Rural Matters

Rural Matters

Rural Matters is a biweekly, 30-minute podcast about rural education, business, and health. The podcast's mission is to increase awareness, inform discussion, and expand the dialogue on the most important issues facing rural stakeholders every day. Guests on the podcast include rural education decision-makers, rural business owners and entrepreneurs, and rural health care representatives. The National Rural Education Association and the Center for Rural Affairs are marketing partners.

Episodes

October 2, 2026 • 28 mins

In this episode, Michael chats with Morgan Tweet, Co-founder and CEO of IND HEMP.css-1t8gq41{border:none;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;box-shadow:none;color:#2F3133;cursor:pointer;font-size:inherit;padding:0;-webkit-text-decoration:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;width:-webkit-max-content;width:-moz-max-content;width:max-content;}.css-1t8gq41:hover,.css-1t8gq41:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;}

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In this episode, Michael chats with Meg Taft, Executive Director of the Rural Youth Institute. They discuss 

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April 29, 2026 • 29 mins

In this episode, Michael chats with Angela Galbreath, Director of Partnerships for  Read more

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In this episode, Michael chats with Mara Tieken, Professor of Education at Bates College and former Rural Matters host. They discuss school closures, how commu...

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In this episode, Michael chats with Adam Ferrari, CEO of Phoenix Energy, an oil and gas company operating in the Williston Basin. They discuss current market c...

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January 14, 2026 • 22 mins

In this episode, Michael chats with Andrea Fox, Senior Editor at Healthcare IT News. Together, ...

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In this episode, Michael chats with Michael Backus, President and CEO of Oswego Health; Brian F...

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In this episode, Michael chats with Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association (...

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In this episode, Michael chats with Max Silber, Vice President of Mobility and IoT at MetTel. Together, they discuss connectivity and the role copper-based lan...

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In this episode, Michael chats with Dr. Melissa Sadorf, Executive Director of the Arizona Rural Schools Association; Dr. Steven Johnson, Superintendent of Fort...

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In this final episode of our MedCerts series, Michael chats with Jenny Story, Office Manager an...

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In this episode, Michael chats with MacKenzie Nuckolls, RN CNOR, Assistant Director of Surgical...

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In this episode, Michael chats with Marion McFadden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development at the U.S. Department of Hous...

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In this episode, Michael chats with Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce...

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In this episode, Michael chats with Chris Estes, Co-Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group (Aspen CSG). Together, they discuss

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In this episode, Michael chats with Elizabeth "Libby" Jones, Program Director of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator's Overdose Prevention Initiative (OPI). T...

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In this episode, Michael chats with returning Rural Matters guest Luke Shaefer, Faculty Director of Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, Kohn Professor of Social Justice and Social Policy, professor of social work, and co-author of The Injustice of Place, which explores the legacy of poverty in disadvantaged rural communities across the U.S.

Together, they discuss the impetus and research behin...

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In the fourth and final installment of our 2023 series with Self-Help Enterprises, Michael chats with the following rural water, housing, and health experts: Tami McVay, Director of Emergency Services at Self-Help Enterprises; Meghan Tosney, Assistant Deputy Director at California's State Water Board's Division of Financial Assistance; Eddie Ocampo, Program Director with the Community Sustainability Department at Self-...

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In the fourth installment of our latest series with Ascendium, Michael chats with Dr. Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Chancellor of Reach University and CEO of Craft Education System, and Mary Wurtz, Policy Analyst at The Council of State Governments Center of Innovation. Together, they discuss their work to bolster the rural public-sector workforce, the power of apprenticeships in advancing rural communities, and much more. T...

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In the third installment of our 2023 series with the Self-Help Enterprises, Michael chats with the following rural water, housing, and health experts: Jessi Snyder, Director of Community Development at Self-Help Enterprises; Olivia Gomez, Family Resource Community Liaison at Planada Elementary School District and board member of Self-Help Enterprises and the Planada Community Services District; Patrick Isherwood, Director of Asset ...

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