Minneapolis City Councilwoman Latrisha Vetaw joins me for a candid, unfiltered conversation about the state of City Hall, why the council feels broken, and how politics can sometimes feel more like theater than public service. She opens up about trust issues on the dais, her fight for Northside representation, and yes—her unforgettable Usher cherry story.

This episode of One Hour Detours goes deep into what it means to serve a divided city, how national issues clash with local responsibilities, and the personal costs of being in public life.

Chapters

00:00 – Intro: Who is Latrisha Vetaw?

02:00 – Running for office vs. serving

05:00 – Mentors, training, and how to start in politics

08:00 – Facial expressions, performance, and being “real” on the dais

09:20 – Northside representation and standing her ground

11:00 – How an idea becomes law at City Hall

14:00 – Tobacco policy, coupon bans, and city attorneys

18:00 – Is City Council “broken”? Division and dysfunction explained

19:30 – Who represents constituents vs. themselves

20:45 – The encampment debate: healing camps or public danger?

23:00 – Talking openly about homelessness and addiction

27:00 – Third-term mayors, incumbents, and political fear

31:00 – Political violence, safety, and threats to electeds

36:00 – Why some people won’t run for office anymore

41:45 – Life in the spotlight: sports games, fans, and recognition

42:00 – The Usher cherry story

44:30 – Public vs. private life: when you’re always “the councilwoman”

47:00 – Drinks, social life, and the human side of City Hall

48:00 – Closed sessions and what really happens behind the scenes

50:00 – Can council members be friends? Division by voting block

52:00 – Dinners with colleagues and broken trust

54:00 – Why the council feels like “cosplay”

55:00 – Generational divides at City Hall

57:00 – Wrapping up

Dallas Goldtooth has taken one of the most unusual career arcs in entertainment — from Minnesota rez-based comedy sketches with the 1491s, to Reservation Dogs, to the Fallout TV show, to starring alongside Jason Clarke in Apple TV’s The Last Frontier.

We talk about his viral beginnings, the transition from indie comedy to blockbuster streaming action, and what it means to represent Native voices on screen while raising a family of six.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & Dallas Goldtooth’s Hollywood leap

02:00 – Growing up on the Lower Sioux Reservation

07:30 – Comedy as survival: The 1491s & viral sketches

13:00 – Minnesota history, monuments, and reckoning with the past

20:00 – Landing roles in Reservation Dogs and Rutherford Falls

25:00 – Breaking down The Last Frontier

29:00 – The “copaganda” question and conflicted roles

34:00 – Representation, identity & Native roles in Hollywood

41:00 – Acting in Fallout with Walton Goggins

45:00 – Family life with six kids while acting

55:00 – Reflections on culture, comedy & the future

Former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak joins me for an unfiltered conversation about what it really means to lead a city and why authenticity is now the most powerful tool in politics. We cover the emotional cost of leadership, the changing face of Minneapolis, and how social media is reshaping civic power.

If you care about democracy, media, or the future of cities, this episode is for you.

No edits. No prep. One hour. Let’s go.

Chapters

00:00 Intro, One Hour, No Edits

01:48 “Disheveled” as a Media Strategy

04:15 The Power of Authenticity in Politics

08:23 Are TikTok Creators the New News Anchors

13:10 R.T.’s Career from Journalist to Mayor

17:00 Why He Ran for Mayor and Thought He’d Lose

21:45 Pajama Party Protests and Playful Politics

25:02 “I Was in Over My Head”

30:30 Trauma, Therapy, and the Emotional Toll of Public Service

36:12 The Cultural Shift in Minneapolis Politics

39:50 Should Outsiders Run for Office

44:10 How the Minneapolis Foundation Actually Works

50:40 Donor-Advised Funds Explained Simply

53:15 The Future of Minneapolis: Hope or Decline

56:33 Downtown Real Estate Collapse and Reinvention

59:58 Why Minneapolis Is Better Than Portland