The Hot Dish: Recent Episodes
One Country Project
On the One Country Project's The Hot Dish, former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp serves up insight into issues affecting rural Americans.
In this episode of The Hot Dish, we hear two very different stories about the significance of community and understanding those around us.
First, Rep. Anthony Daniels joins to talk with Heidi about the importance of redrawing district lines in Alabama to ensure African American voters are represented equitably. Rep. Daniels stresses the importance of addressing the ways in which political and economic developments are intertwined in Alabama, and what measures are being taken to improve the lives of Rural Alabamians.
Then, we hear from Angela Kennecke about the realities of the opioid epidemic in Rural America. Angela discusses the various facets of addiction and some of the ways in which it can start. She speaks about the lack of resources available in rural communities, and why early education about addiction is paramount.
Rep. Anthony Daniels is the house minority leader in the Alabama House of Representatives. He is a board member of the One Country Project and former elementary school teacher. His legislation is focused on economic development for his constituents.
Angela Kennecke is a journalist, host of the podcast Grieving Out Loud, and founder of Emily’s Hope. Her own family’s journey with addiction and loss has inspired her to turn heartbreak into action in her quest to ensure no other families endure the same experience.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
Raising children is more than just a family matter. Especially in rural America, the resources parents and children have or lack access to play a significant part in setting children up for future success. Heidi and Joel hear from North Carolina Representative Ashton Clemmons about the economic and social strain on American families in the search for accessible and affordable childcare. Karen Ehrens joins later to speak about the importance of understanding the role diet plays in childhood development and education.
Rep. Clemmons is an educator and advocate for improvement in the education system. Her background in teaching and experience as a parent bring insights into the economic impacts of the childcare crisis on the families it directly affects as well as on the national economy, and why investment in early childhood education is critical.
Karen Ehrens is the Director of Legislative and Government Affairs at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. As a registered dietitian, she offers a vital perspective on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, and why childhood nutrition impacts us all.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
The question of green energy has been circulating more and more in recent years. Often favored as a way to combat climate change, the transition to green energy is complicated. Heidi and Joel speak to industry experts Wade Boeshans and Ernest Scheyder to explore the complexities of this transition and its impact on rural communities.
Wade Boeshan and Ernest Scheyder’s combined expertise brings intriguing insights into the green energy transition, discussing electronic vehicles, carbon capture and storage processes, and critical minerals.
Wade Boeshan is the Executive Vice President of Summit Carbon Solutions.
Ernest Scheyder is a Senior Correspondent at Reuters, covering the green energy transition and critical minerals.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
From baseball to Iowa politics and the fight for democracy in rural America, Heidi and Joel get the hot dish on the issues at the forefront of rural Americans' minds.
David Pepper highlights the power of state and local governments in shaping democracy and discusses nonpartisan outreach efforts to counter attacks on democracy. J.D. Scholten shares the changes he has witnessed in the Iowa legislature and emphasizes the need for grassroots engagement. Sister Simone shares her experiences engaging with rural communities and the importance of understanding and empathy.
David Pepper is the author of a new book called Saving Democracy.
J.D. Scholten is a rising star in Iowa politics and baseball.
Sister Simone is an American Roman Catholic Religious Sister on a road trip across the South to hear what's on the mind of Southern rural Americans.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
If there's one thing rural America is an expert in, it's agriculture. In this episode, Heidi and Joel dive into a compelling conversation about equity, inclusion, and diversification in the agriculture industry with Dr. Tammy Gray-Steele, Mike Espy, and Tanya Spandhla. Together, they shed light on the challenges faced by minority farmers and discuss the essential role of food assistance programs in combating food insecurity in rural America.
Dr. Tammy Gray-Steele shares her journey as a fourth-generation farmer and why she founded the National Women in Agriculture Association to support minority women farmers. Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy discusses the risks facing the SNAP program, a vital food assistance program in rural America, and debunks misconceptions about supporting low-income individuals and families. Then, we hear from Tanya Spandhla, who shares about growing crops from Africa in Maryland and the progress of equity in how loans are disbursed to farmers of color.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
We're celebrating the heartbeat of rural America this July 4th, from the veterans who fought for our democracy to the small business owners revitalizing small-town America.
