Rural Remix

Welcome to the Beyond the Clock  Podcast, where rural stories take center stage! In this podcast, Ash Hanson from Department of Public Transformation and Anna Claussen from Voices for Rural Resilience are your hosts on a journey into the hearts, minds, and imaginations of rural artists, cultural workers, and change-makers across the country. In this episode, Anna and Ash converse with Beyond the Clock Resident Artist, Eliza Blue, and share their hopes and ideas for this season’s podcasts. They explore the concept of ruralness, embracing tensions in identity, and the role of rural artists as stewards and storytellers.

From slashing electric vehicle infrastructure to cutting grants for farmers, the Trump administration’s attempt to “trim the fat” off government spending has caused chaos and confusion in Washington D.C. and beyond. Claire and Julia break down how two spending freezes have affected folks on the ground in rural America.(Photo credit Claire Carlson)

President Donald Trump has made it a priority in the first weeks of his second administration to cut diversity, equity and inclusion—DEI—programs across the federal government. Universities and corporations are largely following suit. On this episode of Keep it Rural, Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton are joined by Lane Wendell Fischer, a small-town Kansas native and Yale University alumnus whose recent commentary explores the impact of DEI efforts on rural populations. Fischer is also a reporter for the Daily Yonder, where he frequently covers education.Photo: Beth Harpaz/AP

The recent Los Angeles wildfires have highlighted something rural people already knew: no place is safe from fire as climate change exacerbates the conditions that make sparks fly. This reality makes federal disaster relief more important than ever, but the new Trump administration could make it harder for victims to get government help.Photo: Noah Berger/AP

On the heels of the news that 2024 was the hottest year on record — beating out 2023 for the top spot — Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton reflect on winter past and future. Claire shares stories from her holiday travels to rural Pennsylvania, where her grandparents met as young people on a frozen toboggan slide that hasn’t run since 2014. Julia shares stories from her grandmother’s upbringing in New Hampshire and New York, where seasonal snow piles once towered so high they lasted well into the spring months. Photo: New London, NH. 1957.

Host Sara June Jo-Sæbo explores the transformative power of Recovery Court in Southwest Virginia, an innovative alternative to incarceration for individuals struggling with addiction. Through deeply personal stories from participants and judges, “On the Rebound” reveals how the program combines accountability, compassion, and fitness to support recovery and examines the pervasive impact of drug culture on rural communities.

Donald Trump is preparing for his second term in the White House by making nominations for key Cabinet positions. Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton discuss two of Trump’s picks – those slated to lead the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Agriculture if approved by the Senate. Julia provides background on Lee Zeldin, the former New York Congressman Trump has nominated for the EPA. Claire and Julia discuss how Zeldin’s past positions on fracking and rural communities might influence his leadership at the EPA. Claire digs into Brooke Rollins’ work at the America First Policy Institute and what it could say about her vision for the country if appointed US Secretary of Agriculture.If you like what you hear on Keep it Rural and the Rural Remix feed, consider supporting rural, nonprofit journalism by donating to the Daily Yonder. Right now, all donations up to $1,000 are matched dollar-for-dollar. Go to  dailyyonder.com/newsmatch to get started. Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP

North Cove, Washington once had the fastest eroding shoreline on the West Coast. For the 72 cranberry farmers who call the area home, the erosion was an existential threat to the local community and economy. That was, until Connie Allen and her late husband David Cottrell got involved. Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton bring you the story of “Wash Away No More”, a grassroots effort to keep erosion at bay along a rural community’s beach.

The Associated Press called the presidential election in favor of former president Donald Trump at 5:34 am on November 6th, the morning after Election Day. But even before that, political pundits and TV reporters had plenty to say about rural voters and their role in re-electing Trump.  Now that the numbers are in, host Olivia Weeks examines these assertions in the latest episode of Backroad Ballots, and takes a closer look at what happened on November 5th.  In this bonus episode, Weeks talks with Tim Marema, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Yonder, and Sarah Melotte, the Daily Yonder’s data correspondent. Their conversation focuses on high-level election results and the rural voter’s role in deciding the outcomes of the presidential race and state-wide ballot measures.

Former President Donald Trump’s re-election to the White House has many looking at rural America to understand his victory. Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson is joined by Keep it Rural producer and fellow reporter Julia Tilton to discuss why focusing on small-town voters alone is misleading. They break down data analyzed by the Daily Yonder to show that rural voters are only part of Trump’s success story. Plus, Claire and Julia chat about what’s to come in the months ahead, particularly as President Joe Biden works to preserve his legacy on climate policies.If you like what you hear on Keep it Rural and the Rural Remix feed, consider supporting rural, nonprofit journalism by donating to the Daily Yonder. Right now, all donations up to $1,000 are matched dollar-for-dollar.  Go to dailyyonder.com/newsmatch to get started. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP