Rural Revival

Join me for an update about the future of Rural Revival. SHOW NOTES Small Town Dreamer book: https://amzn.to/42cKSot The Farm Letters: thefarmletters.com MORE FROM RURAL REVIVAL WEBSITE INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

Join me for a special episode of the Rural Revival podcast where I’m sharing details about my NEW BOOK — Small Town Dreamer — plus some other fun announcements! SHOW NOTES Book tour and stockist sign up: https://www.ruralrevival.co/book Town rebrand details and appli cation: https://www.brandedbyruralrevival.co/townrebrand MORE FROM RURAL REVIVAL WEBSITE INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

Today we’re taking you to the charming little town of New Glarus, Wisconsin (pop. 2,208) where craftsmanship, community, and a whole lot of heart come together. I’m sitting down with Tim and Morgann Boettner of A Well Worn Story , a husband and wife team with a business that’s all about high-quality, handcrafted leather and canvas goods. What started with just $5,000 and some spare time has grown...

On today’s episode we're with Paige Heaton of No Roots Boots in Edelstein, Illinois (pop. 1,060). Join us at the Berch House, the charming headquarters of No Roots Boots, where we catch up with the visionary behind the brand, Paige Ehnle Heaton. This episode delves into the journey of No Roots Boots, highlighting the growth, challenges, and community collaborations that have shaped the business si...

Today we're with Carli Ullrich of Rural Grit Co. out of Kiron, Iowa (pop. 257). Carli shares her journey of starting her business at just 16 years old while still in high school, how she expanded her product line, and the importance of consistency in growing her brand. Carli also reflects on her unique approach to business, explaining why she enjoys traveling to meet customers over having a brick-...

Today kicks off a brand new season of the podcast, and as announced, this year we are going back to interview some of the people and businesses featured in our first episodes to find out what they’ve been up to since then! Who better to start off with than Michelle Myers of Dirt Road Candle Co in Lewis, Iowa (pop. 357)? I first talked to Michelle back in 2019 when her candle business was stil...

On today podcast episode we're with Michelle Hamilton of Dandelion Naturals in Hayfield, Minnesota (pop. 1,340). After 21 years in nursing, Michelle took a leap of faith two years ago and started making all natural soap and selling at farmer's markets. This business that started in her kitchen has now grown into an extensive product line and its own main street commercial building. We're talking a...

On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we're with Matt Dennis and Michael Stepp of Handlebend in O'Neill, Nebraska (pop. 3,575), where they make handcrafted copper mugs and use their space to bring new creative and entrepreneurial ideas to life. They're sharing how the resurgence of the moscow mule inspired an accidental business that brought them back to their hometown. Plus, how they’ve...

On today's episode we're with Jordan Classen of Classen Land & Cattle and Classen Mercantile out of Albion, Nebraska (pop. 1,703), and we're talking all about what it takes to start and grow a beef business from the ground up. Jordan and her husband Travis are building their dream together and bringing their vision for their farm and business to life — which started with three head of cattle —...

On today's episode, photographer Stacy Preston is showing us how a creative business IS possible in a small town. Based out of Lynchburg, Tennessee (pop. 6,742), Stacy is sharing her love for photography as a way to preserve history, and how she has turned a lifelong hobby and dream into a profitable business. We're talking about how she found her style, combining creativity and business, and how...

Today on the podcast we're with Taylor Borkowski of The Cottage in Denison, Iowa (pop. 8,172). Taylor and her mom bought out an existing business in January 2020, only to shut down six days after their open house celebration due to covid. It's been a wild ride, and Taylor's sharing how they overcame the covid challenges, brought a massive change to their product line, filled a gap in the community...

Today on the podcast we're with Josh and Sara Holmquist of Normal Roasting Company in Burwell, Nebraska (pop. 1,079). In this episode you'll find out how Josh and Sarah bought a coffee company on a whim and grew it from a hobby to what is now multiple businesses. They talk about how they dealt with overwhelming growth, building an iconic brand, scaling your business in the early years, plus the wh...

