In September 2019, I took a deep breath and clicked that “Buy Now” button on Amazon. I purchased my Blue Yeti microphone that all the podcast pros out there recommended for recording a stellar, “sounds-like-heaven” broadcast for listeners to tune in each week.

When it arrived on my doorstep, I excitedly opened the box, looked over all the equipment, read the manual, plugged it into my computer, and then….

There it sat for months and months.

I knew in my heart that a podcast about small towns and small businesses and the stories of people in them was what I wanted to share.

I wanted to tell about the brave boutique owners who started a storefront in a small-town Main Street that was more shuttered than vibrant.

I wanted to hear from the mom-and-pop convenience store owner who had successfully run a chain of businesses in their small Iowa town for over 4 decades.

I wanted to talk about the “what-not-to-dos” so others with hearts for these tiny towns dotting our American landscape could bring revitalization and vibrancy and ideas to their communities too.

So in summer 2020, I knew it was time.

I put pen to paper and mic to computer and started recording. The stories and strategies came easy, but the overall name was a bit…controversial.

You see, I’ve always been a begrudged creative writer, meaning I am a good writer and I can do wordplay like nobody’s business, but I’m also very in-my-own head about what I put out into the world. I like spinning topics and phrases on their heads and putting readers outside their comfort zone to consider other points of view from their own.

So when I had the idea to name the podcast “Small-Minded,” I knew it would be met with some resistance.

But, I kind of loved it. Because I wanted to show that small towns and small businesses are anything BUT small-minded. Let me explain:

By definition “small-minded” means having or showing rigid opinions or a narrow outlook; petty.

And though this sometimes is associated with tiny towns, I find that in these places you find creativity, volunteerism, and HEART, that make the people in these places full of love, hope, and vision for a better future.

So I want to flip the script.

I want small-minded to show that playing small can be a good thing.

By choosing small-town life we have the ability to create change quicker. We have schools with smaller class sizes. We can see our tax dollars at work. We know our neighbors. We take food to the sick. We can walk down the street and wave to each passing car. We’ve “gravel traveled” and know that sometimes those destinationless car rides are just where you need to be.

This is what I think it means to be small-minded. Valuing and celebrating where we came from and all that makes small living a great thing.

So thank you for being here for the very first of many episodes of the Small-Minded Podcast from Molly Knuth Media.

You can expect:

• Small-town success stories
• Small-town growth strategies
• Small business tips
• Small business features
• Solo episodes
• Interviews episodes
• Group panel episodes
• Releasing each Tuesday in 30-45 minute episodes

Listen on iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite listening service, and find the show notes at the all-new mollyknuthmedia.com along with tools and resources for small-town small businesses looking to market themselves better online!