Turn on national news and you will hear a lot about Washington, big cities, and billion-dollar industries. What you do not hear much about are the small towns, back roads, and rural communities where policy decisions hit close to home.

In this episode, host John Peace and co-host Heather Moses sit down with Kody from the podcast ‘The Story of Kody’, a grassroots advocate who believes local voices are the key to keeping rural communities informed, involved, and empowered. Their conversation is not just about one region. It reflects a challenge facing rural America from coast to coast: how do communities stay informed and engaged when local news fades and national politics drowns out local concerns?

‘The Story of Kody’ Bluesky link: https://bsky.app/profile/thestoryofkody.com

The Story of Kody’ TikTok link: thestoryofkody (@thestoryofkody) | TikTok

Kody began speaking out about local political issues after realizing many neighbors did not know what was happening in their own town halls and county meetings.

“When the governor’s election happened, I thought about what I could do to inform people,” Kody says.

That question is echoing in rural communities everywhere. As local newspapers shrink or disappear, everyday citizens are stepping up through podcasts, social media, and community groups to share information that used to come from a reporter sitting in the back of the room.

When neighbors inform neighbors, democracy gets a little stronger.

Local government decisions may not make national headlines, but they can shape daily life in powerful ways.

Kody talks about a proposed ordinance that would have limited when political canvassing could happen. On the surface it sounded minor. In practice, it could have made it harder for people to share information and organize.

“It limited the hours in which somebody could canvas and left many residents unaware of important political developments,” Kody explains.

Moments like this show why paying attention locally matters. In rural America, where communities are tight-knit, small policy shifts can have ripple effects that last for years.

Across rural America, many communities are becoming “news deserts,” places where professional local reporting has dried up. Papers close. Reporters leave. Coverage shrinks.

What remains is often word of mouth, social media, or highly partisan sources. That leaves big gaps in reliable, balanced information about local government decisions, school boards, zoning issues, and economic development plans.

That is why people like Kody and Heather are stepping forward. When traditional media fades, local citizens often become the new messengers.

One of the most powerful lessons from the conversation is that trust often starts outside party labels.

“You can establish a lot of trust on issues that are not red or blue,” Kody says.

Clean water, good schools, safe roads, access to healthcare, and protecting the land are concerns shared by farmers, factory workers, small business owners, and retirees alike. When people begin with these shared priorities, they can build relationships that make harder political conversations possible later.

In areas with limited local reporting, misinformation can spread quickly. Heather talks about how confusing or misleading claims around ballot measures and local issues can shape public opinion before facts have a chance to catch up.

“What little news we do have is filtered through partisan sources,” she notes.

That makes local fact-sharing even more important. When trusted community members take the time to explain what a policy actually does, they help neighbors make informed decisions instead of reacting to rumors.

The conversation also turns toward the future of rural economies. Many communities are still dealing with the loss of long-standing industries and are searching for stable, good-paying jobs that allow families to stay.

Kody and Heather argue that economic development should be about more than just bringing in outside corporations. It should focus on creating jobs with benefits, supporting local businesses, and protecting the land and resources rural communities depend on.

Whether it is renewable energy, small manufacturing, agriculture, or local entrepreneurship, the goal is the same: opportunity that strengthens the community instead of draining it.

This episode is a reminder that the future of rural America will not be decided only in state capitals or in Washington. It will be shaped in county courthouses, school board meetings, and community centers, by people willing to speak up and stay involved.

Kody’s story shows that grassroots engagement is not about being loud. It is about being informed, building trust, and helping neighbors understand the decisions that affect their daily lives.

In towns big and small across rural America, that kind of engagement may be one of the most important tools communities have.