We’re so excited to bring you this week’s interview with Joni Nash, the Executive Director of the Pawhuska, Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce. Pawhuska just happens to be the home of Ree Drummond — The Pioneer Woman, and Joni has been right in the action as this small town has been revived literally overnight.

This week on the podcast we’re sitting down with Jeremy Mahler of The Nineteen14 in Minburn, Iowa. The Nineteen14 is an old railroad depot that Jeremy turned into a restaurant that draws thousands of people each year — mostly through the local bike trail. As a creative and an entrepreneur, Jeremy is always involved in lots of fun projects. He’s also sharing why, after living and traveling all over the world, he decided to return to his roots in small town Iowa.

Norm and Teresa Gielda are the new owners of The Davis General - a modern day general store in the rural community of Boston, just on the outskirts of Franklin, Tennessee. This week on the podcast they’re sharing their story about how they chose to relocate from California to Tennessee and return to Teresa’s southern roots, and how becoming small business owners has helped them build community in a new place.

It's no secret I love to stay busy. I finished my master's degree in nursing education, and still work as a nurse three days a week. However, I needed something to fill a creative void in my life. I needed a side hustle. So here I am, working three days in the clinic, making custom leather, and running a photography business.

Why New Providence? I get asked this regularly. It’s home for me and goodness, I am so thankful every day that I have grown a business in an area full of such supporting people. Everyone in this community treats you like family and they are so positive, always encouraging others, looking for a way to give a helping hand, and celebrating everything and everyone’s accomplishments. Why wouldn’t you want to surround yourself with that everyday?!

One definition of community is, “a feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” In my opinion, New Providence has just that, and other small communities should strive to have the same. Our small size keeps us together, focused, and driven to be successful as a whole. I’m proud to be part of a community that is dedicated to making the place we call home a little better each day.

It was always a dream of ours to open a flower, plant, and gift shop, so I opened The Rustic Rose and am living out our dream! This experience has been amazing. The town of New Providence is an absolutely awesome place to have my business. I couldn’t be more happy with my choice.

This week on the podcast we’re taking you to New Providence, Iowa, where we’re sitting down with Blake Richie, owner of BR Designs. Blake is one of several millennials who has decided to call New Providence home. He’s talking about why he chose this town of 250 people as the place to start his business, why no town is too small for revival, and how he started a county-wide young professionals group to help people learn and connect.

This week on the podcast we’re talking with Lexi Marek, an ag communicator and influencer and sixth generation Iowa farm girl. She’s sharing why she’s passionate about women in agriculture, how competing for Miss Iowa changed her life, and why she’s a big advocate for branding.

Thanksgiving is all about gathering around the table to share a meal and celebrate the blessings and many reasons we have to be thankful in our lives. So for this special Thanksgiving edition of the podcast, we’re sitting down with someone who actually makes the tables we gather around - Walt Henson, Owner of Red Tower Design in Canyon, Texas.

Rural Revival presents this season’s best gifts - from sporting to jewelry, home goods to apparel - all made in America by rural makers and creators. As part of this holiday season, let's #shopsmall and #shoprural and support business owners who are working hard to create amazing products all across rural America. And be sure to check out the other products available from these makers and creators, too, and find something special for everyone on your list!

This week on the podcast we’re sitting down with Randa Starnes of Tennessee River Music Company, a registered Hereford and Angus operation in Fort Payne, Alabama. Randa’s talking about life on their family’s cattle production farm, what it’s like to grow up with a famous dad, and how they unexpectedly grew their operation with a new business venture.

This week on the podcast we’re with Justin Christman of Roadside Que in Fort Payne, Alabama. Justin made the move to Fort Payne from Denver, Colorado, got creative with his passion for BBQ and cooking, and introduced the first food truck to this rural area. The power of word of mouth in a small community helped boost his business, which has now grown into a new brick and mortar restaurant.

Join us on the farm in rural Madison County, Iowa for this week’s podcast interview with Matt and Naomi Hupton, founders of Pammel Park Coffee Company. Matt and Naomi are sharing about chasing a dream and why they chose Winterset, Iowa as their place to relocate and start a family business - and how it all started with roasting coffee in their garage and a roadside stand with their kids.

This week on the podcast we’re talking with farm manager Stephanie Ballantine from Kiron, Iowa (pop. 279). Stephanie unexpectedly found herself widowed and faced with the decision of whether or not to continue the farming operation she and her husband had built together. She made the decision to keep the farm operation going, and she’s sharing about her journey and what she has learned along the way.

Right in the heart of rural northwest Iowa is the community of Holstein - a small town with German roots that has quickly become a fun go-to destination. Holstein has a little bit of everything to offer, and with its prime location at the intersections of Highway 20 and Highway 59, it’s the perfect place for a day trip or weekend getaway in the Iowa countryside!

Starting this business was something I wanted to do for awhile. I had been working with the family business my whole life, which was body work, but the shop fell on hard times and we had to close up shop. All I knew was mainly body work, but we decided to take the gamble and purchase the bar.

The movement of reopening small town movie theatres is a great example of what communities do. People come together to make something happen, for the town, and acting in good faith. Getting the State Theatre renovated and reopened was just one thing that has happened recently in Holstein, Iowa, but is a big part of the energy and revival going on here.

As someone with a passion for cooking who loves coffee and being around family and friends, I have always wanted to start my own business and have talked it about for years. It wasn’t until my kids were off to college and I found myself a single parent with nowhere to grow in the job I had that I finally took the plunge. After being in the corporate world of sales and marketing, I decided it was my time to start a new chapter in my life. I knew I needed a change, and it was scary - and still is at times - but I did it!

This week on the podcast, Emily Vollmar Doxtad of Rooted Boutique in Holstein, Iowa (pop. 1,396) talks about doing the unlikely thing of bringing a modern, contemporary boutique to her rural community. She shares about the journey of her business that started in a snowmobile trailer and how it has grown and changed over the years into a fun brick-and-mortar shop!