The Rural Towns Project Podcast
By Dax Jacobson
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Category: Places & Travel
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Episodes: 54
Description
Dax Jacobson is a business professor who grew up in and loves the rural American West. The Rural Towns Project Podcast documents Dax’s journey to highlight the history of rural small towns in the American West, to share stories about the people trying to make a living in them, and to learn more about the challenges and opportunities they face.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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From policy wonk to dirtbagging to rural economic development strategic plans with August Granath in Moab, Utah
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Sep 07, 2026 |
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Trading posts, pawn rooms, and Navajo cultural history with historian Robert McPherson in Blanding, Utah
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Aug 03, 2026 |
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Learning about rural apprenticeship programs and how they might work in places like Blanding, Utah with Inside Higher Ed reporter Sara Weissman
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Jul 19, 2026 |
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Helping uranium miners, supporting rural small businesses, and a Hallmark worthy meet cute (and rabbit hunting) with Tyler Bailey in Blanding, Utah
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Jul 05, 2026 |
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Balancing work, family, and being a rural elected official in a district covering 29,000 square miles with State Representative Logan Monson in Blanding, Utah
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Jun 21, 2026 |
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Wealth vs. dollars and (off)roads and memories with Josh Nielson of Sunrise Outfitting-Scenic Adventures in Blanding, Utah
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Jun 07, 2026 |
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Art, indigenous business launchpads, and rural university development with Bayley Hedglin (Associate Director of Development for Utah State University) in Blanding, Utah
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May 25, 2026 |
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Long drives and big grants for rural communities with Debra McKee (Rural Economic Development Manager for Utah's GOED) in Blanding, Utah
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May 11, 2026 |
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Running an arts, architecture, and rural investment nonprofit (Epicenter), building homes, and avoiding booms and busts in Green River (UT) with Maria Sykes
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Nov 09, 2025 |
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Barrel racing, teaching, and being a rural entrepreneur with Markie Vetere in Green River (UT).
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Oct 27, 2025 |
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Talking Planes, Trains, Automobiles…and Melons and Butch Cassidy with Edward Castro Bennett, City Manager for Green River (UT)
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Sep 24, 2025 |
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Time traveling with Louis Williams (Navajo river guide and owner of Ancient Wayves) in Bluff (UT), Bears Ears, and beyond to connect with earth, air, fire, and water
|
Sep 07, 2025 |
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I was amazed by the night skies in Bluff (UT). It turns out Bluff is a Dark Sky Community. I talk to Sarah Burak (Education Director for the Bears Ears Partnership) about dark skies, what a Dark Sky designation means, and about Bears Ears tourism
|
Aug 24, 2025 |
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Canyon Smokehouse was so good I ate there twice when I was in Bluff (UT). I talk to the owner (and town manager), Erin Nelson, about how and why she started the restaurant and what it’s like to be a small business owner who is also the town manager
|
Aug 11, 2025 |
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Talia Hansen is the reason I was in Bluff (UT) recently. We talk about her role as Economic Development Manager for San Juan County and the importance of empathy, curiosity, and “jumping on the truck”
|
Jul 28, 2025 |
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Inspired by my drive from Bluff (UT) through the Navajo Reservation, I talked to Michael Powell, author of Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation (which was the inspiration for the Netflix movie Rez Ball)
|
Jul 14, 2025 |
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Bluff (UT) is incredible. Allison Yamamoto-Sparks (Visitor Services Manager for San Juan County, UT) talks about the impact of Bears Ears, COVID, and the current economic climate on tourism (and shares recommendations!)
