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Yonder Radio

by Center for Rural Strategies

News Society & Culture

RERUN SPECIAL REPORT Yonder Radio - Power Dynamics: The Rural Data Center Boom (Podcast version, no breaks)

Yonder Radio's first-ever special report is called Power Dynamics: The Rural Data Center Boom. We're digging into how different kinds of power – from literal computing power to political and economic power – shape data center development in rural America. Two-thirds of new data centers are going to be built in rural places, according to the Pew Research Center. That puts rural communities at the forefront of a nationwide scramble to build the physical infrastructure powering AI. Still, as the U.S. economy embraces AI, rural America has yet to feel the technology’s economic windfall. Instead, many communities are grappling with competing visions for the future of their land, water, and energy resources, as data centers crop up to supply growing AI demand. Over the past year, the Daily Yonder has reported on the rural data center rush in nearly every region. What has emerged is a story not only of what gets built, and where, but also of who gets to decide.

RERUN SPECIAL REPORT Yonder Radio - Power Dynamics: The Rural Data Center Boom (Radio version, with breaks)

*RERUN Note: This episode is built for radio broadcasting and includes breaks filled with music for podcast purposes. Yonder Radio's first-ever special report is called Power Dynamics: The Rural Data Center Boom. We're digging into how different kinds of power – from literal computing power to political and economic power – shape data center development in rural America. Two-thirds of new data centers are going to be built in rural places, according to the Pew Research Center. That puts rural communities at the forefront of a nationwide scramble to build the physical infrastructure powering AI. Still, as the U.S. economy embraces AI, rural America has yet to feel the technology’s economic windfall. Instead, many communities are grappling with competing visions for the future of their land, water, and energy resources, as data centers crop up to supply growing AI demand. Over the past year, the Daily Yonder has reported on the rural data center rush in nearly every region. What has emerged is a story not only of what gets built, and where, but also of who gets to decide.

Yonder Radio 9/10/26 (Podcast version, no breaks)

We begin by talking with environmental reporter Delaney Nolan about how AI-generated misinformation helped put an end to an industrial-scale solar project in Iberia Parish, Louisiana. Next, Erin Borla, the executive director of the Roundhouse Foundation, talks rural philanthropy in Oregon, and shares some wisdom from her grandma, Gert. Daily Yonder Culture Reporter Susannah Broun interviews filmmaker Rustin Thompson about his new documentary, “The Last Picture Shows,” which tells the story of independent, small-town movie theaters across the West. Oral historian Mi’Jan Celie Tho-Biaz stops by to invite us to a story feast, a project that brings people together over exquisite meals to learn from one another. And Daily Yonder contributor Nhatt Nichols takes us to Wyoming, where Indigenous communities are working to restore native buffalo herds. Our featured musicians this week are Redd and the Paper Flowers, a “living room folk” band out of Knoxville, Tennessee. Tune in to hear all that, and more, on this week’s episode of Yonder Radio.

Yonder Radio 9/10/26 (Radio version, with breaks)

*Note: this episode is built for radio broadcasting and includes breaks filled with music for podcast purposes. We begin by talking with environmental reporter Delaney Nolan about how AI-generated misinformation helped put an end to an industrial-scale solar project in Iberia Parish, Louisiana. Next, Erin Borla, the executive director of the Roundhouse Foundation, talks rural philanthropy in Oregon, and shares some wisdom from her grandma, Gert. Daily Yonder Culture Reporter Susannah Broun interviews filmmaker Rustin Thompson about his new documentary, “The Last Picture Shows,” which tells the story of independent, small-town movie theaters across the West. Oral historian Mi’Jan Celie Tho-Biaz stops by to invite us to a story feast, a project that brings people together over exquisite meals to learn from one another. And Daily Yonder contributor Nhatt Nichols takes us to Wyoming, where Indigenous communities are working to restore native buffalo herds. Our featured musicians this week are Redd and the Paper Flowers, a “living room folk” band out of Knoxville, Tennessee. Tune in to hear all that, and more, on this week’s episode of Yonder Radio.

Yonder Radio 9/3/26 (Podcast version, no breaks)

We begin with Daily Yonder contributor Kaitlyn McConnell, who takes us to Eudora Baptist Church in Polk County, Missouri. For the last 25 years, the church has been the site of some pretty major folk-artistry, helping generations of children create unique, hand-made mosaics. Next, we talk with Christine Hemp, the president of the National Grange, about their mission of community empowerment, ongoing since 1867. Daily Yonder columnist Donna Kallner gives us some advice about write-in voting, and we talk to author Heather Hansman about her latest book, Fierce Country. Finally, we put on our cowboy hats and head to Kazakhstan, to learn about the gnarliest sport at the World Nomad Games: Kok boru. It’s like polo, but with a headless goat. Don’t worry, you’ll love it. Our featured musician this week is Moses Martinez, harmonica player extraordinaire out of Terlingua, Texas.

