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

As Virginia votes YES on the redistricting referendum, Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss her vision for the Commonwealth and the initiatives shaping her work in office.

The conversation highlights her Literature and Government lecture series and Virginia’s Voices initiative, focused on civic engagement and connecting directly with communities across Virginia. Hashmi discusses disparities in K–12 education funding, pathways in higher education and workforce training, healthcare access, and the importance of broadband and economic opportunity in rural areas. She also addresses support for small businesses, protections for public libraries, and the need to turn community input into practical policy solutions that reflect the everyday needs of Virginians. Learn more at: www.ltgov.virginia.gov

Former Air Force and Space Force Colonel Bree Fram joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss her campaign for Virginia’s 11th District and the upcoming redistricting referendum vote on April 21st.

The conversation spans her military service and path to running for Congress, the stakes of redistricting, and the challenge of representing a district that bridges rural and suburban communities. Fram discusses rural prosperity, including healthcare access, infrastructure challenges, and economic stability for farmers, as well as the importance of showing up, listening, and engaging communities across the district. She also addresses how national security decisions shape local economies and outlines her approach to public service and representation.

Learn more at: www.TeamBree.com

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE AND VOTE EARLY!

The voices of rural Virginia are essential to the future of the Commonwealth.

New Rural Virginia Podcast brings conversations with candidates, elected officials, organizers, and community leaders across rural Virginia. Listen anywhere you get your audio and please follow, like, and subscribe to our substack newsletter, "The Rural Angle" Co-hosted by Larry Wohlers and Parson Brown www.NewRuralVa.org

Lyndsay Deitrick and Laura Miller of the Alliance for Appalachia join for a conversation on two decades of work supporting communities across Southwest Virginia and the broader region.

The episode highlights ongoing efforts around environmental justice, grassroots organizing, and federal advocacy, while connecting those efforts to the future of rural prosperity, community resilience, and representation from the ground up.

After a short break, New Rural Virginia Podcast returns following Larry’s trip to Europe and Parson’s time at the Appalachian Studies Association Conference. Learn more at: www.TheAllianceforAppalachia.org

Kris Nelson and Jessica Reynolds join New Rural Virginia Podcast discuss the movement to protect Samuels Public Library, the strength of grassroots organizing in rural communities, and how cross-party partnerships can deliver results. They analyze newly drawn district lines, consider implications for the Commonwealth’s civic future, highlight strategies that keep local advocates aligned and effective, and outline priorities ahead for the DPVA Rural Caucus.

Learn more: Warren County Democratic Committee: https://www.warrencovadems.org/

Rural Caucus of Virginia: https://www.ruralcaucusdpva.org

Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition: https://pecva.org/datacenters

Beth Macy joins New Rural Virginia Podcast for a discussion recorded amid Virginia’s newly released redistricting maps and a rapidly shifting primary landscape. A journalist from Roanoke and bestselling author, Macy reflects on her decision to run in Virginia’s Sixth District, drawing on decades of reporting on rural America. The episode explores rural prosperity, healthcare and education access, workforce challenges, and why lived experience and community voices matter in Congress. Learn more: www.BethMacyforCongress.com

Tom Perriello joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss his return to Virginia’s Fifth District and the need for strong federal leadership. He reflects on the Affordable Care Act, healthcare costs, wages and affordability, and rebuilding opportunity in rural communities. Drawing on his experience working in countries under authoritarian rule, Perriello discusses threats to democratic norms and Congress’s responsibility to act as a check on executive power.

Learn more at: www.TomPerriello.com

Featured song: “Perriello for the Common Good”

Written by Brendan Gilmore | Performed by The Perriello Pickers

YouTube: Perriello for the Common Good