The Colonel & the Kid

Gregory L Heitmann
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Built on my memoir of my grandfather, "The Colonel & the Kid," is a podcast that discusses today's events, culture, sports, and better living. Good for a laugh or two,...while you kill time listening and doing your work.

  1. 2d ago

    The Colonel & the Kid - Chapter 55 - The Christmas Times (Part 4)

    Summary In Chapter 55, "The Christmas Times, Part 4," Gregory L. Heitmann reads the next-to-last holiday chapter of his memoir tribute to his grandfather, Lt. Col. Edwin P. Hagen Jr. The chapter looks back at a short-lived family tradition from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. His mother, Aunt Cathy and Grandma Hagen swapped matching heavy-duty nightgowns every Christmas. It also reflects on how time ends traditions, and on starting new ones, like his first permit-cut Christmas tree from the Santa Fe National Forest. After the chapter, he covers the end of the MLB season, the Vikings, his elk hunt, and the "Look What I Found" segment. Show Notes Intro and setup 0:02: Welcome back after a week between episodes. Heitmann introduces the show, which began as a memoir tribute to his grandfather.3:52: The podcast will continue in a new direction after the memoir ends.4:47: Preview of the recurring segments: Look What I Found, Sports Update, MLB Update and KELO-LAND Big News.5:59: The podcast has also served as self-reflection: where you've been, how it's going, and where you want to go.Chapter 55: The Christmas Times, Part 4 8:09: Opening quote, the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr, which AA adopted.9:37: Christmas traditions fade. Expanding families and aging grandparents ended the Hagen Christmases ("time kills traditions").12:05: The nightgown tradition, which lasted about ten years.13:47: Photo 1, circa 1976, in the Sisseton, South Dakota house, with pastel nightgowns in blue, yellow and pink.16:24: Photo 2, circa 1977, taken in the kitchen.21:09: Photo 3, circa 1980, at the country house, with matching dark-green nightgowns in front of the Christmas tree.22:45: Photo 4, circa 1982, with velour nightgowns and period-perfect glasses.27:24: Grandma Hagen never seemed to change across the photos.28:00: His first Christmas tree from Santa Fe National Forest (2025), a new tradition for about $15 plus gas, with photos of the tree.33:09: Closing reflection on nostalgia: "Remember the past, but don't live in it."34:45: Closing quote, "O Tannenbaum" ("Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches"), and a note on evergreen trees.Peripheral segments 37:58: MLB Update, the final one of 2026, sponsored by his book Teener Baseball.40:23: The Milwaukee Brewers win the World Series. He corrects the Twins' record to 77–85. He also gives his take on the Twins, Bud Selig and the contraction attempt, and on loosening his Twins and Vikings fandom.45:11: Childhood baseball memories, including collecting Big Red Machine cards.47:50: Sports Update: the undefeated but "boring" Vikings and his win-total prediction.49:46: KELO-LAND Big News: the elk hunt is complete.50:36: Look What I Found: shed antlers from the hunt. He didn't see an elk but calls the hunt a success, with more to come in a future episode.53:52: Look What I Found: a worn horseshoe, plus the legend of Saint Dunstan and why horseshoes are lucky.1:00:10: Preview of a future segment: pages from a burned graffiti artist's notebook found on his walking trail.Wrap-up 1:03:22: The memoir is nearing completion, likely before 2027. He reflects on dragging his feet and on starting the next project.1:05:17: Sign-off: be assertive, be positive, be proactive.

    The Colonel & the Kid - Chapter 55 - The Christmas Times (Part 4)

