Talk of Iowa: Recent Episodes
Iowa Public Radio
Talk of Iowa is a place for Iowans to connect to our shared culture and what it means to live in Iowa. Host Charity Nebbe brings a mix of regular guests and a range of experts to discuss the arts, history, literature and everything else happening in Iowa. Every day brings something new — even if it's in a recurring segment like Talk of Iowa Book Club or comes from a familiar voice on Horticulture Day.
Humans have fraught relationships with insects, especially the ones digging through their cabinets.
Iowa filmmakers discuss their new movie, 'Heretic,' and Meskwaki artist Oogie Push talks about her autobiographical play.
Death is a natural part of life, but our society struggles to support those who are grieving.
In the 1980s, an Iowa City art teacher wrote to Keith Haring not expecting a response. This resulted in a friendship and two visits by Haring to Horn Elementary.
Many owls live among us in Iowa, but with their ethereal calls, nocturnal habits and silent flight, they can seem a little otherworldly.
Kevin Koch discusses his new book Midwest Bedrock: In Search For Nature’s Soul in America’s Heartland. And the dean of fashion at Parsons School of Design discusses disability-led fashion projects
On this encore episode of Talk of Iowa: Retirement can seem like an indefinite vacation to some and a dreaded end to a decades-long career to others.
Experts discuss avoiding misinformation as election results roll in and coping with stress.
As colder weather is inbound, we learn how to prepare our landscape plants for the winter months.
The status quo has been to avoid politics with coworkers, friends and family, but that is changing. The question today is how to disagree respectfully.
In part due to a budding friendship and a lost set of keys, local artist Caleb Rainey became the subject of a new documentary film, The Negro Artist.
There are a lot of assumptions about the urban/rural divide. Combining historical perspective with the largest-ever national survey of rural voters, two government professors set out to find out what’s really behind this divide.
In her new book, Amy Kolen describes how she processed the 'ambiguous loss' of her mother with the help of the Inside Out singers. Then experts discuss the potential health risks associated with TikTok.
The history of Iowa hasn’t changed, but our understanding of it continues to deepen and evolve.
Some good health news? More people worldwide are surviving strokes. The bad news? More people aged 45-65 years old are dying from strokes.
The city of Cedar Rapids is home to more people of Czech and Slovak heritage than any other city in the world outside of the Czech Republic or Slovakia.
The All Iowa Reads committee reveals the titles for 2025, but first educator Amanda Jones discusses her book, "That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America."
Retired national television journalist Harry Smith is teaching a college course in Iowa.
Rainbow Rowell’s best-selling young adult novel, Eleanor and Park, captures the feeling of young love and highlights the tumultuous home lives some teens face.
The book Red Earth Nation tells the history of the Meskwaki Nation, spanning the Red Earth People's creation to the 21st Century.
Nightbitch, the debut novel of Iowa City writer Rachel Yoder, is now a major motion picture starring Amy Adams.
On this special edition of Talk of Iowa, a taste of the storytelling event, Stories to Tell My Daughter
The Mann family in Marshall County has created a lasting legacy by transitioning the family farm to public land, restoring it to its native wetland ecosystem.
Understand the science of changing fall leaves and the weather that leads to vibrant colors.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common problem for people in the United States.
Millions of dollars in county conservation funding are at stake for some Iowa voters during the Nov. 5 general election.
A new Iowa PBS documentary tells the story of the 30 days organizers had to prepare for Pope John Paul II's visit to Iowa in 1979.
Serra Hoagland was the first Native American to graduate from Northern Arizona University with a Ph.D. in forestry. Hoagland works for the USDA Forest Service building partnerships with tribes and conducting research in those communities.
A recent poll from The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 62% of adults say democracy in the U.S. could be at risk in the 2024 presidential election.
Over two hundred immigrants who each have their unique journey of settling in the United States are featured in the book.
Hari Kondabolu's humor is driven by current events, but also by his experience growing up as a first-generation American. He’s likely one of only a handful of comedians who earned a master’s degree in Human Rights from the London School of Economics.
An ISU program has been effectively promoting rural development in the Kamuli district of Uganda for twenty years.
The authors of Raising America: Building a More Perfect Union share how conversations fuel democracy, and a public health expert explains the health benefits of civic engagement.
A year in the making with 400 volunteers on hand, a 25,000-square-foot textile art installation temporarily covers the Sioux City Art Center.
Writer Kaveh Akbar discusses his debut novel, "Martyr!" Then wildlife rehabilitators share the persistent problem of lead poisoning in Iowa's birds.
Canada geese, white-tailed deer, wild turkey - these are all species that were once rare in Iowa, but now are seemingly everywhere.
From Muddy Waters to The Lumineers, a venue located in the basement of Iowa State University's Memorial Union has seen 50 years of music, theatre, comedy and more.
Actor Will Ferrell and writer Harper Steele have been collaborators and friends for 30 years.
Ruth Harkin reflects on her career and how she worked to welcome women prosecutors in her office, as well as the spontaneous adventures of her and her husband.
Prairie sunflowers, rattlesnake master, ironweed — late summer is a perfect time to enjoy native plants in bloom.
The Iowa Global Volunteer Corps hopes to bring volunteers in Iowa together to share knowledge and encourage other Iowans to volunteer.
It's Home Improvement Day and expert Bill McAnally shares his tips on siding your home.
Athletes compete in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games from Aug. 28-Sept. 8, with over 4,000 athletes competing in 549 medal events.
Sista Soul Fest is having its fifth annual celebration August 25 at Evelyn K. Davis Park in Des Moines.
Justin Roberts didn't set out to be a children's musician, but his tunes and inventive lyrics brought him success and national attention.
In her memoir, Lucinda Williams explains how she spent her career making music on her own terms.
If you grow herbs in your garden, abundance might be the key word for this moment in time. But don't fear, you can preserve those herbs for future use!
The Kalona Historical Village in southeast Iowa may be a tourism spot geared toward the past, but its features and exhibits have constantly evolved.
Last year, an Iowa law that required schools to remove books that contain a depiction of a 'sex act' was put on pause by a temporary injunction, but an appeals court decision has cleared the way for the law to go into effect.
Some parents struggle to see their children leave the home, while others see it as a new and exciting phase of their life. Empty nesters share their experiences
Readers are devouring eBooks and audiobooks through Libby, Hoopla and other apps, but many don't know the costs of providing digital materials to the library.
Julie Moffitt, 57, dreamed of running Western States, a 100-mile race through California's grueling Sierra Nevada Mountains. Almost a decade later, she made it to the finish.
Members of the Food Systems Coalition discuss a new plan to promote sustainable local food production in Iowa, and Olympian and former Hawkeye basketball player Tomi Taiwo joins the show.
Des Moines 48-Hour Film Project is celebrating its 20th anniversary. And Disability Rights Iowa celebrates 40 years of making life more accessible for all Iowans.
Over the past ten years Bob Manson has visited 49 states, three foreign countries and 601 independent bookstores.
Home can mean a lot of different things and NPR's Next Generation Radio participants have created features on five different Iowans that explore the idea of home.
Restaurant critic Wini Moranville discusses what makes a great dining experience and her new memoir. And Iowa alum Brittany Brown is heading to the Olympics
Harvey joins the program to talk about her new book, Anti-Racism As Daily Practice: Refuse Shame, Change White Communities and Help Create a Just World.
For thousands of years, dugout canoes were a vital form of transportation for Indigenous Americans.
The Courage Ride — which raises funds for Sarcoma research — will roll out of Iowa City on August 10.
Liffring-Zug Bourret broke barriers as a photographer when she focused her lens on the lives of Iowans who were often overlooked.
Catastrophic rainfall and swollen rivers have left thousands of Iowans with a lot of work to do in repairing their homes.
Less than 0.1% of Iowa's tallgrass prairie remains today, which once covered 85% of the state's land prior to European-American settlement.
Host Charity Nebbe speaks with panelists about the challenges they face sharing a clearer picture of Iowa's history in their classrooms and museums.
Iowa isn’t well-regarded as a vacation spot in the country, but for those in the know there is a lot to do and see in the state, including the sculptures of Tom Stancliffe.
A trans teen in Iowa says he's faced little discrimination, but recent Iowa laws could change that for other trans youth.
The name we are given, the name we call ourselves and the names other people use to refer to us are powerful parts of our identity.
Chasten Buttigieg grew up in rural Michigan and struggled to come out to his parents. His memoir, I Have To Tell You Something was adapted to target a young adult audience.
In the 2024 WNBA draft, rookie Kate Martin joined fellow Hawkeye alum Megan Gustafson on the Las Vegas Aces. They share their experiences, and author Claire Lombardo discusses her second novel.
What books — fiction and nonfiction — should adult readers add to their 2024 summer reading list?
School is out, and Iowa youth librarians and children book sellers are stocking their shelves with the perfect summer reads for kids.
Solito, tells the story of author Javier Zamora's migration journey from El Salvador to the United States. Zamora traveled unaccompanied at the age of 9 years old.
Women's strike organizers are calling for women to not spend money or go to work on the strike date.
When we think about adding plants to our landscape we often think big, like trees, but today we’re thinking medium- shrubs.
Making plans about death can be a difficult topic to navigate. This episode explores ways to handle those tough conversations.
A conversation with celebrated author Joyce Carol Oates, recorded live at Des Moines Central Public Library May 30
The popularity of bird watching continues to soar. If you’re feeling left out or don’t know how to get started, our birding experts will help you embrace the binoculars.
Ninety-year-old identical twins Bonnie Smola and Donna Story spent their first 20 years together, and the next 20 years apart, before coming back together for the next half-century.
It's Field Day Season for Practical Farmers of Iowa. From June to November, nearly 60 farms across the Midwest will open to the public to help farmers and non-farmers learn sustainable farming practices.
Head coach of the Haweye women's basketball team Lisa Bluder recently announced her retirement and passed the torch to Jan Jensen.
Residential care facilities in Iowa and across the Midwest had their start as "poor farms" in the 1800s.
In the 1980s, an Iowa City art teacher wrote to Keith Haring not expecting a response. This resulted in a friendship and two visits by Haring to Horn Elementary.
Warm weather means many opportunities for fun for dogs and their people, but summer also harbors some hazards for pets. This hour we’ll get some advice on how to avoid flea and tick borne diseases and other summer hazards.
The new director of the Iowa Reading Research Center discusses k-12 reading education in Iowa, and the director of the Reel Hope Project explains how the project helps foster children find homes.
The USDA plant hardiness zone map has been updated. Here's what that means for your garden.
The Ox Yoke Inn has been a staple of the Amana Colonies since the 1940s, and now, people can try out its recipes at home and read about its history in a new book, Ox Yoke Inn: Our Recipes Our Story.