Heidi and Joel speak with Jane Matejcek, a nurse at the VA hospital and president of Honor Flights North Dakota. Jane tells us about these flights' incredible impact on veterans' lives and the heartwarming homecoming ceremonies. Then, Joel interviews a Korean War veteran during his Honor Flight visit to DC.
Last, we hear from Brian Noyes, owner of Red Truck Bakery, about how California roots and southern cooking lessons combined to create a bakery revitalizing a small town in Virginia.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
It’s been one year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. So, what have women in rural America been experiencing since? Joel and Heidi dive into the aftermath of the
Dobbs decision and the stark reality of women's health care and abortion service accessibility – or lack thereof – with Cecile Richards and Dr. Sarah Traxler.
Cecile Richards shares the stories of women forced to travel long distances from small, rural towns in search of affordable OBGYN healthcare and the increasing reluctance of OBGYNs to practice in certain rural states. Dr. Sarah Traxler talks about how the Dobbs decision drastically inhibited her ability to provide abortion care in certain states and how this impacts the future of students going into OBGYN specialties.
Cecile Richards is an activist and former president of Planned Parenthood.
Dr. Sarah Traxler is the Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our
website.
Heidi and Joel get the hot dish from Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez about her journey from owning an auto repair shop to representing Southwest Washington in Congress.
As a fifth-generation Washingtonian and small business owner, Congresswoman Perez knew first-hand the realities and concerns of workers in rural America when she decided to run for office. Given just a 2% chance of victory against her opponent, the Congresswoman beat the odds and earned the nickname, Mrs. 2%. In this episode, she discusses the unique perspective she brings to D.C. as a 34 year old representative, her commitment to Right to Repair, and what is ahead for the Farm Bill, including rising costs of living and preserving the integrity of the American food industry.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
In rural America, farmers face unique stressors that can exacerbate mental health concerns, such as fluctuating commodity prices and climate-related issues. In this episode, Heidi and Joel explore solutions for rural America's mental health crisis with Alexa McKinley and Tara Haskins to discover how we can address mental health and decrease rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide amongst farmers.
Alexa McKinley and Tara Haskins discuss their experiences working with farmers and addressing these mental health concerns, emphasizing how financial incentives and pipeline programs can address the stigma around treatment and improve mental health in rural America.
Alexa McKinley is the Regulatory Affairs Manager at the National Rural Health Association.
Tara Haskins currently serves as the Director of the Total Farm Health Initiative at AgriSafe.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
This past month, the country watched as the most expensive state judicial race in history took place in Wisconsin, with Democrat Janet Protasiewicz securing the seat and flipping the Wisconsin State Supreme Court to a 4-3 majority. Heidi and Joel talk with Sarah Godlewski, Wisconsin’s Secretary of State, about what this victory means for women's rights in rural America and Republican attempts to suppress the youth vote.
Then, we hear Yoshi Gaitan’s story, Student Body President at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and one of the organizers on the ground who played a pivotal role in getting students to the polls.
We find out what helped drive record-breaking voter turnout in Wisconsin, how a growing youth vote impacted the election, and what we can learn about rural voters for future elections in America.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
The Farm Bill is a tough one to pass. Can the House Committee on Agriculture pass the bill, much less get it past the committee? To discuss this and other prevalent issues in rural America, Former Congressman Collin Peterson joins host and former Senator Heidi Heitkamp and new co-host Joel Heitkamp.
Former Congressman Peterson served as Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, is a legend in rural advocacy, and has a deep understanding of the Farm Bill. Together, they discuss the challenges in passing the Farm Bill, crop insurance problems, the new farm economy, and increasing land ownership problems, and close out with this question: what will rural America look like in 20 years without any policy changes?
