In this episode of The Hot Dish, hosts Heidi and Joel Heitkamp announce the 2025 Rural Champion Awards before highlighting the Christmas Spirit of Kellie Smith, a small-town entrepreneur from Perham, Minnesota. Kellie shares her inspiring story of creating a community space for those in need during the holiday season, emphasizing the importance of leadership and community support in rural areas. The conversation also touches on the significance of traditions and the spirit of giving in small towns.

Join us on The Hot Dish every 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/.

• (00:00) - Celebrating Rural Champions
• (01:18) - Introducing Community Hero Kelly Smith
• (03:25) - The Heart of Perham: A Small Town's Spirit
• (04:19) - Creating a Community Giving Tree
• (07:28) - Community Response and Support
• (09:38) - Breaking Barriers: Accessing Help
• (12:48) - Unity in Diversity: Bridging Divides
• (14:22) - Inspiring Neighboring Towns
• (15:39) - Leadership in Rural Development
• (16:33) - Encouraging Community Involvement
• (19:16) - Christmas Traditions and Family Memories
• (28:25) - Creating Lasting Memories Over Material Gifts

Hosts Heidi and Joel Heitkamp welcome Cynthia Cox from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) to discuss the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on healthcare costs. Cynthia shares insights into how the ACA supports individuals without employer-provided insurance, including small business owners and farmers.

You will learn more about the complexities of the challenges and opportunities in the current healthcare landscape. Tune in if you're interested in understanding the intricacies of healthcare policy.

Join us on The Hot Dish every 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/.

• (06:00) - Cynthia Cox from KFF discusses her role and expertise on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with hosts Heidi and Joel Heitkamp.
• (00:00) - Chapter 2
• (12:00) - Cynthia urges listeners to pay attention to healthcare cost increases and the role of Congress.
• (00:00) - Chapter 4
• (18:00) - Heidi and Cynthia debate the numerous Republican arguments against Obamacare and the impact on healthcare costs.
• (00:00) - Chapter 6
• (24:00) - Cynthia details the work she's doing with KFF on Medicare Advantage and its implications.

The Liberal Redneck, Trae Crowder, joins Heidi and Joel Heitkamp to discuss his journey from rural Tennessee to internet fame. You will learn about Trae's unique perspective on blending humor with serious topics, discussing the impact of growing up rural on political views.

Join us on The Hot Dish every 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 onecountryproject.org or find us at One Country Project Substack.

• (00:11) - - Trae Crowder introduces himself and his background.
• (14:12) - - Heidi, Joel, and Trae discuss the special election in Tennessee.
• (23:45) - - Heidi and Trae talk about the impact of $12 billion on rural schools.
• (33:00) - - Trae Crowder discusses his unique style to political speech.