On this Talk of Iowa, we hear the wide-ranging views of Jewish Iowans amid the war in Gaza.
Garden centers are currently overflowing with hanging baskets in full bloom and if you bring one home and care for it properly, you can keep those blooms going all summer long.
The African American Museum of Iowa is reopening after an 18-month, $5 million renovation
A recent poll from The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 62% of adults say democracy in the U.S. could be at risk in the 2024 presidential election.
Advances in dental care are allowing more adults to keep their natural teeth instead of using dentures. But without proper oral hygiene, tooth and gum decay can lead to greater health issues as we age.
Dave Markward spent the last five years interviewing, researching and writing his book From Dubuque to Selma and Beyond, My Journey to Understanding Race in America
When it's time to get some work done on your house, it's important to protect the trees in your landscape.
Known as America's favorite pastime, the sport of baseball was once believed to be one the Amana Colonies' greatest challenges.
Author Mark Daley has shared his experiences fostering and what he learned along the way in the book Safe: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care and the Risks We Take for Family.
A new, posthumous essay collection highlights McPherson's writing and deep thinking about race and other issues
Ira Flatow’s first experience with science reporting was when he covered the very first Earth Day in 1970, and he has been hooked ever since.
After weeks of warm weather and intermediate rain, here are some things to keep in mind as you begin to mow your lawn regularly.
Smiley's latest book, Lucky, takes readers back to the 1960s — through the life of a spirited folk musician as she rises to fame.
Host Charity Nebbe speaks with expert readers and author Diane Wilson about her novel The Seed Keeper for the Talk of Iowa book club.
Iowa City band, The Swampland Jewels, combines a mix of Gulf Coast oldies, traditional Cajun/Creole and TexMex tunes to encapsulate the work of folklorist Harry Oster.
Spring blooming trees only put on a show for a couple of weeks each year in the state of Iowa, but the show can be spectacular.
Residential areas marked red — starting in the 1930s — were deemed places of high-risk investment. The impacts of this practice, called redlining, persist today and even extend to the tree canopy.
Journalists aren't superheroes - but without good, ethical journalists doing their best, we would be lost.
A now retired school principal, Iowa's own Kittie Weston-Knauer picked up BMX racing at 40, when she was one of two women in the country racing in her age group.
Leaving plant debris in your perennial garden all winter long provides texture and habitat, but now it’s time to do some spring cleaning as the weather warms.
University of Iowa professor Benjamin Hunnicut — who has been studying how we work, live and recreate for 50 years — will retire this year.
Biologist and primatologist Frans de Waal passed away last month at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking animal research.
Canada geese, white-tailed deer, wild turkey - these are all species that were once rare in Iowa, but now are seemingly everywhere.
As the weather warms up and insects emerge, you might find yourself with some unwanted houseguests crawling around.
THe University of Iowa is home to the country's oldest literary translation program. Experts discuss why the program is renowned. And Kelsey Bigelow shares a lifetime of hurt and healing in her new poetry collection
A new docuseries, If Not For Them, shines a light on the many women who made this extraordinary moment in collegiate basketball possible.
Carol Roh Spaulding discusses her award-winning short story collection, plus a look at Iowa's annual prairie chicken festival
The Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival shows 57 films with Iowa connections from all over the country.
Erika Schwartz was born in a Jewish ghetto in Hungary in 1944, one day before Nazis sealed it off. Against all odds she and her mother survived the Holocaust, eventually moving to the United States.
Over two hundred immigrants who each have their unique journey to settling in all 50 United States are featured in the book Finding American.
Two eaglets hatched right on time this past week at a nest monitored by the Raptor Resource Project near Decorah.
Rural Americans have higher rates of depression, and farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to the National Rural Health Association.
Many landowners and stewards in Iowa battle invasives on a regular basis, sometimes spending hours weeding plants like honeysuckle and garlic mustard.
Home improvement expert Bill McAnally joins this episode of Talk of Iowa to talk about how to create or reinforce a safe room, so you can weather extreme weather.
Every spring, nearly a million sandhill cranes pass through an 80-mile stretch of the Platte River in Nebraska on their northward migration.
Writer Kaveh Akbar about his debut novel, "Martyr!" Then wildlife rehabilitators discuss the persistent problem of lead poisoning in Iowa's birds.
Christopher Turnis of Dubuque and Kathi Anderson of Iowa City are two links in a chain reaction organized by the National Kidney Registry.
The recent mild weather may have you eager to get working in the garden, but experts advise patience for your seedlings.
The environmental impact of traditional burial techniques and the growing field of green burial options
Host Charity Nebbe and wildlife biologist Jim Pease observe the prairie chicken mating dance and discuss the species' precarious situation in Iowa on this encore episode.
To get a larger plant selection conveniently sent to your home, there is an online market of bulbs, seeds and plants. But how do you know you are ordering quality plants?
We've all heard the horror stories of angry parents in the stands yelling at the coach, the referee, other parents and even student athletes.
Thirteen years after the release of his internationally bestselling novel, The Book Thief, author Markus Zusak has emerged with a novel he describes as his most personal yet.
One of the great secrets of Iowa sports history is that the Hawkeye State had a professional basketball team.
Tipping at service establishments isn't just an American custom, but a codified form of wages for business owners.
The Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana opened in 1973 in Mount Pleasant, reflecting a longtime dream of repertoire theatre company owners and actors Neil and Caroline Schaffner.
Caitlin Clark scored a career-high number of points, 49, and became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Women's Basketball history on Feb. 15 — and she has more records in her sights.
The weight room was once considered men's domain, but more and more women are lifting weights and reaping physical and mental benefits, including an improved relationship with their own bodies.
As wars rage from Ukraine to Gaza, the number of displaced people is at a record high, the UN estimates. What is Iowa doing to help refugees?
The word marriage has many positive connotations - love, security, happiness, family, partnership - but when a marriage goes wrong, it can feel like a prison.
An Iowa horticulturist will be featured at the Philadelphia Flower Show, the country's largest and longest running horticulture event.
When you’re looking through catalogs or walking the aisles at the garden center, it’s easy to feel like a kid in a candy store.
Anna Barker discusses her classics reading series and Maggie Reyes of Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. shares how she is working to help her community.
We examine the history of the fully-integrated mining town of Buxton and the activism and advocacy of Alexander Clark.
Whether it's romantic or platonic, love is all around during February. Pianist Dan Knight highlights this feeling by playing listeners' favorite love songs.
From Muddy Waters to The Lumineers, a venue located in the basement of Iowa State University's Memorial Union has seen 50 years of music, theatre, comedy and more.
Rev. Ray Dial may be best known as the man who taught Pulitzer Prize-winner Nikole Hannah Jones the significance of the date 1619. Dial continues to inspire Iowans to strive, think and ask hard questions.
The January Read With Jenna Book Club pick by Bonnie Jo Campbell is a 'Midwestern gothic' story of one family. And a young scientist joins the show to discuss a new series of STEM workshops for kids.
As Valentine's Day draws near, many people will be buying flowers for loved ones. However, instead of going to the grocery store this season, you could grow flowers from your home.
Roxane Gay's collection of essays "Bad Feminist" became a New York Times best-seller after its 2014 release, and her voice has since become an important part of our social discourse.
Chris Luken knows cheese more than almost anyone else and has gained some prestigious titles to back that up.
The University of Iowa Dance Marathon has raised over $34 million for kids with cancer over the last three decades. The 30th 24-hour dance marathon will be held Feb. 2-3.
Take a couple of feet of snow followed by frigid cold, add in a sudden warm up and some rain and what do you get? A lot of wet basements.
A book by a former solicitor under President Bill Clinton tells the story of how the U.S. government came to own a third of the nation's land — areas like Yosemite and Yellowstone that are maintained for recreation, education and conservation.
The path to becoming a financially independent adult is full of challenges, and some of the obstacles along the way are not easy to navigate.
The book, In a Time of Witness features literary pieces inspired by the art collection.
Whether you dread winter or love the cold, we explore the indoor and outdoor activities that make the most out of the coldest months of the year.
The future of Byron's, a legendary dive bar in Pomeroy, is unclear, with the establishment facing potential closure in April due to the structural status of the building.
Though it may feel like we may never see anything green and growing ever again, there are ways to keep plants alive and thriving with hydroponics.
Looking back at 100 years of the Equal Rights Amendment and looking ahead to what's next
Iowa illustrator and author Gary Kelley discusses his latest graphic novel, Red, White, and Black. America’s Czech With Balance! and collaboration with the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony.
The new documentary Moved by Waters takes a look at water quality in the Quad Cities and the people there who are working for a better, cleaner, more sustainable future.
The Thing in the Snow, a novel by Sean Adams takes a twisted look at the challenges of working in isolation and living in an age of endless distraction. Sound familiar?
The residents of Perry, Iowa are mourning loss of life, injuries and a lost sense of safety.
Gregory Suckow, better known as Hawkeye Elvis, is a UI fan favorite, but a new documentary allows viewers to get to know him on a personal level.
Beloved Cedar Rapids Blues musician Kevin Burt recently released an album dedicated to a major influence on his music career and life, Bill Withers.
You may be dreaming big about the next gardening season. Seed catalogs are arriving just in time to fuel those dreams.
For many Iowans, Area Education Agencies are an invisible part of our school system. For others, they are an essential lifeline.
Joe Gonzalez was one of the first Latino officers to serve in the Des Moines Police Department a half century ago. Today, he is the executive director of the largest ethnic event in Iowa, the Latino Heritage Festival.
The 2024 Iowa State Fair is months away, but now is the time of year to get cozy in the kitchen and perfect recipes to enter in one of the fair's many food contests.
For the Talk of Iowa book club, expert readers join host Charity Nebbe to discuss Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Colson Whitehead won the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for his novel about a young enslaved woman who escapes a Georgia plantation on a literal train to freedom.
How High We Go in the Dark is a climate change and pandemic story that takes place over thousands of years
Ann Patchett joins the show to discuss the collection of essays with our expert readers.
Megan Bannister has compiled Iowa's best-kept secrets — from the world's largest Cheeto to the Great Pyramids of Avery — in her new book Secret Iowa: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure.
Mental health representatives from the City of West Des Moines and NAMI Iowa join the show to discuss mental health efforts in the state.
“I wanted to figure out what happened, and the way I figure stuff out is by writing.” Discussing Fun Home with author and illustrator Alison Bechdel for the Talk of Iowa book club
There are many reasons to do good things for others, but one is the personal benefits to health, happiness, and self-esteem that result.
Even though there are few things that are green and growing outside this time of year, the holidays inspire many of us to bring new plants into our homes.
Iowa author Bess Streeter Aldrich wrote, "Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart, filled it, too, with melody that would last forever."
As we near the year's end, we look back on the best music IPR Studio One brought to our playlists.
