Cover art for podcast Main Street Speaks

Main Street Speaks

50 EpisodesProduced by Main Street SpeaksWebsite

A podcast that covers rural news, politics, and history from the perspective of three college students from the Northern Neck of Virginia.

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Farewell

February 22nd, 2024

0:39

An important message from RadioPublic

How Do Students Learn About the Environment?

April 11th, 2022

32:16

For this episode we talk with two public school teachers about how students learn about the environment and how they balance standards of learning …

County-Level Climate Action with Narissa Turner

March 26th, 2022

19:59

Tune in to this week's episode as we speak with Climate Action Advocate, Narissa Turner, about Albemarle County's Climate Action Plan. We speak about the details of county-level climate action, its advantages, and …

How To Manage an Aquifer

March 13th, 2022

16:52

Join us as we discuss the Potomac Aquifer, the primary groundwater supply of eastern Virginia. We learn from the Virginia DEQ's Ryan Green about the aquifer being overdrawn and the consequences thereof, and we talk …

Environmental Justice In Virginia

February 25th, 2022

23:16

For this episode, we speak with Tyneshia Griffin of the New Virginia Majority about environmental justice and environmental challenges in the state of Virginia.

Help our podcast grow by subscribing, leaving ratings, and …

Higher Education in the US Prison System

February 12th, 2022

29:38

On this episode, the Tahi, Denzel, and Avery explore Higher Education in the US Prison System. From conversations with Dave Keel with Rappahannock …

Season 3: Welcome Back!

February 9th, 2022

2:18

We're back for Season 3 and are excited to share our newest episodes with you! Give this episode a listen to learn about our plans for Season 3, which includes episodes made in partnership with the University of …

Storytelling on the Northern Neck with Denise DeVries

August 5th, 2021

14:29

Today, Denzel speaks with author Denise DeVries about the writing community on the Northern Neck, her work, and the inspiration behind her work. Check out her books here. And keep up with her open houses on her Facebook

Mass Incarceration in Rural Areas

July 23rd, 2021

20:39

On this episode, Avery speaks with Jasmine Heiss from the Vera Institute of Justice to discuss mass incarceration in rural areas. 

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Criminal Justice and Mental Health in Rural Va

July 9th, 2021

31:27

For this episode, we speak with Northumberland County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Jane Wrightson, about her role, criminal justice reform, and the …

Breaking News!!: The Future of Local Journalism

June 23rd, 2021

19:48

Local reporting is important. In fact it’s sort of what we do on Main Street Speaks. So for this episode we speak with Christine Schmidt of the Local News Lab, and Bud Meyer and Andy Alexander of Foothills Forum — a …

A Conversation with Princess Blanding, Contender for Virginia's Gubernatorial Race

June 3rd, 2021

57:41

In this episode, Avery speaks with community organizer and independent party candidate for Virginia’s gubernatorial race, Ms. Princess Blanding. Avery and Ms. Blanding speak about the importance of community activism, …

Celebrating Youth Poetry

April 30th, 2021

24:22

In this episode, we celebrate National Poetry Month (April) by listening to the work of four young poets and students from Northumberland. In addition to hearing their poems about identity and background, we discuss …

MSC: From Drama Major to Lawyer with Erin Hapgood

April 15th, 2021

18:07

In this episode Denzel speaks with Erin Hapgood — Northumberland County, Virginia’s Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. Erin shares a bit about her …

Voting Rights, Broadband Funding, and Other State Laws

April 8th, 2021

19:42

In this episode, we cover Virginia’s new Voting Rights Act, the ending of the Death Penalty, new broadband funding, and some of the other new laws …

MSC: Home On--and Outside of--the Northern Neck, with Iris Lane

April 1st, 2021

16:16

This week, listen to Tahi's conversation with Iris Lane, a lifelong Northern Neck resident and current member of the Westmoreland County School Board.

Rural Environmentalism

March 25th, 2021

25:20

In this episode, we discuss the various facets of rural environmentalism, including local vs. global environmental consciousness, participatory …

MSC: Why Libraries Matter with Jane Blue

March 18th, 2021

31:02

Today Denzel speaks with Jane Blue — the Director of Northumberland Public Library. In this conversation, Director Blue tells us about what it is like to run a rural library, the challenges her library has faced during …

Virtual Learning Burnout

March 4th, 2021

26:37

For this episode we speak with Mykel Cox — a high school student at Northumberland High School who has had to tackle the challenges of virtual …

MSC: Cosmopolitanism and Identity with Ilona Duncan

February 25th, 2021

20:40

In this episode, Tahi speaks with Ilona Duncan; writer, musician, traveler, and polyglot; about lessons from living around the world, notions of …

Rural Law, Resentment, and Development with Emily Prifogle

February 18th, 2021

28:17

In this episode, we examine the history and present of rural resentment, the way law impacts rural areas, the historical identity of rural communities, and much more with Emily Prifogle, JD/PhD, a legal historian and …

MSC: Tourism on the Northern Neck with Greg Hewitt

February 11th, 2021

25:54

For this episode, Denzel speaks with Greg Hewitt about his new Northern Neck tourism company Naked Neck Adventures and his I Work Weekends …

Local School Board Debates School Name Change

February 3rd, 2021

23:14

The Westmoreland County School Board recently voted to change the name of the county's high school from Washington and Lee High School to …

Welcome Back!

January 28th, 2021

3:22

We're back from our Winter break! Before we get back into our regular episodes, we wanted to welcome you back and remind you of our mission. 


Help …

Reflections on 2020

December 22nd, 2020

30:11

For this last episode before the new year, we speak about some of the most memorable conversations we have had with local organizers, community leaders, and other rural students like ourselves. 