|
Jun 30, 2025 |
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Curious about McCammon’s (ID) main street, I reached out to Marci Goodwin of SmartStart Business Development to learn more about rural main streets and rural microbusinesses
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Jun 16, 2025 |
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I wanted to know more about economic development in McCammon (ID) so I talked to Teresa McKnight, CEO of Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho (REDI)
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Jun 02, 2025 |
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Thinking about the history of McCammon (ID) so I checked in with HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian) on America 250 projects and celebrations
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May 19, 2025 |
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McCammon, Idaho (back to my hometown): Checking in with Aaron Hunsaker, the Harkness Hotel, and downtown McCammon
|
May 05, 2025 |
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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
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Apr 03, 2023 |
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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
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Mar 20, 2023 |
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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
|
Mar 06, 2023 |
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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
|
Feb 20, 2023 |
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Richmond, Utah: Shawn Milne (Cache Valley Economic Development Director) on Balancing Growth and Educating Stakeholders in Rural Cache Valley
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Feb 06, 2023 |
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Richmond, Utah: Paul Erickson (Mayor of Richmond) on Richmond and Thoughtful Approaches to Public Service in Rural Communities
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Dec 12, 2022 |
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Arimo, Idaho: Cameron Blevins (Historian and Author) on His Book "Paper Trails: The US Post and the Making of the American West"
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Apr 17, 2022 |
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Arimo, Idaho: HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian) on the History of Arimo and Stories about Chief Arimo, Turkeys, Cold Storage, Research and More
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Apr 01, 2022 |
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Lewiston, UT: Rosie Williams (Manager of the Lewiston Theatre) on Family Movies, Cheap Tickets, and Cheap Concessions at a Rural Movie Theater
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Mar 21, 2022 |
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Lewiston, UT: Dale Buxton (AltaBank, formerly Lewiston State Bank) on Rural Banking and Rural Communities
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Mar 14, 2022 |
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Lewiston, UT: Jamie Andrus (Cache Chamber of Commerce) on Chambers of Commerce and the Booming Cache Valley Economy
|
Mar 06, 2022 |
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Malad, ID: Patrick Mullen (Arctaris Impact Investors) on Opportunity Zones and Rural Communities
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Jan 31, 2022 |
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Malad, ID: Chris Jensen (Daisy Hollow Floral) on Flowers, Family, and Community in Malad
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Nov 19, 2021 |
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Malad, ID: HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian) on the History of Malad and Stories about Politics, Voting Rights, Electricity and More
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Nov 15, 2021 |
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Garden City, UT: Jake Powell (USU Professor & GNAR Initiative Lead) on Rural Gateway Communities
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Aug 13, 2021 |
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Garden City, UT: TJ Davis of the Pickleville Playhouse on Live Theater and Family Business in a Rural Community
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Jul 16, 2021 |
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Soda Springs, ID: HannaLore Hein (Idaho State Historian) on the History of Soda Springs and the History of Entertainment in the American West
|
Jul 09, 2021 |
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Soda Springs, ID: Jared Davis, Owner of Idan-Ha Drive-In Theatre, on Rural Drive-Ins and Entertainment in Rural Communities
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Jun 25, 2021 |
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Soda Springs, ID: Shane & Camille Petersen, Owners of Idan-Ha Theatre, on Rural Movie Theaters
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Jun 19, 2021 |
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Soda Springs, ID: Brandon Schrand, Author of The Enders Hotel, on the Past, Present, and Future of Rural Businesses and Communities
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Jun 04, 2021 |
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Morgan, UT: John Patterson, CPA, on Owning and Preserving a Historic Rural Building and Managing Growth in Rural Communities
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May 28, 2021 |
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Morgan, UT: Roger Roper from the Utah State Historic Preservation Office on Preserving Rural Main Streets
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May 21, 2021 |
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Morgan, UT: Teresa Lake, Owner of Morgan Mercantile and Mama Lake’s Bakery, on Rural Entrepreneurship and Rural Main Streets
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May 14, 2021 |
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Morgan, UT: Rachel Turk on the History of Morgan and the Preservation of Commercial Street
|
May 07, 2021 |
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Inkom, Idaho: Heidi Khokhar, Executive Director of Rural Development Initiatives, on Revitalizing Rural Communities
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Apr 23, 2021 |
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Inkom, Idaho: Lindi Jo Howell on Rural Entrepreneurship, and the Inkom Revitalization Commission
|
Apr 16, 2021 |
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Inkom, Idaho: HannaLore Hein and the History of Inkom (and Southeast) Idaho
|
Apr 09, 2021 |
|
Lava Hot Springs, Idaho: Matt Borud, Idaho Tourism, and the Idaho Dept. of Commerce
|
Nov 20, 2020 |
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Lava Hot Springs, Idaho: Devanee Morrison and the Lava Hot Springs Foundation
|
Nov 06, 2020 |
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Downey, Idaho: Rita Osborn and Rural Health and Rural Health Scholars
|
Oct 16, 2020 |
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Downey, Idaho: Dr. Stephen Sutton and Marsh Valley Dental
|
Oct 02, 2020 |
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McCammon, Idaho: Dr. Susan Rugh and the History of Motels and Family Travel in the American West
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Sep 25, 2020 |
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McCammon, Idaho: Aaron Hunsaker and the Harkness Hotel
|
Sep 18, 2020 |