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 searching for affordable childcare. Karen Ehrens joins later to speak about the important role a healthy diet plays in childhood development and education.  Plus, don’t tell Karen, but Heidi does love a good cheeseburger!  Our final segment takes you to a small town in rural Michigan, where the annual Cheeseburger in Caseville festival lures tens of thousands of hungry, Jimmy Buffett-loving, tourists every August.  The episode is dedicated to Jimmy Buffett and all Parrot Heads.  

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.

Steve Louwers is the President of the Caseville, Michigan Chamber of Commerce.  Under his leadership, the Cheeseburger in Caseville Festival has become one of the country’s largest Tropical Rock gatherings.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 



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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.  

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.