The Growing Small Towns Show
The future of small towns doesn’t depend on us finding more people; we need to better engage the ones who are already there. Each week, join Rebecca Undem, small-town champion and rural entrepreneur, as she chats with people who are doing their part to grow their community. You’ll hear ideas and learn ways to better support your business community, create a sense of belonging for all, and foster a rich arts and culture scene in your small town. If you live in a small town, care deeply about your community, and share the belief that “if you’re not growing, you’re dying”, this is the podcast for you.
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S5:E19 - Small Town Talent Attraction with Alissa Henriksen
09/22/2025
S5:E19 - Small Town Talent Attraction with Alissa Henriksen
We’ve heard it, and you probably have too: “People don’t want to move to rural communities.” Or, “Talented people don’t want to live in small towns.” Well, we’re happy to say we know that’s not true, and so does Alissa Henriksen. This episode is all about attracting talent to our small towns, how not to write people off, and why sometimes it’s good for a business to run on vibes. About Alissa: Alissa Henriksen is the co-founder and co-president at Grey Search + Strategy, where she leads the community-centric team culture and drives revenue goals for the company centered on personal relationships with clients, partners and prospects. With over 20 years in executive search and recruitment, Alissa guides Grey in serving hundreds of clients, 20+ strategic partners and 50+ community organizations, contributing over 1,000 hours of service annually in the Midwest market. After working for a large recruiting firm, Alissa founded Grey Search + Strategy with her husband in 2008 and never looked back. Her collaborative leadership fosters innovation and drive while her expertise drives measurable results and a memorable client experience. The company consistently ranks on the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Twin Cities Top 25 Search Firms list. It was named one of American’s Top Small Businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for economic and community impact in 2023. In 2024, the company was honored with Twin Cities Business Reader’s Choice in Executive Recruiting, Star Tribune Best of MN awards, and inclusion on the Inc. 5000 and Inc. Regionals Midwest lists. Currently, Alissa serves on the board for TeamWomen and its executive committee. She was named to Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 40 Under 40 list in 2019 and inducted into The Reading Center’s Hall of Fame in 2021. In 2024, Alissa was named a Woman of the Year by Enterprising Women magazine and won the Empowering Women award from Finance & Commerce magazine. She is also a two-time recipient of the Twin Cities Business Notables in Executive Recruiting honor in 2024 and 2025. A graduate of South Dakota State University, Alissa played volleyball on a full scholarship. She was a double major in Business Economics and Spanish. Outside of work, Alissa mentors young entrepreneurs and enjoys spending time with her family outdoors – especially on one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes – and traveling to new places together. Alissa is dedicated to driving success for women leaders and the broader community. She welcomes opportunities to connect with like-minded, professional women in the Twin Cities. In this episode, we cover: Why the myth that “talented people don’t want to move to small towns” is false The role of community “vibe” and culture in attracting talent Top workforce trends small towns can leverage, from flexibility to workplace environment How authentic leadership helps retain and inspire people The opportunities and limitations of AI in recruiting Links + Resources Mentioned: Grey Search Website:Grey Search LinkedIn: Sponsor Spotlight: Brodie Mueller and The Market on the Plaza In small towns, coffee is more than caffeine. It’s community! roasts beans locally in Aberdeen, in small batches for the freshest, richest cup to start your day or for an afternoon pick-me-up. Stop in to grab a bag for home or linger over a cup with neighbors. Proudly local, always welcoming. This week’s Small-Town Shout-Out is: Plankinton, SD! Our friend Carl asked us to shout out his small community because of their small businesses. We know that small businesses are the heartbeat of small towns, and we’re so glad to celebrate when small businesses are flourishing. Way to go, Plankinton! We Want to Hear From You! 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 [email protected] 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!
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S5:E18 - Being a Developer with a Heart with Dylan Cinti
09/15/2025
S5:E18 - Being a Developer with a Heart with Dylan Cinti
Housing development is a key focus for many small towns, and for good reason: we need places for people to live! But, sometimes development can bring gentrification and sameness, which is not what we want for our small towns. Dylan Cinti combines construction with stewardship to restore and update small-town properties while keeping their heart and charm. About Dylan: Dylan Cinti is co-founder and Head of Operations at Yarrow, a real estate firm dedicated to creating a better renting experience in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Working with local tradespeople, Yarrow buys, remodels, and manages historic homes and mixed-use properties — delivering condo-quality units at an attainable price point. Yarrow is also deeply involved in elevating the community of Ypsilanti more broadly, and dedicates significant time and marketing spend to creating promotional materials for local small businesses. Dylan also serves on Ypsilanti's DDA, where he works at the intersection of business and government to improve the downtown space. As Yarrow's Head of Operations, Dylan oversees the processes, resources, and people that will drive Yarrow to its next phase of growth. In this episode, we cover: What it looks like to marry development with heart and community stewardship The power of placemaking in small towns How a crisis of purpose led to purpose-driven work Supporting small businesses as a strategy for community growth Links and Resources Mentioned: Yarrow website: Yarrow Facebook page: Sponsor Spotlight: Brodie Mueller and Market on the Plaza In small towns, coffee is more than caffeine. It’s community! roasts beans locally in Aberdeen, in small batches for the freshest, richest cup to start your day or for an afternoon pick-me-up. Stop in to grab a bag for home or linger over a cup with neighbors. Proudly local, always welcoming. Want to be a podcast sponsor? Get in touch with Rebecca: This week's Small Town Shout-Out is: Stephenson, Michigan! Faith says the thing she loves the most about her small town is her connection to the entire town, not just personally but professionally, too. The connected nature of small towns is one of our favorite things, so we love to hear it. Snaps for Stephenson! We want to hear from you! 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! Subscribe and Review The Growing Small Towns Show! 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, please click on the images below for 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!
