Rural Spark

Rural Spark


Latest Episodes

From poverty-stricken to remote jobs leader: how connectivity transformed a rural Kentucky county
January 20, 2020

A small American town is beating the odds and creating new jobs in creative ways.

Makers, innovators, & entrepreneurs unite! The shared space solution?
January 13, 2020

Learn how a coworking space in Canada's north has innovated beyond traditional public work spaces.

Grab a carbon neutral cold one
December 17, 2019

Find out how a rural brewery is about to become North America's first carbon-neutral brewery.

Cradle to career: closing the rural education gap
December 08, 2019

This week we look into the gap in post-secondary education access and achievement for rural students. To help explain what's being done to close that gap, we're joined by Dreama Gentry of Berea College in eastern Kentucky and John White, former Deputy Ass

Success in rural medicine: The Marathon model
November 26, 2019

This is a model worth replicating. The small town of Marathon, Ont. has a surplus of doctors. And that's benefiting not only locals, but also neighbouring communities that run short.New to the pod? Every week Helen Murphy, a rural newspaper editor and ent

Rural health problems and nurse practitioner solutions
November 18, 2019

Find out how nurse practitioners are improving access to primary care across Canada

Country roads, take me home, on my bicycle...
November 12, 2019

Cycling infrastructure isn't just for cities. Learn more on this week's episode.

Making the news: who will fill the gap in rural coverage?
November 04, 2019

Changes to news media are hitting rural Canada hard. From community papers closing or amalgamating to digital gaps limiting online solutions, access to stories about what's going on in rural communities is becoming increasingly difficult. This week we tal

Tiny home solutions vs big bylaw barriers
October 28, 2019

Tiny homes have the potential to help address numerous challenges in rural Canada. But first, their proponents have to take on local bylaws. Terrilee Kelford of Cornerstone Landing in Lanark Co., Ont. is on the front lines and shares her story with us.New

Is the Open Library a solution for rural Canada?
October 16, 2019

A pilot project in N.S. is showing how our libraries can be so much more.New to the pod? Every week Helen Murphy, a rural newspaper editor and entrepreneur, invites guests to share fresh thinking, success stories and lessons learned. Be sure to subscribe