NEW RURAL VIRGINIA PODCAST

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. ...

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 discus...

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 s...

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 f...

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...

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 responsibil...

As Virginia enters a new chapter with the inauguration of Governor Abigail Spanberger, Ken Mitchell joins New Rural Virginia Podcast to discuss his campaign to represent Virginia’s Sixth District in Congress. The conversation explores challenges facing agriculture and small businesses, the importance of listening to rural communities, and how those perspectives inform his vision for Rural Prosperity across the district.

Learn more ...

As the countdown to Election Day continues, co-hosts Parson Brown and Larry Wohlers follow up with HD 61 candidate Jac Bennington, a teacher, Army veteran, and National Guard pilot. The conversation explores what he is hearing from voters, the tone of this year’s races, and how voices from rural Virginia are shaping campaigns and leadership across the Commonwealth.

Learn more about Jac Bennington’s campaign at:   www.benningtonforv...

Donna Littlepage, candidate for Virginia House District 40, returns to New Rural Virginia podcast to share updates from the campaign trail and discuss the rising cost of living, access to quality healthcare, and the need for bipartisan cooperation in Richmond. As election day approaches, she offers her perspective on the recent government shutdown and the importance of finding common ground in the legislature.

Learn more: Littlep...