It's the season of giving, but it's also a season of reflection. It's a time to think about our roles on this planet and the kind of legacy we're creating.
With so many tools, how do you pick the best one for you? Home improvement expert Bill McAnally walks us through some of his favorite equipment options.
Horticulture Day is a decades-old fixture, even surpassing the history of Talk of Iowa.
As the growing season ends, people can help critters and pollinators with their planting decisions.
Only 72 Black farmers in Iowa were reported in the 2017 Census of Agriculture, but they're all invited to the first Iowa Black Farmers conference this Des Moines.
Native people discuss the realities of being Indigenous in 2023, and the former principal chief of the Osage Nation offers his perspective on Killers of the Flower Moon.
Discussing the young adult novel Those Pink Mountain Nights and the Ag 450 Farm at Iowa State University
Experts and people with ADHD discuss the challenges of the disorder and the treatments available.
Experts give advice on vaccines and other treatments for COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus and the flu as the risk of a tripledemic returns.
The AlRazi Academy is the only full-time Islamic school in Iowa and is hoping to take advantage of the state's new private school voucher program.
Also, the closure of Iowa Wesleyan University left many collections of research materials without a home, including 50,000 preserved insects dating back to the 1920s. The University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums are stepping in to take over the collection.
Social wasps, yellowjackets, and bald-faced hornets are not pollinators, but they do have beneficial behaviors.
Like the rest of the world, Iowa is facing serious environmental challenges. But it also has its own set of unique challenges.
The days may still be hot, but fall is just around the corner, and with it comes all kinds of migratory birds to watch this season.
The network of the Underground Railroad spanned free and enslaved states across the U.S., including Iowa.
Acclaimed Indigenous health researcher Dr. Donald Warne gave the MLK Human Rights Week Distinguished Lecture at the University of Iowa Healthcare and Clinics earlier this year. He joins this encore episode of Talk of Iowa to discuss his work.
As Iowa crawls out of dangerously hot weather conditions, many homeowners have questions on what to do with their ravaged lawns and plants.
Blair Braverman's experience on the reality show Naked and Afraid sparked the idea for her debut novel Small Game.
Nursing homes provide a vital service for those who cannot live independently, but in Iowa, finding the right nursing home care can be incredibly challenging.
For the Talk of Iowa book club, expert readers join host Charity Nebbe to discuss Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Authors Shelly Mazzanoble and Greg Tito join host Charity Nebbe on this encore episode to discuss their new book Welcome to Dragon Talk. And D&D rookies get a taste of the game.
Three veteran journalists in western Iowa have joined forces to serve English and Spanish-speaking residents with a free weekly newspaper.
The Wright House of Fashion is a new nonprofit in Iowa City that provides unique, creative learning opportunities for the community. Plus a cricket farmer hops at the chance to discuss her business.
Discussing death — what conversations we should be having and how to have those conversations.
As children savor the last few weeks of summer, teachers are in a rush to transform their classrooms into a fun, welcoming environment as cost-effectively as possible.
All-America Selections is an independent non-profit organization that tests new, never-before-sold varieties for the home gardener, only the top garden performers are given the AAS Winner award designation for their superior performance.
Our Great State Fair, a documentary on the history of the Iowa State Fair, will air on Iowa PBS August 13th.
Many basement renovations can pose challenges. Home improvement expert Bill McAnally walks us through a complete basement renovation, from floor to ceiling.
Freezing and canning are great tools to preserve the summer's bounty throughout the year, but it's hard to know where to get started and how to do it well.
Humans uphold innovators like heroes, but an Iowa psychology professor argues there is little understanding of how they reached their moment of genius.
The Katydid, Scissor Grinder Cicada, and Snowy Tree Cricket are a few notable insects that sing sweet songs during the summer.
Neil Hamilton's latest book The River Knows: How Water and Land Will Shape our Future explores our relationship with water and what is at stake when its quality is not protected.
Tipping at service establishments isn't just an American custom, but a codified form of wages for business owners.
Some Iowans have decided to ditch the turf lawns and transition their yards and gardens to feature more natural wildlife.
On this Talk of Iowa, writer Keith Lesmeister discusses his new chapbook, Mississippi River Museum, and the Rescuing Our Roots project encourages Iowans to learn more about history and records through cemeteries.
Many of the plants in our gardens thrive in the warmth of the summer, but extreme heat can be deadly.
Our Great State Fair, a documentary on the history of the Iowa State Fair, will air on Iowa PBS August 1-2.
Five young journalists who call Iowa home have just spent a week honing their storytelling skills by capturing what home means to a DACA recipient, a young mother and a man whose family fled war in Sudan, among others.
A woman finds peace on her bicycle as she grieves her husband's death, and a tremendous amount of work ends with two men building community in their riverside town. Those are two of the stories in the documentary SHIFT: The RAGBRAI Documentary.
There are some guided meditation programs that ask participants to visualize themselves as a tree, grounded and peaceful, but trees can get stressed out too!
Wildlife expert Jim Pease returns to the show to talk about urban wildlife and how we can peacefully coexist as animals adapt to human-built environments.
The executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition looks back on what the organization has accomplished and what priorities remain. Then a University of Iowa professor discusses the history and cultural significance of pink and Barbie ahead of the Barbie movie.
Nora J.S. Reichardt said goodbye to Channel 5 WOI-DT in Des Moines this month, with the hope that she can keep bringing visibility to trans identities beyond central Iowa.
On October 1st, 1982 Rhonda Lyons was among 12 people who died after a mass shooting in the Mother Lode Bar in Sacramento California. At the time, "mass shooting" was not the household term it is today.
Advocates and educators discuss book bans and challenges in Iowa and beyond and how these laws are already changing Iowa’s classrooms. And a recent high school graduate shares how seeing himself represented in a book changed his life.
Chasten Buttigieg grew up in rural Michigan and struggled to come out to his parents. His memoir, I Have To Tell You Something was adapted to target a young adult audience.
For many of the domesticated animals we live with, it’s pretty easy to see how they might be related to their wild ancestors — but where did cattle come from?
AI has the potential to help and hinder students and faculty on campuses across the country.
It’s probably the smallest room in your house, but there are a lot of elements to consider when it’s time to renovate the bathroom.
The 14th annual 80/35 music festival will take place at Gateway Park for the last time this weekend. The new location will be announced at the festival.
Neglecting to water trees in your yard could hinder root growth and keep them from reaching their true potential.
Using only water, flour and sugar over a stove, Isaac Campbell uses creativity and love of community to bring wheat paste murals to life.
When Dr. Jean Jew was hired by the University of Iowa College of Medicine it could have been seen as a significant step forward. She was young, accomplished, a woman in an almost entirely male department. In a department with very little diversity, it was made clear by her colleagues from the very start that she was not welcome there.
With decades of letters as her muse, Akwi Nij brought letter script to life through dance in her film Cor-re-spond-ence.
Award-winning author Alexander Maksik discusses his latest novel and guests from Good Neighbor Iowa discuss the pros of chemical-free lawn care.
Debra Marquart’s latest book of essays begins, like most things in the Midwest, with the weather and 13 different ways to talk about it. From there, the essays carry us around the world and back again.
Colson Whitehead won the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for his novel about a young enslaved woman who escapes a Georgia plantation on a literal train to freedom.
There's no mistaking the true beauty of a rose, but these delicate flowers can be hard to maintain and difficult to grow.
For years, Robin Green was the lone woman with a name on Rolling Stone's masthead. In her memoir, she reveals the good, the bad and the bizarre from her time at the magazine.
Around 7 million Americans are adopted, and just like every family is unique, every adoption experience is unique. When stories are told about adoption, we tend to focus on the experiences of adoptive parents, but adoptees have their own important stories to share.
Saved by Schindler: The Life of Celina Karp Biniaz focuses on the life of a Holocaust survivor who emigrated with her parents to Iowa.
On this Horticulture Day episode of Talk of Iowa melon is the word, the fruit is at its prime in the summer season and our experts provide tips on how to grow your own.
And, an award-winning children's book author and illustrator shares her latest book, Me and the Boss: A Story About Mending and Love.
Two former evangelicals join Talk of Iowa host Charity Nebbe to share their personal reckonings and thoughts on the movement's evolution.
Talk of Iowa shares the story of a new production Squatters on Red Earth that explores the relationship between the Meskwaki people and the Inspirationists, a communal society that founded the Amana Colonies.
Ninety-year-old identical twins Bonnie Smola and Donna Story spent their first 20 years together, and the next 20 years apart, before coming back together for the next half-century.
Even in Iowa, traditional Asian vegetables like Bok Choy and Daikon radish can prosper in your garden.
It’s the Talk of Iowa summer books show! Iowa booksellers share some of their favorite new titles.
Experts discuss the benefits and drawbacks of cover crops, and Jeremy Parsons discusses his new position as CEO of the Iowa State Fair.
Ferns are one of the most ancient members of the plant kingdom. They can also be a beautiful part of your landscape.
There are 330,000 unpaid caregivers in Iowa right now. We’ll talk about the challenges they face and what could be done to give them the support they need for this essential work.
Talk of Iowa host Charity Nebbe speaks with executive director of the Western Iowa Journalism Foundation Becky Vonnahme about how downsizings and closures of newspapers have a lasting impact on community and Democracy. Then Field of Dreams actor Dwier Brown discusses the new baseball museum he opened in Dyersville, where Field of Dreams was filmed.
For 30 years, The Wapsipinicon Almanac was a homegrown journal of great writing by and for Iowans. Even though the final almanac was published in 2018, fans have one more chance to dive in with The Wapsipinicon Almanac anthology. Plus Shir Safi shares his family’s arduous journey of leaving Afghanistan.
Author Chloe Angyal discusses her new novel Pas De Don't, a romance set in the ballet world, and Art Cullen talks about his short documentary that explores the impact of drought and other extreme weather on food systems.
Washington, Iowa is home to the Guiness-certified world's oldest continuously operating movie theatre.
Ecological restoration often works from the ground up in an effort to recreate a native ecosystem. Rewilding is about letting nature take its course. What can these different approaches do in Iowa?
The host of the national radio program On Point says while federal policy is important, the implementation of that policy at the local level, "is where people's lives are being changed."
It's officially tick season. Experts offer advice for avoiding ticks so you can keep enjoying the outdoors.
In his new book, Joe Geha tells his family's immigration story through the Lebanese recipes he grew up with. And the voice actors behind Disney's Phineas and Ferb tell us what they're going to do today ahead of a visit to Des Moines.
Sometimes it can be hard for an aspiring writer to find resources and a supportive community. On this episode of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe chats with three Iowans building communities for writers outside of academic settings.
Jazz musician Gabriel Espinosa is retiring as director of jazz studies at Central College this spring, but his music career is far from over.
