NEW RURAL VIRGINIA PODCAST

New Rural Virginia
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Rural communities deserve to be heard. That’s the whole idea behind the New Rural Virginia Podcast. We’re having practical, honest conversations with our neighbors, local leaders, and candidates who know their communities, bringing new energy and ideas to tough challenges. The voices of rural Virginia are essential to the future of the Commonwealth. Co-hosted by Larry Wohlers and Parson Brown

  1. 1d ago

    EP. 32 - The Rural Angle from Network NOVA’s BIG TEN Women’s Summit

    NEW RURAL VIRGINIA PODCAST heads to Network NOVA’s 10th annual Women’s Summit for Political Engagement, this year branded BIG TEN, for conversations with candidates, organizers and grassroots leaders from Virginia and beyond. Network NOVA co-founder KATHERINE WHITE reflects on how the organization grew from a post-2016 grassroots effort into a broader political movement.   From the hallways, Democratic congressional nominees BETH MACY (VA-06) and JOY POWERS (VA-09), along with LYNLEE THORNE, MAKAYLA VENABLE, JEANNE RUSSELL, KATE POWELL and TIM CYWINSKI, weigh in on where rural Democrats fit within the party’s centrist-progressive divide and what rural voters need from politics now.       KATHERINE WHITE Co-founder of Network NOVA, co-host of Friday Power Lunch, and a driving force behind the BIG TEN Women’s Summit for Political Engagement. Friday Power Lunch: https://fridaypowerlunch.substack.com/ Network NOVA: https://networknova.org/   BETH MACY Acclaimed journalist and author, and Democratic nominee for Congress in Virginia’s 6th District. https://bethmacyforcongress.com/   JOY POWERS Fourth-generation cattle farmer, small business owner, and Democratic nominee for Congress in Virginia’s 9th District. https://www.joyforva.com/   MAKAYLA VENABLE Shenandoah Valley native, 2025 Democratic nominee and 2027 candidate for Virginia House of Delegates District 36. https://www.venable4va.com/   KATE POWELL | KATE FOR THE PEOPLE Nonprofit fundraising professional and Virginia advocate focused on civic engagement and government accountability. Kate for the People: https://substack.com/@kateforthepeople @kateforthepeople   TIM CYWINSKI Community organizer, environmental advocate and former 2026 Democratic candidate for Congress in Virginia’s 1st District. https://www.votetimva.com/   JEANNE RUSSELL Longtime Shenandoah County Democratic organizer and community activist working to build grassroots engagement across the Shenandoah Valley. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanne.e.russell   LYNLEE THORNE Political Director of Rural GroundGame and longtime rural Democratic organizer. Rural GroundGame: https://www.ruralgroundgame.org/

    EP. 32 - The Rural Angle from Network NOVA’s BIG TEN Women’s Summit

  2. Jul 24

    Ep. 31 – Fight for the Right to Repair: Del. Lily Franklin & Tom Perriello

    House Delegate Lily Franklin and congressional candidate Tom Perriello join New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss how corporate restrictions on repairing tractors, vehicles, electronics, and other equipment hurt farmers and rural communities. They explain why Democrats are leading the fight for the right to repair, what can be done at the state and federal levels, and why the proposed NextEra-Dominion acquisition demands tough scrutiny.   Read more in The Rural Angle, our companion Substack:  https://newruralvirginia.substack.com/

    Ep. 31 – Fight for the Right to Repair: Del. Lily Franklin & Tom Perriello

  3. Jul 11

    Ep. 30 - Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi: Why Every Rural Virginian Should Be Paying Attention to the Dominion–NextEra Deal

    Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi joins New Rural Virginia Podcast with an important message for Virginians as Dominion Energy's proposed acquisition by NextEra Energy moves toward regulatory review. She explains why she believes the review should slow down, what the proposed merger could mean for rural communities, and why Virginians should get answers before decisions are made that could shape the Commonwealth's energy future. Read more in The Rural Angle, our companion Substack: The Rural Angle

    Ep. 30 - Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi: Why Every Rural Virginian Should Be Paying Attention to the Dominion–NextEra Deal

  4. Jul 1

    Ep. 29 – Black Women in Rural Democratic Spaces

    Ashleigh N. Jackson, Andrea Jackson, Makayla Venable, and LeighAshley Hardin join New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss grassroots organizing, representation, and building Democratic power in rural Virginia. Four Black women share how relationships, local leadership, and year-round organizing are helping reshape Democratic politics in Waynesboro and beyond.

  5. Jun 6

    Ep. 28 – State Senator Jennifer Boysko: Why Paid Family and Medical Leave Matters for Rural Virginia

    State Senator Jennifer Boysko joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss Virginia’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave law, why she spent eight years fighting for its passage, and what it could mean for working families, small businesses, and rural communities across the Commonwealth. Learn more: www.JenniferBoysko.com Email: SenatorBoysko@senate.virginia.gov

  6. May 31

    Ep. 27 – Rep. James Walkinshaw and Joy Powers: Building Rural and Urban Partnerships

    Congressman James Walkinshaw and House District 9 candidate Joy Powers join New Rural Virginia Podcast for a conversation on what rural and urban communities can accomplish when they work together. The discussion explores gerrymandering, food security, small business development, health care affordability, public libraries, and the shared economic challenges facing Virginians across geographic and political divides. Learn more: www.JamesWalkinshaw.org www.JoyForVA.com

  7. May 25

    Ep. 26 – Brad Skipper: Shenandoah Democratic Committee Chair

    Released: Memorial Day, May 25, 2026 | Recorded: May 21, 2026 Shenandoah Democratic Committee Chair Brad Skipper joins New Rural Virginia Podcast for a conversation on grassroots organizing in one of Virginia’s most conservative rural regions. The discussion explores bridge demonstrations over Interstate 81, rural voter engagement, school board culture wars, and the growing visibility of Democrats and independents in Shenandoah County, while emphasizing the importance of relationships, community trust, and organizing rooted in rural identity and local issues. Learn more: www.ShenCoDems.org

  8. Apr 26

    Ep. 25 – Sarah Wells: Small Business Advocate and Entrepreneur

    Sarah Wells joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss the role of small businesses in driving rural prosperity and the challenges they face in today’s economy. The conversation focuses on limited visibility in policy and data, complex tax and compliance burdens, and uneven access to financing and resources that often hold rural entrepreneurs back. Wells also outlines practical, nonpartisan solutions to better support small businesses, emphasizing the need for tailored policies that reflect the realities of rural communities. Learn more at: www.sarahwellsbags.com

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About

Rural communities deserve to be heard. That’s the whole idea behind the New Rural Virginia Podcast. We’re having practical, honest conversations with our neighbors, local leaders, and candidates who know their communities, bringing new energy and ideas to tough challenges. The voices of rural Virginia are essential to the future of the Commonwealth. Co-hosted by Larry Wohlers and Parson Brown

Information

  • Creator
    New Rural Virginia
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 New Rural Virginia. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    NEW RURAL VIRGINIA PODCAST

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