The Rural Towns Project Podcast

Dax Jacobson
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Biweekly

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.

  1. 2d ago

    Wealth vs. dollars and (off)roads and memories with Josh Nielson of Sunrise Outfitting-Scenic Adventures in Blanding, Utah

    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/

    34 min

  2. May 25

    Art, indigenous business launchpads, and rural university development with Bayley Hedglin (Associate Director of Development for Utah State University) in Blanding, Utah

    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/

    37 min

  3. May 11

    Long drives and big grants for rural communities with Debra McKee (Rural Economic Development Manager for Utah's GOED) in Blanding, Utah

    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/

    26 min

  4. 11/09/2025

    Running an arts, architecture, and rural investment nonprofit (Epicenter), building homes, and avoiding booms and busts in Green River (UT) with Maria Sykes

    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/

    28 min

  5. 10/27/2025

    Barrel racing, teaching, and being a rural entrepreneur with Markie Vetere in Green River (UT).

    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/

    32 min

  6. 09/24/2025

    Talking Planes, Trains, Automobiles…and Melons and Butch Cassidy with Edward Castro Bennett, City Manager for Green River (UT)

    In this episode, I talk to Edward Castro Bennett, Green River (UT) City Manager. Edward explains how he came to be city manager (it includes having Green River roots, his economic development background, and LinkedIn actually working). We talk about Green River’s history and future as part of the Wild West (connections to Butch Cassidy, John Wesley Powell, and of course, melons and Ray’s Tavern). Edward highlights Green River’s potential as a transportation hub (planes - a municipal airport, trains - one of only 4 Amtrak stops in Utah, and automobiles - right off I70) and how he is focused on listening, building trust, and representing Green River and other rural small Utah towns. We end with very fitting, and classic, Road Trip Music choices. Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

    35 min

  7. 09/07/2025

    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

    In this episode, I talk to Louis Williams, river and backcountry guide and owner of Ancient Wayves (the only indigenous owned and operated outfit commercially permitted to provide guided tours within the Bears Ears National Monument). Louis shares how he caught the river guiding bug (through a Navajo friend in Bluff, UT), branching out on his own, and how it’s community that sustains him and his growing business. Louis explains that what he really does with clients on guided trips is time travel and help people connect with the land and his language and culture - the ancient ways! He wants people to understand the importance of preservation, conservation, and education and he is hoping to inspire both guests and other Navajo entrepreneurs. We end with a favorite place (Goosenecks!) and a native band recommendation (Native Roots) for the Road Trip Music. Podcast music: “A Happy Day” by codemusic, http://www.jamendo.com, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

    29 min

  8. 08/24/2025

    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

    In this episode, I talk to Sarah Burak (Education Director for the Bears Ears Partnership) about what brought her to the Bluff (UT) area from Alabama and why she never left. We talk about her journey to the Bears Ears Partnership and what she does in her current role as Education Director. We talk about what a Dark Sky designation means and requires (a commitment to dark skies, education, and monitoring light pollution) and what it can do for a community like Bluff. Sarah also shares the Dark Sky initiatives she and her colleagues are working on (field trips for elementary schools, star parties, a Night Sky Festival, and Dark Sky Ambassadors - go be one, you don’t have to be local to Bluff!). We also talk about the increased interest in Bears Ears and the importance of visiting with respect and working with Native American tribes. Sarah shares a surprising but awesome favorite place (along with Natural Bridges National Monument) 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/

    24 min
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5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Dax Jacobson
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Rural Towns Project Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Rural Towns Project Podcast