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
In a post-midterm review, Doug Usher, an insights partner at Forbes Tate Partners, and Jessica Piper, the 2022 Democratic nominee for Missouri HD1, join OCP founder and former Senator Heidi Heitkamp in a discussion about rural voter turnout in the midterms, how Democrats must continue to connect with rural communities, and what a Democratic grassroots operation looked like from the ground.
Celinda Lake, one of the Democratic Party’s leading political strategists, joins One Country founder Heidi Heitkamp in a discussion of the momentous primary election in Kansas, the future of state elections in a post-Roe country, and a deep-dive into how the Inflation Reduction Act will continue to support rural Americans.
On the newest edition of the Hot Dish Podcast, OCP founder and former Senator Heidi Heitkamp sat down with Senior White House Advisor and Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu to discuss how the historic bipartisan infrastructure law will benefit rural Americans.
In this episode of the Hot Dish Podcast, Senator Heidi Heitkamp sits down with Dr. Glenda Humiston, President of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of California along with Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union. Together, they discuss lack of access to federal programs for those in rural areas, and the need to rethink notions of “urban” and “rural.”
Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee Debbie Stabenow joins OCP founder Heidi Heitkamp on the Hot Dish podcast to discuss the historic, bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act and how farmers can play a leading role in climate action. They discuss the impact of voluntary, climate-smart agriculture and Senator Stabenow gives a sneak peek at the upcoming Farm Bill.
Meet OCP's newest Board Member, former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy! Tune in and hear Secretary Espy's discussion with OCP co-founder Heidi Heitkamp on how to unite the country as one, the importance of rural communities in moving the country forward, and the hardships and rewards of running for office in rural states like Mississippi.
Matthew Dowd joins OCP co-founder Senator Heidi Heitkamp to discuss President Biden's First 100 Days in office and why strong local leadership is critical to helping rural America grow their economy and thrive.
Chairman of the DNC Jaime Harrison joined OCP Board members Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, Sen. Joe Donnelly, Leader Anthony Daniels, and J.D. Scholten to discuss the state of the Democratic Party in rural America, the American Rescue Plan, and the DNC's strategy for 2022.
One Country Project board member J.D. Scholten sits down with Run For Something executive director Amanda Litman and One Country Project executive director Tessa Gould to talk about running effective Democratic campaigns in rural America.
In the final episode of 2020, One Country Project board members Heidi Heitkamp, Joe Donnelly, Ashton Clemmons, and J.D. Scholten sit down to discuss the 2020 election cycle, what the results mean, and how Democrats can connect and engage with rural America.
One Country Project co-founder Heidi Heitkamp sits down with Libby Schneider, rural political director at the Democratic National Committee, discuss the birth of a rural renaissance within the Democratic Party and the efforts leading up to 2020 to engage with and organize rural communities.
In this special back to school episode featuring OCP board members Senator Heidi Heitkamp and North Carolina State Representative Ashton Clemmons and Bipartisan Policy Center Fellow Adrienne Schweer, we discuss the realities of virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, what it means for working families, and the need for a national paid leave policy.
In this episode, OCP co-founder Senator Joe Donnelly speaks to his friend, Paul Rieckhoff about the importance of supporting our nation's veterans and the role rural America plays.
Paul is the host of Angry Americans, an independent news and politics podcast, and president of Righteous Media.
This episode, Senator Heitkamp speaks to Jodi Archambault (Hunkpapa and Oglala Lakota), a strategic advisor for the Bush Foundation and former Special Assistant to the President for Native American Affairs for the White House Domestic Policy Council, Deputy Assistant Secretary to the Assistant-Secretary Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior and separately as the White House Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs under the Obama Administration.
Jodi and Senator Heitkamp spoke about race in the United States, the resilience of Native Americans, Christopher Columbus, and COVID-19.
Below are the resources Jodi spoke about throughout the episode.
Reading List
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI (2017)
- By David Grann
- Website: https://www.davidgrann.com/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidgrann
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidGrannAuthor/
- A true account of the Osage Murders, a series of crimes against the Osage people in the early 1920s, which resulted in the death of more than 20 Indians and stripped tribal rights to large oil deposits on the reservation.
