Shannon Kring is a renowned filmmaker and human rights advocate who has spent years capturing the stories of marginalized communities around the world, often with a focus on the vital role of water. As a writer, director and producer, Shannon works with the White House, the Administration for Children and Families, the State Department, the United Nations, and other national and global groups concerning Indigenous and marginalized members of society.

She’s a UN World Tourism Organization Liaison and serves as Honduras’ Official Goodwill Ambassador. She’s lived in what was at the time named the Murder Capital of the World – San Pedro Sula, Honduras - and has been back in the US telling stories here since 2016. Shannon was the first US director and only third woman to ever be awarded backing by the Finnish Film Foundation in its then 69-year history back in 2018. She’s won countless other awards in film over the years, and is currently in production on a feature documentary called NINE LITTLE INDIANS, co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and Tony Robbins.

In this episode, Shannon shares her powerful journey behind the award-winning documentary End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock, and the untold stories of water activism, women’s leadership, and the fight for Indigenous water rights.

Welcome back to “Rural Ripples,” the podcast where we explore the unique challenges and innovative solutions for small water systems nationwide. Today we have a thought-provoking conversation with Matt McDougald from the Opelika Water Board. Matt brings a wealth of knowledge on the importance of communicating the value of water, the future integration of AI in water management, and the necessity of adapting to evolving technologies. In this episode, Matt shares his insights on how small systems can thrive by embracing change and fostering a deeper understanding of water’s value. Let’s dive into this enlightening discussion with Matt McDougald.

In this episode, we talk to George about his experiences overcoming governance challenges, which we all know can sometimes hold up impactful work for utilities. He also discusses the importance of community engagement and shares some forward thinking ideas on sustainable water management.