Truth in the Barrel: Episode Summary – "Devil's Cut | We Dare You To Run For Office!"

Release Date: May 27, 2025

Podcast Information: Title: Truth in the Barrel
Hosts: Amy McGrath and Denver Riggleman
Description: Amy McGrath and Denver Riggleman, both military veterans and political enthusiasts, engage in insightful discussions from opposing political perspectives, united by their love for the United States. They delve into timely topics, interview notable guests, and entertain listeners with interactive call-ins—all complemented by their shared passion for fine bourbon.

Introduction

In the "Devil's Cut" episode titled "We Dare You To Run For Office!", hosts Amy McGrath and Denver Riggleman explore the multifaceted journey of running for political office. Drawing from their personal experiences as candidates, they shed light on the motivations, challenges, and rewards associated with political campaigns.

Motivation for Running

Amy McGrath's Journey: Amy shares her transition from a military career to politics, emphasizing her commitment to protecting democracy and being the change she wished to see in political leadership.

"It wasn't until later on when I sort of took stock at what my life was really about, which was protecting this country and protecting our democracy."
[04:07]

Denver Riggleman's Motivation: Denver discusses his initial reluctance towards politics, spurred by frustrations with regulatory hurdles and systemic issues he observed while running a distillery.

"It was then I'd had enough. And I remember it was a tripwire to me saying all the people who said Denver, maybe at some point you should serve. It was at that point, I'm like, maybe it's time."
[05:19]

Campaign Challenges

Fundraising Hurdles: Both hosts delve into the complexities of fundraising, highlighting how crucial financial resources are to running a competitive campaign. Amy recounts her Senate race where, despite raising significant funds, overcoming the Partisan Voting Index (PVI) posed a formidable challenge.

"If you don't come from a political last name or a super large network or you're independently wealthy yourself, it's really hard to get started."
[43:18]

Negative Ads and Attacks: Denver reflects on his experience with negative campaigning, particularly after a disinformation incident involving false allegations about him.

"When that happened to me, the night of the Bigfoot erotica Twitter fiasco and all of that, I called my consultants, think. We talked at 2 in the morning. And you know what I told him, Amy, go scorched earth."
[35:33]

Handling Misinformation: Amy discusses the impact of disinformation on her campaign, sharing poignant moments such as responding to false narratives during interviews.

"I wrote a book called Bigfoot. It's Complicated, about disinformation and belief systems that ruin people's lives."
[35:31]

Impact on Family

Both hosts candidly address the toll that campaigns take on personal lives. Amy recounts the emotional strain of losing an election while balancing motherhood, while Denver shares the challenges his family faced amidst public attacks and misinformation.

"He was on his little iPad... and he was playing Minecraft or something. And it was like the world came down, right? I lost."
[30:52]

Lessons Learned

Importance of Integrity: Amy emphasizes running positive campaigns and maintaining personal integrity, even when faced with aggressive opposition.

"We need to have better leaders that if people are voting for him, we have a problem. We need to have better leaders coming up."
[16:16]

Campaign Strategies: The hosts discuss the strategic differences between running for a congressional seat versus a statewide office, highlighting the increased complexity and resource demands of the latter.

"Running for congressional seat is different than running statewide, but the same, the same structure is there. It's just bigger."
[49:08]

Encouraging Others to Run

Honorbound PAC: Amy introduces Honorbound PAC, an initiative she launched to support women veterans aspiring to run for office, addressing the financial barriers many face in entering politics.

"If you're thinking about running for any seat, whether it's a federal seat or a state seat, one of the first things you got to figure out is when's the primary, how's it run."
[43:18]

Stepping Up for Leadership: The conversation concludes with both hosts urging capable and integrity-driven individuals to consider running for office, emphasizing the nation's need for genuine leadership.

"If you're the kind of person that has it in you that you have thick skin, that you're somebody with moral courage, you need to step forward for whatever that spot is."
[50:57]

Concluding Thoughts

Amy and Denver wrap up the episode by reinforcing the critical role of courageous individuals in shaping the country's future. They highlight that while running for office is fraught with challenges, the impact of dedicated service can drive meaningful change.

"We are in a time in this country where we are asked to step up. And so I am asking everyone who is listening, what are you doing? To step up?"
[53:03]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "It wasn't until later on when I sort of took stock at what my life was really about..." – Amy McGrath [04:07]
• "It was then I'd had enough. And I remember it was a tripwire to me saying all the people who said Denver, maybe at some point you should serve." – Denver Riggleman [05:19]
• "If you don't come from a political last name or a super large network... it's really hard to get started." – Amy McGrath [43:18]
• "When that happened to me, the night of the Bigfoot erotica Twitter fiasco and all of that, I called my consultants..." – Denver Riggleman [35:33]
• "We need to have better leaders that if people are voting for him, we have a problem." – Amy McGrath [16:16]
• "Running for congressional seat is different than running statewide, but the same, the same structure is there." – Amy McGrath [49:08]
• "If you're the kind of person that has it in you that you have thick skin... you need to step forward..." – Amy McGrath [50:57]
• "We are in a time in this country where we are asked to step up. And so I am asking everyone who is listening, what are you doing? To step up?" – Amy McGrath [53:03]

Final Thoughts

This episode of Truth in the Barrel offers a candid exploration of the political landscape through the personal narratives of two seasoned veterans turned political candidates. Amy and Denver provide invaluable insights into the sacrifices, strategies, and steadfastness required to navigate the tumultuous waters of political campaigns, all while maintaining one's integrity and commitment to public service.

For more engaging discussions and deep dives into pressing topics, visit www.TruthintheBarrel.com.