In rural parts of America, many residents lack access to high-speed In rural parts of America, many residents lack access to high-speed Internet. Major carriers can't make it cost-effective to serve Internet. Major carriers can't make it cost-effective to serve low-density areas, and government funding for broadband low-density areas, and government funding for broadband infrastructure has been minimal. "Life in the Heart Land" explores infrastructure has been minimal. "Life in the Heart Land" explores how Virginia electric co-ops are bringing broadband to Virginia's how Virginia electric co-ops are bringing broadband to Virginia's rural communities. rural communities.

Today, many rural communities no longer have any local news coverage Today, many rural communities no longer have any local news coverage reported by people they know and trust. 20% of community newspapers reported by people they know and trust. 20% of community newspapers have gone out of business since 2005. When local news reporting dries have gone out of business since 2005. When local news reporting dries up, it has a ripple effect on other aspects of civic engagement, such up, it has a ripple effect on other aspects of civic engagement, such as voter registration. In this episode we visit small local as voter registration. In this episode we visit small local newspapers that have managed to survive. newspapers that have managed to survive.

Social disconnection adds some $7 billion to annual health care costs Social disconnection adds some $7 billion to annual health care costs in our country. As our society has grown more mobile, the elderly are in our country. As our society has grown more mobile, the elderly are especially at risk for isolation, depression, or abuse at nursing especially at risk for isolation, depression, or abuse at nursing homes when their adult children are not present to care for them. We homes when their adult children are not present to care for them. We take a look at a variety of existing programs meant to provide the take a look at a variety of existing programs meant to provide the elderly with more fulfilling lives in their later years. elderly with more fulfilling lives in their later years.

Explore the balance of cultivating healthy forests and using trees Explore the balance of cultivating healthy forests and using trees for timber. Ecologist Hank Shugart observes that foresters are for timber. Ecologist Hank Shugart observes that foresters are beginning to consider the role they can play in mitigating climate beginning to consider the role they can play in mitigating climate change. We visit lumber companies across that provide jobs that rely change. We visit lumber companies across that provide jobs that rely on the business of trees. Queen City Silviculture share their on the business of trees. Queen City Silviculture share their approach to helping trees thrive alongside their human neighbors approach to helping trees thrive alongside their human neighbors safely. safely.

Virginia has seen a spike in opioid-related deaths in the past Virginia has seen a spike in opioid-related deaths in the past several years. Counseling and other support centers struggle to meet several years. Counseling and other support centers struggle to meet the demand. We hear the stories of individuals in recovery in the demand. We hear the stories of individuals in recovery in twelve-step and other programs as we explore the question of why twelve-step and other programs as we explore the question of why addiction is such a hard problem to eradicate, by asking the people addiction is such a hard problem to eradicate, by asking the people who have been through it themselves. who have been through it themselves.