Rural Matters

Oct 21 2024 100 ep. 37 mins 26
Rural Matters Podcast artwork

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.

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The Benefits of Employer Partnerships and Training (Part I of MedCerts Series)

Oct 21 2024 40 mins  
In this episode, Michael chats with Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce Development at MedCerts; Dana Janssen, Chief Product Officer at MedCerts; Rupi Hayer, Senior Manager for Chronic Disease Education in the Improving Health Outcomes Department at the American Medical Association (AMA); and Lauren Clemmons, Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Oste

What Really Works in Rural Development With Aspen CSG’s Chris Estes

Oct 11 2024 39 mins  
In this episode, Michael chats with Chris Estes, Co-Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group (Aspen CSG). Together, they discuss recent federal investment in rural areas, why private philanthropy and government need to rethink funding strategies, why rethinking measurement is important, the impact of investing in rural development hubs, and much more.

Battling the Overdose Epidemic in Rural America With the Global Health Advocacy Incubator’s Libby Jones

May 30 2024 33 mins  
In this episode, Michael chats with Elizabeth “Libby” Jones, Program Director of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator’s Overdose Prevention Initiative (OPI). Together, they discuss OPI’s mission, what they’re working on now, differences between rural and urban issues surrounding the opioid crisis and overdose epidemic, what’s happening at the federal level to address t

The Legacy of Poverty in Disadvantaged Rural Communities With the University of Michigan’s Luke Shaefer

Sep 01 2023 28 mins  
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 i

Taking Action to Resolve Water Insecurities in California (Part IV of Self-Help Series)

Apr 20 2023 31 mins  
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 Co

Advancing Rural Communities Through Apprenticeships and a Stronger Public-Sector Workforce (Part IV of Ascendium Series)

Apr 20 2023 35 mins  
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 advanci

Addressing Key Challenges in Rural Community Services (Part III of Self-Help Series)

Apr 14 2023 38 mins  
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 Servi

Bolstering Rural Housing and Community (Part II of Self-Help Series)

Mar 29 2023 36 mins  
In the second installment of our 2023 series with the Self-Help Enterprises, Michael chats with the following rural development experts: Betsy McGovern-Garcia, Director of Real Estate Development at Self-Help Enterprises; Jennifer Gomez, City Manager for the City of Farmersville, California; and Adrianne Hillman, Founder and CEO of Salt + Light Works. Together, they discuss rural h

Strengthening Rural Postsecondary and Workforce Outcomes (Part III of Brookings Series) with Education to Employment Partners’ Jeffrey West

Mar 24 2023 19 mins  
In the third and final installment of our 2023 series with the Brookings Institution, Michael chats with Jeffrey West, Executive Director of Education to Employment Partners, where he works to bring people, information, and resources together to improve the quality of educational attainment and career development services in South Texas. Together, they discuss how one partnership,

A Farm Bill for Rural America (Part II of Brookings Series)

Mar 22 2023 43 mins  
In the second installment of our 2023 series with the Brookings Institution, Michael chats with Kate Hansen, Senior Policy Associate at the Center for Rural Affairs; Brett Melone, Chief Business Strategies Officer at California FarmLink; and farmers Dan Voss and Max Chavez (interpretation by Carmen Montes, Center for Rural Affairs). Together, they discuss farming initiatives and st