NEW RURAL VIRGINIA PODCAST

Karen Baker and Kamala Bauers, co-chairs of the Floyd County Democratic Committee, join New Rural Virginia Podcast to talk about how they’re helping turn a deeply red county “pink” by starting with common ground, showing up year-round and treating political opponents like the neighbors they are. From challenging Flock surveillance cameras and data centers to poking holes in information bubbles, ke...

Beth Macy, journalist, bestselling author, and Democratic nominee for Congress in Virginia’s 6th District, returns to New Rural Virginia Podcast. After a summer spent listening across the district, Beth talks with Larry and Parson about rising costs, family farms, agricultural labor and immigration, data centers, and veterans’ care. What is she hearing? “People are ticked.” Read more in The Rural...

Will Hackman, Warren County resident and author of Radically Reframing Climate Change: A Guide to Saving Ourselves, joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to talk about how we think and talk about climate change in rural communities. From extreme weather and resilience to jobs, energy costs and the growing demands of data centers, Hackman argues for moving beyond polarization, guilt and ineffective mess...

NEW RURAL VIRGINIA PODCAST heads to Network NOVA’s 10th annual Women’s Summit for Political Engagement, this year branded BIG TEN, for conversations with candidates, organizers and grassroots leaders from Virginia and beyond. Network NOVA co-founder KATHERINE WHITE reflects on how the organization grew from a post-2016 grassroots effort into a broader political movement.   From the hallways, Democ...

House Delegate Lily Franklin and congressional candidate Tom Perriello join New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss how corporate restrictions on repairing tractors, vehicles, electronics, and other equipment hurt farmers and rural communities. They explain why Democrats are leading the fight for the right to repair, what can be done at the state and federal levels, and why the proposed NextEra-Domi...

Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi joins New Rural Virginia Podcast with an important message for Virginians as Dominion Energy's proposed acquisition by NextEra Energy moves toward regulatory review. She explains why she believes the review should slow down, what the proposed merger could mean for rural communities, and why Virginians should get answers before decisions are made that could shape...

Ashleigh N. Jackson, Andrea Jackson, Makayla Venable, and LeighAshley Hardin join New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss grassroots organizing, representation, and building Democratic power in rural Virginia. Four Black women share how relationships, local leadership, and year-round organizing are helping reshape Democratic politics in Waynesboro and beyond.

State Senator Jennifer Boysko joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss Virginia’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave law, why she spent eight years fighting for its passage, and what it could mean for working families, small businesses, and rural communities across the Commonwealth. Learn more: www. JenniferBoysko.com Email: SenatorBoysko@senate.virginia.gov

Congressman James Walkinshaw and House District 9 candidate Joy Powers join New Rural Virginia Podcast for a conversation on what rural and urban communities can accomplish when they work together. The discussion explores gerrymandering, food security, small business development, health care affordability, public libraries, and the shared economic challenges facing Virginians across geographic and...

Released: Memorial Day, May 25, 2026 | Recorded: May 21, 2026 Shenandoah Democratic Committee Chair Brad Skipper joins New Rural Virginia Podcast for a conversation on grassroots organizing in one of Virginia’s most conservative rural regions. The discussion explores bridge demonstrations over Interstate 81, rural voter engagement, school board culture wars, and the growing visibility of Democrats...

Sarah Wells joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss the role of small businesses in driving rural prosperity and the challenges they face in today’s economy. The conversation focuses on limited visibility in policy and data, complex tax and compliance burdens, and uneven access to financing and resources that often hold rural entrepreneurs back. Wells also outlines practical, nonpartisan solut...

As Virginia votes YES on the redistricting referendum, Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss her vision for the Commonwealth and the initiatives shaping her work in office. The conversation highlights her Literature and Government lecture series and Virginia’s Voices initiative, focused on civic engagement and connecting directly with communities across Vir...

Former Air Force and Space Force Colonel Bree Fram joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss her campaign for Virginia’s 11th District and the upcoming redistricting referendum vote on April 21st. The conversation spans her military service and path to running for Congress, the stakes of redistricting, and the challenge of representing a district that bridges rural and suburban communities. Fram...

