In this episode, we sit down with "Oakes Folks" Jackie Knutson and Lisa Schulz, a mother–daughter duo who represent two generations deeply invested in their hometown. They
talk about leaving and returning, building belonging, showing up for community, navigating change, and why small towns need to both embrace the future and remember the past in order to thrive. It's a heartfelt, grounded conversation about loving where you live, even when it's not perfect.

About Jackie and Lisa:
Jackie Knutson and Lisa Schulz are a mother–daughter pair deeply rooted in GST's hometown of Oakes, North Dakota. Jackie was born in Oakes in 1944, built her family and career here, and has spent decades serving through church, civic work, and everyday acts of community care.

Lisa and her husband returned to Oakes after years in Colorado, drawn back by family, relationships, and the desire to live in a place where community is truly lived, not just a nice idea.

Together, they model what it looks like to show up, volunteer, take pride in your town, and choose connection over convenience. They are the kind of neighbors who quietly make small towns work, and the conversation they share reflects the heart of what it means to belong to a place.

In this episode, we cover:

• Jackie's decades-long perspective on how Oakes has changed and why progress, even when uncomfortable, matters.

• What brought Lisa and her husband back to Oakes after years away in Colorado, and how they've built community as "returners"

• Why small towns need people who show up (in every way)

• How negativity spreads in a community, and how to stop it

• Why building a thriving town requires both honoring the past and making room for the new

Places Mentioned (For When You Come Visit Us in Oakes!):

• The Grand Theatre: https://www.facebook.com/p/Grand-Theatre-in-Oakes-100049102555697/

• Oakes Chamber of Commerce: https://oakesnd.com/chamber

• Hockenberry Park: https://oakesnd.com/park-board

• Bingo at the American Legion: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanLegionOakes/

• Oakes' Calendar (Bingo Nights!): https://oakesnd.com/calendar-listing.php?cid=1856

• And, of course, our very own GST building. We'd love to see you!

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:
Lamoure, ND. Just a stone's throw away from Oakes, we're shouting them out today because we've heard people talk about it over and over (including Lisa on today's episode!) and Rebecca went to see it for herself, and it's so cool. It takes audacity and really knowing your community to build something like that in a small town, and that deserves recognition! Way to go!

We Want to Hear From You!
We really, really do, and if you'll let us, we'd love to feature your actual message.

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:

1. "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. 

2. "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

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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!