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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.
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
Hawkeye alum takes Olympic bronze medal in rowing
Sista Soul Fest is having its fifth annual celebration August 25 at Evelyn K. Davis Park in Des Moines.
00:0023/08/2024
Justin Roberts uses rock influences to craft clever music for kids and their parents
Justin Roberts didn't set out to be a children's musician, but his tunes and inventive lyrics brought him success and national attention.
00:0022/08/2024
Fruits of her labor: the stories behind Lucinda Williams' iconic songs
In her memoir, Lucinda Williams explains how she spent her career making music on her own terms.
00:0021/08/2024
Iowa's state parks are in need of over $100 million in repairs
Iowa's state parks struggle to manage upkeep with constrained budget.
00:0020/08/2024
Preserve your herbs
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!
00:0017/08/2024
A 'big city' museum in a town of a couple thousand residents
The Kalona Historical Village in southeast Iowa may be a tourism spot geared toward the past, but its features and exhibits have constantly evolved.
00:0016/08/2024
Pressures on Iowa's education system led to a shortage of educators in the state
Challenges in Iowa's education system are making it harder to retain educators.
00:0015/08/2024
How schools are responding to Iowa’s new book ban
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.
00:0014/08/2024
State fair book showcases food department's role in Midwest culinary experience
Iowans have been showing off their baking skills in stiff competitions since the early days of the Iowa State Fair.
00:0013/08/2024
Shrubs of summer
Hydrangea, button bush, and many other shrubs are in bloom this summer.
00:0010/08/2024
The art of Meskwaki beadworking
The 108th annual Meskwaki Powwow takes place this weekend. It’s a four-day celebration of Meskwaki culture and tradition where everyone is welcome.
00:0009/08/2024
In a time of despair, the community of Spencer chose kindness
Volunteers in Spencer rallied around their community after severe flooding.
00:0008/08/2024
Handwriting as a link to literacy and to the past
Education experts discuss the link between writing and reading. Then Iowans share handwritten treasures that are special to them.
00:0007/08/2024
How empty nesters fill the void as children launch their adult lives
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
00:0006/08/2024
How to peacefully coexist with wildlife neighbors
Our actions may invite wildlife into our yards, and sometimes that creates discomfort.
00:0003/08/2024
An author's journey with chronic pain
Over the past 17 years, Nina Lohman's life has been shaped by chronic pain.
00:0002/08/2024
The little known library costs of ebooks and audiobooks
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.
00:0001/08/2024
A woman's 9-year journey to the finish of a 100-mile race
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.
00:0030/07/2024
Pit stop for great gardening news
Advice for growing great peaches, cherries, and other stone fruits with experts
00:0027/07/2024
'Setting the Table' aims to connect more Iowans to local food
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.
00:0026/07/2024
20 years of Des Moines' 48-Hour Film Project
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.
00:0025/07/2024
Blogger who calls Iowa home travels the world to visit Independent bookstores
Over the past ten years Bob Manson has visited 49 states, three foreign countries and 601 independent bookstores.
00:0024/07/2024
Five young journalists explore the idea of home
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.
00:0023/07/2024
Getting to the root of the problem
How to avoid stem girdling roots
00:0020/07/2024
Iowa track and field alum chases Olympic dreams
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
00:0018/07/2024
Anti-racism as a daily practice
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.
00:0017/07/2024
A dugout canoe gives Iowans the opportunity to touch Indigenous history
For thousands of years, dugout canoes were a vital form of transportation for Indigenous Americans.
00:0016/07/2024
What to do when your plants fall ill
When it comes to treating plant disease less is often more.
00:0013/07/2024
A 20-year cycling event seeds the University of Iowa's rare cancer research
The Courage Ride — which raises funds for Sarcoma research — will roll out of Iowa City on August 10.
00:0012/07/2024
The life and legacy of Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret
Liffring-Zug Bourret broke barriers as a photographer when she focused her lens on the lives of Iowans who were often overlooked.
00:0011/07/2024
Post-flood home improvement advice
Catastrophic rainfall and swollen rivers have left thousands of Iowans with a lot of work to do in repairing their homes.
00:0010/07/2024
Land once purchased for a nuclear power plant is now 6,000 acres of restored prairie
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.
00:0009/07/2024
Stalking the perfect sweet corn
Secrets for growing sweet corn as the season begins.
00:0006/07/2024
Iowa Writers' workshop alum says winning the Pulitzer is a game changer
Jayne Anne Phillips was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her newest novel, Night Watch.
00:0004/07/2024
Understanding Iowa's historical record at the first ever Iowa history conference
Host Charity Nebbe speaks with panelists about the challenges they face sharing a clearer picture of Iowa's history in their classrooms and museums.
00:0003/07/2024
Travel writer is working to make Iowa a vacation destination
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.
00:0002/07/2024
Ketchup on the best tomato gardening practices
What to know about homegrown tomatoes so you can enjoy them ripe off the vine.
00:0029/06/2024