  2. Oct 22

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 54 - The Expert

    The Expert Gregory Heitmann returns to The Colonel and the Kid Podcast with a solo chapter reading from his memoir, reflecting on his grandfather, Lt. Colonel Edwin P. Hagen Jr., and the lessons that shaped his life. In Chapter 54, he uses Army rifle qualification and personal marksmanship memories to explore what it means to be an expert, and why confidence still has to be balanced with humility. He also shares a few current-life updates and short segments from the show, including baseball, college sports, the Vikings, an elk hunt, and a tribute to country singer John Anderson. The episode blends memoir, reflection, and a handful of personal side notes as Gregory continues moving toward the end of the book. Key topics In this episode: Gregory explains why the podcast and memoir are dedicated to his grandfather, and why preserving family memory matters before it fades with time.He introduces Chapter 54, “The Expert,” built around the quote: “An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing.”Gregory connects that quote to his own Army rifle qualification, where he earned the expert badge by shooting 37 out of 40 targets in basic training.He walks through the three Army rifle qualification tiers: expert, sharpshooter, and marksman, including the hit thresholds and the 300-meter target requirement.He recalls training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, including simulator practice, rainy-range conditions, and a drill instructor telling him a 150-meter target had malfunctioned rather than missed.He traces his shooting background back to childhood, starting with a Daisy BB gun, then moving to a Daisy 880 pellet gun and later a Weaver scope.Gregory explains the difference between open sights, scope crosshairs, and the Army peep sight, emphasizing how military training simplifies shooting fundamentals.He admits to spending much of his youth shooting birds around the bus barns in Groton, South Dakota, and reflects on how intense that childhood practice was.He discusses the medal itself, including the expert rifle badge design and how he bought a replica to recreate the image for the chapter.He closes the chapter by tying marksmanship back to his grandfather’s influence: do things right, stay humble, and don’t let legitimate expertise turn into cockiness.Outside the chapter, Gregory gives a short MLB update, comments on the Minnesota Twins and the upcoming World Series, and briefly critiques the state of college sports.He also notes an elk hunt that ended without seeing an elk, and pays tribute to John Anderson after hearing of the country singer’s death.Notable quotes “If you're gonna do something, do it right.” “It ain't bragging if you can do it.” “If you're gonna do something, do it right, and stay humble, even if you are an expert.”

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 54 - The Expert

  3. Sep 25

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 53 - The Bear

    The Bear - Colonel and the Kid Podcast, Chapter 53 Gregory Heitmann reads Chapter 53 of his memoir based podcast, centered on a 2019 solo elk hunt in New Mexico that unexpectedly becomes a bear story. The episode blends hunting detail, family memory, and reflection on the role his grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin P. Hagen Jr., played in shaping his outlook. In this episode, Greg shares the full bear hunt story, reflects on the memoir as a way to preserve family history, and closes with a few sports updates and a brief sign-off. The chapter is framed by quotes from John Muir and wildlife biologist Christopher Servheen, both used to reinforce the episode’s bear and ecosystem theme. Key topics Greg introduces Chapter 53, "The Bear," from his memoir and explains that the podcast is nearing the end of the 60 chapter project. He frames the memoir as both a therapeutic exercise and a way to preserve his grandfather’s memory and history. The chapter opens with a John Muir quote about bears and sets up the story as a reflection on bears, hunting, and wilderness. Greg recounts a 2019 second season rifle elk hunt in New Mexico, including his still hunting method, slow movement through the pines, and the close but unsuccessful encounter with a large bull elk. He describes spotting a black bear from about 75 yards away, taking the shot, tracking it, and finding that it was a sow. He walks through the field dressing and packing process, including separating the hide, loading the meat, and making multiple trips back to the truck in the dark. Greg shares practical hunting gear advice, especially the usefulness of trash bags, electrical tape, headlamps, pack frames, and GPS waypoints. He reflects on the satisfaction of solo hunting and hauling out meat alone, describing it as part of the memory and reward of the hunt. He includes family photos and memories, including his mom's childhood-era black bear encounter from a 1959 Colorado vacation and a mounted bear rug in his living room. The chapter closes with a note about the bear being aged at 11 years by New Mexico Game and Fish, a reflection on how his grandfather’s influence remains present, and a final quote about bears as indicators of ecosystem health. Notable quotes Bears are not companions of men, but children of God. Bears are a key indicator of ecosystem health wherever they are found. Better to be lucky than good. Key framework The three B’s: be assertive, be positive, be proactive

