The Rural Towns Project Podcast
In the Rural Towns Project Podcast, Dax Jacobson combines his day job as a business professor with his love for the rural American West he grew up in. He talks to the people who are actually trying to make a living in - and to the researchers, artists, and others inspired by - the rural towns of the American West. He hopes to help himself and others understand the past, appreciate the present, and positively impact the future of rural towns and the American West.
Episodes
33 episodes
Bear Lake ID/UT: Part 2 with HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian) on the History of Bear Lake and the Development, Laws, and Legends (Bear Lake Monster!) of Water in the Bear Lake Valley and Beyond
As promised, this is Part 2 of my conversation with HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian) on the history of Bear Lake. As usual, HannaLore takes us on a well-researched ride on the history of place as this time we talk about the actual Bear La...
•
Episode 33
•
1:01:53
Bear Lake (Idaho & Utah): Natalie Randall (Executive Director of the Utah Tourism Industry Association) on the Transient Room Tax, Foreign Independent Travelers, Rural Growth Challenges, and All Things Rural Tourism
In this episode, I chat with Natalie Randall, Executive Director of the Utah Tourism Industry Association (UTIA). Natalie and I talk about her interesting background in tourism and economic development and what brought her to her current positi...
•
Episode 32
•
36:03
Bear Lake (Idaho & Utah): Mark Smoot (Owner of Epic Recreation, Bear Lake Lodge, and More!) on Being an Entrepreneur, the Importance of Collaboration and Relationships, and the Healing Power of the Great Outdoors
In this episode, I chat with Mark Smoot (Owner of Epic Recreation, Bear Lake Lodge, Sunrise Resort & Event Center and more!). Mark and I talk about what brought him to Bear Lake as a second career and what keeps him there (he’s become a ser...
•
Episode 31
•
40:20
Bear Lake (Idaho & Utah): HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian) on the History of Montpelier (Idaho), LDS Settlement Strategies, Mercantile Owner Edward Burgoyne, and Doing History
I’m taking a slightly different approach to podcast episodes as I work to align some of my professional and academic interests with my personal interest in the rural American West. Rather than focus on one particular town, I will be focusing on...
•
Episode 30
•
1:02:10
Richmond, Utah: Shawn Milne (Cache Valley Economic Development Director) on Balancing Growth and Educating Stakeholders in Rural Cache Valley
In this episode, I chat with Shawn Milne, Cache Valley Economic Development Director. Shawn is a friend and a graduate of Westminster College and one of the most interesting people I know. Shawn and I talk about his background as a small busine...
•
Episode 29
•
41:36
Richmond, Utah: Paul Erickson (Mayor of Richmond) on Richmond and Thoughtful Approaches to Public Service in Rural Communities
Hi. It’s been a minute. There have been some life and work changes keeping me busy the last several months but the Rural Towns Project Podcast is back! I’ll be sharing this episode and one more focused on Richmond, Utah that were recorded earli...
•
Episode 28
•
39:12
Arimo, Idaho: Cameron Blevins (Historian and Author) on His Book "Paper Trails: The US Post and the Making of the American West"
In this episode, I chat with Cameron Blevins, a history professor at the University of Colorado Denver. Cameron recently wrote the fascinating and important book,
•
Episode 27
•
32:10
Arimo, Idaho: HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian) on the History of Arimo and Stories about Chief Arimo, Turkeys, Cold Storage, Research and More
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, ...
•
Episode 26
•
58:10
Lewiston, UT: Rosie Williams (Manager of the Lewiston Theatre) on Family Movies, Cheap Tickets, and Cheap Concessions at a Rural Movie Theater
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...
•
Episode 25
•
26:09
Lewiston, UT: Dale Buxton (AltaBank, formerly Lewiston State Bank) on Rural Banking and Rural Communities
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 a...
•
Episode 24
•
25:49
Lewiston, UT: Jamie Andrus (Cache Chamber of Commerce) on Chambers of Commerce and the Booming Cache Valley Economy
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 cha...
•
Episode 23
•
33:43
Malad, ID: Patrick Mullen (Arctaris Impact Investors) on Opportunity Zones and Rural Communities
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 Oppor...
•
Episode 22
•
40:22
Malad, ID: Chris Jensen (Daisy Hollow Floral) on Flowers, Family, and Community in Malad
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 busine...
•
Episode 21
•
26:09
Malad, ID: HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian) on the History of Malad and Stories about Politics, Voting Rights, Electricity and More
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...
•
Episode 20
•
58:14
Garden City, UT: Jake Powell (USU Professor & GNAR Initiative Lead) on Rural Gateway Communities
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 hi...
•
Episode 19
•
43:49
Garden City, UT: TJ Davis of the Pickleville Playhouse on Live Theater and Family Business in a Rural Community
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 t...
•
Episode 18
•
32:48
Soda Springs, ID: HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian) on the History of Soda Springs and the History of Entertainment in the American West
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...
•
Episode 17
•
1:20:18
Soda Springs, ID: Jared Davis, Owner of Idan-Ha Drive-In Theatre, on Rural Drive-Ins and Entertainment in Rural Communities
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 ...
•
Episode 16
•
32:21
Soda Springs, ID: Shane & Camille Petersen, Owners of Idan-Ha Theatre, on Rural Movie Theaters
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...
•
Episode 15
•
28:58
Soda Springs, ID: Brandon Schrand, Author of The Enders Hotel, on the Past, Present, and Future of Rural Businesses and Communities
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 ...
•
Episode 14
•
35:06
Morgan, UT: John Patterson, CPA, on Owning and Preserving a Historic Rural Building and Managing Growth in Rural Communities
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...
•
Episode 13
•
31:15
Morgan, UT: Roger Roper from the Utah State Historic Preservation Office on Preserving Rural Main Streets
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...
•
Episode 12
•
27:06
Morgan, UT: Teresa Lake, Owner of Morgan Mercantile and Mama Lake’s Bakery, on Rural Entrepreneurship and Rural Main Streets
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 lat...
•
Episode 11
•
30:35
Morgan, UT: Rachel Turk on the History of Morgan and the Preservation of Commercial Street
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 eac...
•
Episode 10
•
39:38
Inkom, Idaho: Heidi Khokhar, Executive Director of Rural Development Initiatives, on Revitalizing Rural Communities
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, Washingt...
•
Episode 9
•
30:18