May 4, 2026
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...
Apr 27, 2026
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...
Apr 20, 2026
Rebecca sits down with futurist Rebecca Ryan for a conversation about why and how small towns need to stop planning for the past and start envisioning multiple possible futures. They discuss the PHOEBE energy assessment, the three futures framework, and why traditional stakeholder-based visioning often fails. It's one...
Apr 13, 2026
This episode is about Oakes, ND’s first-ever Career Carousel, a speed-dating-style event that connected 52 high school juniors and seniors with 14 local employers for four-minute rotational conversations. The goal was to give students a safe, constructive space to practice professional interactions, learn about local...
Mar 31, 2026
What actually moves a small town forward? It’s not a lack of ideas, it’s a lack of execution. This episode digs into the mindset shift from planning to ownership, showing how consistent action, local investment, and focusing on the people who show up can create real momentum over time. It’s a...