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S5:E17 - Engaging Kids to Contribute with Craig Cegielski and Tyson Rohrscheib
09/08/2025
S5:E17 - Engaging Kids to Contribute with Craig Cegielski and Tyson Rohrscheib
We are kicking off the second part of Season 5 with a bang and sharing one of the coolest programs we’ve had the pleasure of learning about: Cardinal Manufacturing. Led by our guests, Craig and Tyson, Cardinal Manufacturing is a high school class *and* a full-fledged business that allows students to not only do actual work but learn the skills involved in running a business, from how to walk through a door with confidence and give a good handshake to how to quote jobs, do the work, and submit invoices. Like…can you even?! It’s the coolest program and we can’t wait to share it with you. About Cardinal Manufacturing: Cardinal Manufacturing began in the Eleva-Strum School District during the 2007-2008 academic year when instructor, Craig Cegielski, approached the School Board about the potential of pursuing an in-school manufacturing business similar to one he started in his prior position in the school district of Antigo, WI. The school board approved and since that time Cardinal Manufacturing has gone from its infant stages to a company with significant annual sales and national notoriety. The growth of the program has attracted national and international attention and Cardinal Manufacturing has attended national tradeshows and hosted celebrity guests including Wisconsin's Governor, Scott Walker. Cardinal Manufacturing has served hundreds of customers from private individuals to clients throughout the state of Wisconsin and other parts of the country. A number of students have gone directly to skilled employment positions after high school, but most choose to go on to post-secondary education through technical college or the university system. Chippewa Valley Technical College and UW-Stout have taken a particular interest in the program. Cardinal Manufacturing has also built strong relationships with a number of private companies and professional organizations which have been supportive through donations, advice, publicity opportunities, and projects. In-school programs such as Cardinal Manufacturing serve as a grassroots economic development effort. Not only do these programs expose students to career opportunities in manufacturing and teach students soft skills for future employment, but they also work toward changing the attitudes of counselors and parents to be more open to the idea of encouraging students to look at manufacturing careers. Students get hands on opportunities to try out these roles before making an expensive decision in choosing a post-secondary program. In other words, kids get the chance to try welding, machining, construction, production management, accounting, office management, and marketing prior to committing to a major or area of study. The services provided through the program are worthwhile and valuable to the customers who pay for the service. Cardinal Manufacturing is a year-long two credit class which offers more than a standard classroom instruction. Students in this class gain the real life experiences of problem solving, running a business, and working in professional career roles. Students must apply to be part of this program and manufacturing employees have successfully completed both Metal Working I and II. The application process includes creating and submitting a resume, project portfolio, and a letter of recommendation. Once accepted, student participants are assigned a role that may include: Quoting jobs Ordering materials Manufacturing parts Quality control and inspections Shipping product Receiving product and materials Invoicing Customer service Accounting Marketing Maintaining work hours Besides the great experience gained, the students receive a profit sharing check at the end of the school year based upon number of hours worked and other measurement tools. Only a portion of Cardinal Manufacturing earnings are paid to students after expenses and upcoming needs are covered. Most of the money earned supports the purchase of materials, equipment and facility needs to continually grow and improve Cardinal Manufacturing. About Craig: Craig Cegielski, a native of Marshfield, WI, developed a passion for manufacturing early on through high school technical education classes and hands-on work at a local machine and fabrication shop. He earned his degree in Technology Education from the University of Wisconsin–Stout and began his teaching career at Antigo High School, where he launched the successful student-run business, Red Robin Machining. After a brief return to industry, Craig joined Eleva-Strum High School as a Technology Education teacher. In 2007, he founded Cardinal Manufacturing, a student-run business designed to give students real-world experience in the trades. With over 20 years of dedication to technical education, Craig continues to lead and expand Cardinal Manufacturing, helping prepare students for successful careers in manufacturing. About Tyson: Tyson Rohrscheib is a Technology Education teacher at Eleva-Strum High School, where he has taught since 2019. An Eleva-Strum alumnus, Tyson began his training in Machine Tool and Die at Chippewa Valley Technical College before earning his degree in Technology Education from the University of Wisconsin–Stout. He brings a strong background in machining and hands-on learning to his teaching, preparing students for real-world careers in manufacturing and engineering. Outside of the classroom, Tyson is active on his family farm, managing a herd of 40 beef cattle and working on metalworking projects in his home shop. In this episode, we cover: What Cardinal Manufacturing is and how it started How exposing kids at a young age is key to getting them interested in a career Why technical skills are the least important thing they teach How the local community supports Cardinal Manufacturing and the students Links + Resources Mentioned: Website: Video Gallery: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Sponsor Spotlight: Brodie Mueller and The Market on the Plaza In small towns, coffee is more than caffeine. It’s community! roasts beans locally in Aberdeen, in small batches for the freshest, richest cup to start your day or for an afternoon pick-me-up. Stop in to grab a bag for home or linger over a cup with neighbors. Proudly local, always welcoming. This week’s Small-Town Shout-Out is: Freeman, South Dakota! Shelly says, “We love to fest!” Freeman hosts THREE annual Fests and they’re all completely volunteer-run. Like, three *every year!* This is amazing and cool and hats off to Freeman for having the community enthusiasm and buy-in to host multiple events every year. Heck yeah Freeman! We Want to Hear From You! 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 [email protected] 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!
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S5:E16 - What Makes Kids Love Their Small Towns with Carter Undem
06/02/2025
S5:E16 - What Makes Kids Love Their Small Towns with Carter Undem
This is a first on the podcast and a great ending to the first part of Season 5 (we’ll be back in September with more episodes!) One of Rebecca’s children joined us for the funnest episode ever about small towns through the eyes of a kid: what he loves, what he’d like to see, and the frustrations he experiences as a kid in a small town. About Carter: Carter is Rebecca’s 13-year-old son, the middle child, and a small-town connoisseur and font of wisdom about how to connect with and make small towns great places for kids. In this episode, we cover: What Carter loves about his small town What he’d like to see in his small town How to connect with kids and involve them in small towns Carter’s Shout-Outs: The Butcher Shop, Inc.: The Bakery Shoppe - Oakes: Hearthside Vineyard and Winery: Sweets n’ Stories: Feel Good Foods: Wild Wolff: Oakes Area Chamber of Commerce: Irrigation Days FB Event: MacDaddy’s Food Vendor: Small-Town Shout-Out! We're celebrating the combined communities of Chamberlain and Oacoma. They have a trail system, and they’re building their very first bike-optimized trail! Sometimes, trail systems with options for both walking *and* biking aren’t prioritized, so major snaps to these communities for getting this done! A Note on Seasons: Our new format means that we’ll be taking a break for summer and picking back up in September. Don’t worry, we’ll still have plenty of content to share and we can’t wait to hit the ground running this fall. Follow us on Instagram (@growingsmalltowns) and Facebook () New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E15 - Getting and Keeping Rural Lawyers with Hannah Haksgaard
05/26/2025
S5:E15 - Getting and Keeping Rural Lawyers with Hannah Haksgaard
