The Rural Impact

For more than a century, why has rural America been described as being "in crisis"? In this thought-provoking episode of The Rural Impact, host Michelle Rathman sits down with historian and author Steven Conn to...

As artificial intelligence expands and the demand for digital infrastructure accelerates, rural America is increasingly at the center of conversations and controversies over energy production, data centers, land use,...

In this power-hour conversation, Michelle begins by welcoming returning guest expert Joan Alker, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Center for Children and Families.  Joan shares recent research focused on...

In this episode of The Rural Impact, Views from the Field: Farm Bill 2026, host Michelle Rathman speaks with Senior Legislative Director of the National Association of Counties Blaire  Bryant and Commissioner Dakkia...

In this solo Memorial Day and early summer episode of The Rural Impact, host Michelle Rathman shares reflections from the road while attending the National Rural Health Association Annual Meeting and previews several...

In this episode of The Rural Impact, host Michelle Rathman continues the "Tracking Transformation" series with a closer look at how states are using Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding to modernize...

In part one of this episode, The Precarious State of Public Education, host Michelle Rathman continues the series on the state of rural education with policy expert Paige Shoemaker DeMio. Paige is a Senior Policy...

In part one of this episode of The Rural Impact, “Rural Counties Responding to Policy Shifts: The Impact of Civic Engagement,” Michelle speaks with two rural leaders navigating complex policy challenges: Commissioners...

In part one of this episode, USPS Under Threat and the Impact on Rural America, Elena Patel, Co-Director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, joins Michelle to break down the growing financial crisis facing the...

In part one of this episode, Rural Education: Public Funds for Private Schools, Dr. Melissa Sadorf, Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association (NREA), joins Michelle to discuss the evolving...

In part one of this episode, Tracking Transformation: Opportunity for Some, for Others Pain, Michelle sits down with Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Children and Families at the Georgetown...

In part one of this episode, The Inescapable Impact of Immigration Policies on Small Towns and Rural Communities, Michelle sits down with Emmy and Murrow Award–winning video storyteller, content strategist, and...