Connected Nation
This is Connected Nation – an award-winning podcast focused on all things broadband. From closing the Digital Divide to simply improving your internet speeds, we talk technology topics that impact all of us, our families, and our communities.
The podcast was honored in 2024 with an Award of Excellence for Podcast Series - Technology. This is the highest honor given by the Communicator Awards. More recently, the podcast received an Award of Distinction in 2025. It received the same honor in 2023 and 2022.
Learn more about the national nonprofit behind this podcast at connectednation.org.
- Update frequency
- every 5 days
- Average duration
- 29 minutes
- Episodes
- 204
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Introducing Connect K12
On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with Emily Jordan, the Vice President of Connect K12, which is a FREE, online resource focused on helping school district leaders and state decision maker…
The state of broadband connectivity in Texas
On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with two members of the Texas Governor’s Broadband Development Council which recently released a report on the state of broadband connectivity across the …
Gov. Jeb Bush: Broadband Internet is an Imperative, Not a Luxury
On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with Jeb Bush, the former Governor of Florida, who in a recent opinion piece published by Slate pointed to high-speed internet (broadband) as “an imperati…
How One City is Bridging the Digital Divide for 28,000 Students in Need
On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with those behind a massive undertaking to connect more than 28,000 students with economic challenges to high-speed internet in a Tennessee school distric…
How Two College Students Took on the Challenge to Connect More Communities
On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with two Ohio University students who have been working to improve connectivity across the Buckeye State. Learn what they’ve been doing to help expand int…
Developing and Supporting Rural Technology Leaders
This is Rural Technology Leaders (RTL), a special series produced through the Connected Nation Podcast. In this series, we focus on companies and individuals that are utilizing technology and connect…
How Better Mapping Leads to Better Broadband Access
In this episode of Connected Nation we talk with State Program Director for Connected Nation Texas, Jennifer Harris, and Vice President of GIS Services for Connected Nation, Ashley Hitt, who led a te…
Black Tech Columbus: Creating a Space for Black Tech Professionals
On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with Doug McCollough, the Chief Information Officer, for the City of Dublin in Ohio. He has not only helped navigate the city through Covid-19 measures b…
The Changemaker: How One Entrepreneur is Helping Connect America's Students
On this episode of Connected Nation we talk with Evan Marwell, Founder and CEO of EducationSuperHighway—a nonprofit with a mission to upgrade internet access in every public school classroom in Ameri…
FCC Chairman on "Digital Opportunity" for All Americans
On this episode, we talk with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai. He shares what action the FCC has and IS taking to make sure YOU stay connected during and after the pandemic….and d…
LESSONS LEARNED: How this large Catholic high school used tech to teach during Covid-19
On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with Martha Tedesco and Mary Lang who are with Assumption High School located in Louisville, Kentucky. Assumption is the largest Sisters of Mercy-sponsore…
A Simple Way to Expand Internet Access in Your Community
Right now, millions of Americans are struggling. COVID-19 closures forced workers into their homes and students out of the classroom. And there’s a looming problem with that—many of these individuals…
Providing Rural Connectivity
This is Rural Technology Leaders (RTL), a special series produced through the Connected Nation Podcast. In this series, we focus on companies and individuals that are utilizing technology and connect…
Legislative Update: Broadband Policies That Impact Communities
On this episode of Connected Nation, we are focusing on legislation that can impact high-speed internet access in communities across the country – including yours. We talk with Lindsay Conrad, the Di…
Expert Advice: An Elementary School Teacher Shares Her Top 5 Tips for Parents
On today's podcast we talk with Melody Kerr—an elementary school teacher with 14 years of experience in the classroom. She has taught kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders and is a mothe…
Expert Advice: 5 Top Tips for Improving Your Home Internet
Why is my internet not working properly? It's a question Ashley Hitt, the Director of GIS Services for Connected Nation, gets asked often. Often times it's NOT an issue wrong with the network or conn…
2020 Marconi Winner Dr. Andrea Goldsmith
On this edition of Connected Nation, we talk with Dr. Andrea Goldsmith, the first woman to be awarded the prestigious $100,000 Marconi Prize—dubbed the “Nobel Prize of Telecommunications.” We discuss…
Why Tech is Critical for Agriculture, Rural Business
This is Rural Technology Leaders (RTL), a special series produced through the Connected Nation Podcast. In this series, we focus on companies and individuals that are utilizing technology and connect…
Improving Your Home's Internet Security During COVID-19 and Beyond
Many of us are working from home, children are taking classes online, and with “social distancing” being enforced we’re all trying to connect in some way to those we know and love. But with that – t…
Community and State COVID-19 Response Plans for Improving Resident, Business Internet NOW
We talk step-by-step COVID-19 Response Plans for communities (large and small) and states. Specifically, the focus is on what local and state leaders can do RIGHT NOW to connect more residents and bu…