Help our podcast grow by …

Experiences in Rural Schools, Part 2

December 16th, 2020

18:06

In this part of our rural education series, Tahi speaks with two school board members, Iris Lane of Westmorland and Gayle Sterrett of Northumberland. …

Experiences in Rural Schools, Part 1

November 30th, 2020

29:25

This episode features the first half of our conversation about rural schools. We speak about teachers, college readiness, and student mental health. …

MSC: Robin Schick- Colonial Beach's 1st Female Mayor

November 25th, 2020

36:51

For this episode, Denzel spoke with Robin Schick, the first female mayor of Colonial Beach, VA. Denzel and Mayor Schick spoke about growing up in a …

2020 Election Recap: Northern Neck

November 17th, 2020

37:07

In this episode, we reflect on the recent presidential and congressional elections. With some in-depth analysis and a touch of our own opinions, we informally discuss how the Northern Neck voted and what this means for …

Main Street Conversations: Lesley Newman

November 9th, 2020

36:50

In this episode, Tahi speaks with Lesley Newman about travelling around the world and returning to the Northern Neck, politics and "wearing purple", …

Small Town, Large Campus

November 2nd, 2020

21:58

In this episode, we hear from students from the Northern Neck attending universities across Virginia-- their difficulties, perspectives, thoughts …

Looking Ahead

October 22nd, 2020

1:58

We're taking a week to prepare for our upcoming new series. Stay tuned for the series' first episode next week!


Please help our podcast grow by …

Main Street Conversations: Alec Ream

October 14th, 2020

45:55

In this episode, Avery speaks with local author, Alec Ream, about his new novel "Canterbury 2020". The 'pre apocalyptic tragic comedy' explores one character's journey with themes such as division and fear amidst the …

A Conversation with Qasim Rashid, Contender for VA-01

October 8th, 2020

44:12

Qasim Rashid is a human rights lawyer running against Rob Wittman for the congressional seat of Virginia's First District. We speak with him about …

Main Street Conversations: Alvaro Ibanez

October 1st, 2020

36:14

Today, Denzel speaks with local artist Alvaro Ibanez about his journey from Colombia to the Northern Neck, and about the A-Ibanez Art Museum and …

Will Virginians End Gerrymandering?

September 23rd, 2020

31:40

Today we speak with the Brian Cannon, the Executive Director of Fair Maps Virginia, about why Virginians should vote in favor of Constitutional …

Main Street Conversations: Sarah Henry

September 17th, 2020

34:40

In this episode, Tahi speaks with Sarah Henry about growing up in a different rural area before moving to the Northern Neck, whether there are issues that transcend different kinds of rural places, the challenges of …

Rashid v. Wittman First Congressional Debate Recap

September 10th, 2020

34:52

For this episode we discuss the criminal justice debate between Qasim Rashid and Rob Wittman, who are fighting to be elected to represent Virginia’s …

New Project Announcement!

September 3rd, 2020

5:42

In this episode, we announce a new project initiative of Main Street Speaks. We'll be back next week with another episode!

Please help our podcast …

Youth Activism in Rural Areas- With LaKaia Shelton and Briauna Smith

August 27th, 2020

24:30

Today we spoke with two local young activist, LaKaia Shelton and Briauna Smith, about how they organized a 300-person Black Lives Matter march in Tapphannock, Virginia, and about the difference between organizing in …

Food Insecurity in Virginia- An Interview with Eddie Oliver

August 19th, 2020

23:43

For this episode we speak with Eddie Oliver, the Executive Director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, about food insecurity across the state of Virginia. Mr. Oliver not only shared with us his knowledge about …

A Conversation About Race Relations Pt. 2

August 12th, 2020

25:06

For this episode we continue our conversation about race relations in the Northern Neck and across the country by discussing how race plays a role in …

The Confederate Monument in Tappahanncok, VA: An Interview with Organizer Reggie Carter

August 5th, 2020

26:27

Today we talk with local organizer Reggie Carter about the campaign he is leading to remove the confederate monument in Tappahannock, Virginia. We …

What is Rural Racism?: A Conversation With Rev. Linwood Blizzard

July 27th, 2020

36:43

For this episode we ask pastor, teacher, and local organizer Rev. Linwood Blizzard about his experience with racism in rural America and talk about what you can do to help remove the confederate monument in …

A Conversation About Race Relations

July 22nd, 2020

30:24

For this episode we discuss some key takeaways from a conversation we attended about interracial relations in the Northern Neck of Virginia and …

New Virginia State Laws!

July 15th, 2020

34:15

For this episode we talk about the new Virginia state laws such as new state gun reform measures, new state minimum wage increases, and new state LGBTQ+ civil rights protections. We also talk about some local and state …

What is Main Street Speaks?

July 8th, 2020

11:22

For this short episode we share a little bit more about who we are and talk about why we started this podcast! 

Please help our podcast grow by …

How the Pandemic has Affected Rural America

July 1st, 2020

34:22

For this episode we talk about the economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural communities such as the Northern Neck of Virginia. …

An Overview of the Virginia Primary Candidates

June 20th, 2020

38:23

For this episode we talk about the backgrounds and platforms of the Virginia U.S. Senate Republican Primary Candidates and the Congressional District 1 Democratic Primary Candidates. We also talk about some local and …

Protests and Policing

June 16th, 2020

36:11

On  this episode, we talk about the protests and calls for reform that have  been occurring in the Northern Neck of Virginia and around the world, in  light of the death of George Floyd. We also talk about some local …

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