Smithsonian's Stories from Main Street
Everybody has a story to tell. The Smithsonian’s Stories from Main Street podcast shares the authentic voices and stories of people from small towns and rural communities across the United States. Gathered by the Smithsonian Institution's Museum on Main Street program, the stories featured in these curated episodes are raw, and real, and provide a unique window into the ever-changing, multi-faceted and diverse nature of America. Join the Smithsonian for a look at stories and issues that have an impact on rural communities. Listen in and hear the patterns and connections in the stories—there may be differences between the miles, but there are probably a lot of similarities, too.
- Update frequency
- every 14 days
- Average duration
- 22 minutes
- Episodes
- 29
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
23: It's Summer in the USA
It's getting hot outside. School is out and July 4 is just around the corner. Summer is here! What does the summer season mean to you? Americans are full of great summer stories. Whether you're meeti…
22: Our Towns Are Our Passion: The Power of Community Service
Explore the many ways that people contribute their skills, their passions, and their time to activities that benefit their hometowns. No matter where we live, we benefit from working together to impr…
21: Varied and Vital: What Women Contribute to the Country
"Too often, the women were unsung, and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achivements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built American was as vital as that …
20: Love Makes the Difference
In addition to our families, we also share ties that bond us with friends, neighbors, and companions in shared interests like religious, cultural and civic groups. These ties are on prime display in …
19: Having Fun in a Small Town
"How do people have fun in your town?" was one of the most interesting questions Stories from Main Street asked of rural Americans over the years. Never let anyone say that life in small towns or rur…
18: The Food (and Memories) That Unite Us This Holiday Season
Welcome back to the Smithsonian's Stories from Main Street! It's the holidays, and for many of us, that means food. Our foodways connect us in intimate ways to our families, to history, and tradition…
17: Shapeshifters, Ghosts, and Red-Eyed Dogs: Spooky Tales and a Rich Heritage
Welcome back to Smithsonian's Stories from Main Street! We're relaunching this series during an introspective time of year, with Halloween just around the corner. Come join us around the campfire for…
16: Hopefully, My Generation Will Be the Ones to Change It
Young people throughout the country bring new perspectives and attitudes to our history and our culture. But often, they don't feel welcome to the conversations that adults have about community and c…
Preview: Youth Voices
Here's a sneak peek at our next special episode! Give a listen to the voices and the work of the next generation of rural Americans learning about their communities. Young people living in rural Amer…
15: Good Relationships Build Stronger Communities
You've got to have friends! Personal and professional connections are critical to the development of healthy communities, whether they are rural or urban. In this final episode of our Spark! series, …
14: Great Things Happen Here
In this episode, we're taking a closer look at two very different rural communities that embody technological innovation. In Taos, New Mexico, solar energy is used to power high-speed internet and a …
13: Comebacks and Ripple Effects
Rural America is full of places of innovation--towns where people work together to conceive new ideas and spark engagement by the community to implement them. Journey with us in this first episode in…
Trailer: Small Town Innovation: Creativity and Resilience
For many years, the conventional wisdom in the United States has been that rural America is hurting: facing impacts from outmigration, aging populations, and declining economies. The reality is remar…
Special: "Museum on Main Street: A Love Letter to Small-Town America" from Museums in Strange Places
We're excited to share an episode from our host Hannah Hethmon's podcast Museums in Strange Places. Back in 2019, Museums in Strange Places featured the amazing work of the Smithsonian's state and lo…
12: My Vote, My Voice
Apologies friends! This pod is the actual episode titled "My Vote, My Voice," which should have been originally posted back in October. "The Greater Good: Everyday Democracy" was actually uploaded. W…
11: Use Your Voice! Get Involved
What civic responsibilities do we have as Americans? What do we owe to the process of democracy? What is the best way to voice our opinions and shape national and local policy? If we want to give bac…
10: The Greater Good: Democracy Everyday
Democracy can be messy. Americans share many common values and ideals, but views on how that works out in the democratic process and in public policy can vary widely. In this episode, you'll hear sto…
Trailer: Democracy in America: Voices and Votes
Coming soon! What does "democracy" mean to you? As Election Day 2023 nears and the 2024 presidential campaign is already a daily news story, it is important to reflect on the ties that bind us togeth…
9: Are We at a Crossroads?
Is rural America endangered, thriving, or just scraping by? The answer depends on who you ask and where you ask. As we finish our mini-series on change in rural communities, we're exploring the chall…
8: "Living in a Small Town Taught Me..." Identity in Rural America
Rural America has always been more nuanced and diverse than you often see in popular depictions. People have always experienced rural America in different ways -- for better or worse -- and their exp…