[Disclaimer]: In this series, you’ll find stories straight from interviews I conducted while on the road from July 2019 to the present. The opinions and views shared do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views I hold, either professionally or personally. Sharing these interviews “as is” is intended to challenge Read more
Being off the road over the last three months, I have had the opportunity to listen back to interviews I started conducting when this project began in July. Doing so has inspired me to begin a new series here on the blog — every Wednesday, I’ll be posting a short Read more
The struggles small towns face in today’s economy became apparent within the first week on the road — and they’ve only cemented through 27 states and months of ongoing travel. A back highway gives way to a small main street, the speed dropping from 55 to 25 or 30. Brick Read more
While I wind down county highways across the United States, I am struck with how many towns appear to be struggling, a slow death march of empty storefronts and faded roadside signs. It’s apparent in every state I’ve visited, from Michigan to Maine and beyond. It appears that small town Read more
We all have them, whether we want to admit it or not. Politics are so engrained within our culture, and along with the “us versus them” attitude comes an accompanying “these people feel X” assumption. — When I was in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (or the UP, as locals Read more
Despite growing up just across Lake Michigan, before last Monday, I had spent very little time in this Midwest state. I figured that it would be pretty similar to back home, and overall — I was correct in that assumption — but Michigan has stolen a piece of my heart Read more