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 53 - The Bear

  4. Sep 18

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 52 - The Knives

    The Colonel and the Kid Podcast, Chapter 52: The Knives Gregory Heitmann marks the one year anniversary of the podcast with a reflective chapter about knives, memory, and his grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin P. Hagen Junior. This episode is part memoir, part personal inventory, and part field report, with Gregory connecting family history to the tools he carries, the hunts he remembers, and the stories he wants to preserve. In this episode, Gregory shares how a pocket knife became a symbol of character, inheritance, and remembrance, while also weaving in hunting memories, custom Buck knives, and a few updates from his ongoing life and sports commentary. Key topics Gregory opens by noting this is the one year anniversary of the first podcast and frames the episode as a commemorative edition. He explains that the podcast and memoir exist to preserve the memory of his grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin P. Hagen Junior. The chapter begins with Benjamin Franklin’s quote: “There never was a good knife made of bad steel.” Gregory describes his grandfather’s everyday pocket knife, said to have been taken from a German prisoner of war at the end of World War II. He reflects on the meaning of inherited tools, treating a knife as both a practical object and a symbol of trust, responsibility, and manhood. He shares his own EDC, a small Victorinox Swiss Army knife with tweezers, toothpick, scissors, and a file, and praises the tweezers especially. Gregory recalls receiving Buck fixed blade knives as Christmas gifts as a child, and says those gifts felt like a rite of passage. He walks through several custom Buck knives he owns, including commemorative knives engraved for elk and deer harvests. The episode includes a long discussion of hunting gear, especially the importance of sharp, reliable knives for field dressing elk and deer. Gregory closes the chapter with a second quote about roses and knives, then pivots to a baseball update and a nostalgic story about a baseball from a Major League Baseball game. Timestamps 00:00 - Opening the anniversary episode and reflecting on one year of podcasting 00:47 - A year later: why the memoir and podcast are still going 01:40 - Dedication to grandfather Lieutenant Colonel Edwin P. Hagen Junior 02:23 - Writing as preservation, therapy, and personal reflection 04:59 - Time constraints, chapter length, and the baseball update preview 06:10 - Benjamin Franklin’s knife quote and the chapter’s theme 06:49 - Remembering Grandpa’s German POW pocket knife 08:41 - Pencil sketch of the pocket knife and the engraved soccer image 10:27 - Close-up drawing of the blade engraving and family speculation 41:17 - Whitetail bucks from Grady’s ranch and a deer-print Buck knife 46:25 - The commemorative knife from the 1999 whitetail harvest 49:28 - Latest knife addition: Buck’s semi-centennial 250th America edition 51:43 - Closing reflections on Grandpa’s influence and the screenplay idea 52:23 - Final quote about roses, knives, and hardening the heart 54:57 - Major League Baseball update: the Twins’ late-season slide 58:04 - “Kelloland Big News at Ten” nostalgia and the mystery baseball display 62:32 - Positive wrap-up and final anniversary sign-off Notable quotes “There never was a good knife made of bad steel.” “If you are male and you don't carry a knife with you wherever you go, you might be a male, but you probably are not a man.” “If you want good roses, sharpen your knife and harden your heart.”

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 52 - The Knives

  5. Sep 12

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 51 - The Oryx

    Chapter 51: The Oryx Gregory Heitmann reflects on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, then shares a detailed chapter from The Colonel and the Kid memoir about a 2019 oryx hunt on White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The episode blends personal remembrance, hunting logistics, military history, and family legacy, all centered on a story he wishes he could have told his grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin P. Hagen Jr. In this episode, Gregory Heitmann opens with the purpose of the podcast: preserving his grandfather's memory and the lessons passed between them. He then reads Chapter 51, describing the challenge of tracking a broken-horn oryx across a restricted missile range, the tension of making the shot, and the scramble to load the animal before the gate closes. He closes with reflections on the hunt, a Minnesota Twins update, NFL notes, and a remembrance of 9/11. Key topics Gregory explains the heart of the podcast as a memoir project about his relationship with his grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin P. Hagen Jr. He marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11 as a day of remembrance, sharing where he was working in Iowa when the attacks happened. He introduces Chapter 51, "The Oryx," with opening quotes from Theodore Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway about wilderness and killing cleanly. He describes the oryx as an African antelope brought to New Mexico in the 1970s and now hunted on White Sands Missile Range. He recounts his first oryx hunt in 2009, then contrasts it with the 2019 broken-horn tag that required a legal trophy with a damaged horn. He details the unusual hunting environment on the missile range, including background checks, vehicle inspections, safety briefings, unexploded ordnance warnings, and the secrecy of the area. He describes stalking a lone broken-horn bull on foot across rocky desert terrain, using a backpack as a rifle rest when the shot finally presented itself. He shares the emotional moment of making the final shot, then retrieving, gutting, and loading a roughly 500-pound animal before sunset. He explains the challenge of getting the oryx into the truck without a plank, improvising with coolers, a spare tire, chains, and a come along. He closes the chapter by reflecting on the meat, the hide, the skull, and the lingering sense that the hunt felt improbable, almost miraculous. Notable quotes "Death by violence, death by cold, death by starvation... Life is hard and cruel for all the lower creatures." "I didn't mind killing anything, any animal, if I killed it cleanly." Action items Remember the three B's Gregory closes with: be assertive, be positive, be proactive. If you are interested in the hunt location, the chapter makes it clear that White Sands Missile Range and the Trinity site are central to the story. Gregory recommends thinking of the hunt as both a physical challenge and a memory worth preserving.

