Rusty Water Towers

Rusty Water Towers is a podcast in search of Faith and Hope in Rural Life and Ministry. Each episode includes a guest sharing stories and experiences of their rural life. My hope is that this podcasts reveals the creative potential latent in rural life. We launch September 21st, 2022!

  • by Jonathan M LeMaster-Smith
    Let's talk about Waylon, Willie, and a lot about tobacco farming. Jennifer and I talked for so long we needed a part 2! Also, for some reason, I feel the need to define cowboys and we explain life before cell phones. Dr. Jennifer Moe is Associate Director and Post-Doctoral Fellow […]
  • by Jonathan M LeMaster-Smith
    SEASON 2 PREMIERE Shannon drops by to play some music, talk about songwriting, and ground us in place. Find her: DeaconShannon.org Facebook: @shannon.lemastersmith Instagram and Threads: @breathe.sing.love Our playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c2ec849a7df442e9 Our bookshelf : https://jlemaster-smith.com/bookshelf/ Our Social Media: Facebook and Instagram: @RustyWaterTowers | Twitter: @rustytowerspod | RustyWaterTowers@gmail.com jlemaster-smith.com/rustywatertowers
  • by Jonathan M LeMaster-Smith
    Rusty Water Towers is a podcast in search of Faith and Hope in Rural Life and Ministry. Each episode includes a guest sharing stories and experiences of their rural life. My hope is that this podcasts reveals the creative potential latent in rural life. Audio by Jonathan LeMaster-Smith Theme song […]
  • by Jonathan M LeMaster-Smith
    In which I get so excited to celebrate country music and 500 plays that I forget that I already covered Hank Williams, but it still works. Also, I confess to things about Randy Travis and Pop Country icons. Our playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c2ec849a7df442e9 Our bookshelf : https://jlemaster-smith.com/bookshelf/ Our Social Media: Facebook and […]
  • by Jonathan M LeMaster-Smith
    This week's episode takes us very close to my churches. Johnny and I talk about the experiences of a new pastor in rural ministry and all his twists and turns. There's also some John Wesley, fried bologna, and a biscuit on the way out the door. Johnny Norton is a […]
  • by Jonathan M LeMaster-Smith
    This week we get into nineties country, whether my guest, Amber Laffey has the magic touch, meat lockers, Budweiser horses and more. Amber Laffey is an LLP (hopefully soon to be commissioned as a Deacon) in the Dakotas Conference of the UMC and serves a congregation of about 40 people […]
  • by Jonathan M LeMaster-Smith
    This episode is an exploration of three Christmas songs, six holiday traditions, and, apparently, ambulance sirens. We explore mistletoe, kissing balls, Christmas caroling, Christmas boogering, fruitcake, and holiday treat bags. We also see Dr. J realizing he would much rather host than provide commentary. Also, we learn that Dr. J […]
  • by Jonathan M LeMaster-Smith
    This episode almost becomes a food podcast as we talk about the life and hope in rural spaces and how every community has to have a festival. We speak to the realities of traveling speakers, learning to use a bobcat, and how church buildings really are assets in the community. […]
  • by Jonathan M LeMaster-Smith
    This episode is two people talking about barbecue, chairs, death, life, and so much more. There's even a part where we talk about the difference between hamburgers and cheeseburgers in the rural Carolinas. Allen Stanton is the Executive Director of the Turner Center for Rural Vitality at the University of […]
  • by Jonathan M LeMaster-Smith
    In this episode, Shannon LeMaster-Smith, the multi-talented writer and singer of our theme song (who also happens to be my wife) joins me on the podcast as we travel down the highway to visit family for Thanksgiving. We talk about life, ministry, music, and much more. You'll here us and […]