While we’re working on new episodes for Season 3, revisit one of our favorite conversations, originally released on June 18, 2025.

Ellen talks with Camden Blatchley, a data analyst with the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI). Camden discusses the complexities of defining rural and urban areas in the United States, and describes the differences between the two most commonly used definitions: one developed by the Census Bureau and the other by the Office of Management and Budget. Camden explains how these differing definitions can paint different images of rural America and reinforce narratives about rural and urban areas as a binary, when in reality they are a complex, diverse, interconnected continuum of geographies, people, and economic conditions. Camden also highlights his work on the Rural Aperture Project and the necessity for more accurate storytelling and policymaking that reflect the true state of interdependence of rural and urban areas.

Episode Highlights:

03:51 The Many Definitions of Rural

10:25 Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Rural America

15:42 Economic Realities and Misconceptions of Rural America

18:09 Rural-Urban Connections

More Information:

Center on Rural Innovation, https://ruralinnovation.us/

The Rural Aperture Project, https://ruralinnovation.us/resources/mapping-and-data-analytics/the-rural-aperture-project/

Defining Rural America, The Consequenes of How We Count, https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/defining-rural-america/

Who lives in rural America? How data shapes (and misshapes) conceptions of diversity in rural America, https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/who-lives-in-rural-america-part-i/

Who lives in rural America? The geography of rural race and ethnicity, https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/who-lives-in-rural-america-part-2/

The reclassification of rural counties and what it means for rural America, https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/the-reclassification-of-rural-counties-and-what-it-means-for-rural-america/

Questions, comments, want to get in touch? Email us at sidebyside@umn.edu. We share your feedback with funders and stakeholders about the value of this podcast and how you engage with the insights and information.

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In final episode of season two, Ellen talks with Civic Bridgers founder Libby Stegger and students Angelina Rueda and Sumaya Yassin about bridging across rural, urban, and suburban spaces in Minnesota. Angelina and Sumaya discuss their experience in the Rural-Urban Campus Bridging Initiative and Libby shares how the Civic Bridgers organization builds connections across the state.

Episode Highlights:

03:14 Civic Bridgers and the Campus Bridging Initiative

08:40 Experiences and Insights from Participants

15:23 Challenges and Rewards of Bridging

26:19 Aspirations and Recommendations for Bridging Work

More Information:
Civic Bridgers, www.civicbridgers.org
Libby Stegger Bio, https://www.civicbridgers.org/meet-the-team

Angelina Rueda is a recent graduate from Winona State University with a passion for sociology. Last spring, she participated in the Campus Bridging Initiative to promote the Urban-Rural exchange. Currently, Angelina is a Program Engagement Fellow for Engage Winona as part of a fellowship program with Civic Bridgers and Americorps Vista.

Sumaya Yassin is a third-year student at St. Catherine University, majoring in Public Health with a concentration in Health Sciences and a minor in Aging and Longevity. In the spring of 2025, Sumaya joined the two-weekend exchange program with the Campus Bridging Initiative. This program facilitates exchanges between students from the College of Saint Benedict and St. Catherine's University to engage in discussions about Urban and Rural immersion.

Questions, comments, want to get in touch? Email us at sidebyside@umn.edu. We share your feedback with funders and stakeholders about the value of this podcast and how you engage with the insights and information.

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