God is Red: A Native View of Religion (1973)
- By Vine Deloria Jr,Standing Rock Sioux
- A nonfiction exploration of traditional Native American religious beliefs in relation to Western Christianity.
Ceremony (1977)
- By Leslie Marmon Silko, Laguna Pueblo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesliemarmon.silko
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lesliemsilko7b?lang=en
- A fictional novel based on the oral traditions and ceremonial practices of the Navajo and Pueblo peoples.
The Journey of Crazy Horse: A Lakota History (2005)
- By Joseph M. Marshall, Sicangu Lakota
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joseph.marshalliii
- A study of Lakota Culture through the life of Crazy Horse, a revered leader and celebrated native icon.
- ALSO BY Joseph Marshal: In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse (2015)
- A fictional story following Jimmy McClean, a young Lakota boy, as he discovers his native heritage through the story of Crazy Horse.
Education
Illuminative: https://illuminatives.org/
- A Native-led initiative to “challenge the negative narrative that surrounds Native communities and to ensure accurate and authentic portrayals of Native communities are present in pop culture and media.”
National Congress for American Indians: http://www.ncai.org/
- The nation’s oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.
How to Help
- Native American Rights Fund: https://www.narf.org/
- National Congress for American Indians: http://www.ncai.org/donate
- Illuminative: https://secure.donationpay.org/illuminative/
- Indian Collective: https://ndncollective.org/donate
Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives Stacey Abrams joins Senator Heitkamp for an episode that covers voting, the 2020 Census, and how to win in 2020.
Senator Heitkamp speaks with James Carville about the upcoming 2020 election and what it means to be a rural voter.
Dr. Iwin Redlner is a national leader in disaster preparedness and the public health ramifications of terrorism and large-scale catastrophic events. As founder and president of the Children's Health Fund, he is a renowned advocate for access to healthcare for all children. Dr. Redlener is also a clinical professor in Health Policy and Management and Pediatrics at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
In this episode, Senator Heitkamp speak to Dr. Julio Friedmann, a Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Fossil Energy at the Department of Energy under President Obama.
Websites Dr. Friendmann Spoke About:
- Global CCS Institute
- Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy
In this episode, Senator Heitkamp speaks to CNN Senior Political Commentator, David Axelrod, about all things impeachment and 2020.
In the spirit of the holidays, our One Country Project Board Members talk about their favorite organizations that give back to their communities.
Senator Heitkamp speaks to Melanie Heitkamp of Youthworks (http://youthworksnd.org/)
Ashton Clemmons speaks to Gene Blackmon of Prestige Barber College (http://prestigebarbercollege.org/)
Anthony Daniels speaks to Dick Fountain of the Boy and Girls Club of North Alabama (https://www.bgcnal.com/)
JD Scholten speaks to Angela Kofoot of Voluntary Action Center of the Iowa Great Lakes and Meals on Wheels. (https://www.lakesvolunteers.org/home)
Senator Donnelly speaks to Steve Camilleri of the South Bend Center for the Homeless and the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veteran’s Center (https://www.cfh.net/mvc)
Meet Ashton Clemmons, One Country Project's newest board member. Hear her and Heidi Heitkamp speak about their experiences as women leaders and why Ashton's time as an educator was so influential.
Heidi Heitkamp and the OCP Board meet for their first Hot Dish episode together. JD Scholten, Anthony Daniels, and Ashton Clemmons talk about their rural experiences and why they joined the One Country Project.
Senator Heitkamp speaks with John Cohen, Senior Expert on Global Threats for the Argonne National Laboratory and Adjunct Professor in Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program.
One Country Project's newest board member, Alabama State Representative and House Minority Leader, speaks about the importance of investing in rural education.
In this episode, one of One Country Project's newest board members, JD Scholten, speaks to Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Donnelly about his experience running in Iowa's 4th district and what he learned about running for office in rural America.
