The Growing Small Towns Show

This week, we're chatting with an amazing human about amazing stuff. Okay, fine, every week we talk with amazing humans about amazing stuff, but this episode is a great one. Rebecca visits with Ashley Geigle, Economic Development Director for Murdo, South Dakota, about how she built a brand-new role from scratch. (Like, from scratch, like growing and milling the wheat for the flour level of scratch, not box mix scratch.) Ashley talks about learning through challenges, building trust, and finding beauty in small progress. She, like Justin Neppl, has reimagined what economic development looks like for her community and understands the importance of partners (like our beloved Dakota Resources!) for making things happen. Ashley proves that revitalization starts with relationships, persistence, and visible hope—even if it's just hanging garland on an empty building (Who doesn't love garland, though, really?) About Ashley: Ashley grew up in Murdo, attended SDSU for Hospitality and Hotel Management, spent a year in Hawaii, met her husband, had 4 babies, job hopped a few part-time positions, and began serving as Murdo's Economic Development Director in December 2020 with a clear goal: to help bring new business to town and revitalize Main Street. Since then, her organization has invested in critical training and development to elevate its impact across the community and region. The journey hasn't been without challenges, but through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to growth, they've continued moving forward. Ashley is especially grateful for the strong partnership with Dakota Resources, whose support has been instrumental through both the successes and the learning moments. When she's not doing economic development, Ashley enjoys traveling with her husband to meet up with friends wherever that might be, sitting on their deck with a cup of coffee in hand, or learning more about holistic wellness. She doesn't know what else to add in here—if you want something specific, shoot her a message 😂 In this episode, we cover: How Ashley built a new economic development role from scratch in a town of 465 The lessons she's learned about criticism, collaboration, and community buy-in Why growth in small towns often starts with childcare, housing, and beautification—not industry How Dakota Resources became her professional lifeline and peer network What her dream Main Street project says about small-town pride and persistence Links + Resources Mentioned: Dakota Resources: https://dakotaresources.org/ The viral TikTok post from our shout-out! https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/small-town-missouri-coffee-shop-goes-viral-with-tiktok-post Sponsor Spotlight: Want to get your business in front of our audience? We are looking for podcast sponsors! Each season, we feature a select group of Small Business Partners—brands that share our mission to celebrate small-town life and big ideas. With a 4–6% average Facebook engagement rate (well above the industry average), 2,600+ loyal followers, and 45,000 monthly content views, we have an amazing, highly engaged audience of people who can't wait to learn more about you. When we feature you, your story, and your product/service, it's like a friend's recommendation, because it is. Want to know more? Reach out to us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org This week's Small-Town Shout-Out is: Stanberry, MO! We are so excited about this shout-out because we are going to air an *actual* voice message from a listener about their small town. Terri Johnson calls in from Stanberry, MO (population: 1100) about their local coffee shop, Three Point Coffee and Event Space. They are active on social, and they have *millions* of views on their content, thanks to a viral reel from over the summer featuring Terri's (now famous) husband, Bruce. They have been featured on several TV stations, in their local paper, and it's quite a story of a small business that's absolutely exploded in their small town. It's a bittersweet message because since Terri left us this message in June, they have moved away from Stanberry after living there for 30 years to be closer to their kids and grandkids. But, it's easy to tell that Stanberry will always have a place in their hearts, and we love it so much. We Want to Hear From You! We really, really do, and if you'll let us, we'd love to feature your actual message just like we did with Terri's (with your permission, of course!) Some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're have two "participation dance" elements of the show: "Small town humblebrags": Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  "Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges": Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

Childcare is a huge challenge for many families, and this is of course true for small towns. When Alex and Tyler's daycare closed their small town of Ottertail, MN (pop. 500), Tyler half-jokingly said, "We should just start our own daycare." Well, that's pretty much what that did. Two days later, he had a plan and three years later, they're opening a nonprofit daycare to serve their community that could change how rural communities approach childcare. And we are so here for it! About Tyler & Alex: Tyler and Alex Rupe have been married for nearly a decade, bringing together roots from Grand Forks, North Dakota and the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Shortly after their wedding, the couple relocated to Ottertail and quickly fell in love with the close-knit community. In 2020, Tyler purchased Battle Lake Refrigeration, Heating & Cooling, while Alex has built a career in marketing and event planning before recently becoming Executive Director of the Ottertail Community Center. Together with their two children and their beloved Labrador, Daisy, the Rupes have become integral members of the Ottertail community. They share a profound passion for community service and are dedicated to creating positive, lasting change that will benefit generations to come, working actively to strengthen the bonds that make their adopted hometown such a special place to live and raise a family.  In this episode, we cover: How a childcare crisis (and a joke!) sparked a community movement Why they chose the nonprofit route The "pod model" for childcare The role of collaboration and philanthropy Why a community center is next!  Links + Resources Mentioned: Website: https://www.ottertailcommunityproject.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ottertailcommunityproject Sponsor Spotlight: Brodie Mueller and The Market on the Plaza In small towns, coffee is more than caffeine. It's community! Market on the Plaza 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: Raymond, SD, population 789. Katie shares that last year, they hosted the first Raymond Redwing days, complete with a color run, vendors, live music, food, the works! It was such a hit that this year's event is already in the works. There is so much love and work involved in these kinds of events, so we know it's no small feat, but it's such an amazing way to build community and celebrate small towns. Snaps to Raymond! 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 hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

We are 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: Cardinal ManufacturingVideo Gallery: Watch HereFacebook: @CardinalManufacturingInstagram: @cardinal_manufacturingYouTube: Cardinal Manufacturing Channel Sponsor Spotlight: Brodie Mueller and The Market on the Plaza In small towns, coffee is more than caffeine. It's community! Market on the Plaza 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 hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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