Listen in as rural Americans talk about the work -- creative, unique, and sometimes exhausting -- they do. It's a revealing look at how work helps form the backbone of American society, no matter where you live. We all contribute our efforts (paid or unpaid) to the life, economy, and character of our communities. Rural communities today are at a new crossroads -- a meeting point of ideas where they can chart their future. In this episode, we're exploring the past, present and future of work in rural America through the voices of everyday people. First jobs, hard jobs, odd jobs, unusual jobs, ancient jobs ... these storytellers have seen it all.

View the episode transcript.

Visit the Museum on Main Street website's story portal to share your own story about rural America!

Thanks to our storytelling partners at Be Here Stories at The Peale, Baltimore's Community Museum. Use the online recording tool to tell the Smithsonian about how you have experienced rural America.

This episode was produced for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service by Better Lemon Creative Audio. Hannah Hethmon and Bobby Harley are your hosts. Produced, written and edited by Hannah Hethmon.