When it’s time to build, renovate or repair your home, it’s important to find a contractor you can depend on. Home improvement expert Bill McAnally offers advice on the right questions to ask when searching for a contractor.
Apple trees all over the state are blooming. Here’s how to choose the right trees and care for them.
The Des Moines Register documentary Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary premieres this weekend, sharing the stories of riders ahead of the ride's 50th anniversary.
When people say that life is like a fairytale they’re usually forgetting about all the bad stuff, but Sabrina Orah Mark digs right into the darkness when using them as a tool in her memoir.
Lost in the In-Between: Graduating in 2020 is the first production of the Daily Iowan Documentary Workshop. The filmmakers join the program to discuss working on the documentary while also grappling with the pandemic. Plus: the hunt for the elusive Morel.
Less than 0.1% of Iowa's tallgrass prairie remains today, which once covered 85% of the state's land prior to European-American settlement.
Jared Moninger, who identifies as transmasculine, started his social transition at age 12 and has received gender-affirming care since then. His mother says today he is thriving.
Iowa State's 2023 Symphony of Diversity will not only amplify the voices of women in the work of classical music, but its symposium will address the societal issue of violence against women.
There's a long history of music making in prisons, but each program tends to be grassroots and unique.
The spring bird migration is well underway. Expert birders return to the show to discuss the species that are returning to Iowa and others that are passing through.
Tablets, smartphones, televisions and other screens inundate the lives of young children. A team of computer science researchers is developing a new approach to technology when it comes to preschool-aged activities.
For as long as she can remember Katherine Linn Caire has known that she was adopted, but as is the case with many adoptees, there was a lot she didn’t know.
How High We Go in the Dark takes place over thousands of years as we see into the past and future and even travel to deep space.
Last month Uganda lawmakers passed some of the most sweeping anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the world.
On the University of Northern Iowa's campus, the gerontology department uses an ordinary-looking home to simulate the daily life of a person living with dementia.
Robert Leonard is a keen observer of his fellow humans. He studies us from the perspective of a trained anthropologist and a seasoned journalist.
Talk of Iowa host Charity Nebbe talks to medical anthropologist Emily Mendenhall — who's from Okoboji — who studied the pandemic in her hometown.
The landmark legislation designed to ensure equal opportunity for women has become almost synonymous with women's collegiate sports.
Kentucky Bluegrass is a popular choice for homeowners wanting a traditional green lawn, but it doesn't offer a habitat and requires more water than other lawn alternatives.
Host Charity Nebbe and wildlife biologist Jim Pease observe the prairie chicken mating dance and discuss the species’ precarious situation in Iowa.
A book by a former solicitor under President Bill Clinton tells the story of how the U.S. government came to own a third of the nation's land — areas like Yosemite and Yellowstone that are maintained for recreation, education and conservation.
The Farm Crisis of the 1980s dramatically changed agriculture and life in Iowa forever. Iowa State University Distinguished Professor of History Pamela Riney-Kehrberg chronicles the crisis in her 2022 book When A Dream Dies: Agriculture, Iowa, and the Farm Crisis of the 1980s.
There’s a common sort of jealousy felt in springtime when your neighbor’s flowering shrubs burst into bloom, but with a little planning, you too can be the envy of the neighborhood.
After the death of George Floyd and the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, Waterloo's Grout Museum of History and Science realized Black history had not often been displayed on its walls. From that conversation, the Black Stories Collective Project was born.
When environmental and other factors are right, girls and women learn at least a little about menstruation before they experience their first period.
As this week marks the official start of spring, an Iowa State horticulture specialist says lawn care needs are fast approaching.
A home improvement expert shares tips on how to choose the best flooring and answers listeners' questions.
Ahead of his appearance at the Des Moines book festival, Sequoia Nagamatsu discusses his novel How High We Go in the Dark.
Forgiveness can be big or small, but even in small things forgiveness can have a powerful effect on mental health, physical health and happiness.
Neil Hamilton's The Land Remains blends memoir, history, and contemporary environmental issues to tell the story of how land shapes our lives.
You may have to put on your coat and mittens, but now is the best time to prune fruit trees.
We conclude our "Spring Break Book Club Week" with a listen back to a discussion of a young adult novel that has faced challenges in recent years.
This encore edition looks back at the Talk of Iowa Book Club conversation on the novel The Hate U Give, one of the most banned books in the United States, including in Iowa.
For our "Spring Break Book Club Week," we listen back to a conversation about the Iowa-set novel A Thousand Acres, which was adapted into an opera that premiered at the Des Moines Metro Opera in July 2022.
Published in 1986, Thomas and Beulah is a poetry collection that won the Pulitzer Prize in 1987, inspired by the lives of Rita Dove's grandparents.
Advice on how and when to start cool season plants and techniques to start the gardening season early.
Show choir performances are getting more technically difficult and artistically beautiful in high schools across Iowa, where this performance art thrives.
An update on the beloved Decorah eagles and a conversation with DK Nnuro about his debut novel, What Napoleon Could Not Do.
Grab your popcorn and get comfy. On this episode of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe talks about the upcoming movies Champions and 65 with the people who made them.
On this episode of Talk of Iowa: the environmental impact of traditional burial techniques and the growing field of green burial options.
Following a discussion of best pruning practices, horticulture experts answer listeners' questions about trees, shrubs and the rest of the plants in their lives.
Retirement can seem like an indefinite vacation to some and a dreaded end to a decades-long career to others. On this Talk of Iowa, experts share what goes into the decision to retire and how to do it well.
What do North Dakota's most famous accordionist who died more than 30 years ago and a writer and musician living in Minneapolis have in common?
The number of non-white farmers in Iowa is less than one percent, according to the 2017 Agricultural Census.
James Alan McPherson was recognized with a Pulitzer and a Macarthur Genius grant in his lifetime, but many people don’t know the writer and beloved teacher. A new, posthumous essay collection highlights McPherson’s writing and deep thinking about race and other issues
The winter of 1918 was brutal, not for the weather, but because the world was in the grips of an influenza pandemic that took at least 50 million lives worldwide.
The author of Finding the Freedom to Get Unstuck and Be Happier unpacks how the findings of Buddhism and psychology can change our lives.
For the Talk of Iowa book club, host Charity Nebbe discusses the essay collection These Precious Days with author Ann Patchett and two expert readers.
Multiple bills at the Iowa Statehouse propose eliminating a requirement that schools inform students about the HPV vaccine. HPV, or human papillomavirus, can cause cancer in some cases.
A plant disease diagnostician talks explains why when you prune is so important and talks about the horrors of Oak Wilt.
Host Charity Nebbe speaks with business researchers about the causes of burnout and the solutions for organizations and individuals.
An Iowa arts extravaganza: discussing DJ Savarese's new poetry collection, an initiative among educators to break stereotypes and a conversation with musician — and Iowan — Greg Brown.
A love song can transport you to a different time or place and ignite memories that are beautiful, painful or even both. Listeners share their favorite love songs this Valentine's Day and the stories behind them.
If you haven't picked up a romance novel in a while, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you find. Two connoisseurs of the genre join the show to discuss public opinion on romance novels and offer recommendations. Then poet Caleb "The Negro Artist" Rainey, discusses love poems and his new album.
An Iowa woman is using art — and TikTok — to spread awareness of endangered and lesser-known species in Iowa.
A wildlife biologist discusses the waterfowl who spend their winters in Iowa and what their presence can tell us about our state.
Who do the UI Hawkeye fight song and the holiday classic "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" have in common?
A home improvement expert shares what tax incentives are available to make homes more energy efficient and answers callers' home maintenance questions.
While accepting the best actor award at this year's Critics Choice Awards, actor Brendan Fraser called Samuel D. Hunter "his lighthouse."
George Washington Carver was the first Black student at Simpson College and Iowa State, and later the first Black faculty member at Iowa State. He is only the third person to be honored with a statewide day in Iowa — joining Herbert Hoover and agronomist Norman Borlaug
Iowa, like the rest of the world, is facing serious environmental challenges, but the state also has it's own unique set of problems.
Black mothers in Iowa are six times more likely to die as a result of childbirth than white mothers. On this episode of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe and her guests explore the reasons for that statistic and the work being done to change that reality.
Most families have collections of photographs that get passed down through the generations. Often the information, history and memories associated with these pictures is lost over time.
The names we are given, the names we choose and the names others choose to call us can carry a great deal of power. Experts discuss what names mean culturally, and Iowans share their name-changing stories.
A California native is paying it forward with a new digital showcase of Black-owned businesses in Iowa and beyond.
Walkable neighborhoods, plenty of green space, access to fresh, locally grown food, friendly interactions with neighbors — that’s the concept behind an agri-hood or an agri-community.
Sandy Moffett discusses his debut novel, a murder mystery set in the Midwest. And Akwi Nji shares why she started a new project that emphasizes letter writing.
According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone maps Iowa is in Zone 5. Here's what that means.
In advance of her first trip to Iowa, Dionne Warwick speaks with Lucius Pham about her legendary music career and how she took Twitter by storm.
Acclaimed Indigenous health researcher Dr. Donald Warne will give the MLK Human Rights Week Distinguished Lecture at the University of Iowa Healthcare and Clinics.
Authors Shelly Mazzanoble and Greg Tito join host Charity Nebbe to discuss their new book Welcome to Dragon Talk. And D&D rookies get a taste of the game.
More than 4,000 black butterflies are strewn across the lobby of the Dubuque Museum of Art.
Before the mechanization of agriculture, so-called hobos, tramps, and bums played a large role in row crop production in Iowa and the Midwest.
Libraries across the state offer a chance to either shake up the doldrums of winter, or help you uncover a new interest.
To fulfill a friend's dying wish, an Iowa author shares his story to warn others about mistakes that led to his untimely and likely preventable death.
It turns out a lot of what we believe about generational identity and differences is more myth than fact.
The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch tells the story of the only U.S. President born in Iowa. It’s been 30 years since the museum was last renovated, but planning has begun for a major overhaul that will bring the museum into the 21st century.
Author and Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate Sean Adams discusses his new novel The Thing in the Snow. And we release the 2023 Talk of Iowa book club list.
To finish up "Iowa Week 2022: School is in Session," we hear from students from across the state who are getting the most out of their education despite the many challenges. This is an encore episode of Talk of Iowa.
On this encore episode, education professionals discuss the teacher shortage across the state.
Iowa has long been known as a local-control state when it comes to schools. On this encore episode of Talk of Iowa, a look at how state laws passed in recent years have affected the decision-making power of local school districts and boards.
On this encore episode of Talk of Iowa, a look at the school choice movement in Iowa and the push toward privatization.
On this encore episode of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe talks with an education historian about the national forces that shaped education from the 1960s through today.
