The Rural Impact

Every year, National Rural Health Day is a chance to recognize and celebrate the dedicated efforts of rural health advocates and partners working to improve rural life. On November 20, 2025, The Rural Impact...

In part one of the last episode of 2025, 'Uncertain Times for Community Health Centers,' Michelle invites Feygele Jacobs, DrPH, MS, MPH to The Rural Impact. Dr. Jacobs is the Director of the Geiger Gibson Program in...

In this episode, 'A Conversation About the Intersections of Policy and Philanthropy,' Cara V. James, PhD, President and CEO of Grantmakers in Health (GIH), joins Michelle to explore key topics like rural health...

In this episode, "A Conversation About the State of America's Family Farms," Hannah Tremblay and Caitlin Arnold Stephano, both from Farm Aid, discuss issues impacting America's small and family farms.   Hannah...

In this episode, "Finding Common Ground in Community Engagement," Michelle welcomes Meredith Dean, the National Director of the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative's Community Works program, to discuss how rural communities...

In this episode, "Ready. Set. No. The State of Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements Readiness," Michelle welcomes Research Professors Tricia Brooks and Leonardo Cuello, as well as State Health Policy Analyst Hannah...

In this episode, "A Conversation About What Undermines Local Government and Public Service," Michelle welcomes Brooks Williams to discuss how anger and rage are impacting local governments. Brooks is a city manager...

In this episode, "HRSA's Dwindling Rural Health Commitments," we kick off with a conversation between Michelle and Alexa McKinley Abel, Director of Government Affairs at the National Rural Health Association. They...

In this episode, Education, Workforce & Tariffs: Rough Roads for Rural Ahead, the episode begins with Alexa McKinley Abel, Director of Government Affairs at the National Rural Health Association, who provides a...

In this Rural Impact Extra Episode: A Conversation about Rural Prosperity and its Connection to Policies, Past, Present & Future, Michelle leads the episode with a discussion with two esteemed experts in the...

In this extra episode of the Rural Impact Michelle welcomes Cynthia Wallace, Executive Director of the non-profit, New Rural Project, which she co-founded in April 2021 to discuss the impacts of H.R.1, as well as the...

Michelle kicks off this episode with Edwin Park, Research Professor at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, within the McCourt School of Public Policy. His work primarily focuses on Medicaid,...