In our first episode, we ask: Who gets to shape the stories that define rural communities?

Welcome to Rural Narratives, a new podcast about public health in North Carolina’s rural communities. In this series, storytelling isn’t just about the news — it’s a way to listen, learn, and understand how meaning is made.

We speak with:

• Dee Davis, President of the Center for Rural Strategies

• Makani Themba, Chief Strategist of Higher Ground Change Strategies

• Mik Moore, CEO of Moore + Associates

Together, they explore how dominant narratives take shape, how culture influences politics, and why trust in public health begins with who controls the story.