From Daycare To College: New Approaches to Affordability and Access
This week on the Hot Dish, we dive into two critical challenges impacting our economy: providing college-age students with skills-based education and making high quality child care accessible to families. Heidi interviews Nick Fouriezos, a rural education reporter with Open Campus Media, about innovative new approaches in Montana to give students micro-degrees in trades, allowing them more flexible skill sets and increasing their access to high paying jobs across the work sector.
Then Joel speaks to Robin Phillips, the CEO of Child Care Aware Missouri and a fierce advocate for families and children, about the economic and emotional toll that the lack of affordable child care is having across the state. Robin outlines the current gaps in the child care system and shares some hopeful changes developing in Missouri and across the country to increase funding and support for parents and child care workers.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
Join the One Country Project for the fourth annual Rural Progress Summit, July 8–10. The keynote will feature a virtual fireside chat between Sec. Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.
The Rural Progress Summit is a virtual event that brings together voices from across the country to explore ideas and solutions that address the real needs of rural America.
Go to OneCountryProject.org to learn more or https://pdcst.news/RPS2025 to register for the Rural Progress Summit.
Creators and Guests
Host
Heidi Heitkamp
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp served as the first female senator elected from North Dakota from 2013 – 2019. he is the founder and Chair of the One Country Project, an organization focused on addressing the needs and concerns of rural America. Heidi was recently named the Director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago, a university she has long been committed to and a place where she enjoys engaging with students over civic discussions while encouraging them to seek opportunities in public service to our country. Heidi also serves as a contributor to both CNBC and ABC News.
Host
Joel Heitkamp
He is an multi-award winning talk show host both regionally and nationally. Before radio, he served in the North Dakota Senate from 1995-2008.