This episode is about the rural lawyer shortage, why it’s happening, why it matters, and what we can do about it. This is a new-to-us topic, and we’re so excited to share it with you because it’s way more important and impactful than we realized. Lawyers have a crucial place in our small communities, from providing essential government services like prosecution to supporting small businesses and helping them thrive. Our guest, Hannah, is a law professor and author who took a deep dive into this issue, and we’re so glad she did. We learned a lot, and we think you will, too! About Hannah: Hannah Haksgaard is a Professor at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law, where she teaches and writes in the areas of property law, family law, and the rural practice of law. Hannah’s new book, , is available on Amazon or through your favorite local bookseller. In this episode, we cover: Why do we have a rural lawyer shortage? Why that shortage matters How can we address it? Resources Mentioned: Hannah’s Book: Small-Town Shout-Out! This week’s shout-out is to the small town of Burke, SD. We love hearing what different people love about their small towns, and Burke sounds like a fantastic place to live. Meredith loves the Get Fit with Jenny classes, Kelsey’s all about the Farmer’s Market and the town’s gorgeous park space, and Cheyenne appreciates that the town is about love and legacy built on a foundation for the future. Wahoo, Burke, for being amazing in so many different ways! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E14 - How to Engage Youth in Small Towns with Karen Pifher
05/12/2025
S5:E14 - How to Engage Youth in Small Towns with Karen Pifher
We focus a lot on belonging here at Growing Small Towns, and one of the most important groups (that sometimes gets neglected by traditional community development) is youth. Kids need to feel at home and welcome in our small towns, too, and when our young people are engaged, active, and have good places to hang out with their friends, the effect is like a shockwave in the best way. Today’s episode is with the amazing Karen Pifher, who is helping communities support their youth in very real, material ways. And with lots of food, because apparently that’s key for kid hangouts. About Karen: Karen Pifher is a powerhouse of heart, hustle, and humor, with a Master’s in Community Development, a Business Strategy Certificate from Harvard, and as a member of the international "Board of Experts" (what's that- check it out online and reach out with questions). As the founder of Creating Community Consulting, Karen has become a go-to force for turning bold ideas into thriving, people-centered projects. She knows firsthand what it’s like to face hardship — as a teen mother, Karen learned resilience, grit, and the power of community early on. Today, she channels that experience into her mission to create stronger, more connected places where everyone belongs. Her secret weapon? A wicked sense of humor, a bias for action, and the ability to make strategy feel exciting — even fun! Outside of her work, Karen is a devoted wife, mom, and outdoor enthusiast, happiest when she’s paddling a river, hiking through the woods, or wrangling life’s chaos with laughter and love. Creating Community Consulting isn’t just a business; it’s the evolution of Karen’s lifelong passion for community, innovation, and change — built on grit, late nights, and a lot of coffee. She’s living proof that small-town roots and big dreams can shake up the world, one project (and one punchline) at a time. In this episode, we cover: Why Karen decided to get involved in making communities better places for youth The whole amazing story behind CornerStone Community & Youth Center How Karen and her organization help other small towns become great places for kids Resources Mentioned and Projects They Serve: Creating Community Consulting and AI Grant Writer tool: CornerStone Community & Youth Center: Wannigan Park: Clay County Family Resource Center: Small-Town Shout-Out! This one is from our friend Jerome from Platte, South Dakota, and we’re shouting out two things that he shared with us. The first is the community’s multi-church youth group: the community recognized the benefit of having one large group of kids coming together rather than a bunch of little ones, and we love this (and the kids do too!) The second is the restored Lyric Theater. It’s a beautiful building that was in rough shape, which was purchased by an incredibly generous individual who restored it and brought it back to life, proving that when people care, big things happen. A big high-five to Platte for youth, collaboration, and restoration! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E13 - The Fight for Public Education with Erin Oban
05/05/2025
S5:E13 - The Fight for Public Education with Erin Oban
When we think of politics, I think a lot of us feel intimidated or like there isn’t room for us in the process–we’re not “political,” or we don’t have time, or we’re not the right kind of person. Today’s guest shows that being an unlikely politician may actually be the best thing, and why we need more real people in politics (yes, that means you!) About Erin: Erin Oban is a lifelong North Dakotan and proud, Class B kid, raised in a farm family in Ray, ND. Her professional career has included experience as a middle school math teacher, in nonprofit management and educational leadership, and in politics and public service. In 2014 and again in 2018, Erin was elected to represent central Bismarck’s District 35 in the State Senate. In 2022, she received an appointment from President Biden to serve as North Dakota’s state director of USDA Rural Development, a federal agency responsible for making financing and technical assistance accessible to rural and Tribal communities across the country. When not engaging in issues of importance and finding ways to make an impact, big or small, in her community, Erin enjoys a cold beer on the patio with friends, a cup of coffee with a stranger, live music and comedy, traveling, and being comfy at home in Bismarck with her husband, Chad, and their son and favorite human, Evin. In this episode, we cover: How Erin became involved in the legislative world (kind of by accident!) Why voucher schemes and school choice don't help our small towns How every single one of us has something we can offer and something we can do about the things we care about Resources Mentioned: Small-Town Shout-Out! Wahoo to the unincorporated community of Guelph, ND (just a stone’s throw from Oakes) for showing that no town is too small to do big, cool things when people care. Two cool things we’re highlighting: Off the "Sheulph" Guelph purchased the old school building, where they host markets throughout the year and rent out the historic wood gym for events, and a young couple transformed the old train depot into a beautiful Airbnb, giving visitors a reason to come and stay. Good job, Guelph!! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E12 - Making Room for New People with Meredith McMurray
04/28/2025
S5:E12 - Making Room for New People with Meredith McMurray
Meredith is easily one of the most interesting and unusual people we’ve ever had on the podcast, and her story is a testament to just how much small-town living appeals to all kinds of people, even people that you may not expect. This episode is all about how Meredith–a Marin County, California native–found herself in rural South Dakota, and what we can do to make our small towns more welcoming for all different kinds of people who want to make their lives here. About Meredith: Meredith McMurray was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. She was home-schooled for all but one of her twelve grade school years. Then, in 2006, she enlisted into the US Marine Corps at age 18 and served four years active duty, deploying twice during that time. After an Honorable Discharge, Meredith began an exploration into the world of health and healing practices such as yoga, neuromuscular therapy, meditation, self-inquiry, and performing arts! She began learning Aerial Acrobatics in 2012, at first as a hobby. By 2016, Meredith began making a living off of teaching and performing Aerial Acrobatics. In May 2019, Meredith was presented with an opportunity to take over ownership of Aerial Arts Fairfax (IG account no longer managed), a local beloved Aerial Academy in Fairfax, CA. The offer was for Meredith to purchase the business and facilitate over 200 actively enrolled students to continue their training—or watch it close and cease to exist due to the original founder opting to retire earlier in 2019. Out of pure love for the art form (and a lack of awareness of what was to come), Meredith took a risk and invested five figures of borrowed money into purchasing the business. Aerial Arts Fairfax had eight great months under Meredith's leadership, and then March 2020 came along... Obliterated by the statewide lockdowns and dysfunctional social practices implemented by the majority in the San Francisco Bay Area, Meredith consciously chose to no longer serve that community with her business nor her physical presence. Meredith had heard former Governor Kristi Noem say, "All South Dakotans are Essential." So, after sixteen total months of fighting to regain any sense of meaning or purpose in California, Meredith packed her Prius and drove to South Dakota with no plan. Once she arrived, Meredith was able to shake hands with Gov. Kristi Noem and thank her for standing up for the people of South Dakota and their occupations. Then, Meredith was able to work a seasonal job in South Dakota and earn enough to pay herself back from the five-figure financial wound created by the State of California. After that, Meredith moved across state lines four times before eventually returning back to South Dakota, where she has been living for the last 2.5 years. By no means is Meredith walking off into the sunset... She continues to wake up every morning wondering how she can best serve the community, make real friends, and express important messages in whatever form. Please enjoy the speech Meredith recently gave at the Black Hills Aerial Cup: In this episode, we cover: How Meredith went from Marin County, CA to small-town South Dakota What she loves about small towns What she’d love for her own small-town experience Resources Mentioned: Freedom Fest: Speech for anyone who's ever felt "non-essential”: Meredith’s website: Get in touch: [email protected] Small-Town Shout-Out! Big high fives to Ellendale, our county seat! A major economic development project—Applied Digital—is happening right there, and the revenue it brings is game-changing. But we’re especially cheering for Ellendale because growth like this brings big challenges, too. Just because something big is happening doesn’t mean anything was ever wrong before. We see you, we support you, and we’re in it with you. New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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Season 5, Episode 11 - Small Town People Problems: Negative Local Voices with Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer
