Memorial Day Special: We Talked to Veterans

Memorial Day Special: We Talked to Veterans

Author: The One Country Project May 28, 2025 Duration: 39:56

Many rural veterans join the Hot Dish for this special Memorial Day episode. Marine Corps Infantryman and North Dakota Army National Guard First Sergeant Bradley Aune discusses issues veterans face when rejoining civilian life. North Dakota Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Jessica Petrick offers her perspective on what Memorial Day means to her. And One Country Project board member and former Senator and Member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, Joe Donnelly, leads a discussion with Brigadier General Art Austin, Master General Frank Morales, and Staff Sergeant Sean Coulter about their experience with VA services. 

On this Memorial Day week, gain a deeper understanding of what it means to transition from military to civilian life and how vital public programs and support systems are for veterans. Hosts Heidi and Joel Heitkamp emphasize the need for collective action and listening to veterans’ voices to improve systems meant to serve them. This episode will remind us all of the ongoing cost of service, the importance of advocating for continued funding, and the strength found in rural communities as they support their own.

Join us on The Hot Dish every other week, where we serve up hearty conversations that resonate with every corner of the country.
The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project, making sure the voices of the rest of us are heard in Washington. To learn more, visit https://onecountryproject.org or find us at https://onecountryproject.substack.com/.

  • (02:10) - Bradley Aune joins Joel Heitkamp to discuss veteran transition and support work.
  • (08:57) - Joel and Bradley discuss how federal grant cuts will impact Veterans Housing and Job Support
  • (19:19) - Jessica Petrick shares her perspective on Memorial Day as a female National Guard Staff Sergeant.
  • (23:18) - Joe Donnelly leads a panel with Brigadier General Austin, Master Sergeant Morales, and Lt. Colonel Coulter on rural veteran care.
  • (38:14) - Heidi and Joel reflect on the importance of remembering veterans all year long and call for story submissions.

Heidi Heitkamp, a former U.S. Senator, and her brother Joel, a longtime Midwest radio host, bring a unique perspective to the table in their podcast The Hot Dish. Their dynamic is the engine here-a blend of deep policy knowledge from the halls of Congress and grounded, everyday insight from community radio, all filtered through the familiar and often humorous lens of sibling debate. They sit down with a range of guests, from national newsmakers and elected officials to local policymakers, focusing squarely on the ideas and actions that impact rural communities across America. These aren't dry lectures; they're animated discussions that dig into practical solutions for real challenges, from economic opportunities to infrastructure. Produced by The One Country Project, the conversation on this podcast is as informative as it is engaging, often punctuated by the kind of lively back-and-forth that only a brother and sister can provide. You'll come for the insightful analysis on politics and news, but you'll stay for the authentic and enlightening dialogue that makes complex issues relatable. Each episode serves up a hearty mix of substance and personality, offering listeners a fresh take on the stories that shape the heart of the country.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Hot Dish
Podcast Episodes
The Race That Could Flip Mississippi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:51
Grab your sweet tea and pull up a chair! Heidi and Joel sit down with Scott Colom, candidate for U.S. Senate from Mississippi, to talk about what it actually takes to turn one of the reddest states in the nation. If you…
Rural America will Decide the Senate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:07
Hold onto your farm hats and Capitol coffee mugs! Heidi, Joel, and the legendary Scott MacFarlane spill the tea on courts, campaigns, and deer sausage. If you’re into political intrigue, judicial juiciness, and rural ral…
The Rural vs. Urban Divide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:46
Buckle in, folks, because Suzanne Mettler brings deep insights on the rural-urban political divide — and it’s more about history, economics, and institutions than you might think. If you’ve ever wondered why rural voters…
Trump's Coalition is Collapsing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:07
Hold onto your hats, folks! Today's episode features political heavyweight Andrew Egger, joining the Heitkamps from The Bulwark, breaking down the current state of Donald Trump’s influence, the midterms’ future, and the…
Donald Trump versus the Pope [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:00
Buckle up, folks! Today’s episode is a wild ride through the messiest, juiciest conversations about church, politics, and global trade, served with a side of satire and a sprinkle of smirk. Former U.S. Senator and Ambass…
How do we get out of this mess? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:47
The Madness of Power and Prophecy: A Chat with Denver RigglemanBuckle up, folks! Today’s episode is a wild ride through the chaos that’s unraveling in U.S. politics and global diplomacy, with the ever-brave Denver Riggle…
Justin Wolfers on the Cost of War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:00
Justin Wolfers returns to the Hot Dish to unpack the economic and political impacts of the Iran war with Heidi and Joel. This episode offers a clear-eyed view of how markets, government decisions, and public sentiment in…
Faith Communities to the Rescue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:26
In this episode, Heidi and Joel delve into the pivotal roles religion and community resilience play in rural America, featuring insightful conversations with Reverend Jane Field of Maine and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture…
Tom Nichols on Trump's Iran War and Disastrous Foreign Policy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:52
In this episode of The Hot Dish, Heidi and Joel talk to Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic and professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, about the complexities of the U.S. mili…
Beth Macy: Journalist, Author, Fighter for the Working Class [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:21
In this episode, Beth Macy joins Heidi and Joel to discuss her compelling journey from journalist to political candidate. She explores how her books illuminate the struggles of rural communities facing economic and socia…