Talk of Iowa
Arts
Society & Culture
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.
Prepare your plants for winter
As colder weather is inbound, we learn how to prepare our landscape plants for the winter months.
00:0002/11/2024
Let's talk politics
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.
00:0001/11/2024
At 110, Edith Renfrow Smith is a living historical record
The first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College continues to touch lives.
00:0031/10/2024
Spoken word artist and community builder is now a documentary subject
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.
00:0030/10/2024
What's behind the rural/urban political divide?
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.
00:0029/10/2024
Creep it real with these Halloween plants
Halloween is a time for boo-tiful plants.
00:0026/10/2024
What is the impact of TikTok on youth mental health?
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.
00:0025/10/2024
Educator publishes an updated history of Iowa
The history of Iowa hasn’t changed, but our understanding of it continues to deepen and evolve.
00:0024/10/2024
Monitoring and controlling high blood pressure reduces risk of stroke
Some good health news? More people worldwide are surviving strokes. The bad news? More people aged 45-65 years old are dying from strokes.
00:0023/10/2024
Cedar Rapids' Czech and Slovak museum celebrates 50 years of sharing immigrants' stories
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.
00:0022/10/2024
Dry plants and dry humor
September 2024 was the driest September on record in Iowa.
00:0019/10/2024
Revealing the All Iowa Reads picks for 2025
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."
00:0018/10/2024
Central College students took Harry Smith's course to express curiosity — plus their parents told them to
Retired national television journalist Harry Smith is teaching a college course in Iowa.
00:0017/10/2024
Rainbow Rowell's story of a life-changing bus ride
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.
00:0016/10/2024
How the Meskwaki People reclaimed their homeland
The book Red Earth Nation tells the history of the Meskwaki Nation, spanning the Red Earth People's creation to the 21st Century.
00:0015/10/2024
Time again for fall perennials
You know the changing leaves are beautiful, but there's even more fall color to love.
00:0012/10/2024
'Nightbitch' captures motherhood on the big screen
Nightbitch, the debut novel of Iowa City writer Rachel Yoder, is now a major motion picture starring Amy Adams.
00:0011/10/2024
Comedian Taylor Tomlinson talks about 'having it all'
Taylor Tomlinson will be at the Des Moines Civic Center Oct. 11 and 12.
00:0010/10/2024
Stories to Tell My Daughter will make you laugh, cry, and think
On this special edition of Talk of Iowa, a taste of the storytelling event, Stories to Tell My Daughter
00:0009/10/2024
Restoring Iowa's native wetland ecosystem
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.
00:0008/10/2024
Fall colors will leaf you breathless
Understand the science of changing fall leaves and the weather that leads to vibrant colors.
00:0005/10/2024
Understanding the unique challenges of adult ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common problem for people in the United States.
00:0004/10/2024
Workshop alum's debut 'Before the Mango Ripens' explores the tensions of 1970s Nigeria
A newly independent Nigeriais the setting for author Afabwaje Kurian's debut novel.
00:0003/10/2024
Iowans to vote on conservation funding
Millions of dollars in county conservation funding are at stake for some Iowa voters during the Nov. 5 general election.
00:0002/10/2024
The lasting impact of the Pope's visit to Iowa
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.
00:0001/10/2024
How many horticulturists does it take to force a bulb?
All the advice you need for planning and planting spring blooming bulbs.
00:0028/09/2024
Lessons learned from Indigenous forestry management
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.
00:0027/09/2024
Strengthening democracy where you live
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.
00:0026/09/2024
'Finding American' compiles stories and images of immigrants from all 50 states
Over two hundred immigrants who each have their unique journey of settling in the United States are featured in the book.
00:0025/09/2024
The people who technology culture leaves behind
Society's reliance on technology is not only a barrier, but an equity issue.
00:0024/09/2024
Frost is in the near future
In Iowa, we could see frost as early as Sept. 21.
00:0021/09/2024
Hari Kondabolu explains why he loves a public radio audience
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.
00:0020/09/2024
ISU program promotes rural development in partnership with Uganda community
An ISU program has been effectively promoting rural development in the Kamuli district of Uganda for twenty years.
00:0019/09/2024
The connection between civic engagement and public health
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.
00:0018/09/2024
An art installation the size of a building
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.
00:0017/09/2024
Iowa’s cropland is more precious than gold
The golden hue of harvest season is among us.
00:0014/09/2024
Kaveh Akbar's novel asks what makes a 'Martyr!'
Writer Kaveh Akbar discusses his debut novel, "Martyr!" Then wildlife rehabilitators share the persistent problem of lead poisoning in Iowa's birds.
00:0013/09/2024
Which wildlife species are thriving in Iowa?
Canada geese, white-tailed deer, wild turkey - these are all species that were once rare in Iowa, but now are seemingly everywhere.
00:0012/09/2024
Women of color share wisdom and experience at 'Stories to Tell My Daughter'
Plus, Bonnie Jo Campbell's novel is a 'Midwestern gothic' story of one family.
00:0011/09/2024
Celebrating 50 years of music and more at The Maintenance Shop
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.
00:0010/09/2024
Falling for apples
You can't pick a better horticulture podcast, but you can pick better apples.
00:0007/09/2024
In a time of despair, the community of Spencer chose kindness
Volunteers in Spencer rallied around their community after severe flooding
00:0006/09/2024
Former SNL writer visits her Iowa hometown in documentary 'Will & Harper'
Actor Will Ferrell and writer Harper Steele have been collaborators and friends for 30 years.
00:0005/09/2024
Ruth Harkin shares how she broke ceilings with humor and heart in new memoir
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.
00:0004/09/2024
Iowa's prairies are in full bloom
Prairie sunflowers, rattlesnake master, ironweed — late summer is a perfect time to enjoy native plants in bloom.
00:0031/08/2024
Global volunteers in Iowa join together
The Iowa Global Volunteer Corps hopes to bring volunteers in Iowa together to share knowledge and encourage other Iowans to volunteer.
00:0030/08/2024
Refresh your home with new siding
It's Home Improvement Day and expert Bill McAnally shares his tips on siding your home.
00:0029/08/2024
Bon voyage to Iowa's 2024 Paralympians
Athletes compete in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games from Aug. 28-Sept. 8, with over 4,000 athletes competing in 549 medal events.
00:0028/08/2024
Getting to know Iowa's 2024 Paralympians
The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris start August 28.
00:0027/08/2024
Bees are all the buzz this summer
This time of year, bees are frequent, uninvited guests to your outdoor activities.
00:0024/08/2024