Charlie Daniels, Grace Kindeke, and Co-Host Jared on Music Legends, Immigration Justice, and Childhood Nutrition

Host Neil Haley brings together an eclectic mix of compelling conversations in this special multi-segment episode featuring Grammy Award-winning country music legend Charlie Daniels, immigration rights activist Grace Kindeke, and education co-host Jared discussing childhood health and nutrition.The episode opens with Charlie Daniels reflecting on the enduring legacy of his iconic 1979 hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," a song that has transcended generations and language barriers to become a global phenomenon. Charlie shares his surprise at the song's unprecedented staying power, noting how even teenagers who've never heard his name instantly recognize the tune. He discusses his recent projects, including "Don't Get No Better Than That," a song created specifically for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and his live album recorded at the legendary Billy Bob's Texas. Charlie's passion for performing shines through as he explains that after 50 years in the business, walking on stage to entertain audiences remains the one place he truly feels he knows what he's doing. He also shares the unique story of his relationship with the fiddle, admitting he's entirely self-taught and does everything "wrong" technically, yet it's become his signature style.The second segment features a powerful conversation with Grace Kindeke, director of projects for New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity, who joins co-hosts Sarah Chaczynski and Neil Haley to discuss the current immigration enforcement climate and its impact on New Hampshire communities. Grace, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and raised in New Hampshire, provides a deeply personal perspective on how increased ICE raids and deportation efforts have created fear and vulnerability among immigrant families. She challenges the narrative that enforcement targets only those with criminal records, explaining that the majority of detained individuals lack criminal backgrounds and that even minor violations are being used to justify separations. Grace reframes the discussion around border security, arguing that true security means addressing housing affordability, healthcare access, and stagnant wages rather than scapegoating immigrants for systemic failures.Grace and Sarah explore how $170 billion in taxpayer money has funded ICE enforcement rather than being invested in immigration reform, additional judges, or streamlining the backlog in immigration courts. They discuss Congress's failure to pass meaningful legislation like the DREAM Act and criticize how immigration reform has been politicized as a campaign tool rather than treated as a humanitarian issue. Despite these challenges, Grace shares the hope she's witnessing as New Hampshire communities come together across political lines to support immigrant families, emphasizing that everyone has gifts to contribute to the movement whether through caregiving, art, direct support, or simply showing up willing to help.