There are plenty of time-honored traditions across cultures, but some households put their own twist on the holiday season.
The Idealist covers Jack Trice’s life as he navigated segregation in school and athletics during the 1920's, the football game that ended his life and the student-led demands to honor him in the decades following.
As we reach the year's end, we turn to our resident music experts to share what tunes grabbed their ears in 2022.
Explore some of the best tunes from 2022 with Studio One hosts Tony Dehner, Cece Mitchell and Mark Simmet.
Jane Smiley’s latest book, A Dangerous Business, is a departure from her previous work. She joins this episode to discuss the new novel. Then host Charity Nebbe tours the world's largest collection of nativity scenes in Washington, Iowa.
Pianist and composer Dan Knight joins host Charity Nebbe for one of IPR's favorite holiday traditions — listeners share stories about favorite holiday songs, and Dan plays them.
The winter festivities can make this the loneliest time of year for some. Guests discuss ways to get through the holidays when they find themselves alone.
A Ukrainian living in Iowa City gives an update on the war and his family waiting out the conflict back home.
Revisit a conversation on preserving Jewish history and maintaining Jewish community in the state.
The Onion and Raygun both have roots in the Midwest. Now they've released a new line of t-shirts with favorite regional Onion headlines.
We listen back to the Talk of Iowa book club conversation about Octavia Butler's Kindred, which is set to debut as a miniseries this month.
Experts explain how to sustain native birds in our landscape and the connection between native plants and thriving bird populations.
A newly published book focuses on the life of a Holocaust survivor who emigrated with her parents to Iowa.
A former military intelligence commander for Afghanistan forces is now helping fellow Afghans who resettled in Iowa after Taliban rule overtook their home nation.
The winter may send humans indoors and many birds down south, but the season still has many birding opportunities to offer.
Des Moines-based author and advocate Abena Imhotep seeks to promote literacy and lifelong learning in her community by celebrating works by Black authors.
A hitchhiking trip that got derailed in the best way, a life-changing trip to Nepal and a Haitian mission trip that ended in big changes for an Iowa family – all true stories told live with the return of this Investigate Midwest storytelling event.
Expert readers share holiday recommendations from board books for infants to young adult reads for teens.
The Farm Crisis of the 1980s dramatically changed agriculture and life in Iowa forever.
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Time to talk about the best new books for giving and receiving this holiday season.
And, an award-winning children's book author and illustrator shares her latest book, Me and the Boss: A Story About Mending and Love.
Retiring Des Moines Register columnist reflects on her career, what led her to Iowa and her proudest moments.
Xerces Society biologist Sarah Nizzi talks about how farmers can support native bee populations and benefit from their presence.
Outdoor plants fall victim to the autumnal cold, but it’s nearly blooming season for holiday cacti.
The long-awaited sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits movie theaters this week continuing an exploration of different cultures and history and affecting Iowans of color.
Farming, getting your hands dirty, living off the land — a lot of us tend to romanticize agriculture, especially here in Iowa where agriculture has always been an important part of our culture and economy.
While turkey might be on your grocery list this time of year, you may be lucky enough to see some in the wild as well.
Much like The Clash, insects must decide to brave the cold or migrate when the seasons change.
As rising RSV rates coincide with the wintertime surge in COVID-19 and the flu, experts are worried about the strain it could place on hospitals. Plus a discussion about Truthsgiving in Iowa.
Two former evangelicals join Talk of Iowa host Charity Nebbe to share their personal reckonings and thoughts on the movement's evolution.
Home improvement and maintenance expert Bill McAnally shares tips on preparing your home for winter.
A historical society tour with a spooky twist, and a ghost story-teller and Iowa historian share Iowa ghost stories and discuss what they can tell us about the world.
An Iowa State University horticulture specialist tells listeners how to squash their squash issues with these growing tips.
A Des Moines horror tour partners with Iowa Radio Reading Information Service to make the spooky tour accessible to the blind and visually impaired.
Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the 1619 Project, will give the 2022 Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science at Iowa State next week.
Maurine Neiman, a University of Iowa biology professor, lost her 3-year-old son J.J. to influenza. Today, she advocates for the importance of vaccinations and other health precautions.
Though issues like inflation are taking center stage, positions on abortion will still influence many voters as they hit the polls.
Students from around the state join the program and share how they are making the most of their school opportunities and making their teachers proud.
For episode two of Iowa Week: School is in Session — a look at the school choice movement in Iowa and the push toward privatization.
Lightning strike, peppermint stick and cape breeze are a few favorites from Reiman Gardens Director Ed Lyon.
Pianist and composer Dan Knight returns to Iowa! He discusses his most recent projects and play songs that remind him, and our listeners, of home.
Urban ecologist Chris Schell discusses the threads that connect biodiversity, ecology, climate change and environmental justice. Schell will give the 58th annual Paul L. Errington Memorial Lecture October 13 at Iowa State University.
Host Charity Nebbe discusses Chuy Renteria’s coming-of-age memoir We Heard it When We Were Young with Renteria, poet and actor Matthew Marroquín of Storm Lake and West Liberty city council member Dana Dominguez.
Taylor Brorby loves his home and the land he grew up on, but that love is complicated by intolerance and environmental degradation.
2022 recipient of the Iowa Author Award for Fiction Heather Gudenkauf discusses her writing. And an ISU graduate student from Iran discusses protests against the Iranian government and its treatment of women.
In 2017 former Iowa Senate Republican caucus staffer Kirsten Anderson received a $1.75 million lawsuit settlement. She alleged she was fired in 2013 just hours after filing a sexual harassment complaint. Now she has written a book detailing the experience. Also this hour, a sneak peek at the first Refocus Film Festival in Iowa City.
Author Lan Samantha Chang, University of Iowa professor and director of the Iowa Writer's Workshop, explores identity and belonging in her third novel about a Chinese American family and the death that causes their simmering resentments to erupt.
Whether we see it or not, parts of our day-to-day — driving to work, powering our homes, grabbing a bite to eat — produce or emit carbon. What would a low-carbon or zero-carbon lifestyle look like in Iowa?
The lawn care season is nearing an end, but there are a few things you might want to take care of before the snow flies.
As this year marks 50 years since Title IX became law, we listen back to a conversation with one of the female student-athletes granted the opportunity to play in the 1970s because of this decision.
As this year marks 50 years since Title IX became law, we listen back to a conversation with one of the female student-athletes granted the opportunity to play in the 1970s because of this decision.
As this year marks 50 years since Title IX became law, we listen back to a conversation with one of the female student-athletes granted the opportunity to play in the 1970s because of this decision.
Meet the woman behind this year's Iowa Public Radio fund drive t-shirt, an Andy Warhol-reminiscent homage to corn and radio.
Meet the woman behind this year's Iowa Public Radio fund drive t-shirt, an Andy Warhol-reminiscent homage to corn and radio.
Meet the woman behind this year's Iowa Public Radio fund drive t-shirt, an Andy Warhol-reminiscent homage to corn and radio.
Charity Nebbe talks to medical anthropologist Emily Mendenhall, who's from Okoboji. She decided to study the pandemic in her hometown.
Horticulturists share the resilience and reliability of tulips, daffodils and other bulbs.
Horticulturists share the resilience and reliability of tulips, daffodils and other bulbs.
Horticulturists share the resilience and reliability of tulips, daffodils and other bulbs.
Our news and talk teams work hard to keep a sharp focus on issues and topics important to Iowans. Show your support for this service when you give now!
Our news and talk teams work hard to keep a sharp focus on issues and topics important to Iowans. Show your support for this service when you give now!
Our news and talk teams work hard to keep a sharp focus on issues and topics important to Iowans. Show your support for this service when you give now!
On this Banned Books Week, an annual nationwide celebration of the freedom to read, we listen back to a conversation about recent book challenges across Iowa and the U.S.
Smartphone technology gives parents the opportunity to keep track of their kids like never before, but what about when those kids become adults?
Smartphone technology gives parents the opportunity to keep track of their kids like never before, but what about when those kids become adults?
Smartphone technology gives parents the opportunity to keep track of their kids like never before, but what about when those kids become adults?
Charity Nebbe speaks with Dr. Jen Gunter, author of the book The Menopause Manifesto and host of the podcast Body Stuff.
Charity Nebbe speaks with Dr. Jen Gunter, author of the book The Menopause Manifesto and host of the podcast Body Stuff.
Charity Nebbe speaks with Dr. Jen Gunter, author of the book The Menopause Manifesto and host of the podcast Body Stuff.
Pumpkin spice may be a seasonal favorite, but one of the best flavors of fall in Iowa is a crisp, sweet, locally grown apple.
Pumpkin spice may be a seasonal favorite, but one of the best flavors of fall in Iowa is a crisp, sweet, locally grown apple.
Pumpkin spice may be a seasonal favorite, but one of the best flavors of fall in Iowa is a crisp, sweet, locally grown apple.
Many children from toddlers to teens are dealing with social and emotional challenges because the pandemic. This hour we’ll talk about how kids have been affected and how kids, parents, teachers and caregivers are coping.
Many children from toddlers to teens are dealing with social and emotional challenges because the pandemic. This hour we’ll talk about how kids have been affected and how kids, parents, teachers and caregivers are coping.
Many children from toddlers to teens are dealing with social and emotional challenges because the pandemic. This hour we’ll talk about how kids have been affected and how kids, parents, teachers and caregivers are coping.
After the murder of a Memphis woman while out for a run, we return to a 2018 episode, following the death of Mollie Tibbetts.
After the murder of a Memphis woman while out for a run, we return to a 2018 episode, following the death of Mollie Tibbetts.
After the murder of a Memphis woman while out for a run, we return to a 2018 episode, following the death of Mollie Tibbetts.
Fall migration has begun and Iowans may be wondering which birds are beginning their long journies south. Avid birders share what migrating birds are up to now.
Fall migration has begun and Iowans may be wondering which birds are beginning their long journies south. Avid birders share what migrating birds are up to now.
Fall migration has begun and Iowans may be wondering which birds are beginning their long journies south. Avid birders share what migrating birds are up to now.
Eating disorder survivors and experts join a discussion about the recent decision to end the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics eating disorder inpatient program.
Eating disorder survivors and experts join a discussion about the recent decision to end the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics eating disorder inpatient program.
Eating disorder survivors and experts join a discussion about the recent decision to end the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics eating disorder inpatient program.
A documentary making its Iowa premiere on September 10 spotlights a so-called "dying" instrument and a Cedar Falls man who engenders future generations of musicians.
A documentary making its Iowa premiere on September 10 spotlights a so-called "dying" instrument and a Cedar Falls man who engenders future generations of musicians.
A documentary making its Iowa premiere on September 10 spotlights a so-called "dying" instrument and a Cedar Falls man who engenders future generations of musicians.
