For this episode of The Caffeinated Thoughts Podcast, our host Shane Vander Hart talks to Jon Van Wyk. Van Wyk is a candidate running for the Republican nomination in Iowa House District 28 that is an open seat upon the retirement of State Representative Greg Heartsill (R-Chariton). It is a two-way contested primary. Van Wyk is running against Jon Thorup who was also invited to come on the podcast but declined due to his schedule (if that changes we will attempt to have him on before the June 5th primary).

Van Wyk grew up in rural Marion County between Pella and Oskaloosa. He graduated from Oskaloosa High School and later earned a Bachelors in Political Science and a Masters in Public Administration from Iowa State University. Van Wyk served as an infantryman in the Marine Corps Reserve and has worked in both the public and private sectors over the years. He currently co-owns a family winery in Sully.

He met his wife Svetlana in Chariton back in 1997 while she was a foreign exchange student from Russia. She returned to the United States to attend Grandview College in Des Moines, and later graduated from Iowa State. Van Wyk and Svetlana planted permanent roots next to the family winery in 2014. They have been married for 20 years and have three children. The Van Wyk family have attended Christ’s Church at Fox Creek in Waukee for the past ten years. They also were missionaries in Mexico, The Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.

Listen to the podcast:

You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Blubrry, Google Play MusicStitcher, SoundCloud, TuneInPodbean, or Spotify.

The Caffeinated Thoughts Podcast can only exist due to the generosity of our sponsors.

This show is sponsored in part by American Principles Project, a conservative political think tank in Washington, D.C. American Principles Project believes that human dignity should be at the heart of public policy. They work in all 50 states and in Washington, D.C. to promote life, religious freedom, local control over education, authentic economic progress for working Americans, and a return to constitutional principles, such as federalism. Want to help American Principles Project? Visit their website today. Sign up for e-mail updates, send a small (or large) donation their way, help them out. They are a great group.

Also, be sure to check out Travis Risvold of Modern Woodmen of America. Call Travis at 515-883-0029. He can help you find the life insurance YOU need.

You May Also Like

Episode 41: Rebel Snodgrass in Iowa House District 26

On today’s episode of the Caffeinated Thoughts Podcast, Shane Vander Hart takes a look at the contested Republican primary in Iowa House District 26 and has a conversation with Rebel Snodgrass, one of the candidates in the upcoming Republican primary.

Episode 21: Did Repealing Net Neutrality Break the Internet?

Shane Vander Hart discusses the Federal Communications Commission’s recent decision to repeal Net Neutrality with Dr. Roslyn Layton with the American Enterprise Institute.

Episode 85: The Anti-Semitism of Ilhan Omar

On this episode of the Caffeinated Thoughts Podcast, Shane Vander Hart discusses U.S. Rep. Omar Ilhan’s anti-semitic remarks and actions.

Episode 50: Jonathan Williams on Iowa’s Economic Outlook

On the Caffeinated Thoughts Podcast, Shane Vander Hart discusses Iowa’s economic outlook with Jonathan Williams with the American Legislative Exchange Council. Plus, more Americans think porn is morally acceptable, religious liberty is dead in Canada, and Donald Trump has declared the North Korea summit a success.