04/21/2025
Season 5, Episode 11 - Small Town People Problems: Negative Local Voices with Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer
This episode is a listener-submitted Small Town People Problem, and it’s one we hear a lot: What do we do about local negativity? How do we deal with it when the people in the town are the ones being the Negative Nancies (or Negative Normans), and what can we do about it? We are joined by the amazing Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer, who, as it happens, is someone who knows quite a lot about local apathy and what to do about it. About Heidi: Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer barely escaped law school. She became a freelance writer in 2006, the Mayor of HeidiTown.com in 2007, and a community builder in 2023 when she formed HeidiTown Consulting. Through years of visiting small towns as a writer and Mayor of HeidiTown.com, Heidi recognized that while she loved every small town she visited, the town's locals were often apathetic about where they lived. Today, Heidi reminds people to love where they live by telling them how to and why it is important. She believes it starts with the individuals in a community. They are the ones who have the power to make their town extraordinary. "This isn’t economic development and this isn’t tourism; it is that sweet spot that inspires pride in place so that when they come, whether as a new resident or as a visitor, they are happy to be there." ~Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer In this episode, we cover: Why it’s easy to get apathetic about our own small town What to do about a negative narrative Who our “front-line” people are and how we can help them be better ambassadors Resources Mentioned: HeidiTown Consulting: HeidiTown.com: Heidi and Ryan’s Business: Knight Foundation: Small-Town Shout-Out! This week, we’re celebrating Sean Miller and the City of Pullman, Washington. Congratulations on opening your newest coworking space, the Gladish Collective! You know we love a coworking space ‘round these here parts, because creating beautiful spaces to gather, work, collaborate, brainstorm, and do cool stuff helps make our small towns so much better. High fives to Sean and Pullman, Washington! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E10 - Love as a Driver in Small Towns
04/15/2025
S5:E10 - Love as a Driver in Small Towns
We underestimate the power of love–or maybe limit the places where we deem it appropriate–but that’s silly because love is the most powerful motivator on the planet. We believe that love can actually be the key to unlocking the answers to some of our biggest questions and challenges in small towns. In this episode, Rebecca talks about all the ways that love can make our communities better places and what it looks like to show up with love. In this episode, we share three challenges for you to start using love as a force for good and change in your communities: Focus on doing more of what you love Ask yourself: What would make me love my town more? Pour out your love on the people who do the things that make you love your small town more. Links + Resources Mentioned: Jeff Siegler’s book: . Deb Brown’s book: Sarah Kane of Terri Cooper of Small-Town Shout-Out! This week’s shout-out is for the town of Medical Lake, Washington, and its mayor, Terri Cooper. In their small town, they have strong code enforcement policies around vacant buildings on Main Street to eliminate people owning buildings and just sitting on them and letting them fall apart. That takes tremendous courage and bravery because there’s no way that was universally popular. This is a bold, audacious move that is rooted in love and pride of place. They want their business district to be vibrant, to look good, and to be the kind of place where people want to have a business and that people want to visit. We salute them, their courage, and their love for the community! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E9 - Small-Town People Problems: Competition
04/07/2025
S5:E9 - Small-Town People Problems: Competition
Each season, we’re going to have a few episodes that directly address *your* small-town people problems. For our first one, we’re starting off with a question from a listener about one of the most common difficulties in small towns: what to do when the neighboring towns treat each other as competition instead of working together. Sometimes we’ll bring in a guest, sometimes it’ll be a solocast with Rebecca like today’s episode. Do you have your own small-town people challenge? Call in to the show and we’ll address it on-air! 701-203-3337 In this episode, we cover: The three ways we see this competition show up most often Four mindset shifts to help address the problem Links + Resources Mentioned: Episode 107 with Melissa Nelson: Small-Town Shout-Out! There’s something in the water in Vergas, Minnesota. A listener wrote in to tell us that Vergas is the kind of community where you can feel the community pride in every single business. They decided that, despite being a destination lake town, they wanted to be more than just a tourist town, so they focus on what it feels like to the people who live there every single day, too. Walk into any business on Main Street and you’ll get the very felt sense that they want you there and you belong there. That’s what it’s all about! Big shout-out to Vergas, Minnesota! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E8 - The Opportunity for Returners with Jessica Meyers
03/31/2025
S5:E8 - The Opportunity for Returners with Jessica Meyers
The “Returner” phenomenon is a very real thing: people leave their small towns as young people and come back later when they’re ready to settle down, and there is a huge opportunity for both the returners and the small towns they’re coming back to–but we’re not always open to these boomerangs. This episode is about inviting people back, creating spaces, and growing as communities so they everyone is thriving. We think you’ll love it! About Jessica: Originally from Winner, SD (pop. 2,852), Jessica Meyers was raised in Winner and Vermillion, SD, and earned her bachelor’s degree at South Dakota State University in Brookings. Jessica and her husband Matt followed the flight pattern of many young adults and left the small towns of SD for bigger cities. After 10 years of living in some of the largest cities in America, she now lives in Sioux Falls with her family. Pairing over 20 years of sales and recruiting experience, Jessica discovered a unique opportunity for the Midwest. She is co-founder and CEO of PorchLight, a talent recruitment firm that partners with rural communities to prepare for the 21st-century workforce and connect rural workers to employment opportunities. Jessica created the first-of-its-kind PorchLight Certification and created the platform where rural development and job opportunities connect. Personally, Jessica has been married for over 20 years to her high school sweetheart Matt, and they have three daughters, Eve, Grace, and Juliet, who live in Sioux Falls, SD. In this episode, we cover: What is a returner? A different approach to thinking about housing (hint: it’s not just workforce housing we need to consider) Why “People don’t want to work anymore” is a myth Why remote work *works* for small communities What every single one of us can do to support our community’s small businesses Links + Resources Mentioned: PorchLight’s Website: Small-Town Shout-Out! This shout-out was blatantly stolen from the webinar with Saveyour.town, and in the chat, Jamie Shanks from Glendive shared an idea inspired by a Reimaginig Rural Event: They’ve recently formed a group focused on action vs meetings, and they call themselves the “VigiPlantes.” Their efforts are centered around planting new ideas, community beautification, planting actual trees and plants, and sometimes doing things in the wee hours so people in their community wake up to a surprise. Can you even?! Snaps to Jamie, Glendive, and the VigiPlanties for this very stealable, very amazing idea. New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E7 - Building Possibilities in Small Towns with Deb Brown
03/24/2025
S5:E7 - Building Possibilities in Small Towns with Deb Brown
