Shows
The StoryConnect PodcastBeyond Bridges: Closing the Technology Gap in Rural Communities, With Erma RatliffHave you held a rural digital equity summit for your community? Hear how Kanokla teamed up with AmeriCorps to identify local technology needs and work together to meet them!2025-07-1616 minThe StoryConnect PodcastWildfires: Are you Ready to Douse a Crisis?, With Kelsey BozemanOregon experienced a record-breaking year for wildfires in 2024, with 1.9 million acres burned. In response, cooperatives across the state teamed up to develop shared wildfire resources. Download a free wildfire communications toolkit from Pioneer!LIVE:Filmed at CONNECT2025-07-0217 minThe StoryConnect PodcastTelling Your Community’s Story with Pictures All Year Long, With Theresa PhillipsArt shows, lobby displays, social content and more—Theresa Phillips shares how Lassen MUD works with consumers to showcase their community on the magazine cover and in a much-coveted custom calendar each year!2025-05-0727 minThe StoryConnect PodcastTake Your Kids to Work Day, With Sarah JohnsonWhether they're blasting off to space to explore planets or solving mysteries across departments, one Oregon utility hosts an exciting career adventure every spring. Utility Pioneer Sarah Johnson shares how Clatskanie PUD turns Take Your Kid to Work Day into a memorable adventure for employees’ families.2025-04-2318 minThe StoryConnect PodcastCo-op Influencers—How to Find People to Tell Your Story, With Anna PolitanoHow do you get consumers invested in focus groups? Rebrand them as influencers! Anna Politano shares how people are reacting to Oklahoma’s statewide Co-op Influencers Program.2025-03-2627 minThe StoryConnect PodcastHow Can Subscribers ‘Cash In’ at Community Events?, With Erma RatliffIn Kansas, one utility is handing out branded cash to use at local businesses during festivals. Hear Erma Ratliff share the idea behind Kanokla Cash to see if the idea could help you cash in on community growth, too!2025-02-2611 minThe StoryConnect PodcastFood Trucks and Fireworks: How to Creatively Connect Community Events, With Greg MullisWhen you have multiplebroadband competitors pulling potential subscribers away, how do you set your story apart? Hear how Georgia's Tri-CoGo turned powering food trucks, fireworks shows and parks and recreation spaces into a way to build brand awareness in its community.2024-12-1820 minThe StoryConnect PodcastFrontline Storytellers: How to Train Your Team on Subscriber Experience, With Scott PaulIs your consumer service team built to care? Scott Paul, of Beacon Broadband, shares how he uses team building and mentoring to turn his frontline team into storytelling specialists!2024-11-2021 minThe StoryConnect PodcastMajor Takeaways from the 2024 Calix ConneXions ConferenceThe era of selling broadband based on speed alone is over. At Calix ConneXions 2024, industry leaders focused on subscriber experience and community connection to drive rural broadband success. From outdoor Wi-Fi innovations to strategic planning shifts, here’s what’s next for rural broadband providers.2024-10-3016 minThe StoryConnect PodcastGet Out of Gotcha Moments, With Ryan HallHow much of the publicly-shared interactions with utility staff is trolling versus investigative reporting by concerned citizens who have a right to hold the utility accountable? We're talking to Ryan Hall about “Getting Out of the Gotcha Moments” at NWPPA’s Northwest Innovations Conference in Idaho.2024-09-2514 minThe StoryConnect PodcastBuilding on Broadband: Utilizing Personal, Targeted Stories for Sales, With Erin McKnightHow do you boost your take rates and cut churn after you've built broadband? OEC Fiber’s Erin McKnight shares her storytelling tactics, including a three-tiered marketing approach by zone and her subscriber stories series. Tune in for fresh ideas!2024-09-1829 minThe StoryConnect PodcastGetting Ready for 'The Year of the Co-op’ in 2025, With Adam SchwartzWe’re gearing up to celebrate the United Nations’ International Year of Cooperatives in 2025, so we’ve invited co-op cheerleader Adam Schwartz onto the podcast to help Utility Pioneers brainstorm how to tell our co-op