Rural Revival
Entrepreneurship
From farming and agriculture to amazing restaurants, vintage markets, and even tech start-ups, people are thinking outside the box, taking risks, and bringing life back to the hometowns and small communities we love. Our hope is this will be a place where you can be inspired to do the same. So jump in, hear the stories of people who are doing life in rural America and loving it, and start dreaming. And then let us know what you're up to so we can share your story, too!
Location:
United States
Description:
From farming and agriculture to amazing restaurants, vintage markets, and even tech start-ups, people are thinking outside the box, taking risks, and bringing life back to the hometowns and small communities we love. Our hope is this will be a place where you can be inspired to do the same. So jump in, hear the stories of people who are doing life in rural America and loving it, and start dreaming. And then let us know what you're up to so we can share your story, too!
Language:
English
Episodes
136 | Dallas Rosenow of Underestimated Fitness
12/29/2022
On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Dallas Rosenow of Underestimated Fitness in Cherokee, Oklahoma (pop. 1,630). Dallas is a personal trainer and certified NASM/CPT life coach. While her business is based out of rural Oklahoma, she serves clients all over the country and helps them create not only a healthy body, but a healthy lifestyle.
Dallas is sharing about her own personal health and fitness journey and how that passion turned into a business. She’s also sharing...
Duration:00:23:01
135 | Marissa Molland and Melissa Nelson of Rural Route Ramble
9/29/2022
On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Marissa Molland of Hardly General and Melissa Nelson of Hungry Canyon to talk about the Rural Route Ramble they put on in Moville, Iowa (pop. 1,687) and the surrounding area every December. The Rural Route Ramble is a curated, self guided shop hop through some of Northwest Iowa’s rural communities.
They’re talking about how they provide a well-rounded shopping experience with food, shopping, coffee, and a little bit of something for...
Duration:00:29:11
134 | Mike McCartney of the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce
9/15/2022
Today we’re with Mike McCartney, director of the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce for a second time. We’re talking about all things economic development, starting with the revitalization efforts that helped pave the way for the Pioneer Woman Mercantile and the tourism rush that followed, plus business incubators, people moving in from out of state, finding workers and housing to accommodate growth, and what happens when everybody says ‘somebody should do that’… and how that somebody is you.
You...
Duration:00:56:08
133 | Kara Hammes of Brown County Barn Burner
9/1/2022
On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Kara Hammes of Brown County Barn Burner in Nashville, Indiana (pop. 1,521). Kara is sharing about opening an Airbnb in a tourist destination and strategically building a space that serves both the tourist and the local community. She and her husband are doing a great job of blending the two and finding something that serves both. Kara also talks about some of the collaborations she’s done with local businesses, as well as leading the...
132 | JB Royer of Royers Round Top Cafe
8/18/2022
Today on the Rural Revival podcast we’re with JB Royer of Royer’s Round Top Cafe in Round Top, Texas (pop. 90). We met up with JB just as Texas Antiques Week was starting, and we did this interview as they were getting the restaurant ready for the evening dinner guests, so hopefully you feel like you’re sitting right there in the cafe with us.
We’re talking about the great family history behind the cafe, the importance of relationships, how they’ve made it possible to ship their pies...
Duration:00:22:05
131 | Shanna Lindberg of Soul Sister Ceramics
8/5/2022
On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Shanna Lindberg of Soul Sister Ceramics in Courtland, Kansas (pop. 294). Shanna is telling the story of how she and her business partner, knowing nothing about how to make pottery, bought a kiln and became self taught pottery makers using Kansas clay from the Flint Hills. They started making jewelry, hosting pottery parties, and all kinds of fun things.
She shares about her shop’s cute location in a historic corner gas station and her...
130 | Matt and Brittany Tedder of Tedder Ag Technologies
7/21/2022
On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Matt and Brittany Tedder of Walsh, Colorado (pop. 546). Matt and Brittany are entrepreneurs at heart, with their hand in ag technologies, seed sales, a trucking business, a construction and design business, and a catering business where they even have their own barbecue sauce!
They’re talking about how they work together as a team and diversify themselves through different seasons, how they’re raising up their kids as entrepreneurs and...
129 | Kim Ellenz of Old School Seals
7/7/2022
On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Kim Ellenz of Old School Seals in Tipton, Kansas (pop. 193). Old School Seals custom makes wax seals and stamps for people around the world — all from a small town — and today Kim is bringing us inside to tell us all about it. She shares about the start of the company and how she got involved, moving the business to Tipton, the intricacies of running an online business, and much more. From working with wedding designers in New York and...
128 | Amanda Lebeck of Walnut Community Center
5/26/2022
On today’s episode we’re with Amanda Lebeck, Chairman of the Walnut Community Center in Walnut, Iowa (pop. 747). Amanda shares how she and members of her community moved quickly to save their recently vacated school building and give it a new purpose and use, which now includes a fitness center, conference rooms, community kitchen, event spaces, two gyms, and even a bar. She talks about their foundation’s unique partnership with the city that makes this all work, as well as some of their...
