to underserved communities. Arizona Drag Show performances are generally family-friendly events, which in recent years has led to some virulent pushback from the right, more specifically in the city I currently call home, Cottonwood, Arizona. Thankfully, Miss Nature and local organizers have refused to be bullied & this year the production is offering a larger-than-ever, sold-out performance. Christopher and I dig into some of the common misconceptions about drag (especially as it relates to children), and he shares why he remains steadfast when it comes to bringing LGBTQ+ support to rural areas similar to the one he grew up in. Miss Nature carries on, fierce and full of heart, even when she has to dance on culture-war eggshells to bring her and her glorious entourage on stage. I think my bestie said it best: "Drag Queens have always and will always exist & thank the gay gods for that!!!"Christopher Jay Hall was born in Phoenix, AZ. He has lived all over the U.S. as a child, but spent much of his time growing up in Arizona. He has been in Tucson since 2013. He is a graduate of Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor's in Public Administration. Christopher loves bringing people together from all walks of life to help support a common cause amongst groups that normally might not come together. He does this best as his persona, Miss Nature, whom he has been bringing to stages across the country for more than a decade. Miss Nature looks forward to bringing the art of drag to new communities that have yet to experience it. She produces the annual Arizona Pride Tour, which is set to expand into New Mexico in 2026. To learn more about her, visit ⁦MissNatureLLC.com.⁩Referenced in this episode:Read the CNN article Interview with David Gallegos-RoybalFree Held (Movie 2015)Support the showThe stories and opinions shared in this episode are based on personal experience and are not intended to malign any individual, group, or organization.Join The Deeper Pulse at Patreon for weekly bonus episodes + other exclusive bonus content. Follow The Deeper Pulse on IG @thedeeperpulse + @candiceschutter for more regular updates.

At the Richmond Fed's sixth annual Investing in Rural America Conference, childcare providers and experts shared the challenges of providing affordable, quality early care and education in rural communities, as well as solutions they have developed.  Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2025/speaking_2025_06_11_rural_childcare

Join Mike Howell as he sits down with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry's Deputy Commissioner, JanLee Rowlett, to talk about the future of our fields. Explore how organizations like Future Farmers of America, 4-H and the department of agriculture are developing and preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders—from farmers to accountants. Learn about the department of agriculture's current programs and how they encourage youth to come back to rural communities.   Learn more about the year of youth in agriculture: https://ag.ok.gov/year-of-youth-in-agriculture/   Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics