We’re closing out Part 1 of Season 6 with an episode about something near and dear to our hearts, and oh-so-important in rural and ag communities: mental health. For Mental Health Awareness Month, Rebecca sits down with therapist Chris Swenson — owner of Rhino Wellness Center and host of the Rhino Resilience podcast — to reframe what strength really looks like in rural communities. (Yes, we know that May is technically Mental Health Awareness Month, but we recorded this episo

Some people are just wired to make things better–in their businesses, their communities, their small towns–even when it's hard, and nobody around them quite gets it. This episode is for those people. We get it. Today’s guest, Jordan DeGree, gets it. And he has created the Rural Ideas Network to connect you with other people who get it, too. Today’s episode is what support and connection can look like, and where you can find them. About Jordan: Jordan DeGree is an entrepreneur

Amy Jacobson is the Director of UND's Special Education Resident Teacher Program, and on today’s episode, she breaks down two innovative pathways that have trained roughly 600 special education teachers for North Dakota schools since 1997, including one designed for people who don't even have an undergraduate degree yet. The programs combine paid, year-long internships with layered mentorship and heavily subsidized graduate education, creating a model with remarkable retentio

Many small-town people carry more than their fair share and, in some cases, tie their self-worth to how much they do for others or to their role in their small town (we’re lovingly looking at you, farmers and ranchers and Heads of Everything). In this episode, therapist Anna and our host Rebecca explore burnout, boundaries, and why emotional awareness and resilience can coexist. It’s a grounded conversation about choosing alignment over obligation and building healthier com

Brooke Clay Taylor is a force. We are so excited to have her on the podcast because her story is so darn inspiring, and she’s just a really cool human. In this episode, Brooke shares her journey from growing up in a small town, moving to the big city for college and work, moving back to a small town for entrepreneurship and love, and then becoming an entrepreneur, mother, and cancer survivor. This episode explores what it really looks like to design your life with intention,

Loneliness is a big deal, and it’s become an actual epidemic. And, while it may seem simple to combat (the opposite of loneliness is belonging and community, right?), creating belonging and community can actually be much harder. This is what Emma McIntyre is all about. She builds events that create belonging — from farmers markets to winter festivals to senior socials — and this episode is all about how small towns can replicate these ideas at any scale by focusing on comfort

This episode dives into the amazing creative journey of Tesa Klein, the cowgirl-turned-entrepreneur behind Wildflowers, who rebuilt her business after years in the rodeo world and rediscovered her spark. She’s deeply rooted in rural (she lives in a NoDak town of 50!) but has had her share of big-time viral moments. It’s an inspiring look at trusting yourself even when your dreams don’t seem to match your zip code, and we love hearing her take on balance and dreaming big from

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 L

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, buildin

Sometimes things are rough, whether it’s for a little bit, a season, or longer. This episode is straight from our founder and leader, and she’s sharing reflections and encouragement for anyone who’s felt exhausted, uncertain, or overwhelmed by the weight of showing up for their community or business. It’s lovely work, but it can also feel heavy and lonely, so if you’ve ever felt that way, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll hear: That your energy is a limited res

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...

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...

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...

One of our favorite things is the impact of great employers on individuals, small towns, and the overall culture of the communities they...

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...

Our last Moments of Growth episode is about another event that will become at flagship bit of programming for Growing Small Towns: the...

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...

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...

Mental health is something we’re incredibly passionate about here at Growing Small Towns, which most of you likely know by now given how...

When we last talked to Haley, she was pushing full steam ahead on building the beautiful Hearthside Vineyard & Winery. She’s still going...