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 51 - The Oryx

  6. Sep 8

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 50 - The Snow Goose

    The Snow Goose Gregory Heitmann reflects on Chapter 50 of The Colonel and the Kid, using a spring snow goose hunt and a set of family memories to explore grief, preservation, and the value of record-keeping. He ties the chapter to the death of his father, the legacy of his grandfather, and the emotional pull of keeping those memories alive through the memoir and podcast. In this episode, Gregory Heitmann shares a personal chapter from his memoir, recounting a New Year’s Day phone call about his father’s death, a later snow goose hunt that became a lasting memory, and the taxidermy mounts that now symbolize both family history and hunting tradition. He also pauses for his usual recurring segments, including a Minnesota Twins update, sports headlines, a “look what I found” item, and a preview of future language commentary. Key topics Gregory explains that Chapter 50, “The Snow Goose,” is part of his memoir project to preserve the history of his grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin P. Hagen Jr., and their relationship.He reflects on how most people are forgotten after two or three generations, which motivates his effort to keep family history alive in audio, video, and written form.He recounts the shock of learning on New Year’s Day 2021 that his father had died, and contrasts that sudden loss with his grandfather’s longer decline.He describes helping his mother in Groton, South Dakota, during the early months after his father’s death while working remotely for the Federal Highway Administration.He shares how spring snow goose hunting gave him some healing during that period, especially because he used his dad’s Browning Auto 5 shotgun on the first outings.He tells the story of one successful hunt in March 2021, when he harvested a snow goose that became the chapter’s symbolic centerpiece and a memorial to his father.He highlights the orange staining on the goose’s feathers and bill, connecting it to the old “Know Your Ducks and Geese” booklet and to iron or rust in the water where geese winter.He compares the snow goose mount with an earlier blue goose mount, noting that both now hang on his wall in Santa Fe as reminders of hunts tied to his South Dakota roots.He closes the memoir section by pairing the chapter with childhood memories, including a snow goose birthday cake at age nine and a lifelong love of Minnesota Vikings colors and waterfowl.He briefly steps into recurring segments with updates on the Minnesota Twins, NFL kickoff, an upcoming elk scouting trip, and a new glass bowl and flag he found on his walks. Notable quotes “Live your life, do your work, then take your hat.” “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well, you might find you get what you need.” “Be assertive, be positive, be proactive.”

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 50 - The Snow Goose

  7. Sep 4

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 49 - The Daughters (Part 3 The Buffalo Lakes Summer Camp)

