The Rural Towns Project Podcast

In this episode, I chat once again with HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian). The focus this time is Arimo, Idaho and as usual HannaLore has done some amazing research. She shares stories about Marsh Valley, the Hudspeth Cutoff, Chief Arimo, the Fort Fall Indian Reservation, the General Land Office, Arimo Ranches, sheep and turkey grazing, trains, cold storage and more! We also talk about how Ha...

In this episode, I chat with Rosie Williams, Manager of the Lewiston Theatre, in Lewiston, UT. Rosie and I chat about her long history with the Lewiston Theatre and why she’s still there showing movies and still loving it. We talk about how the Lewiston Theatre is run, how it is uniquely owned by the city of Lewiston, and the importance of cheap tickets, cheap concessions, and community. We end, a...

In this episode, I chat with Dale Buxton of AltaBank (formerly Lewiston State Bank) in Lewiston, UT. Dale has been with the bank for over 30 years and in that time has spent time in pretty much every role, including President. Dale and I talk about his background and the history of Lewiston State Bank. We talk about the changes he’s seen in the banking industry generally and in rural banking speci...

In this episode, I chat with Jamie Andrus, President & CEO of the Cache Chamber of Commerce. Jamie and I talk about her background and rural roots and how she came to lead the Cache Chamber of Commerce. We talk about the important roles chambers play in rural communities and the relationship between her chamber and the state legislature. We talk about the issues facing rural and urban Cache Va...

And we're back! Sorry for the delay. In this episode, I talk to Patrick Mullen, Vice President of Arctaris Impact Investors. Patrick has a fascinating background in finance and impact investing with a recent focus on rural communities and Opportunity Zones. Patrick and I talk about Opportunity Zones - what they are, how they work, and what he would like to see them do better. We talk about th...

In this episode, I talk to Chris Jensen, florist and owner of Daisy Hollow Floral in Malad, Idaho. Chris and his shop are beloved in Malad and throughout rural Southeast Idaho. We talk about how Chris came to be a florist and rural small business owner (he bought and took over the shop at age 21!) and the importance of family and community. Chris also provides some interesting insights on the behi...

Welcome to Season 3 of the Rural Towns Project Podcast! Season 3 will have even more Idaho and Utah towns, even more episodes, and soon a companion newsletter and a few other things I’m working on so stay tuned. I’m starting Season 3 with Malad, Idaho and kick things off by welcoming back to the podcast Idaho State Historian HannaLore Hein. HannaLore and I talk about the history of Malad generally...

In this episode, I talk to Jake Powell, a professor at Utah State University in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, and a leader of the newly formed GNAR (Gateway & Natural Amenity Region) Initiative. Jake and I talk about his background in the rural West and what led him to the GNAR Initiative. We talk about what the GNAR Initiative is all about and the work Jake and his collea...

In this episode, I talk to TJ Davis of the Pickleville Playhouse in Garden City, Utah. TJ and his family founded and run the Pickleville Playhouse and TJ writes for, and acts in, the plays and deals with the business side of the Playhouse and the Pickleville brand. We talk about how TJ came to be involved in the family business (hint: it wasn’t in his first or second plan), the growth of Picklevil...

In this episode, I welcome HannaLore Hein back to the podcast. Regular podcast listeners will recall that HannaLore is the Idaho State Historian and great friend of the podcast. HannaLore and I start by checking in on recent Idaho State History Department events. We then jump right in and have another wide ranging and fascinating conversation, this time about the history of Soda Springs Idaho. We...

In this episode, I talk to Jared Davis, owner and operator of the Idan-Ha Drive-In Theatre (yes, a rural drive-in!) in Soda Springs, Idaho. Jared and I talk about the unique challenges of running a drive-in theater in general (there are only a few hundred left in the U.S.) and in a rural community in particular - especially now that he lives 1.5 hours away from Soda but is at the drive-in every we...

In this episode, I talk to Shane and Camille Petersen, owners, operators, and do everything-ers for the Idan-Ha Theatre in Soda Springs, Idaho. Shane and Camille talk about how they came to own the movie theater in Soda Springs (and now another one in Montpelier!), the unique challenges facing rural movie theaters, and what it takes to run a business essentially as a hobby and community service. W...