Strokes can happen to anyone, and catching a stroke early can make all the difference in treatment and long-term recovery.
Strokes can happen to anyone, and catching a stroke early can make all the difference in treatment and long-term recovery.
Strokes can happen to anyone, and catching a stroke early can make all the difference in treatment and long-term recovery.
Updated COVID vaccine boosters are now recommended, for those ages 12 and older, that target the two omicron subvariants which are causing most of the current infections.
Updated COVID vaccine boosters are now recommended, for those ages 12 and older, that target the two omicron subvariants which are causing most of the current infections.
Updated COVID vaccine boosters are now recommended, for those ages 12 and older, that target the two omicron subvariants which are causing most of the current infections.
A bee specialist shares the work of hobby beekeepers to create a healthy habitat for pollinators and the garden features that can attract them.
A new feature-length documentary looks beyond the football legacy of Hawkeye star Nile Kinnick, Jr.
A new documentary from Iowa PBS has been developed to raise awareness about suicide and mental health needs in Iowa.
With climate change, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common, and extreme heat is part of the package. Some humans are coming up with creative and sometimes expensive ways to cope, but many more are vulnerable.
A young author discusses his book about feline friends, and an Iowa mother discusses why she started a foundation to stand up to book challenges.
Fall is getting closer, but gardening season isn't over. On this episode of Talk of Iowa: cool season perennials.
A Sony podcast and a Bailing Out Benji investigation uncovered "puppy trafficking" after new laws were met with new scams to continue the sale of puppy mill dogs at pet stores.
On this episode of Talk of Iowa — a tour of the brand new Stanley Museum of Art. Museum director Lauren Lessing discusses the reopening process and the museum's most famous painting.
Expert readers discuss The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.
As meat packing plants attracted Latino immigrants, Denison continued to grow while other Iowa cities shrunk. The school district's band directors faced the challenge of student participation that did not reflect the school demographics.
Students across the state are getting ready to head back to school, at a time when many districts are scrambling to find the teachers and support staff they need.
When Angela Tedesco founded Turtle Farm outside of Granger in 1995, she had to explain to her potential customers and just about everyone else what community-supported agriculture was all about.
The owner of a pumpkin patch on a nearly century-old farm and a dairy farm bed and breakfast owner share the kinds of clients they draw into the country lifestyle. Later, a developer shares how he imagines colorful home exteriors could revitalize Cedar Rapids neighborhoods.
Hancher Auditorium is celebrating its 50th year with many changes on the horizon. A new leader is at the helm and there's a business model to sustain Hancher's future as the University of Iowa continues to phase out $1.5 million in annual support.
This time of year is harvest season for many garden crops, but it’s also planting season for some vegetables.
Iowa isn’t well-regarded as a vacation spot in the country, but for those in the know there is a lot to do and see in the state — including the Meskwaki Powwow happening this week.
Although the cost of college seems to always increase, a college graduate still earns more, on average, than someone who didn’t graduate. But some communities face barriers to earning a degree or obtaining needed training.
While many Iowa teachers are exiting the profession, former reporter Daniel Finney is pivoting to education.
Amid extreme drought in parts of Northwest Iowa, Iowa State Horticulture Assistant Professor Adam Thoms shares how to keep lawns looking nice and take advantage of this optimal seeding time despite the lack of moisture.
Des Moines-based artist Mollie Wallace journaled her COVID-19 pandemic experience, but not with a pen and paper. Using antique jewelry boxes, she created miniature worlds to represent key events from the last two years. The result is "Pandema's Box."
Shanza Sami, 14, is taking on air pollution in a powerful way. She's developed an extension for catalytic converters designed to reduce emissions from vehicles that run on fossil fuels
In this episode, an exerpt from IPR's podcast From the Archives reflects on the career of Iowa legislator Minnette Doderer, who fought for equal treatment for men and women.
A new play being staged in eastern Iowa that tells the story of a family caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease hits close to home for its cast and crew.
Neil Hamilton's new book The Land Remains blends personal memoir, a history of Midwestern land conservation, and an analysis of contemporary environmental issues to tell the story of how land shapes our lives.
A country blues artist whose life and music was featured at the Hearst Center for the Arts earlier this year is now being recognized posthumously with the 2022 Melendy Spirit Award from the Cedar Falls Community Foundation.
A conversation on beekeeping and an excerpt from the latest episode of IPR's From the Archives.
On this horticulture day: monarch butterflies — which were recently listed as endangered — and what we can do as individuals to support the species. We’ll also talk about the Japanese beetle — the most destructive insect pest in the landscape and garden.
Health care experts and Iowans who are at high-risk for death and severe illness from COVID-19 share their personal stories about this stage of the pandemic.
As thousands of riders prepare for RAGBRAI next week, one bike team is celebrating 25 years of working with young riders on and off the course.
The Talk of Iowa Book Club has been reading the young adult novel The Hate U Give, one of the most banned books in the United States, including in Iowa.
A home improvement expert discusses when it’s time for a new roof and how to go about replacing it.
The 1619 Freedom School in Waterloo is a free after-school program designed to help students improve their literacy and develop a love for reading through a curriculum centered on Black American history.
Author Jane Smiley's literary retelling of King Lear, A Thousand Acres, is taking the stage as part of Des Moines Metro Opera's 50th season.
The Des Moines Metro Opera’s production of Porgy and Bess will be Simon Estes’ final opera before he retires at age 84.
As we approach the second anniversary of the 2020 derecho there are many newly planted trees in Iowa. Good care can help them grow strong.
An increasing number of young adults report not wanting children. Host Charity Nebbe speaks with filmmaker Therese Shechter, whose most recent documentary "examines what it means to say no to motherhood in a society that assumes all women want children, and an Iowa doctor witnessing a recent spike in the number of men seeking vasectomies. Also this hour, 9-year-old Matthew Lamb from Iowa City discusses his recent role on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.
An Iowa State professor shares the benefits of adventuring in Iowa’s rivers and the potential hazards to be aware of while paddling.
This pride month, revisit Charity Nebbe’s conversation awith historians about preserving narratives from LGBTQ+ Iowans. Later in the hour, a Des Moines librarian shares some of her favorite LGBTQ+ reads.
A pediatrician shares the benefits of COVID-19 vaccinations for children, and the creator of Iowa Vaccine Alerts talks about the limited availability of doses.
Title IX passed 50 years ago, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal funds. Though the impacts have been broad, the law is best known for opening the doors for women's sports.
According to a Cleveland Clinic survey, 65% of male participants say they avoid the doctor. A Mercy physician discusses the importance of preventive care.
The author of “Finding the Freedom to Get Unstuck and Be Happier” unpacks how the findings of Buddhism and psychology can change our lives.
Black artists from across Iowa perform, discuss the meaning of the Juneteenth celebration and talk about how their experiences as Black Iowans fuel their music.
The plants that we live with are constantly growing and changing and as the landscape evolves, we may need to change with it.
Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa Director Jean Drulis and UnityPoint Pediatrician Dr. Katie Halyko join the conversation. Then, Charity Nebbe talks with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks about her latest novel, Horse.
Charity Nebbe and guests discuss the history of Juneteenth and the recent swell of Juneteenth celebrations in Iowa. Later on, journalist Ty Rushing shares his new documentary on Iowa PBS that tackles how to end racism.
The Talk of Iowa Book Club has been reading A Thousand Acres, by Jane Smiley. Host Charity Nebbe discusses the book's impact with the author, as well as two expert readers, including one who has adapted the book into an opera premiering next month.
When Duane Slick was a child growing up in Cedar Falls, his parents told him not to talk about his Meskwaki and Ho-Chunk heritage at school. He followed their code of silence, but found a way to express himself through art.
Reiman Gardens Director Ed Lyon joins this episode of Garden Variety to discuss groundcovers. Then ISU's Aaron Steil joins the show to answer your horticulture questions.
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's conversation with Iowa-based artist Jill Wells and mentees of her Artist X Advocacy program.
Charity Nebbe discusses the best new books for children and young adults with Amanda Lepper of Dog Eared Books in Ames, Becky Preston of the Des Moines Public Library, and Iowa City teacher/librarian Devin Redmond.
Charity Nebbe chats with independent Iowa booksellers about their favorite reads for the summer.
Catherine Johnson, executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, shares her passion for advocacy and vision for a more accessible future. Plus, an Iowa Public Radio episode of From the Archives looks back on a speech Richard Nixon delivered in defense of the Vietnam War.
On this Horticulture Day episode of Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe talks ants with Iowa State University entomologist Donald Lewis before the Hort Day team answers your questions.
Charity Nebbe talks to Iowa-based artist Jill Wells and mentees of her Artist X Advocacy program.
Award-winning author Alexander Maksik discusses his latest novel, and guests from Good Neighbor Iowa discuss the pros of chemical-free lawn care.
Charity Nebbe talks to Iowa State University Extension Horticulture Specialist Dan Fillius about growing and caring for sweet potatoes.
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's 2019 interview with Doug Tallamy about how using native plants in your landscape can support a vibrant local ecosystem.
Host Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about efforts to improve information access for Spanish Speaking Iowans including IPR News En Español and the work of Hola Iowa.
Even mild SARS-CoV-2 infections increase a patient's chance of developing diabetes, according to a growing body of reserach.
Charity Nebbe talks to Debra Marquart, Iowa’s Poet Laureate, about her book The Night We Landed on the Moon: Essays Between Exile & Belonging.
Herbaceous peonies are a beautiful spring sight but heavy rains and powdery mildew can sunset these blooms before their time.
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's conversation with Katherine Dykstra about the 50-year-old cold case of Paula Oberbroekling.
Suicide is the number two leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 24, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This hour, resources for recognizing suicidal ideation in young people and how to broach the subject.
There's a big difference between concrete pavers and stamped concrete. But depending on your situation, one may be a better fit for your patio than the other.
A new novel explores the relationship between virtual and actual reality. And a new IPR podcast looks back at the audio treasures of yesteryear.
Whether it's a sour cherry or Goldrush apple, any number of bugs or blights can render fruit-bearing trees fruitless.
Charity Nebbe and her guest talk about the health consequences of obesity and new medical interventions that are making a big difference. Later, she heads to the woods to search for morel mushrooms with Iowa DNR forester Mark Vitosh.
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's conversation with Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow about the ups, downs and power of long-term friendships.
Host Charity Nebbe talks with two business researchers on the causes of burnout and the solutions for organizations and individuals.
Charity Nebbe talks to Viktor Soloviov, a Ukrainian living in Iowa City, about his efforts to raise funds for the largest hospital in Ukraine and how his family is coping with the ongoing conflict.
Host Charity Nebbe talks with Aaron Steil and Cindy Haynes about gifts for the gardening moms in your life and what you can do now that we're (mostly) past the risk of frost.
