Guest: Dr. John Joe Schlichtman, Urban Sociologist & Community Ethnographer

In this thought-provoking kickoff episode of What About Rural Health?™, host Chinasa Imo sits down with urban sociologist Dr. John Joe Schlichtman to explore a surprising and powerful question: What can resistance in urban spaces teach us about rural health? Drawing on his acclaimed works Gentrifier, Showroom City, and his upcoming book on Community Fabric, Dr. Schlichtman breaks down how place, power, and policy shape community well-being, whether in the city or the marginal spaces. Together, they dive into what “just development” means across geographies, how communities assert power through resistance, and why asset-based, people-centered frameworks matter for rural health equity.

Expect deep analysis, respectful disagreements, powerful storytelling, and a fresh, justice-centered lens on rural health. Whether you're an urban or rural planner, health practitioner, student, or advocate, this episode will challenge assumptions and offer new ways of thinking about community and care.