On today’s episode of the podcast we're with Jessi Mason of The Market & Mill in Anselmo, Nebraska (pop. 109). Jessi's sharing how she went from being a social worker with no business background to a grocery store owner, and her journey in learning new things like ordering groceries, profit margins, diversifying, and even how her social work background still plays a role. Plus, Jessi is gettin...

On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Deb McGinn, Ginny Showman, Jacque Andrew, Sara Ostrander, and Peg Raney of Why Not Us — a group of 72 women who pooled their resources to save a historic downtown building called The Centennial on their town square in Jefferson, Iowa (pop. 4,182). After the building was flooded with several thousands of gallons of water and it destroy...

On today’s podcast episode we’re with Luke and Jennifer Mahin of Irrigation Ales in Courtland, Kansas (pop. 294). They’re sharing how they have built this business over time, starting with the Courtland Fermentation Club and the process of learning how to brew good, quality beer, as well as the cool story behind their branding. They also talk about the incredible entrepreneurial culture of Courtla...

On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Brett Hubka with A Mural Movement of Clay Center, Kansas (pop. 4,123). Brett's sharing how a simple service project around one mural turned into a movement that has now brought 33 murals to their town. When this all started, the community had no public art. Now they're drawing in artists from around the nation and expanding their efforts b...

This week we have a very special episode of the podcast featuring the OABCIG Middle School TAG students from right here in my hometown! I had the honor of getting to speak to them last week about my career path, and then we turned the conversation to them and talked about THEIR dreams for our small towns. We decided it would be fun to record this and share it with you here on the podcast! I loved...

On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Eddie and Julie Flores of Nursing Back to Life, which follows their restoration of an old house in Lincoln, Kansas (pop. 1,171) that is now their home. It all started when a free house in Julie’s hometown went viral and they decided they just might be the ones that wanted to save it! Eddie and Julie are sharing how they got the house and m...

On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Dakota Dawn Johnson, host of the Cowgirl Confessions podcast, in Mound City, Kansas (pop. 647). Dakota is a ranch wife, podcast host, and successful saleswoman and is sharing with us about her wonderfully wild and western life, as she likes to call it. We’re talking about sales and sponsorships and why that doesn’t have to be as hard as yo...

On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Laura Capp of Postscript, a stationery shop in Ashland, Nebraska (pop. 3,191). Laura’s sharing how the journey of becoming an English professor turned into an entrepreneurial journey that brought her back to her hometown. We talk about why she chose a small town over the nearby city, learning how to market a new business in a small town, t...

Today we are bringing you a very special episode of the Rural Revival podcast! This just so happens to be our 150th episode, and I felt like that was worth celebrating, so I asked my dear friend and Rural Revival travel buddy Joni Nash if she would interview me and talk about what all has transpired since this first started. It was so much fun to relive all of that and I think it’s always good to...

On this episode we’re with Beth Simonson of Highmore, South Dakota (pop. 682), where she and her husband John are owners of a historic home now known as Hydeout Bed & Breakfast. Beth is sharing about the importance of getting involved in the community, and how she as an introvert decided to step out and do just that. Through that she’s seen a lot of her own personal and business dreams come tr...

On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Libby Timmerman of Heart and Sole Dance and Performing Arts Studio in Cherokee, Iowa (pop. 5,099). Libby’s sharing how she unexpectedly became a dance studio owner at the age of 14, and how she’s grown from teaching 25 students in her first year to now having a multifaceted performing arts studio with 145 students and a staff of 10 that of...

On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Stanton Community Development Director Jenna Ramsey, and FMTC General Manager and CEO Kevin Cabbage, both from Stanton, Iowa (pop. 678). Kevin and Jenna are sharing how Kevin’s company created a role for a community development director, a role that Jenna now fills, in partnership with their city. This partnership, along with Jenna’s hard...

On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Steffany Bettin of The Blue Jay Boutique in Danbury, Iowa (pop. 320). Steffany’s sharing how she turned an old barbershop in her hometown into a boutique to offer what she calls ‘girl next door’ clothes. She talks about learning her customer base and what they want, expanding her space, launching an app, attracting customers beyond her small...