As part of Rural Week 2025 released Leader Östra Skåne and Rural Innovation Center five newly produced episodes of a completely new podcast!
The Rural Innovator – a podcast about the country's heroes
In the podcast Rural Innovator, we shine the spotlight on individuals who are rarely seen within the innovation support system – the rural innovators. What drives them? Why and how is innovation (which they often refer to as problem-solving) such an important and natural part of their everyday lives? What can it look like? What different lessons can they share? This and much more we will explore here!
Episode 1: ”There is no other option than to test!”
Innovation often involves discovering, exploring, and… most importantly: daring to try things one has not tried before without having any idea of how well it will turn out. Therefore, it is fitting that the premiere episode of Rural Innovator, which in itself constitutes a pilot project, is also about just this! We will also meet Gonçalo Carneiro from Souto Ocean Culture who will share his innovation journey in seaweed farming!
Listen to episode 1
Episode 2: “It has to be fun!”
Must one be driven as a rural innovator and how can that manifest? This is the focus of this episode where we also explore how this can take shape. We also visit Isabel Brummer at Taste Celebration Residence to hear more about how their drive and creativity can be expressed in the old Forest Master's residence in Andrarum.
Listen to episode 2
Episode 3: “As a creator, you must be creative, otherwise you die”
How does one survive as a rural innovator and furthermore: how can one create, grow, and develop further as both an entrepreneur and a creator? We visit Fri Kommunikation in Brantevik to see Rebecca Wallin's and Frida Jönsson's container office but also to interview them about their entrepreneurship. Of course, the innovation glasses will also be put on to discuss how to take care of one's business during tougher times and build as stable an operation as possible.
Listen to episode 3
Episode 4: ”The municipality as a rural innovator”
What role do municipalities play when it comes to rural innovation? What can and should they contribute to benefit the development of local entrepreneurs? And what innovative process is taking place in Smedstorp here and now? In this episode, we will meet Elin Frost from Cross Innovation and Henrik Lundblad from Tomelilla Municipality to explore both of these topics more closely!
Listen to episode 4
Episode 5: ”Involve as many as possible”
Why is it important to collaborate with others as a rural innovator? What can different forms of collaboration look like and how can one create the best collaborations possible? This is the focus of today's episode where we meet Karl Forssman from HoofStep and learn about their innovation journey together with several different partners over several years. Among other things in the leader project ”Equine Monitoring”.
Listen to episode 5
The rural innovator was produced in April/May 2025 by Leader Östra Skåne together with the Innovation Center for the countryside and the technician was Melissa Tousana Nyström.