Deb Brown is one of our favorite people in the world, and we’re so glad to have her on the show with us to share her words, her new book (!!!) and all the work she’s doing to help small-town dreamers just like you. This episode is all about approaching big problems in small towns in idea-friendly ways and starting small to build big. About Deb: Deb Brown is a dynamic small-town advocate and community development expert with a wealth of experience empowering rural communities. As the co-founder of SaveYour.Town, she has been working alongside Becky McCray for a decade, providing practical advice and innovative solutions to shape brighter futures for small towns. Deb's background is diverse and practical. She served as a Chamber of Commerce Executive Director for 4 years, holding certification from the Institute for Organization Management. Prior to that, she was a Tourism Specialist for 4 years. Her varied business experience includes roles as a foreign casualty insurance underwriter, retail manager, and bartender. Deb specializes in addressing common rural challenges, including: - Revitalizing empty buildings - Downtown rejuvenation - Youth retention - Marketing and promotion for small towns - Business development and economic growth - Innovative rural business models Deb excels at building connections, storytelling, and active listening. She guides people in taking small steps toward their ideas and helps them find the resources and connections needed to bring those ideas to fruition. Her presentations are interactive and engaging, designed to provide attendees with actionable ideas they can implement immediately. Deb has spoken at local and national conferences, addressing chambers, economic developers, tourism specialists, museum experts, volunteers, residents and business groups. Deb is the author of "From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town with these Uniquely Do-able Ideas, Projects, and Success Stories," a comprehensive workbook filled with practical strategies and real-world examples for small-town revitalization. Through her work with SaveYour.Town, Deb provides weekly newsletters focused on small-town challenges and offers exclusive video content to Megaphone Members. Deb Brown's passion for community development and her ability to provide real-world, practical solutions make her an invaluable resource for small towns looking to create positive change and build a thriving future. In this episode, we cover: The process of writing and publishing her book Who and what her book is for Why you don’t need permission to do cool stuff Her favorite stories and concepts from the book Links + Resources Mentioned: - Practical steps your rural community can take now - Get your tips to address rural challenges - Take a look at how Deb can help you (from Small Town Shout-Out) Episode 49 with Becky and Deb: Small-Town Shout-Out! The biggest shout-out to Becker County, Minnesota’s Project 412. They had the audacious goal of bringing world-renowned Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo to the area--and it happened! “Trolls in DL” is one of 130 permanent art installations around the world. We love a BHAG (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal) and we’re proud of you, Project 412. Thanks to Cody Piper for sharing this big freaking deal with us. New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E6 - Reimagining Education in Small Towns with Darcy Bakkegard
03/17/2025
S5:E6 - Reimagining Education in Small Towns with Darcy Bakkegard
Joy can feel a little soft, or a little touchy-feely, but helping people find joy is a catalyst for positive change. This week’s guest is all about helping teachers and educators with professional development that focuses not on a list of things to do, but rather helps them re-discover their joy and passion for teaching and learning. The best part? This episode applies to anyone who is making a difference, pushing for change, and looking for joy. About Darcy: Darcy is the Founder of The Educators' Lab USA and a board member of The Educators’ Lab Global. After more than a decade in the classroom teaching English and theatre, Darcy now creates the type of PD she always wanted, driving change in education and empowering teachers as changemakers. Through her work, teachers reconnect with their purpose, rekindle their spark for teaching, and reignite the JOY of teaching and learning. She specializes in professional development design and implementation, interactive strategies for the classroom, meaningful tech integration, and building relationships with students. Darcy holds a Master’s of Secondary Education, is an ISTE Certified Educator, an experienced international presenter, and believer in the power of education. She lives in Fargo, ND with her husband Jeff, and triplets, Kurt, Ben, and Cora. In this episode, we cover: The inspiration for the Joy Lab Why AI isn’t going to replace teachers How helping teachers find JOY is so important Why competition and “good enough” can be antithetical to positive change Links + Resources Mentioned: Small-Town Shout-Out! This week we’re shouting out Julia McCray and in Tionesta, Pennsylvania. The Market Village is a seasonal shopping pop-up “village” that has become an incubator for new small businesses, made even better by being made “cute af,” in Julia’s words. It’s a creative solution to several problems, is prettier and more interesting than a vacant lot, and serves the community well. We love it! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E5 - Recruiting the Next Generation at Work with Brodie Mueller
03/10/2025
S5:E5 - Recruiting the Next Generation at Work with Brodie Mueller
Awhile back, we were having a conversation with Brodie on the podcast and he mentioned that he hires based on a “vibe check,” and given his success not only hiring but keeping long-term employees (many of whom are Gen Z *gasp*) we needed to bring him on to hear more about just what what means. This episode is all about how to hire and lead well for small businesses in our small towns and why culture is important, even when it’s not formalized with a mission statement on a wall. About Brodie: Brodie Mueller is a longtime Friend of the Pod and is our podcast producer and editor! He also happens to be the owner of Market on the Plaza in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Brodie has lived in Aberdeen for the past 8 years and owns the downtown business Dakota Territory Brewing Company. Dakota Territory is the first and oldest brewery ever in Aberdeen and services the community by creating small-batch craft beer, root beer, and cold brew coffee. Brodie has a Masters Degree in social work and has been involved in community building both downtown and city-wide through different groups and projects. The brewery is involved with various community projects and fundraisers throughout the year, gaining a reputation as a business that supports the community. As a fellow downtown business owner, Brodie is committed to making downtown better by supporting new ventures and The Market on the Plaza is a shining example of bringing new and innovative services to the neighborhood. In this episode, we cover: How Brodie uses a vibe check when hiring new employees (and what that even means) Why we can’t expect employees to love a small business as much as an owner or founder–and why they don’t need to in order to love the work How to give employees ownership and inspire buy-in Babysitting vs. management Links + Resources Mentioned: Brodie’s past episodes: , , and The Market on the Plaza website: The Market on the Plaza Instagram: @themarketontheplaza The “Posing with Coffee Like Men Pose with Fish" Reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFLIOHYuMI7/ Small-Town Shout-Out! This week, we’re high-fiving Chris Border and his entire community in Hope, Kansas. Chris is a new resident of the town, and he told us that despite living there for only two years and having no previous ties to the community, that little 200-person town welcomed him with open arms and made him feel like he belongs. This is a big deal because we know more often than not that in small towns, you can live there for years and still be “new,” which doesn’t exactly make people feel like they’re home. Thank you, Hope, Kansas and Chris Border, for giving us all more hope! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E4 - AI for Rural Communities with Scott Meyer
03/03/2025
S5:E4 - AI for Rural Communities with Scott Meyer
It feels like you can’t go five minutes without hearing about AI–and often for good reason! We’re back with our favorite AI expert to talk about a “Hope over fear” approach for integrating AI into how we do life and business. We often face a skills and resource deficit in small towns, and AI can be an incredibly useful and powerful tool for bridging that gap, helping us work smarter, not harder, and even outsourcing tasks that we don’t love so we can spend more time on the things that make us light up. About Scott: Scott Meyer () is an entrepreneur and former professor working to scale and democratize education. His experience founding the digital marketing agency 9 Clouds and launch an entrepreneurship center and accelerated learning program in higher education sparked his interest in combining education and web3 - what he calls ed3. He recently launched Ed3.gg - a consultancy working to scale education. Subscribe to learn more (). In this episode, we cover: Where AI can fill core needs for people in small towns Replacing tasks vs. jobs AI as an idea machine and action catalyst Examples of tasks and applications for AI Links + Resources Mentioned: CHIPP Website: CHIPP Substack: Episode 96 with Scott: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode96 Small-Town Shout-Out! This week’s shout-out is for the city of Wilmer, Minnesota. They’ve just recently completed their first comprehensive plan for their community since 2009. The cool part? It’s the first time in the city’s history that community engagement is a priority in their plan. The way they discovered they needed that for their small town was by intentionally including diverse groups of people in the plan’s development. That’s how you create more engagement, more relevant and interesting output, and more interesting and diverse voices at the table: you invite them and include their perspective. Wahoo, Wilmer, Minnesota! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E3 - Making Small Towns Idea-Friendly