Yonder Radio 9/3/26 (Radio version, with breaks)

*Note: this episode is built for radio broadcasting and includes breaks filled with music for podcast purposes. We begin with Daily Yonder contributor Kaitlyn McConnell, who takes us to Eudora Baptist Church in Polk County, Missouri. For the last 25 years, the church has been the site of some pretty major folk-artistry, helping generations of children create unique, hand-made mosaics. Next, we talk with Christine Hemp, the president of the National Grange, about their mission of community empowerment, ongoing since 1867. Daily Yonder columnist Donna Kallner gives us some advice about write-in voting, and we talk to author Heather Hansman about her latest book, Fierce Country. Finally, we put on our cowboy hats and head to Kazakhstan, to learn about the gnarliest sport at the World Nomad Games: Kok boru. It’s like polo, but with a headless goat. Don’t worry, you’ll love it. Our featured musician this week is Moses Martinez, harmonica player extraordinaire out of Terlingua, Texas.

Yonder Radio 8/27/26 (Podcast version, no breaks)

This week on Yonder Radio, we’re starting with a conversation between Daily Yonder reporter Madeline de Figueredo and Mia Sarot about high-voltage transmission lines coming to central Texas. Find your next read or watch from a conversation between Daily Yonder culture reporters Susannah Broun, Anya Petrone Slepyan, and Madelon Basil highlighting a few of the best pop culture hits from this summer. We also talk to Alex Campbell from Amazon Prime’s Murder 101 docuseries, where Campbell’s rural Tennessee sociology classroom solves a longstanding cold case. Reporter Claire Carlson takes us on a salmon migration from the Pacific Ocean back to their birthing grounds in a Pacific Northwest river. Then, food journalist Nhatt Nichols brings us to a winery in Oregon where the winemaker is also a climatologist. Our featured musician this week is West of Roan, a folk band from western Washington. Tune in for all that, and more, on Yonder Radio.

Yonder Radio 8/27/26 (Radio version, with breaks)

*Note: this episode is built for radio broadcasting and includes breaks filled with music for podcast purposes. This week on Yonder Radio, we’re starting with a conversation between Daily Yonder reporter Madeline de Figueredo and Mia Sarot about high-voltage transmission lines coming to central Texas. Find your next read or watch from a conversation between Daily Yonder culture reporters Susannah Broun, Anya Petrone Slepyan, and Madelon Basil highlighting a few of the best pop culture hits from this summer. We also talk to Alex Campbell from Amazon Prime’s Murder 101 docuseries, where Campbell’s rural Tennessee sociology classroom solves a longstanding cold case. Reporter Claire Carlson takes us on a salmon migration from the Pacific Ocean back to their birthing grounds in a Pacific Northwest river. Then, food journalist Nhatt Nichols brings us to a winery in Oregon where the winemaker is also a climatologist. Our featured musician this week is West of Roan, a folk band from western Washington. Tune in for all that, and more, on Yonder Radio 0:00-1:00 Billboard 1:00-5:00 Local News/Music 5:00-23:47 A Block 23:47-25:47 Break/Music 25:47-42:34 B Block 42:34-44:34Break/Music 44:34-59:00 C Block 59:00-60:00 Local Avail/Music

SPECIAL REPORT Yonder Radio - Power Dynamics: The Rural Data Center Boom (Podcast version, no breaks)

Yonder Radio's first-ever special report is called Power Dynamics: The Rural Data Center Boom. We're digging into how different kinds of power – from literal computing power to political and economic power – shape data center development in rural America. Two-thirds of new data centers are going to be built in rural places, according to the Pew Research Center. That puts rural communities at the forefront of a nationwide scramble to build the physical infrastructure powering AI. Still, as the U.S. economy embraces AI, rural America has yet to feel the technology’s economic windfall. Instead, many communities are grappling with competing visions for the future of their land, water, and energy resources, as data centers crop up to supply growing AI demand. Over the past year, the Daily Yonder has reported on the rural data center rush in nearly every region. What has emerged is a story not only of what gets built, and where, but also of who gets to decide.

SPECIAL REPORT Yonder Radio - Power Dynamics: The Rural Data Center Boom (Radio version, with breaks)

*Note: this episode is built for radio broadcasting and includes breaks filled with music for podcast purposes. Yonder Radio's first-ever special report is called Power Dynamics: The Rural Data Center Boom. We're digging into how different kinds of power – from literal computing power to political and economic power – shape data center development in rural America. Two-thirds of new data centers are going to be built in rural places, according to the Pew Research Center. That puts rural communities at the forefront of a nationwide scramble to build the physical infrastructure powering AI. Still, as the U.S. economy embraces AI, rural America has yet to feel the technology’s economic windfall. Instead, many communities are grappling with competing visions for the future of their land, water, and energy resources, as data centers crop up to supply growing AI demand. Over the past year, the Daily Yonder has reported on the rural data center rush in nearly every region. What has emerged is a story not only of what gets built, and where, but also of who gets to decide. 0:00-1:00 Billboard 1:00-5:00 Local News/Music 5:00-26:40 A Block 26:40-28:40 Break/Music 28:40-42:39 B Block 42:39-44:39 Break/Music 44:39-59:00 C Block 59:00-60:00 Local Avail/Music

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