Charity Nebbe talks to NPR's Morning Edition co-host Steve Inskeep about his book Imperfect Union.
Charity Nebbe talks to a Des Moines family with strong Ukrainian roots about their efforts to help Ukrainian refugee children, and Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller talks about the benefits of time spent in nature.
Charity Nebbe talks to author T.C. Boyle about his 30th book and Grinnell teacher and songwriter Kent Mick about his new solo album.
Charity Nebbe talks to Iowa State University horticulturist Jeff Iles about flowering trees. Iowa DNR Forrester Mark Vitosh and horticulturist Cindy Haynes answer questions about other plants and trees.
Charity Nebbe and her guests explore the history of WOI and WSUI, now part of Iowa Public Radio, two of the oldest radio stations in the country.
Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about the alarming rise in domestic violence cases in Iowa and the resources to help and possibly prevent abuse.
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's 2020 conversation with poet, story-teller and artist Akwi Nji about her project Remoir.
Charity Nebbe talks to Carolyn Chalmers about her book They Didn’t want her There: Fighting Sexual and Racial Harassment in the American University.
Host Charity Nebbe talks with Extension Entomologist Donald Lewis about the insect outlook for the coming growing season.
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's 2020 conversation with Scott Fisher about his experiences in running a rural bed and breakfast. Later, a closer look at a tallgrass prairie
While the younger generations may have to live with the effects of climate change for longer, it's a mistake to think that older generations aren't worried about the future of our planet.
This is the April meeting of the Talk of Iowa Book Club. Host Charity Nebbe and her guests have been reading Thomas and Beulah by Rita Dove.
Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about adoption and how the people who were adopted as children often find themselves with a lot to process.
Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about their experiences and work to raise awareness about Black Maternal Health.
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's conversation with Clair Lombardo about her novel, The Most Fun We Ever Had.
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's conversation with James Anthony, who rewrote every one of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
Host Charity Nebbe speaks with Iowa State University horticulturists Adam Thoms and Aaron Steil about lawn care.
Charity Nebbe talks to medical anthropologist Emily Mendenhall — who's from Okoboji — who decided to study the pandemic in her hometown.
Charity Nebbe talks to Dr. Ali Jabbari of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics about alopecia areata.
Home improvement expert Bill McAnally explains how to create or reinforce a safe room to shelter from extreme weather.
Charity Nebbe talks to John Howe and Amy Ries of the Raptor Resource Project about the Decorah eagles and we’ll preview the Mission Creek Festival in Iowa City.
Charity Nebbe talks with scientists who will be part of the Iowa City Darwin Day celebration.
Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about the life of Anne Frank and explain that one of the offspring of the chestnut tree — mentioned in her diary — will be planted in Iowa City in remembrance of her legacy.
Charity Nebbe and her guests celebrate Iowa History Month by learning more about some of the stories most Iowans have heard and some stories that were nearly lost.
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's conversation with Mary Potter Kenyon about creativity and Gideon Kidd's social media journey from petting dogs to co-writing his own book.
Charity Nebbe talks with horticulture experts about some of their favorite blossoms of spring.
Host Charity Nebbe talks to Angeline Boulley about her new book, and Lenore Metrick- Chen about her art exhibit about Black Iowan history.
Melissa Febos talks about her new book about writing, and historian Leo Landis discusses Iowa's history with year-round Daylight Saving Time.
Host Charity Nebbe talks about the benefits of rain gardens with urban conservationist Jennifer Welch
Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about the treasures to be found in Mildred Armstrong Kalish's literary time capsule that details family life on a farm.
Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about two books, about different families, during the same period in history and what young readers can learn from reading them together.
Charity Nebbe talks to author, Ayana Mathis, and expert readers author Rachelle Chase and retired librarian Maeve Clark for the very first Talk of Iowa Book Club episode.
Charity Nebbe talks to Iowa DNR Forester Mark Vitosh about the need for tree diversity.
The novel Groundskeeping is about a young man, trying to find his way in the world, who falls in love with a young woman from a very different background. The story covers less than a year in their lives, but the scope of the novel is much larger.
It’s been two years since Angie Chaplin’s doctor presented her with a stark choice. He said, “You can keep drinking and you will die. Or you can stop drinking and have a chance at a better life.”
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's conversation with psychologists Doug Gentile and Craig Anderson about their book and research on video games and media violence.
Aaron Steil and Cindy Haynes of Iowa State University Extension talk about transplants and how to make sure they're strong enough to go the distance.
Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about some of Iowa’s greatest environmental success stories and the vision and work that made them possible.
Charity Nebbe and her guests take a step back from the news of the moment and learn about the history, culture and people of Ukraine.
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's conversation with Andre Perry as he describes the inspiration behind his collection of essays. Later, the Des Moines Metropolitan Opera will be kicking off their 50th anniversary season with Mozart’s final opera: The Magic Flute.
We explore the important conversations being produced by Love Girls Magazine and the Love Girls Podcast.
Listen back to Charity Nebbe's 2020 conversation about micro-preemies - babies born before 26 weeks gestation or weighing less than 1 point 12 ounces.
The title of Kiley Reid's debut novel works on multiple levels — it can refer to chronological age or political era — and those different meanings echo throughout this funny, uncomfortable book.
Host Charity Nebbe learns what these highly trained volunteers do to work toward a sustainable future for Iowa.
Landscape Architect and garden designer Lisa Nunamaker talks about planning for this coming growing season.
While a beverage between friends on a carport is a classic, spiffing up outdoor spaces could raise the bar for your next outdoor gathering.
A high school teacher gives us a reading list full of great African American Literature, and we learn about The Jordan House in West Des Moines.
This is the December meeting of the Talk of Iowa Book Club. Host Charity Nebbe and her guests have been reading The Cider House Rules by John Irving.
Featuring stories, essays and poetry, first drafts and interviews with authors, draft attempts to part the curtain on the backend work that takes a piece from concept to a flushed out whole.
Host Charity Nebbe learns how athletic programs at Iowa Central Community College and Iowa Western Community College have become national powerhouses. Then, Emil and Caleb Polashek reflect on the education career of their wife and mother Mary Kay Polashek, who's been teaching at Ames High School for 35 years. Mary Kay was recently diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Iowa hospitals—particularly intensive care wards—have been off-limits for most newspapers and outlets. In her work capturing the human stories of the pandemic, one journalist pulls back the curtain to the pain, hope and crisis experienced by staff and patients during the COVID surge.
A group in Dubuque is raising money for a monument memorializing a Black man who was murdered in 1840 by a group of men.
Whether it's a dozen roses or a bunch of lilies, the biggest day for the flower industry comes with a lot of questions about how to keep these flowers alive.
Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about how the power of music, making music, listening to music and moving to music can be harnessed to promote healing, wellness and mental health.
Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about why reading books written about the Holocaust and by those who witnessed the atrocities is so important.
Charity Nebbe talks to landscape ecologist and MacArthur Genius Lisa Schulte Moore, of ISU, about prairie strips and bringing together agriculture and ecology.
Host Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about girls high school wrestling and how it has been officially sanctioned by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
Mountain climber Jen Loeb is the first Iowa woman to complete the seven summits, which means she has climbed the highest peak on every continent in the world. Loeb joins Charity Nebbe to discuss her latest mountain climbing expedition to Antarctica, where she summited Vinson Massis. Before that, Heather Henson and Monica Leo talk about the new collection of short films "Dreamscapes Volume One" that will be screened at Owl Glass Puppetry Center in West Liberty.
Historian Michael Zahs joins Charity Nebbe at the Kalona Historical Society to talk about his latest exhibit on the stories behind 20th century feed sacks and quilts. Plus, Timothy LeDuc of Cedar Rapids, along with Ashley Caine-Gribble, discuss their upcoming trip to the 2022 winter Olympics in Beijing in pairs figure skating.
Learn about three Iowa towns and how they're trying to better understand themselves and make a path for their future.
Are you concerned about the future of democracy in the United States? Experts and organizers talk about just what you can do to buttress our civic institutions and elections.
Hear horticulturists describe just what makes orchids bloom and what conditions make them wither.
Dr. William Ching of St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids joins Charity Nebbe to discuss the latest studies on COVID-19 and children. They also discuss strategies for handling a positive case and the differences between rapid and PCR tests. Plus, a conversation with Brittany Peacock of the the Davenport Public Library, which became the first library in Iowa to hire a full-time social worker.
Over the last century, the treatment of animals in captivity has dramatically changed from holding cells for fauna to environments designed with their behaviors in the wild in mind.
The exhibit at the Sanford Museum and Planetarium includes artifacts found at a site near Cherokee and highlights the art and lives of Indigenous people today. Host Charity Nebbe also talks with author Xixuan Collins about her debut novel, "Flowing Water, Falling Flowers."
Host Charity Nebbe talks to two doctors about their years of testing and research to stop a disease plaguing an Iowa family. Later, a conversation with Gary Porter on his memoir, "Town Kid: Reflections of a Midwestern Boyhood."
How do generations get formed? What do they mean? Do they matter? A new book explores the fuzzy lines of generations and the extent to which they matter.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called solving the child care shortage a priority in last year's Condition of the State address. What's being done to add more slots for families?
The singer-songwriter talks about living the artist's life in Lamoni, Iowa. Then, two high school seniors describe their journey towards politics at a divisive time in the state.
Iowa State University entomologist Donald Lewis joins Charity Nebbe to discuss how to prevent insects from damaging house plants during the winter. Later, Cindy Haynes of Iowa State University also joins to answer questions about the plants and trees in the lives of listeners.
Dr. Greg Cohen and IPR health reporter Natalie Krebs join Charity Nebbe to discuss the omicron surge in Iowa and what people can expect over the next several weeks. Later, Lisa Bluder, head coach of the University of Iowa women's basketball team, discusses the life of Christine Grant, a champion for women's equality in athletics.
Leo Landis of the State Historical Society of Iowa joins Charity Nebbe to talk about ways people can celebrate Iowa's 175 years of statehood. Later, Des Moines-based filmmaker Hannah Rosalie Wright discusses her career and her upcoming trilogy of short films titled "Daughters."
Pete Evans of Iowa State University and home improvement expert Bill McAnally join Charity Nebbe to discuss the future of 3D printed homes in Iowa. McAnally also answers home-improvement questions.
Josh Turek of Council Bluffs joins Charity Nebbe to discuss his professional wheelchair basketball career and his path to becoming a two-time gold medalist as a Paralympic athlete. Later, Damani Phillips of the University of Iowa jazz department talks about his latest album "No More Apologies."
Host Charity Nebbe shares stories of committed and inspiring teachers as told by their former students.
This is the December meeting of the Talk of Iowa Book Club. Host Charity Nebbe and her guests have been reading "The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan.