The voices of rural Virginia are essential to the future of the Commonwealth. New Rural Virginia Podcast brings conversations with candidates, elected officials, organizers, and community leaders across rural Virginia. Listen anywhere you get your audio and please follow, like, and subscribe to our substack newsletter, "The Rural Angle" Co-hosted by Larry Wohlers and Parson Brown www. NewRuralVa.o...

Lyndsay Deitrick and Laura Miller of the Alliance for Appalachia join for a conversation on two decades of work supporting communities across Southwest Virginia and the broader region. The episode highlights ongoing efforts around environmental justice, grassroots organizing, and federal advocacy, while connecting those efforts to the future of rural prosperity, community resilience, and represent...

Kris Nelson and Jessica Reynolds join New Rural Virginia Podcast discuss the movement to protect Samuels Public Library, the strength of grassroots organizing in rural communities, and how cross-party partnerships can deliver results. They analyze newly drawn district lines, consider implications for the Commonwealth’s civic future, highlight strategies that keep local advocates aligned and effect...

Beth Macy joins New Rural Virginia Podcast for a discussion recorded amid Virginia’s newly released redistricting maps and a rapidly shifting primary landscape. A journalist from Roanoke and bestselling author, Macy reflects on her decision to run in Virginia’s Sixth District, drawing on decades of reporting on rural America. The episode explores rural prosperity, healthcare and education access,...

Tom Perriello joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss his return to Virginia’s Fifth District and the need for strong federal leadership. He reflects on the Affordable Care Act, healthcare costs, wages and affordability, and rebuilding opportunity in rural communities. Drawing on his experience working in countries under authoritarian rule, Perriello discusses threats to democratic norms and C...

As Virginia enters a new chapter with the inauguration of Governor Abigail Spanberger, Ken Mitchell joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss his campaign to represent Virginia’s Sixth District in Congress. The conversation explores challenges facing agriculture and small businesses, the importance of listening to rural communities, and how those perspectives inform his vision for Rural Prosperi...

Joy Powers returns to help kick off a new year of conversations around new leadership in the Commonwealth and the launch of her new campaign for Congress in Virginia’s 9th District. She shares insights from the campaign trail, reflects on what motivated her run, and joins us for a broader discussion on Rural Prosperity in Virginia.   Learn more at: www. JoyForVA.com

Yes, Virginia, Rural Democrats are Real Closing out 2025, New Rural Virginia Podcast welcomes Pete Barlow, a candidate for U.S. Congress in Virginia’s 6th District, and inaugurates our new Rural Prosperity conversation series with a discussion on the future of the Commonwealth. Learn more: www.pete-barlow.com

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!      🦃      🎙️      🦅 This week, Larry and Parson have a post-election conversation with Lynlee Thorne, Political Director of Rural GroundGame, on the importance of community voices, the impact of storytelling, and what’s being discussed on the frontlines of rural Virginia. Learn more: www.ruralgroundgame.org jYcu3MkACSJDWS5mYI7n

Roberta Thacker Oliver, Chair of the Virginia Democratic Rural Caucus, joins the New Rural Virginia Podcast to reflect on Election 2025, discuss the future of rural organizing, and share insights on building a stronger, more connected Commonwealth.

As the countdown to Election Day continues, co-hosts Parson Brown and Larry Wohlers follow up with HD 61 candidate Jac Bennington, a teacher, Army veteran, and National Guard pilot. The conversation explores what he is hearing from voters, the tone of this year’s races, and how voices from rural Virginia are shaping campaigns and leadership across the Commonwealth. Learn more about Jac Bennington’...

Donna Littlepage, candidate for Virginia House District 40, returns to New Rural Virginia podcast to share updates from the campaign trail and discuss the rising cost of living, access to quality healthcare, and the need for bipartisan cooperation in Richmond. As election day approaches, she offers her perspective on the recent government shutdown and the importance of finding common ground in the...