In this episode, I talk to Brandon Schrand, author and Director of Communications for the College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University. Brandon grew up in Soda Springs, Idaho and wrote a wonderful memoir about it - The Enders Hotel - that I highly recommend. Brandon and I use that book to frame our discussion about life in a rural town and the opportu...

In this episode, I talk to John Patterson, CPA, rural business and building owner on Morgan’s historic Commercial Street. John and I talk about the old bank building he bought and restored and the changes happening on Commercial Street. We talk about the changes - and the challenges that come with trying to manage those changes - happening in rural communities across the West. We also talk about i...

In this episode, I talk to Roger Roper from the Historic Preservation Program for the State of Utah. Preservation of buildings on rural main streets is something that keeps coming up on the podcast, including this month with the focus on Morgan, UT. Roger and I talk about his role with the Historic Preservation Office, how he got the position, and his decades long preservation work in Utah and els...

In this episode, I talk to Teresa Lake, owner of Morgan Mercantile as well as owner of, and baker for, Mama Lake’s Bakery, in Morgan, Utah. Teresa shares her story of growing up in Morgan and becoming a rural entrepreneur and business owner later in life. We talk about the importance of main streets in rural towns and about the challenges and opportunities that come with being a rural business own...

In this episode, I talk to Rachel Turk, County Historian, Morgan County Historical Society, Morgan, Utah. That’s right, Utah. The podcast is expanding to rural towns in Utah! The plan is to alternate between rural Idaho and rural Utah towns each month and I’m thrilled to have Morgan as the first rural Utah town on the podcast. Rachel and I talk about her role as County Historian, how she got the p...

In this episode, I talk to Heidi Khokhar, Executive Director of Rural Development Initiatives (RDI). RDI is an organization focused on revitalizing rural economies, developing rural leaders, and elevating rural voices in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. I chose to make my conversation with Heidi part of this month’s focus on Inkom, Idaho because of the grassroots effort of folks in Inkom and elsewhe...

In this episode, I talk to Lindi Jo Howell, an entrepreneur in the small rural town of Inkom, Idaho. Lindi has started multiple small businesses. She is a grassroots community developer, and an avid skier and outdoorswoman. Lindi and I talk about being an entrepreneur and business owner in rural Inkom, including why she came back home, why she stays, and work/life balance. We talk about her starti...

In this first episode of Season 2 I talk to HannaLore Hein, Idaho State Historian, about the history of Inkom, Idaho - the rural town that is the focus of this month’s podcast episodes. HannaLore and I have a wide-ranging conversation about not only the history of Inkom but of southeast Idaho in general. We talk about the Native American tribes who first used and lived on the land, about the trapp...

In this episode - the companion to the episode with Devanee Morrison about the Lava Hot Springs Foundation -  I talk to Matt Borud, Chief Business Development Officer for the Idaho Department of Commerce. Matt and I talk about the interesting things going on in the Idaho Department of Commerce and his role there but we spend most of our time on Idaho tourism. We talk about the incredible growth ov...

In this episode, I talk to Devanee Morrison, Executive Director of the Lava Hot Springs Foundation in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. If you want to sound like a local make sure that first "a" in Lava sounds more like "rad" than "rod" when you visit. And you should visit because Lava’s hot baths and swimming pools are amazing and have long been a tourist destination for folk...

This is the companion episode to the one with Dr. Stephen Sutton about Marsh Valley Dental and Downey, Idaho. In this episode I talk to Rita Osborn , who is among many other things, the Executive Director of the Utah Center for Rural Health at Southern Utah University. Rita wears many hats but it’s safe to say she has dedicated decades to improving rural health. We talk about the work Rita and her...

In this episode, I talk to Stephen Sutton, dentist and owner of Marsh Valley Dental in Downey, Idaho. Stephen is a good friend and we graduated in the same class at Marsh Valley High School. We talk about Stephen’s idyllic childhood and decision to follow in his father’s footsteps and the privilege and burden of living up to a father’s name and example. We talk about the history of Downey, how his...

This second episode of the Rural Towns Project Podcast is the companion to the episode with Aaron Hunsaker on the Harkness Hotel in McCammon, Idaho. In this episode I talk to Dr. Susan Rugh, Professor of History and Dean of Undergraduate Education at BYU. We talk about Susan’s background and love for the rural American West, her research interests related to the history of family farms, family bus...