Randy McIntyre and Dr. John Keech join Charity Nebbe to talk about McIntyre's recovery from COVID-19 and the double-lung transplant that saved his life. Later in the show, Bob Stewart of KCCK shares his top jazz releases of 2021.
Cindy Haynes and Aaron Steil of Iowa State University join Charity Nebbe to discuss gift ideas for gardeners this holiday season. They also answer plant and tree questions from listeners.
Mark Simmet, Tony Dehner and Cece Mitchell of IPR's Studio One team join Charity Nebbe to discuss their top song selections of 2021.
IPR Music hosts Karen Impola, Barney Sherman and Bob Dorr share their top picks for new music releases of 2021
Pulitzer-prize winning author Jane Smiley joins Charity Nebbe to discuss her novel "Some Luck." This conversation was originally produced in October 2014.
Stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan joins Charity Nebbe to discuss his book "Dad Is Fat." This conversation was originally produced in June 2013.
The Des Moines Botanical Garden has things growing inside and out. We hear from one of the people who make the year-to-year exhibits happen.
We love to read. We love to talk about what we're reading. We know many of you do too. That’s why we created a book club at Talk of Iowa.
Wildlife biologist Jim Pease joins Charity Nebbe to talk about some of his favorite rivers to canoe and secret hiking spots around Iowa.
The logistics of setting Afghan refugees up in Iowa. And what It's a Wonderful Life can teach us about history and representations of Iowa.
Iowa history is Jewish history. We talk about how synagogues created space for Iowans to be Jewish in public and how these communities are changing. Then we hear from a quilter bringing her craft to the streaming platform Twitch.
Marjorie Nuhn had little recognition of her talents as a watercolorist in life. But a posthumous memoir written by her brother is leading some to take a look back at the Cedar Falls native. We also hear from Rick Garmin, a screenwriter, who was born in Marion, Iowa.
First we hear the latest on Alden Global Capitol's attempt to buy Lee Enterprises which owns 10 Iowa newspapers. In the past, Alden's purchases have been followed by shrinking newsrooms. How could this impact your local newsroom?
First some advice on how to let holiday stress fall off your back. Then we spend some time remembering the life and work of Waterloo's Tyler Greene and his work to make the world more accessible.
A Johnston teacher’s resignation came after a state lawmaker’s personal attack against his inclusive classroom. Then we move on to a conversation about what exactly it means to challenge a book in your local library.
A psychologist explains how myriad innovations arose from context, consequence and coincidence — not some moment of brilliance. And a preview from the directors bringing "Black Nativity" to the Quad Cities.
Devin Redmond, Amanda Lepper and Louise White join host Charity Nebbe to talk about their top book choices for kids and young adults this holiday season.
Books can be a world in and of themselves. But they don't have to cost you the world to be a great gift to yourself or others.
Host Charity Nebbe talks with Gail Nonnecke of Iowa State University about the best ways to successfully protect fruiting plants through the winter.
Journalist Beth Hoffman moved from San Francisco to her husband's family farm in Iowa. Host Charity Nebbe talks with Hoffman about her new book "Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America," an un-romaticized account of their experiences and the difficult business of farming.
This is the November meeting of the Talk of Iowa Book Club. Host Charity Nebbe and her guests have been reading "My Antonia" by Willa Cather, a classic work published in 1918 that tells the stories of immigrant families near Red Cloud, Nebraska.
Host Charity Nebbe talks with extension horticulture specialist Dan Fillius about simple techniques for extending the growing season in home vegetable gardens.
As COVID deaths in Iowa surpass 7,000, we hear from the storytellers gathering voices that might otherwise be forgotten.
Pediatricians address the concerns parents have had with vaccinating their kids. And a pharmacist talks through the specifics of getting booster shots as adults.
Your parent migrated to the United States under an official work visa when you were just a few months old. You grow up, go to school and live much like any other American. But at the age of 21, you learn you risk deportation.
Donald Lewis and Cindy Haynes of Iowa State University join Charity Nebbe to talk about insects making their way indoors for the winter and answer the plant and tree questions in the lives of listeners.
Annually, the state of Iowa provides support to artists, filmmakers, musicians and creative writers. We hear from this year's five fellows.
A new poetry festival is aimed at building stages for the many Iowa poets looking for a mic. And a Buena Vista University student has published a book of poetry on his parents' journey from El Salvador to the United States.
Host Charity Nebbe speaks to Chuy Renteria about his new book and the Iowa Center for the Book announces the 2022 "All Iowa Reads" selections.
As winter slowly approaches in the coming weeks, it’s always good to start planning ahead to get your yard, garden or landscape ready for the winter.
Love him. Hate him. Many of us are forced to read F. Scott Fitzgerald. We revisit a conversation with one writer who used fiction to explore the relationship of the writer with his wife, the iconic Zelda Fitzgerald.
We return to the conversation with a cardiologist and animal behaviorist about the connection between human and veterinary medicine. And then hear from a scholar about the life and legacy of Alexander Clark, an African American Iowan who won the first successful school desegregation case in the history of the United States.
Author Paul Schneider joins Charity Nebbe to discuss his book, "Old Man River: The Mississippi River in North American History."
We revisit our conversation with author Benjamin Percy about his 2013 book "Red Moon" and Ethan Rutherford's "The Peripatetic Coffin and Other Stories" from the same year.
Iowa State University horticulture specialists Cindy Haynes and Adam Thoms join Charity Nebbe to talk about lawn care and answer the plant questions in the lives of listeners.
Charity Nebbe speaks to Elissa Altman about her memoir "Poor Man's Feast: A Love Story of Comfort, Desire, and the Art of Simple Cooking."
If we believe that a strong press is key to a thriving democracy, what does the shuttering of local newspapers and shrinking of staff necessitate from Iowans looking to stay informed?
This is the October meeting of the Talk of Iowa Book Club. Host Charity Nebbe and her guests have been reading “An American Marriage" by Tayari Jones.
As culture war issues froth into school board meetings, how are political issues shaping these nonpartisan offices? Hear about what we are seeing statewide, whether we’ve seen it before and what impact it is having on these local offices.
Iowa State University horticulture specialists Cindy Haynes and Kathleen Delate join Charity Nebbe to talk about organic gardens and answer the plant and tree questions in the lives of listeners.
Historians Andrew Klumpp, Ashley Howard and artist Awki Nji join Charity Nebbe to discuss the latest special edition of the history journal "Annals of Iowa," which celebrates 175 years of statehood.
Charity Nebbe speaks with home-improvement expert Bill McAnally about preparing our homes for winter and a lot more time spent indoors.
Caleb Sinnwell, a ninth-grader at Nashua-Plainfield High School, and his teacher Suzan Turner join host Charity Nebbe to discuss Sinnwell's first-place win in a National History Day competition. Later, two very different Iowa singers, Jessica Faselt and Kelsey Madsen, talk about their ties to New York City and how the pandemic impacted their musical careers.
Author Reid Forgrave joins Charity Nebbe to talk about his book "Love, Zac: Small-Town Football and the Life and Death of an American Boy." It tells the tragic story of Indianola's Zac Easter and the negative impact of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). Easter's mother, Brenda, and Ali Epperson, Easter's girlfriend, also join the conversation.
Once again, summer is coming to an end. But that just means another phase in the life cycle of Iowa's forests.
In his new book, an essayist shares his ups and downs, fears and joys while living through his ninth decade. And a sexagenarian describes how breaking boards saved her life.
Charity Nebbe speaks with three historians about Iowa's complicated border history, Mildred Pelzer's 1934 map of Iowa celebrating statehood and the nation's first female lawyer, Belle Babb Mansfield, a southeast Iowa native and graduate of Iowa Wesleyan University.
In "Not a Sound," the protagonist is dealing with the aftermath of a car accident that leaves her deaf when she stumbles across a body in the woods and a mystery.
A Swisher, Iowa-based ranch is using horseback riding to help improve neuromotor function, including coordination, balance, and strength for children.
Horticulturist Ed Lyon, director of Reiman Gardens in Ames and Aaron Steil, of Iowa State University Extension, take us beyond the usual choices for planting spring-blooming bulbs.
Charity Nebbe talks to author Kyle McCord about his book, “Reunion of the Good Weather Suicide Cult.” Then, a conversation with a double Master's degree graduate student at ISU, Derrick Kapayou.
Whether we see it or not, many of our daily activities — driving to work, powering our homes and grabbing a bite to eat — produce carbon or require emitting carbon. What would a low-carbon or zero-carbon lifestyle look like in Iowa.
This is the September meeting of the Talk of Iowa Book Club. Charity Nebbe and her guests have been reading “Black Eagle Child: The Facepaint Narratives” by Ray Young Bear.
Charity Nebbe and her guests discuss a practice that is gaining popularity — spending time in forests in pursuit of boosting health and happiness, and how a single soybean travels the world before it ends up as part of a meal in Seoul, South Korea.
Charity Nebbe speaks to Iowa State University Horticulturist Ajay Nair to guide listeners through planting, caring for and harvesting garlic.
Charity Nebbe speaks to all three IPR Studio One hosts about their new show: All Access
Charity Nebbe talks to Nate Staniforth about his epic cross country road trip and his YouTube series "American Magic" and Kwizera Imani's journey from a Tanzanian refugee camp to a career in Aerospace Engineering.
A long-time Iowa City resident and retired teacher dug deep into the history of a football icon.
Charity Nebbe speaks with author Richard Louv about his latest book, "Our Wild Calling." This episode originally aired in December 2019.
Autumn leaves may be the stars of the fall color show, but fall blooming annuals and perennials can also help to spread some color and joy.
One writer is uncovering the history of an Iowa town where Black and white families lived, worked and played together decades before integration.
For years, Robin Green was the lone woman with a name on the Rolling Stone's masthead. In her memoir, she tells all about the good, the bad and the bizarre.
Charity Nebbe speaks to both the director and producer of a film that takes viewers inside Yemen to show the work being done by doctors and nurses to care for children who are suffering from extreme malnourishment. Then, an Afghan-American student talks about watching the turmoil in her home country from afar.
From climbing trees in her yard to scaling the canopy in the rainforest, a biologist explains the impact the interwoven tendrils of the tree canopy has on our environment.
Wasps in your wine glass and mushrooms in the lawn — the end of summer often brings with it some unwelcome guests.
Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about new ideas, and new books, inspired by classic literature.
Iowa has seen a surge in new cases of COVID-19. For health departments and nursing staffs, the second year of the pandemic is hitting hard.
What does it mean to find love and companionship after the end of a marriage? On this episode of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe is joined by Iowans who share their stories of finding love again.
Charity Nebbe speaks with Iowa State University entomologist Donald Lewis and horticulturist Aaron Steil about armyworms.