02/24/2025
S5:E3 - Making Small Towns Idea-Friendly
Our small towns are ours to save–no one is coming to do that for us! However, sometimes it can feel nearly impossible to make changes in our small towns. Our guest this week has a different approach, and it’s different than The Way We’ve Always Done It but it really works, and is more accessible to small-town changemakers who want to get things done. About Becky: Becky McCray believes small towns have a future. She watches the global trends in the economy, technology, and society, then she delivers practical steps rural people can implement right now to shape the future of their town. Her advice is based on her real-world experience as a lifelong entrepreneur and cattle rancher. She makes her home in Hopeton, Oklahoma, a town of 30 people. She doesn’t just talk about rural issues; she lives them. In this episode, we cover: Why we need to empower small communities to save themselves Why our solutions have to change with the world around us Becky’s “Start Small” approach to community transformation How starting small can lead to tackling the big stuff, too Links + Resources Mentioned: 10 Years of Rural Insights webinar: SaveYour.Town Website: SmallBizSurvival.com: Invite Becky to your town or event: Becky’s only current social channel: Episode 49 with Becky and Deb: Small-Town Shout-Out! This week, we’re celebrating Lander County, Nevada. They’re making the most of a recent boom in gold mining (yes, seriously) and focusing on how to make their community a better place to live by making it easier for people to clean up and improve their own property. They’ve got a unique approach that we love: with funding from the county, everyone in the community gets up to $500 to the local hardware store to get what they need to improve their property, whether it’s paint or weedkiller or something else. We love tailor-made, interesting approaches to small-town improvement so all the confetti for Lander County! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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S5:E2 - Creatively Tackling Workforce Challenges in Manufacturing
02/10/2025
S5:E2 - Creatively Tackling Workforce Challenges in Manufacturing
One of our favorite things is the impact of great employers on individuals, small towns, and the overall culture of the communities they operate within, and this episode is all about what happens when an amazing work culture fosters amazing things outside of the workplace. Amanda Gregory and Joe House both work for a manufacturing company called Design Ready Controls and co-founded MAKE (Manufacturing, a Kid’s Experience) in 2023 as a way to foster awareness about and interest in manufacturing in a way kids can understand. MAKE is about showing kids what kinds of possibilities exist in the manufacturing space and helping parents who work in manufacturing share what they do with their days in a kid-friendly way. Although entirely separate from their “day job,” the collaborative, open culture of Design Ready Controls directly influenced Amanda and Joe’s efforts and takes workforce development and passion to a whole new level, and we’re here for it. About MAKE: MAKE was founded in 2023 by Amanda Gregory and Joe House to educate children about manufacturing. The MAKE platform began with sharing stories about manufacturing through . Now with a monthly newsletter, , they continue to inspire through building activities and manufacturing tours & experiences. About Joe: Joe started with Design Ready Controls in 2022 as Chief Commercial Officer, working alongside sales, marketing, and supply chain teams to strengthen our industry-leading customer and supplier partnerships. Prior to joining the team, Joe spent 9 years in sales leadership at an electrical distributor, where he worked as both a supplier and customer of Design Ready Controls. Joe graduated from the University of Saint Thomas in 2013 with degrees in Mathematical Economics and Business Management. About Amanda: Amanda joined the Design Ready Controls team in 2015, starting in office management and 5S initiatives. She quickly advanced to take on leadership roles in marketing and now leads marketing, sales development, internal communications, and office management. Amanda earned a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication with a minor in Marketing from Winona State University. Her professional background includes account and project management, as well as marketing experience in the produce and manufacturing industries. In this episode, we cover: What MAKE is and how it started The culture at Design Ready Controls and how it relates to MAKE Why supporting passion is so important in cultivating the next generation How a company’s culture can completely change the perception of its industry Links + Resources Mentioned MAKE Website where you can learn more, subscribe to Future Makers or purchase : MAKE on Facebook: MAKE on Instagram: MAKE on LinkedIn: Community Venture Network: New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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Why People Matter More Than Anything Else in Small Towns
02/03/2025
Why People Matter More Than Anything Else in Small Towns
Friends and neighbors (virtual and IRL): we are so excited to share this episode with you. Now, we know we say that every week, and what can we say, we’re excitable folks. But we’re *extra* excited for this one because it’s the first podcast of the rest of our lives, and we’re introducing the new format and components of this show, and giving you a peek behind the curtain into the behind-the-scenes and the future of Growing Small Towns. Instead of a guest, we have a guest host interviewing Rebecca about the changes in the podcast and the renewed vision and clarity for Growing Small Towns. Our guest host is Winona Dimeo-Ediger, who is not only one of our beloved past guests but also a GST board member. We love her and think you will too! This episode is an honest take on the work we and so many of you are undertaking, and we can’t wait to for you to hear it. About Winona: Winona has been a digital content creator for nearly a decade, writing about culture, travel, and politics for publications like National Geographic, Rolling Stone, and NPR. For the past few years, she’s been able to dig into her love of place marketing and talent attraction content as the editor-in-chief of . She’s a lover of bookstores, vintage boots, dive bars, and bad jokes. The number of times she’s seen Celine Dion in concert may disturb you. In this episode, we cover: The new format and new segments of the show The behind-the-scenes work that’s been happening over the last year Why having the right support is critical (and what that means) Where GST is headed and what work we’ll be doing Our very first small-town shout-out! Links + Resources Mentioned Ep. 92 with Winona and Tim: Fresh Air - This Anti-Social American Life: Plain English - The Anti-Social Century: America’s Epidemic of Solitude–And How to Fix It: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0FaZtbkN0wOz1zjtYJNQeq?si=-35pYo_FR7SwlzEKjAIZTA New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at [email protected] 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!
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Moments of Growth: Rural Mastermind
01/27/2025
Moments of Growth: Rural Mastermind
Our last Moments of Growth episode is about another event that will become at flagship bit of programming for Growing Small Towns: the Rural Mastermind. The first Mastermind group was inspired, in part, by Rebecca’s own experience with a Mastermind. Really good Mastermind groups can be pivotal and life-changing, and she wanted to bring that same experience to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Oakes. This episode features perspectives from all sides: one of our beloved coaches, several of our participants, and two of the participants’ mothers. Masterminds bring all kinds of people together to learn and grow. As the participants will tell you, the magic is in having a group of like-minded people in different stages of their business who are doing the dang thing, and the result is really, really cool. In this episode, we hear from: Kim Nagle, author, entrepreneur, and coach Haley Moen - Hearthside Vineyard and Winery Addison Magill - Addison K Creative Co. Kim and Kausha - mamas to two Mastermind participants () Jake Kubela - Kubela Hedging Brittney Harty - The Bakery Shoppe Oakes Links and Resources Mentioned: Kim Nagle’s Website: Hearthside Vineyard and Winery: Addison K Creative Co.: Kubela Hedging: The Bakery Shoppe Oakes: FitBar (run by Kim’s son, Chris, who was a Mastermind participant): Episode 130 with Kim Nagle: Episode 131 with Kausha Magill: Episode 118 with Haley Moen: Episode 129 with Haley Moen: New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re introducing two new parts to the show: “Small town humblebrags”: call in and tell us about something amazing that you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear your messages!