    The Colonel and the Kid Podcast - Chapter 49: The Daughters Part 3 - Buffalo Lakes Summer Camp Greg Heitmann opens this episode with a personal introduction to Chapter 49 of his memoir-based podcast, then spends most of the show reading and reflecting on a photo-rich chapter about family memories, lake life, military service, and camping. He connects childhood experiences at Buffalo Lakes with later elk camps and National Guard imagery, showing how the same themes of outdoors, family, and discipline run through his life. He also includes his usual recurring segments on baseball, a “look what I found” rabbit hole, and a streaming recommendation. Key topics In this episode, Greg frames Chapter 49 as the final chapter in the “Daughters” section, centered on Buffalo Lakes Summer Camp and the memories tied to Clear Lake. He walks through several family photos from around 1952, describing his mom Caralee, Aunt Cathy, a lake cabin, and a polished wooden boat identified as a Dunphy Trout model. He reflects on how the lake trip may have been a family reunion or weekend getaway, and how the photos helped him “put a bow” on this part of the memoir. Greg shares vivid childhood memories of Buffalo Lakes in the mid-1970s, including fishing from docks, using makeshift rods, borrowing minnows, swimming, and bathing in the lake with a bar of soap. He notes that his Aunt Cathy managed the camper trip with several kids in a tiny trailer, while his younger brother Garrett likely stayed with their parents because he was too young for the trip. The chapter also compares those childhood camping conditions with his current elk-hunting setups, emphasizing how cramped campers and tents felt normal then and tiny now. Greg transitions into military photo commentary, discussing National Guard training in the Badlands, Alaska service imagery, and an Aleutian Islands station during the Korean War. He highlights the visual details in the photos, including tents, folding chairs, helmets, field uniforms, and the rugged landscapes of South Dakota and Alaska. In the closing memoir reflection, Greg says the Buffalo Lakes trip left a deep positive impression and that he expects future family conversations will correct or expand on his memories. Outside the chapter reading, he gives a Minnesota Twins update, saying they are still in the wild card race but likely not playoff caliber. He shares a long “look what I found out” segment about how 33 and a third RPM records and 45s developed, starting from a plastic bag and a Naked Gun memory. In the “antenna” segment, he recommends the spy series The Agency, praising its cast and premise even though he thinks Lioness and Patriot are stronger shows. Notable quotes “Life is better at the lake.” “Stay close to the serenity of a lake to meet your own peace of mind.” “Be assertive. Be positive. Be proactive.” Action items Greg plans to finish and record more chapters over the holiday weekend. He intends to scout elk terrain and verify his trail markings after Labor Day. He may look into whether a Browning 250th anniversary rifle is available as a collector’s item. He recommends The Agency for listeners who want another CIA-style spy series.

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 49 - The Daughters (Part 3 The Buffalo Lakes Summer Camp)

  8. Aug 28

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 48 - The Shaving

    Chapter 48: The Shaving Gregory Heitmann continues The Colonel and the Kid Podcast with a solo memoir episode built around shaving, facial hair, and the memories those rituals trigger. The chapter uses Grandpa’s military-era mustache, old shaving products, and a handful of family and hunting photos to explore masculinity, memory, and the value of preserving a personal record.This episode is part reflection, part photo commentary, and part podcast update, with Gregory also touching on baseball, license plates, and a streaming recommendation. Key topics Gregory frames the podcast as a memoir project about his maternal grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin P. Hagen Jr., and explains why recording these stories matters.He reflects on the process of writing and speaking as a kind of self-analysis or “psychotherapy,” using it to sort out his thoughts and preserve memory.The chapter opens with Jack Kemp’s quote, “Winning is like shaving. You do it every day, or you wind up looking like a bum,” which sets up the shaving theme.Gregory shares his own shaving habits, noting that he prefers an electric razor, often keeps a beard in cooler months, and leaves some stubble rather than shaving to smooth skin.He describes a childhood memory of watching Grandpa shave with a triple-head electric shaver and being given a dab of Skin Bracer aftershave as a symbolic introduction to manhood.He discusses several old grooming products and collectible bottles, including Skin Bracer and Avon Deep Woods Aftershave in a 1923 Maxwell automobile bottle.A photo of Gregory and Angela from around 2012 becomes a contrast point, showing a younger version of his preferred facial hair style.The episode connects facial hair with hunting and masculinity through a snowy 2022 elk-butchering photo and a 1992 photo of Grandpa with a full white beard.Gregory ends the memoir chapter with a selfie of himself wearing a handlebar mustache, using it as a bookend to Grandpa’s mustached military photo.In the post-chapter segments, he gives a Minnesota Twins update, complains about the confusing variety of New Mexico license plates, and recommends the TV series Patriot as a smart, offbeat spy show.Notable quotes Copy “Winning is like shaving. You do it every day, or you wind up looking like a bum.” Copy “I consider it to be my psychotherapy.” Copy “Be assertive, be positive, and be proactive.” Action items Listen/read with the photos in view if possible, since several of the chapter’s points depend on the image captions.If you like odd, reflective memoir chapters, this one is a standout.Check out Patriot if you want a quieter, more humorous spy series than the usual high-stress intelligence drama.

    The Colonel & the Kid Podcast - Chapter 48 - The Shaving
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About

Built on my memoir of my grandfather, "The Colonel & the Kid," is a podcast that discusses today's events, culture, sports, and better living. Good for a laugh or two,...while you kill time listening and doing your work.

Information

  • Creator
    Gregory L Heitmann
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Gregory L. Heitmann 2025
  • Show Website
    The Colonel & the Kid