Rephonic
Artwork for The Hot Dish
Donald Trump
Rural America
Democratic Party
Rural Communities
Agriculture
Tariffs
Health Care
Inflation
Rural Progress Summit
US Economy
Republican Party
Farm Bill
K-Shaped Economy
Medicaid
Kamala Harris
News Deserts
Local Journalism
Rural Healthcare
Trump Administration Policies
Rural Education

Former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp and her brother, KFGO radio talk show host Joel Heitkamp, engage in animated discussions with newsmakers, elected leaders, and policymakers who are creating new opportunities for rural Americans and finding practical solutions to their challenges. Punctuated with entertaining conversations and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry, The Hot Dish, from the One Country ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes142Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Hot Dish

Latest Episodes

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 rallying cries, this episode's yo... more

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 often vote Republican, despit... more

YouTube

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 perils lurking behind all that... more

YouTube

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 Ambassador to the Vatican Joe Donnel... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Radio Atlantic
Radio AtlanticThe Atlantic
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
The Lawfare Podcast
The Lawfare PodcastThe Lawfare Institute

Recent Guests

Suzanne Mettler
Professor of American Institutions at Cornell University and author
Cornell University
Episode: The Rural vs. Urban Divide
Andrew Egger
White House correspondent for the Bulwark
Bulwark
Episode: Trump's Coalition is Collapsing
David Lynch
Reporter with The Washington Post
The Washington Post
Episode: Donald Trump versus the Pope
Denver Riggleman
Former Congressman (Virginia), former Air Force officer, NSA contractor, January 6th committee senior staff
Former Congressman; The Hot Dish guest
Episode: How do we get out of this mess?
Justin Wolfers
Professor of Public Policy and Economics, University of Michigan; IMF economist under 45 list
University of Michigan; IMF
Episode: Justin Wolfers on the Cost of War
Jane Field
Executive Director, Maine Council of Churches
Maine Council of Churches
Episode: Faith Communities to the Rescue
Chris Jones
Candidate for Secretary of Agriculture in Iowa
Jones for Iowa campaign
Episode: Faith Communities to the Rescue
Tom Nichols
Staff writer at The Atlantic who writes about international security and the challenges to democracy in the US and around the world
The Atlantic
Episode: Tom Nichols on Trump's Iran War and Disastrous Foreign Policy
Beth Macy
Journalist, Author, Democratic candidate for US House Virginia's 6th District
Author of Factory Man, Dopesick, Paper Girl
Episode: Beth Macy: Journalist, Author, Fighter for the Working Class

Hosts

Joel Heitkamp
Co-host; KFGO radio talk show host with a focus on rural policy and politics
Heidi Heitkamp
Former U.S. Senator; co-host; former federal policymaker with rural and agricultural focus

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 54 ratings
  • Nice to have Midwest perspective

    As someone who grew up in the Midwest but now lives on a coast, I appreciate hearing the accents of my home state area!

    I like the fact that this show has guests who may typically appear on other podcasts, and also those that are more Midwest regional

    I generally appreciate the brother-sister vibe, but Joel too often comes across as a pushy interrupter or mansplainer - both with Heidi and with guests, especially female guests

    So Joel, please be more mindful of this - it's just bad manners! ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Qwertiop8
    United States4 months ago
  • Chicken Shibby!

    Breaking down politics and policy for those who are in more rural areas with a midwestern democrat slant to it all.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bigmrg74
    United States7 months ago
  • Just for me

    When I started listening to Hit Dish I realized I was in my wheel house. I moved from liberal Denver to rural -and I mean RURAL - Wyoming. I lived it. In time. But I had some ‘learning’ to do. That blossoming of my own humanity and expansion of my world is present here. And I love it. Thank you Heidi.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Glacier1975
    United States2 years ago
  • Informative center-left perspective on issues facing rural America.

    This should be required listening for those running national politics and forming policies for the Democratic Party. Until more attention is earnestly given to meaningful issues raised in this podcast, the Dems will continue to lose small town America to those who want to make elections (the GOP) all about culture war battles.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cryptic phrasing
    United States2 years ago
  • Absolutely love Heidi!

    Always great listening to and learning from your podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brian Tripodina
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critics note moments of interruptions or heated debates between hosts.
Praise for insightful guests and accessible explanations of complex policy.
Listeners appreciate the Midwest perspective and practical policy focus.

Top Politics Podcasts

Pod Save America
Pod Save AmericaPod Save America
The MeidasTouch Podcast
The MeidasTouch PodcastMeidasTouch Network
Candace
CandaceCandace Owens
Letters from an American
Letters from an AmericanHeather Cox Richardson
Bulwark Takes
Bulwark TakesThe Bulwark
The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
Deadline: White House
Deadline: White HouseNicolle Wallace, MS NOW

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How do we get out of this mess?
Q: Is there a practical way to address the influence of the current administration's policies on national security and economy?
Focus on transparent contracting, ensure compliance with federal regulations, and realign defense spending with long-term strategic interests rather than short-term political gains.
How do we get out of this mess?
Q: Do you think there is a path to restoring trust with allies and rebuilding NATO relations?
Yes, but it would require a bold, humility-driven approach from a president—acknowledging past missteps, traveling to countries harmed by U.S. policy, and rebuilding alliances through concrete commitments and accountability.
How do we get out of this mess?
Q: What would you do if you were in charge and had the president's ear?
The guest proposes an immediate cessation of hostilities, direct outreach to Iran to assess the situation, a reset of mission planning and intelligence processes, and a purge and rehiring of competent personnel to restore disciplined decision-making.
Donald Trump versus the Pope
Q: How big a factor is Roe v. Wade being overturned in shaping this discourse?
Roe's overturning is treated as part of a broader conversation where states now decide on reproductive rights, but the effect on Catholic and evangelical communities is framed as a shift in how traditional church-influenced politics interact with state policy, rather than a single turning point.
Faith Communities to the Rescue
Q: What is the current state of Christian unification at this inflection point, and how does your ecumenical council navigate differences?
Reverend Field explains the council's diverse composition and deliberate inclusivity, acknowledging past tensions like Catholics leaving the table but emphasizing continued unity through shared denominational policies and a commitment to LGBTQ justice and moral agendas.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Hot Dish

What is The Hot Dish about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A Midwest-tinged discussion show that centers rural issues through candid conversations with policymakers, journalists, and community leaders. Episodes frequently cover agriculture, healthcare access, farm policy, immigration, and electoral dynamics, all anchored by a pragmatic, conversation-driven dynamic between siblings who host and moderate. The format blends policy critique with human-interest stories from small towns, aiming to connect national politics to rural America, often highlighting bipartisan problem-solving and community resilience. The show stands out for its regional perspective, accessible explanations of complex policy, and a focus on practical solutions for rural constituents.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Hot Dish?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Hot Dish. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Hot Dish and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Hot Dish get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Hot Dish, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Hot Dish?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Hot Dish, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Hot Dish have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Hot Dish has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Hot Dish?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Hot Dish:

1. Radio Atlantic
2. What the Health? From KFF Health News
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. The Focus Group Podcast
5. The Lawfare Podcast

How many episodes of The Hot Dish are there?

The Hot Dish launched 9 years ago and published 142 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Hot Dish?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Hot Dish?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Hot Dish from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Hot Dish?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Hot Dish. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Hot Dish?

Recent guests on The Hot Dish include:

1. Suzanne Mettler
2. Andrew Egger
3. David Lynch
4. Denver Riggleman
5. Justin Wolfers
6. Jane Field
7. Chris Jones
8. Tom Nichols

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days