In this episode, Senator Heidi Heitkamp speaks with One Country Project co-founder Senator Joe Donnelly about why they joined forces to launch the One Country Project. Democratic pollster, Doug Usher, weighed in later to speak about how data informs the messaging of the organization.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp speaks with Mary Delaquis, who for 16 years was on the front lines of securing North Dakota’s busiest port of entry as Pembina’s Area Port Director. Then, Heitkamp talks to author Porter Fox, who traveled the Northern Border by canoe, car, freighter, and foot. Fox illustrates the vastness of the border and challenges we face to secure it in his book, Northland: A 4,000-Mile Journey Along America's Forgotten Border.
U.S Senator Heidi Heitkamp interviews Tom Vilsack, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, and Ryan Pederson, a North Dakota farmer and Vice President of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association to discuss the 2018 Farm Bill’s wide-ranging impact on rural America, from crop insurance and safety net programs to rural development and nutrition assistance. Vilsack and Pederson also shared their concerns about the administration’s trade war and the economic uncertainty it is causing farmers and ranchers.
As Americans celebrate the 4th of July, Senator Heitkamp discusses honoring the sacrifice and service of Vietnam veterans—and the importance of telling their stories – with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and Vietnam Veteran Dan Stenvold, Mayor of Park River, ND, and president of the North Dakota Vietnam Veterans of America.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp interviews two interns—one past intern and one current intern—about their experiences interning in her office. They discuss how internships can help students learn about the impact of public service and the importance of supporting your home state and the families who live there, as well as finding out about different career paths.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp interviews Ambassador Darci Vetter, former Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative, and Doyle Lentz, a North Dakota farmer whose ability to sell his products in markets like Canada and Mexico are essential to his economic success.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp interviews Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Yiota Souras of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to talk about progress on efforts to crack down on websites that facilitate sex trafficking.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp interviews former U.S. Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Phillip Swagel, a Republican economist and former economic advisor in the Bush administration.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp interviews two experts and advocates who have dedicated their lives to helping indigenous women overcome obstacles and hardship. They focused on tackling the problem of missing and murdered Native American women, which has plagued indigenous communities in North Dakota and across the country.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp interviews two experts on foreign policy and national security to better understand how the present day threat from North Korea evolved, and the various diplomatic and military options the United States has available to deal with it.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp interviews Fowzia Adde, a leader in the Fargo-Moorhead community for refugees and New Americans, to talk about her work to help folks resettle to the region. Heitkamp also spoke with Fargo Police Chief David Todd who, since leading the department has been actively working to promote inclusiveness, to discuss his department's work to actively reach out to refugee and immigrant communities.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp hosts Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to highlight a bill they reintroduced this month to extend and expand a tax credit to encourage innovation that would reduce carbon emissions, recognizing the need to maintain a diverse energy mix for years to come. Heitkamp also spoke with Julio Friedmann, who recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Fossil Energy at the Energy Department.
This bonus episode of U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp's podcast, “The Hotdish,” features clips from two U.S. Senate floor speeches in which she fought to defend North Dakotans’ health coverage and to pass reforms to stabilize markets and lower premiums.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp interviews two health care experts to reinforce how drastically the Republican health care overhaul would harm North Dakota families and rural hospitals.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp discusses U.S.-Russia relations and the ongoing investigation into Russia's election interference with U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Matthew Rojanksy, an expert in U.S.-Russia relations.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp sits down to talk about the Farm Bill, agricultural trade, and the president's proposed budget cuts to USDA with fellow North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, farm radio journalist Mick Kjar, and former North Dakota state director for USDA Rural Development Ryan Taylor.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp interviews Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and former Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) to talk about the role of moderates in Congress and where they can work together on critical issues for North Dakota and the country—from improving the lives of Native children and negotiating a strong Farm Bill, to tax and health care reform.
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp interviews anti-human trafficking leader Cindy McCain and award-winning WDAY-TV reporter Kevin Wallevand—who has covered human trafficking in North Dakota—to talk about the issue at the local, national, and international level.