The Rural Towns Project Podcast

I’m currently learning more about Moab, Utah. In this episode, I chat with August Granath, Technical Outreach Manager for the Center for Rural Development in the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development. August shares his story, a story that starts with the goal to do good and have a positive impact and leads from Salt Lake City to international climate policy work to Moab, Utah. We talk about how in Moab he went from policy work to basically living the dirtbag life and learning from that experience to inform the current rural economic development work he is doing. That work is focused on helping rural communities, from the ground up, develop economic development strategic plans. August walks me through what that strategic planning process looks like - from community application to final deliverable. We talk about getting rural communities out of the “what should we do” cycle, about good enough vs. perfect plans, and the importance of having an implementation plan and process. August shares the common themes that keep coming up in the work he is doing with rural communities - keeping kids, housing, and amenities. And we end with a Road Trip Music Question discussion that includes a radio program in Moab and DJ’ing before August settles on a very fitting recommendation.

Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

I’m currently learning more about San Juan County, Utah and I’m focusing on the town of Blanding. In this episode I chat with the delightful Dr. Robert McPherson, emeritus Professor of History at Utah State University - Blanding and a Utah State Historical Society Fellow. Bob spent 45 years in Blanding and he talks about how his mother reading stories to him as a child in Massachusetts led to a lifetime love of Native American culture and an incredible career researching, writing, and exploring the Navajo Nation from Blanding. We talk about trading posts and Bob uses the trading post at Aneth (the oldest continuous business in San Juan County - it started as a trading post and is now a convenience store) to provide a detailed account of a typical interaction and negotiation that came from a trading post shopping experience that was essentially a community event that could last hours to a full day. Bob talks about pawning, pawn rooms, and how the trader needed to know national prices and the state of the market and how some trading posts even had their own money and banking system. Bob’s career full of interviews and oral histories focused on the place he loved and called home for decades has me really excited about an oral history project I’m starting on soon. We end with a fun answer to the Road Trip Music Question that leads to even more incredible stories about road trips with his Navajo interpreter friends.

Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

I’m currently learning more about San Juan County, Utah and I’m focusing on the town of Blanding. In this episode I chat with Sara Weissman to learn more about her recent story on rural apprenticeships for Inside Higher Ed (https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/alternative-credentials/2026/05/26/rural-opportunity-through-apprenticeship). Sara shares a bit about her background and what brought her to her current role as a journalist (it includes a big thanks to an 8th grade English teacher!). We talk about how Sara decides to pursue stories like this one, which is part of a larger series on apprenticeships, and the importance of actually showing up in rural communities to meet with people face-to-face, of building trust, and of being curious. Sara shares what surprised her from her reporting (a program doesn’t need to be big to have a big impact), the lessons learned about designing effective programs (the programs can’t just be an add-on to a full-time job, there needs to be intentional integration and thoughtful flexibility from all sides), and the tremendous potential of these programs if colleges are willing to step up. Sara asks a very thoughtful question regarding the work I am doing as Dean that I really appreciated and we end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.

Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

I’m currently learning more about San Juan County, Utah and I’m focusing on the town of Blanding. In this episode I chat with Tyler Bailey - nurse, entrepreneur, and one of the “glue” guys and girls found in any successful rural community. Tyler seems to be everywhere and does a little bit of everything (including giving my car a jump!) in Blanding. We talk about Tyler’s role as case manager and nurse helping those dealing with lung and respiratory issues from uranium mining. He talks about how connections and knowing and caring for each other is how businesses form and things get done in rural small towns - and how a business idea came from eating lunch one day and getting to know some tourists from the UK. Tyler shares a classic rural small town (and Hallmark worthy) meet cute with his wife that he almost screwed up later by taking her to shoot rabbits - and the history of the old building he bought for her spa and other businesses he rents to. We talk about retiring with a purpose, rural chambers of commerce, and our conversation includes shout outs to former podcast guests Josh Nielson and Talia Hansen. We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.

Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

I’m currently learning more about San Juan County, Utah and I’m focusing on the town of Blanding. In this episode I chat with Logan Monson. I wanted to chat with Logan to learn more about balancing work, family, and being a rural elected official in a district covering 29,000 square miles as a State Representative. Logan’s roots run deep in Blanding and he shares how how his son’s heart problems inspired him to first stay at home and then to pursue healthcare as a profession (and how he could get all the education he needed without leaving Blanding through Utah State University Extension). He reflects on how being student body president just might have inspired him to be of service as an elected official. We discuss the major issue on people’s minds - affordability - and how so much of the work happens when they are not in legislative session through showing up in his vast district and building relationships. Logan shares some highlights from the most recent legislative session and talks about the importance of including his family in his work, and of listening to, and investing in, rural Utah. We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question.

Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

I’m currently learning more about San Juan County, Utah and I’m focusing on the town of Blanding. In this episode I chat with Josh Nielson, owner of Sunrise Outfitting - Scenic Adventures, a family-owned business in Blanding that has been passed down from generation to generation. I wanted to chat with Josh to learn more about running a family business in a rural community and about balancing business, family, and fun. We talk about all that and more - about wealth vs. dollars, about creating a better cake for everyone in the community, about roads and memories, and about the challenges and opportunities of living and working in a remote rural town. We end, as always, with The Road Trip Music Question.

Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

I’m currently learning more about San Juan County, Utah and I’m focusing on the town of Blanding. In this episode I chat with Bayley Hedglin (Associate Director of Development for Utah State University). I wanted to chat with Bayley to learn more about her background in rural economic development and her unique role as a university development director living in a rural community doing development work for rural extension campuses for a land grant university. Bayley shares her background story and coming home to San Juan County. She explains how her unique role in university development combines her passions for economic development and student and community impact. She shares a couple of incredible examples - the Four Corners Creative Vision and the Monument Valley Indigenous LaunchPad - as well as her thoughts on what higher education could be doing differently and better in rural communities. We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Question. 

Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

I continue to be captivated by San Juan County, Utah and I’m currently focusing on the town of Blanding. In this episode I chat with Debra McKee, Rural Economic Development Manager for four Utah counties, including San Juan County, for the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). I wanted to chat with Debra to learn more about how she came to her role and to learn more about how GOED works in rural communities like Blanding. We cover all that and more (including the Road Trip Music Question) in this fun and enlightening conversation. Thanks for listening.

Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

In this episode, I talk to Maria Sykes, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Epicenter (https://ruralandproud.org/) in Green River, UT. Maria shares with me how and why she came to Green River from the Deep South 16 years ago and why she stays. We talk about the nonprofit Maria co-founded and leads, Epicenter, and its focus on art, affordable housing, and rural investment in Green River. Maria describes art residencies and events, like Green River Rocks, and housing design and development through programs like Fix-it First, Frontier House and Canal Commons. We talk about development that takes time and avoids booms and busts and Maria gives a great playbook for communities to follow to develop their own Epicenter as well as advice that all funding agencies should follow. We end, as always, with the Road Trip Music Quesion.

Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

In this episode, I talk to Markie Vetere, teacher, barrel racer, and entrepreneur in Green River (UT). Markie talks about how she balances those three passions and how they influence and reinforce each other. Markie talks about the importance of loving the kids she teaches, giving them experiences, and showing them what is possible. She talks about how and why she started her business - Rare Renegade Boutique - and the importance to her of being authentic and supporting local. Markie gets real about the challenges of growth (like trying to find a store front or even a physical presence) and understanding her market of fellow working women. We end with learning about Markie’s horses and with the Road Trip Music Question and some suggestions to get us through long barrel racing road trips.

Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/