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Moments of Growth: Community Engagement
01/20/2025
Moments of Growth: Community Engagement
When we were thinking about the kinds of people we wanted to talk to for this Moments of Growth series, we knew we needed to include people who have been impacted in some way by the work we do at Growing Small Towns. Some of these guests use Growing Small Towns in an official capacity—they have a formal role in economic or community development, or something similar, and have utilized our programming professionally. Others are members of our local school board, have engaged with us on a personal level, or for a small business. However their involvement, though, we treasure these thoughts and words from the people we serve, and we hope you’ll enjoy this episode! In this episode, we hear from: Anna Sell - Superintendent of Oakes Public School Sonia Meehl - former Oakes Public School board member Matt Marshall - Member Services, Rates & Economic Development Manager at Minnkota Ashley Berg - owner of Main Street Boutique in Rugby, ND Bob Wurl - board member for Southern Valley Economic Development Association Justin Meidinger - Director, Ellendale Opera House Dawn Mandt - Executive Director of Red River Regional Council Justin Neppl - former Economic Development Director for Southern Valley Economic Development Association Roberta Forward - board member for North Dakota Grapegrower's Association, Riding for Dreams, and Oakes PTO Chapter Jeremy Nelson - founder, Arthur Market Melissa Beach - Economic Development Administrator, Minnkota Links and Resources Mentioned: Oakes Public School: Minnkota Power Cooperative: Main Street Boutique in Rugby, ND: Southern Valley Economic Development Association: Ellendale Opera House: Red River Regional Council: North Dakota Grapegrower's Association: Riding For Dream: Oakes PTO: Arthur Market: Episode 21 with Ashley: Episode 135 with Jeremy:
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Moments of Growth: Resource + Network Expansion
01/13/2025
Moments of Growth: Resource + Network Expansion
This Moments of Growth installment features some of the businesses/organizations and the people in them who are aligned with our beliefs and our hopes for GST. These are people without whom we could not do this work, and we want you to know them! This work can feel very lonely and so gathering up people who are passionate about the same things makes it feel less so. The links to all of their organizations are below, and if you are someone doing things in your small town, reach out to them! We all need partners, and these are some of the best. In this episode, we hear from: Jordan DeGree - Co-Founder and Executive Director, Rural Ideas Network Mike Knutson - Learning Network Orchestrator and Community Coach, Dakota Resources Paula Jensen - VP of Program Development and Community Coach, Dakota Resources Nick Fosheim - Client Relationship Director and Community Coach, Dakota Resources Shane Akers and Jon Pedersen - Principals with Hometown Housing Christy Dauer - Executive Director, North Dakota Women's Business Center Jasmin Fosheim and Cassidy Blade - Realizing Rural Links and Resources Mentioned: Rural Ideas Network: Dakota Resources: North Dakota Women’s Business Center: Realizing Rural: Episode 69 with Jordan: Episode 123 with Realizing Rural: Episode 143 with Mike:
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Moments of Growth: Bus Trip
01/06/2025
Moments of Growth: Bus Trip
When we first launched Growing Small Towns, we did it with a bus tour. We loaded a bunch of business professionals from the Fargo-Moorhead area onto a bus and held them hostage for eight ours (okay, not really, they were completely willing participants!) and we did a tour of the area, visited local businesses and our building, and had such a ball that a bus trip of some sort has become a repeat event. It’s a flagship thing for GST and one of our favorites because of how unique it is, and the magic that happens when you get different kinds of people together, get them out of their comfort zones, and drive them around rural America for a bit. This episode features four bus tour participants (some multi-year participants!) and they’re here to talk about how they even heard about the tour, what they loved most about it, why it’s such a unique experience, and other things they learned while sort of captive on a bus for hours with a bunch of people they didn’t really know In this episode, we hear from: Dr. Ruchi Joshi Bhardwaj, Senior Program Manager of Education & Research at Grand Farm Lee Schwartz, Marketing Director at North Dakota State College of Science and Founder of Small Town Labs Leah Reed, Operations Manager at Do Good Better Consulting Emma McIntyre, Manager of Development and Partnerships at Folkways Links and Resources Mentioned: A whole episode about the bus tour: Lee was a guest! Hear his episode here:
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Moments of Growth: Funders + Partners
01/06/2025
Moments of Growth: Funders + Partners
This episode of the Growing Small Town Show features three humans that have, in some way, shape, or form, partnered or funded some of the work that we do here at Growing Small Towns. Because we’re a nonprofit, we are always looking for partners who believe in this work as much as we do to help make it happen. Our philosophy is “Work with the willing and love the rest,” because we don’t believe in forcing people to support this work if it’s not their thing! But, we do dearly love and appreciate the humans and organizations who come alongside us to bring the mission of Growing Small Towns to the communities that want and need our help. This episode features three of those humans, and each of them share why and how they chose to get involved with GST, why they’re enthusiastic about what we do, and what it means to them and their organization to partner with us. In this episode, we hear from: Bernie Sinner, President and Senior Lending Officer at Bank North, and a member of our board Kathy Marquette, Associate Professor of Business Administration and Management at North Dakota State College of Science Paul Matthys, CEO of Cass County Electric Cooperative
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Moments of Growth: Arts + Culture
12/30/2024
Moments of Growth: Arts + Culture
This week’s episode is the next in our Moments of Growth series, and this one is about one of our favorite subjects: art! Lots of people think that art is a “nice to have” in a small community, but it’s really a need. Art and art programming gives people an opportunity to not only view and experience art made by other people, but to create their own through workshops or events. Tapping into our creative side means we make more vibrant, interesting, fun, and beautiful communities, and who doesn’t want that?! (Not us, because our building is designed to show off local artists’ work and hold workshops and classes so we’re obviously very into art!) Art encompasses so many of the things that make our world more rich and beautiful—music, paintings, photography, dance, amazing food, sculpture, and so many others—and we want every small town to be bursting at the seams with art and creativity! In this episode, we hear from: Amanda Hagen, a local artist and owner of Heartstrings Studio. LesleyAnne, a local artist and one we contracted with to create some art for the building, including our beloved timeline and entryway. James Bergman, a Fargo-based musician and songwriter Lauren Starling, a Fargo-based artist whose art will soon get to be part of our small town! Links and Resources Mentioned: Amanda Hagen’s Website: LesleyAnne’s Website: James Bergman’s Website: Lauren Starling’s Insta: Amanda was a guest on the podcast! You can find her episode here: StartUp Brew:
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Moments of Growth: Mental Health Programming
12/23/2024
Moments of Growth: Mental Health Programming
This week’s episode is the first in a limited series we’re calling “Moments of Growth.” We had some big milestones this year, and we wanted to look back and talk to people that we’ve worked with and share the progress they’ve made (and us, too!) this past year. This first episode is about mental health programming. Awhile back, our local healthcare network, Catholic Health Initiatives, did a needs assessment for our community. Like many rural communities, mental health was at the top of the list. We formed a Mental Health Coalition comprised of people in our community who are simply interested in and willing to work on this issue in our community, and you’re hearing from some of the people involved with that today! In this episode, we talk about the challenges of mental health programming in rural areas, COVID-19’s impact on mental health, and suicide awareness, among other things, and hear from four people deeply involved in this work in different ways. In this episode, we hear from: Josh Gow, Director of Mission at CHI Oakes Hospital Monica McConkey, Licensed Professional Counselor and Mental Health Consultant Michele Thorpe, psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner Dani Dinger, Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent with NDSU Links and Resources Mentioned: Monica was a guest on the podcast! You can find her episode here:
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146. The Future of the Growing Small Towns Show with Brodie Mueller
12/09/2024
146. The Future of the Growing Small Towns Show with Brodie Mueller
Things are changing a little around here (don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere! You’re stuck with us!) and we’re very excited to share the future of the Growing Small Towns podcast with you. Brodie Mueller, one of our favorite people and frequent Guest of the Pod, is here to talk about what that looks like, how he fits in, and what we would like to hear from YOU, our listeners. About Brodie: Brodie Mueller, owner of Market on the Plaza, has lived in Aberdeen for the past 8 years and owns the downtown business Dakota Territory Brewing Company. Dakota Territory is the first and oldest brewery ever in Aberdeen and services the community by creating small-batch craft beer, root beer, and cold brew coffee. Brodie has a Masters Degree in social work and has been involved in community building both downtown and city-wide through different groups and projects. The brewery is involved with various community projects and fundraisers throughout the year, gaining a reputation as a business that supports the community. As a fellow downtown business owner, Brodie is committed to making downtown better by supporting new ventures and The Market on the Plaza is a shining example of bringing new and innovative services to the neighborhood. Brodie also just happens to be a podcast editor, audio-quality snob (in the best way) and someone who really understands podcasting world—hence why here’s here with us talking about the show! In this episode, we cover: Our goals for the pod in 2025 How those goals fit in with the overall mission of GST Why podcast metrics are crucial but tricky, and how listeners can help Some new ideas for podcast episodes and series What we need from YOU, our listeners! Links + Resources Mentioned Brodie’s past episodes: , and The Market on the Plaza website: Brodie’s Recording Equipment Recs: Brodie’s Podcast Library: 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!