stories in fresh, engaging ways.2024-09-0422 minThe StoryConnect PodcastAre you an Explorer, Creator or Servant? Use Brand Archetypes to Strengthen Campaign Strategies, With Sarah LancasterDig into the psychology of marketing with Pioneer’s Sarah Lancaster to learn how using archetypes can help your marketing create more meaningful connections with your target audiences.2024-08-2113 minThe StoryConnect PodcastCram the Van — A Community Fundraiser Becomes a Storytelling Powerhouse, With Alli ConineHear how a Kansas utility delivered 159 TONS of food with a branded van, school competitions and coordinated, consistent messaging over the last 10 years.2024-06-1219 minThe StoryConnect PodcastBoosting Member Engagement with Youth Programs, With Tory Tedder-LofflandStarting in kindergarten, the team at Oklahoma Electric Co-op offers educational programs to students throughout their school experience. Hear how the programs developed and why engaging children became a strategic focus for the utility over the last decade.2024-05-2915 minThe StoryConnect PodcastTelling Timeless Stories in Engaging Ways, With David LatonaEnergy efficiency is a story that can feel stale. Hear how Louisiana Utility Pioneers rebranded existing resources with an owl mascot and cohesive storytelling to help both staff and members be Power Smart.2024-05-2229 minThe StoryConnect PodcastUnlocking Staff Strengths to Harness Your Internal Storytelling Potential, With Katie HabyInternal communications is a critical part of storytelling, but one we often forget. At Medina Electric, Katie Haby's using the CliftonStrengths training program to help staff focus on strengths to build cross-department teams and happier, more engaged employees. Hear how the program’s helping the co-op strengthen its internal storytelling approach!2024-05-0821 minThe StoryConnect PodcastHow Can Empowered Youth Build Your Brand Story?, With Chinelle ChristensenIcebreakers, scholarships and character building — meet EmPOWER, a youth leadership program for high school juniors in South Dakota and Minnesota. Learn about Sioux Valley Energy’s long-term investment to build future leaders in its community.2024-04-2420 minThe StoryConnect PodcastWeaving the Co-op Difference into Economic Development and Staff Storytelling, With Marty WalshDo you have a local network of cooperative storytellers? From his dual roles as an economic development manager at People's Energy and board member for Cooperative Development Services, Marty Walsh’s has a unique take on co-op education and how Utility Pioneers can turn the cooperative difference into shared storytelling opportunities to foster member success.2024-04-1724 minThe StoryConnect PodcastManaging a New Brand, With Larry MattoxIn under three years, Central Rural Electric Co-op moved from breaking ground to 85% buildout of their broadband service, CentraNet, in Oklahoma. During a break from the Calix event, Larry Mattox shares how the small team managed this growth, a new brand and evolving member expectations.2024-04-1011 minThe StoryConnect PodcastStaff Leadership Programs to Grow Future Leaders, With Chinelle ChristensenSioux Valley Energy's staff LEAD program builds a culture of cooperation across the utility, creating a competitive edge when recruiting talent. Learn how projects from the leadership program improved volunteerism programs, removed silos and strengthened the co-op's internal communications.2024-03-2021 minThe StoryConnect PodcastWorking with Different Kinds of Co-ops to Build Our Shared Story, With Cathy StatzFood co-ops, credit unions, utilities and other types of co-ops may serve different needs, but we share many of the same stories. Cooperative educator Cathy Statz talks about the power of sharing the cross-sector co-op story with young people, then offers advice for building your local cooperative community.2024-03-1318 minThe StoryConnect PodcastStorytelling Tactics From Different Types of Cooperatives, With Mary MillerWith a story-packed career spanning three different types of co-ops, WCTEL’s Mary Miller shares ideas for co-op culture-building, effective campaigns and co-opportunities for growth.2024-02-0730 min