Rural Matters

Michael Levin-Epstein
  • 4.8 (32)
  • EDUCATION

Rural Matters is a biweekly, 30-minute podcast about rural education, business, and health. The podcast's mission is to increase awareness, inform discussion, and expand the dialogue on the most important issues facing rural stakeholders every day. Guests on the podcast include rural education decision-makers, rural business owners and entrepreneurs, and rural health care representatives. The National Rural Education Association and the Center for Rural Affairs are marketing partners.

  1. 09/16/2025

    Reimagining Rural Hospitals (Part 2 of BRG Series)

    In this episode, Michael chats with Michael Backus, President and CEO of Oswego Health; Brian Fisher, Managing Director at BRG; and Dr. Julia Clark, Managing Director at BRG. Together, they discuss the realities rural hospitals are facing; what Oswego Health is currently experiencing in upstate New York; innovative and collaborative approaches necessary to rethink operating models; how BRG Healthcare is working with rural hospitals to help bolster operations; and how partnerships can serve as a winning strategy to help rural hospitals overcome operational barriers.   This episode and the two-part series are sponsored by BRG. Visit www.thinkbrg.com/healthcare to learn more.

    45 min

  2. 08/12/2025

    Reimagining Rural Hospitals (Part I of BRG Series)

    In this episode, Michael chats with Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA); Brian Fisher, Managing Director at BRG; and Dr. Julia Clark, Managing Director at BRG. Together, they discuss the current state of rural hospitals; NRHA's analysis of the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on rural hospitals; what rural healthcare providers should do now to ensure they can continue to offer quality patient care; and how NRHA and BRG are working together to reimagine the way rural providers can deliver care in the future.   This episode and the two-part series are sponsored by BRG. Visit www.thinkbrg.com/healthcare to learn more.   Check out NRHA's analysis on the impact of the OBBBA on rural healthcare at bit.ly/47iHbRQ.

    47 min

  3. 06/27/2025

    Exploring Digital Alternatives to Copper-Based Landlines in Rural Healthcare Facilities

    In this episode, Michael chats with Max Silber, Vice President of Mobility and IoT at MetTel. Together, they discuss connectivity and the role copper-based landlines play in rural hospitals; how rural healthcare facilities can transition to digital systems, even with limited costs and resources; challenges that rural organizations could face when transitioning to digital; how MetTel helps those organizations make successful transitions to digital; and much more.

    32 min

  4. 12/19/2024

    Looking Back and Facing Forward in Rural Education

    In this episode, Michael chats with Dr. Melissa Sadorf, Executive Director of the Arizona Rural Schools Association; Dr. Steven Johnson, Superintendent of Fort Ransom School District in North Dakota and leader of Rural Educational Associates; and Taylor McCabe-Juhnke, Executive Director of Rural Schools Collaborative. Together, they first offer a warm tribute to Dr. Allen Pratt, who is retiring as Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association. Then, they dive into the most important developments in rural education in 2024 and wrap up with some insights on what could be at the forefront in 2025.

    1 hr

  5. 12/18/2024

    Meeting Essential Workforce Needs in Rural Health (Part III of MedCerts Series)

    In this final episode of our MedCerts series, Michael chats with Jenny Story, Office Manager and Co-Owner at Story Family Medicine in Idaho, and Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce Development at MedCerts. Together, they discuss the unique community Story Family Medicine serves, the challenges it faced in finding new talent, why it partnered with MedCerts to deploy a phlebotomy certification course to help fill that role, how MedCerts partnership models help to bridge talent gaps in rural health, and much more.   This episode and the entire series are sponsored by MedCerts. For more information, visit partners.MedCerts.com.

    26 min

  6. 12/13/2024

    Partnering to Fill Talent Gaps in Rural Health (Part II of MedCerts Series)

    In this episode, Michael chats with MacKenzie Nuckolls, RN CNOR, Assistant Director of Surgical Services at Union General Health System in Georgia, and Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce Development at MedCerts. Together, they discuss MacKenzie's role at Union General Health System, challenges the hospital faced as it tried to fill talent gaps, how the hospital's partnership with MedCerts help to meet those needs, and much more.   This episode and the entire series are sponsored by MedCerts. For more information, visit partners.MedCerts.com.

    36 min

  7. 11/15/2024

    Disaster Response, Housing, and a Full-Circle Approach to Economic Advancement with HUD's Marion McFadden

    In this episode, Michael chats with Marion McFadden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Together, they discuss how McFadden's office coordinated the response to recent natural disasters; the impact of HUD's housing supply work, including PRO Housing and the Section 108 Legacy Challenge; how HUD is working to provide financial assistance to rural communities facing homelessness difficulties; and HUD's holistic approach to improve economic prosperity in rural communications.

    20 min

  8. 10/21/2024

    The Benefits of Employer Partnerships and Training (Part I of MedCerts Series)

    In this episode, Michael chats with Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce Development at MedCerts; Dana Janssen, Chief Product Officer at MedCerts; Rupi Hayer, Senior Manager for Chronic Disease Education in the Improving Health Outcomes Department at the American Medical Association (AMA); and Lauren Clemmons, Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Osteopathic Principles and Practice at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. Together, they discuss MedCerts' employer partnership model, how the organization's programs benefit rural communities, the AMA's Blood Pressure Measurement initiative, why it's important to choose the right partner for online healthcare and IT training, why the two organizations partnered, the importance of blood pressure measurement training and education, and much more.   Explore the AMA's Student Blood Pressure Measurement Learning Series: edhub.ama-assn.org/ama-cvd-prevention-education/pages/student-bp-learning-series?bypassoutputcache=true   Learn more about the partnership between MedCerts and the AMA: www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-medcerts-collaborate-improve-blood-pressure-measurement-skills   This episode and the entire series are sponsored by MedCerts. For more information, visit MedCerts.com.

    40 min
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4.8
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Rural Matters is a biweekly, 30-minute podcast about rural education, business, and health. The podcast's mission is to increase awareness, inform discussion, and expand the dialogue on the most important issues facing rural stakeholders every day. Guests on the podcast include rural education decision-makers, rural business owners and entrepreneurs, and rural health care representatives. The National Rural Education Association and the Center for Rural Affairs are marketing partners.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Levin-Epstein
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Rural Matters