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145. A Human-Centric Hodgepodge with Rebecca Undem
11/25/2024
145. A Human-Centric Hodgepodge with Rebecca Undem
It’s really easy to give people the highlight reel and act like everything is all hunky-dory, but that wouldn’t be authentic, and we’re all about authentic, so this episode is a bit of the Real Reel about some things Rebecca has been thinking and feeling during a bit of a hard season that a) we’ll all resonate with and b) are incredibly wise and things we should all keep in our back pockets. (Remember, Cassidy from our team writes these show notes so this is not Rebecca writing in the third person so she’s allowed to call it like it is and tell you that this episode is a Good One.) In this episode, we talk about some things that help keep us grounded and moving in the right direction, especially when things get tricky: Having It All Together is a facade How to offer support, and how not to The importance of joy Why it’s important that we share our appreciation Why moving in is often the thing to do when we disagree How to show ourselves the grace and kindness we deserve Why your community needs YOU. Links + Resources Mentioned Brene Brown’s Braving the Wilderness: Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at 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!
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144. Starting a Small Town Brewery with Terry Sando
10/14/2024
144. Starting a Small Town Brewery with Terry Sando
We’re back with another one of our favorite kinds of episodes: real stories of real people doing really cool things in their small towns. This episode features Terry Sando, a retired Air Force officer who’s built a brewery in his small town of Hillsboro, ND. We love this story because Terry was inspired to build a business to serve his community…so he did! He’s kept the community at the heart of everything he does, and he’s such a great example of what can happen with a dream, willingness to learn, and lots of hard work. About Terry: I was born and raised in Valley City, ND. In the summers, I worked on my grandparents’ farm south of Rogers, ND. I graduated from Valley City High School and went to college before joining the Air Force in 1979. I did 5 ½ years of enlisted time with my final assignment being a crew member on the B-52 at Grand Forks AFB. Duties included pulling nuclear alert and flying training missions. In November of 1984, I joined the 119th, the Happy Hooligans to become an Intelligence Officer and trained at Lowery AFB in Denver. My son Travis was born during my assignment there and my wife Deb wouldn’t tell me on the phone if it was a boy or girl! Happily, I was granted emergency leave and flew back to Grand Forks to see my son. I had different assignments at the 119th and returned to active duty to gain space operations background for future Air Guard missions in 1998. During my six years in Colorado Springs, I was assigned to Peterson AFB, Schriever AFB, and Cheyenne Mountain. 9/11 happened while I was stationed at AFSPC (Air Force Space Command) and I was selected to help stand up NorthCom. I was the first Guardsman to be qualified to stand watch at Cheyenne Mountain for NORAD/NorthCom. It was my most challenging assignment, but also my best assignment during my career. My next assignment in 2004 was at the National Guard Bureau in Washington D.C. and from there I went to the Air War College at Maxwell AFB where I got my Master of Strategic Studies. My final assignment was Plans and Requirements at 1st Air Force at Tyndall AFB. During this assignment, I grew an appreciation for craft beer brewing. I had a coworker who was a great homebrewer, and he got me interested in learning to brew beer. I had to put it into my bucket list of things to do when I retired. I retired in November of 2009 and came home to Grand Forks. After retirement I had jobs at the University of North Dakota as the Emergency Manager, Grand Forks Region EDC working on building the UAS ecosystem, a Norwegian company eSmart doing UAS operations for utility line inspections, and finally Mobile Recon a small UAS startup company. I decided to get into brewing in 2019 and started construction of a brew pub in Hillsboro. This became Goose River Brewing, and the pub has been open for two years. Two beta batches of beer were done in July of this year, so we’re officially brewing! Part of the goal was to have a blue-collar craft beer lovers social gathering location that would help make Hillsboro’s downtown a destination. We are working on building relationships with our local malt barley growers. We also have been giving our spent grain to a local cattle grower to use in the cattle feed ration. The pandemic had a big impact on raising the cost of construction and pushing out the opening date. My goal is to build a local team that will take over operations and then I can slow down and take advantage of retirement. In this episode, we cover: What inspired Terry to get into brewing beer in the first place How COVID threw a wrench in the plans for the brewery and what they did to compensate Why businesses like this one could be a really cool opportunity for someone from a city who wants to move to a small town The importance of community and relationship-building in long-term success and buy-in Why you are never too old to learn or try something new Links and Resources Mentioned: The Goose River Brewing Facebook page:
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143. Getting Beyond the STP (Same Ten People) in Your Small Town
09/16/2024
143. Getting Beyond the STP (Same Ten People) in Your Small Town
This is our first-ever LIVE podcast recording! This episode was recorded on the main stage of the 2024 Main Street Summit in Watford City, ND and features guests Pat Bertagnolli of Job Service North Dakota and Mike Knutson of Dakota Resources. When we got asked to host this live show during the summit, we took to the socials—as we do—to ask what our people needed the most help with. Overwhelmingly, the idea of how to get more people involved in making our communities great emerged as the topic, so that’s what this episode is about and we’re so excited for you to hear from these two amazing guests! About Pat: A native of Montana, and a North Dakota resident since 2011, Bertagnolli earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Carroll College in Helena in 1990 and has held his certification as a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources since 2015. Prior to his appointment, Bertagnolli served in a variety of leadership roles in both human resources and operations, and most recently was the Community Enhancement Director in Watford City, ND. Bertagnolli was first appointed to the Workforce Development Council in 2014 by then-Governor Jack Dalrymple. He continues to serve on this council, as well as the State Board for Career and Technical Education, Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Administrative Committee for Veterans Affairs, State Information Technology and Advisory Board, Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems committee, and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. In February of 2022, Governor Doug Burgum appointed Patrick Bertagnolli to serve as the Executive Director of Job Service North Dakota. Job Service North Dakota has a statewide footprint and impacts North Dakota’s workforce through many workforce programs to connect employers and job seekers, through the unemployment insurance program to provide benefits to eligible workers, and through the labor market information department which provides education and insights for informed decision making. About Mike: Mike facilitates and orchestrates the Dakota Resources Community Learning Network. He also serves as a community coach for rural communities. He has spent 15 plus years working in rural community development. His commitment to rural communities began when he recognized that his own behaviors (i.e. – the lack of community involvement and buying locally) were contributing the decline of his community. Since 2008, Mike has operated his own business, MAK(e) Strategies, working primarily as a facilitator and coach in rural settings. Among his volunteer activities, Mike has served as the chairman of the board for Glacial Lakes Tourism, Dakota Wesleyan University Alumni Association, Rural Schools Collaborative, and Southeast SD Tourism. Mike grew up outside of Hartford, SD, and graduated summa cum laude from Dakota Wesleyan University. In this episode, we cover: Why the “Same Ten People” can be frustrating for people on both sides The idea of civic apathy and how it develops How to combat civic apathy What to do about Gen-Z (hint: they’re not really that different from generations prior) How recruiting volunteers goes hand-in-hand with recruiting new community members Links and Resources Mentioned: Ben Winchester’s episode: Jeff Sigler’s episode about combating apathy in small towns: Jeff Sigler’s episode about growing communities for humans: Job Service North Dakota: Dakota Resources:
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