127 | Hair Stylist Rylie Sproul of The Loft
5/12/2022
This week we’re with Rylie Sproul, hair stylist at The Loft in Fairview, Oklahoma (pop. 2,600). While Rylie always knew she wanted to be a hair stylist, she didn’t always know she would end up living in her hometown, yet that’s exactly where she’s at and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
We talk about celebrating 11 years of business in a building that has an incredible history for her family, the relationships she’s built and cultivated with her clients, and the important role that plays...
126 | Nicky Tiffany of The Territory Ballroom
4/28/2022
On this episode of the podcast we’re with Nicky Tiffany of The Territory Ballroom in Council Grove, Kansas (pop. 2,140), where she’s sharing about her hopes and dreams for this business and building when the doors open — as an event space, co-working space, Airbnb, and more. Plus, the big transition that’s happened in downtown Council Grove in a short amount of time and how this has become a great destination, and why she wants to give people the opportunity to move back home and how the...
125 | Michael and Sara Floyd of Bryarton Farm
4/14/2022
On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Michael and Sara Floyd of Bryarton Farm in rural Kansas. Together Michael and Sara shared a dream of owning a historic farmhouse in the country as a creative space for their art and design studio, and today they’re sharing about the adventure of bringing that dream to life.
From what brought them to Kansas, to Sara’s tips and tricks for finding historic properties, and creative ways to survive a lengthy renovation, this is a journey...
124 | Brandi Lahey of Cimarron Prairie Farms and The Tipsy Farmer
3/31/2022
n this episode of the podcast we’re with Brandi Lahey of Cimarron Prairie Farms and The Tipsy Farmer in Moscow, Kansas (pop. 272). Brandi is sharing about the journey that’s taken her from being a nurse to a farmer’s wife and mom to now growing hops.
This has been quite an adventure, from learning about hops and how to grow them, to cold-calling breweries, to finding ways to diversify the uses for her crop. Plus, how she decided to turn the family camper into a mobile craft beer and...
123 | Lettie McKinney of MC- Ranch, The Roundtop, and McKinney Farms
3/17/2022
We’re kicking off our fourth season of the podcast with Lettie McKinney of MC- Ranch, The Roundtop, and McKinney Farms in Johnson, Kansas (pop. 1,464). Lettie is sharing what it’s been like to come back and take over her family farm and ranch and the incredible journey that she’s been living out. She talks about getting creative to make extra money as an addition to the family operation, her family’s legacy of grit and their story dealing with chronic illness, plus how she started selling...
122 | Madison Lindsey of The Country Cookie
10/21/2021
On today’s podcast episode we’re with Madison Lindsey of The Country Cookie in Newell, South Dakota (pop. 603). Madison is sharing how she stumbled into an unexpected business by making cookies out of her home, and as the word got out, the orders came pouring in and her business soon exploded. She talks about learning to scale her business, having boundaries, balancing work and family life, and more.
This is such a fun story, and you’ll love how Madison stumbled into this business that is...
121 | James Yates of Steerfish Steak & Smoke
10/7/2021
On today’s podcast we’re with James Yates of Steerfish Steak & Smoke in Spearfish, South Dakota (pop. 10,494). James has been in the restaurant business since he was a kid and he actually had no plans of opening a new restaurant in Spearfish...until he saw this incredible historic building, and the rest is history. James is sharing with us a lot about entrepreneurship, finding your passion, and of course the incredible menu at Steerfish.
And here’s the fun back story on this interview. My...
120 | Tia Berens of The Barn at Aspen Acres
9/23/2021
On today’s podcast episode we’re with Tia Berens of the Barn at Aspen Acres in Spearfish, South Dakota (pop. 10,494). The Barn at Aspen Acres is a stunning wedding venue that offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Northern Black Hills, minimalist landscaping, clean lines, and modern aesthetic design features. Originally built as a space for Tia and her husband Dan to host their wedding, the venue has now become the canvas for the vision for other couples’ weddings. Tia is sharing why...
119 | Katie Cloud-Paulsen of Katie + Company
9/9/2021
On today’s podcast episode we’re with Katie Cloud-Paulsen of Katie + Company in Anthon, Iowa (pop. 545), where you’ll find painted vintage furniture, candles, a custom fragrance line, and more! It all started out with Katie painting furniture for her dorm room in college, and now she and her husband are restoring a historic downtown building where she’ll operate her shop out of and where they’re renovating three apartments on the upper level. And Katie is bringing something new to the area...
118 | Molly Knuth of Molly Knuth Media
7/8/2021
This week we’re with Molly Knuth of Molly Knuth Media in Cascade, Iowa. From full time teacher to a stay-at-home-mom to now being a social media boss, Molly is sharing how she built her business and how her personable approach resonated with a small town audience on social media. We talk about current trends she is seeing and the role small business social media can play in building momentum for small town revival. Plus some of her best tips for small businesses on social media, and how to...
117 | Kenzie Ashcraft of Farm Girl
6/24/2021
On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re sitting down on the farm for a conversation with Kenzie Ashcroft of Farm Girl — a rural boutique and general store located in the heart of the Oklahoma prairie. After years of operating a main street brick and mortar, Kenzie’s sharing how she has recently transitioned both her brand and her boutique and expanded into the online space. Kenzie is an entrepreneur at heart and you’ll learn a lot from our conversation.
You’ll love how Kenzie...