Talk of Iowa
908 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 82 ratingsTalk 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.
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Episodes
Learning From Home
April 13, 2020 23:39 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBSchools are scrambling to figure out how to teach their students from afar. On this edition of Talk of Iowa , host Charity Nebbe and her guests talk about education in the age of COVID-19. Nebbe speaks with Linn-Mar high school teacher Steve Meeker about his experiences with online teaching. Mark McDermott of the University of Iowa has some advice for parents trying to find enrichment activities for their children and retired elementary school counselor Jane Balvanz provides understanding for...
It's Blooming Time For Iowa's Wildflowers
April 10, 2020 21:13 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBApril is upon us, and Iowa is beginning to bloom. On this horticulture day edition of Talk of Iowa , host Charity Nebbe is joined by Iowa State University Extension Horticulture Specialist Richard Jauron and Deb Lewis, curator of the Ada Hayden Herbarium at Iowa State University for an exploration of spring blooms.
These 1930s Programs Put Thousands Of Iowans To Work
April 09, 2020 14:08 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBWhile schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history.
70 Years Later, "A Sand County Almanac" Still Rings True
April 08, 2020 21:19 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KB"A Sand County Almanac" was first published in 1949, but Aldo Leopold’s contemplative musings on conservation and land stewardship remain poignantly relevant.
70 Years Later, "A Sand County Alamanac" Still Rings True
April 08, 2020 21:19 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KB"A Sand County Almanac" was first published in 1949, but Aldo Leopold’s contemplative musings on conservation and land stewardship remain poignantly relevant.
Spring Fever In Iowa's Animal Kingdom
April 07, 2020 14:38 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBWhile schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history.
Iowa's Smallest, Most Endangered Species
April 06, 2020 21:41 - 48 minutes - 2.84 KBThis program originally aired on June 21, 2018. Discussions about endangered species in Iowa often focus on the bigger, showier species that make headlines, like the bald eagle; but there are many species at risk that fly under the radar. For instance, the Topeka Shiner, a small minnow that lives in Midwestern streams. On this edition of Talk of Iowa , Charity Nebbe talks with ecologists and biologists who are looking out for Iowa’s smallest, most threatened species, including the Topeka Shin...
Your Guide To A Perfect Lawn
April 03, 2020 20:50 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBThe grass is starting to turn green… but is your lawn following suit?
Learn About The History Of The Good Roads Movement
April 02, 2020 21:31 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBWhile schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history. Our series continues with a look at the history of the good roads movement and the Lincoln Highway in Iowa. The guides for this hour of history will be Tom Morain of Graceland University and former director of the State Historical Society of Iowa and Drake Hoka...
Interior Decorating While Social Distancing
April 01, 2020 19:00 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBMost of us are spending a lot more time at home these days. Many people have been motivated to dig into a thorough spring cleaning and still others find the familiarity of home is breeding contempt. Or, at least discontent with some past decorating choices.
Siobhan Spain Shares Her COVID-19 Story
March 30, 2020 23:05 - 17 minutes - 1.02 KBAs the coronavirus spreads every one of us will know someone who is infected, if we don’t already. But right now it can still be difficult to wrap our minds around what is going on and many people are, understandably, reluctant to share that they are infected with COVID-19. On this segment of Talk of Iowa , Charity Nebbe speaks with Siobhan Spain, director of Mainframe Studios in Des Moines to share her story. She and her husband have both tested positive for COVID-19.
Meet The Underground Mammals That Emerge In Spring
March 30, 2020 21:54 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBWhile schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history.
Ways You Can Help During This Pandemic
March 30, 2020 19:48 - 30 minutes - 1.78 KBDuring this dark and scary time there are some points of light. We’ve seen neighborhoods come together virtually. People have been decorating in themes for families to enjoy when they go out for walks, coordinating support for elderly neighbors, organizing socially distant birthday surprises for people who are stuck at home, and swapping home schooling or entertainment ideas.
A New Wave Of Victory Gardens
March 27, 2020 22:15 - 47 minutes - 2.8 KBThe new crisis the world is facing is reviving an old idea: The Victory Garden. Victory gardens first emerged during World War I, and in World War II Americans were once again urged to plant gardens to provide food for their families and neighbors. On this ‘Horticulture Day’ edition of Talk of Iowa , host Charity Nebbe speaks with Chris Currey, an associate professor of Horticulture at ISU, and Richard Jauron, an ISU Extension Horticulture specialist. Within the hour, Currey and Jauron talk a...
LISTEN: Learn About the 1918 Flu Pandemic And Dancing Bans of the 1920s
March 26, 2020 21:34 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBWhile schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history. Our series continues with a difficult time in Iowa history. With COVID-19 spreading world-wide, you’ve probably heard people talking about the flu pandemic of 1918 – also referred to as the Spanish Flu. Our guide through Iowa History is Leo Landis, the curator ...
Remembering Dean Borg
March 25, 2020 22:58 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBDean Borg passed away this week at the age of 81. Borg was a broadcasting legend in the state of Iowa. He is best known for his work on the Iowa PBS program Iowa Press , a position he held for more than 40 years. During that period he interviewed every president from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. Borg also spent 20 years as a correspondent with Iowa Public Radio.
LISTEN: Learn About The Birds You'll Find In Iowa In March
March 25, 2020 00:26 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBWhile schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history.
Establishing Personal Space At Home
March 23, 2020 21:43 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBWith classes canceled or moving online, college students are moving back home. They’ll be joined by their parents, siblings and anyone one else who is working from home as the country practices social distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The Art And Science Of Tree Pruning
March 20, 2020 21:52 - 33 minutes - 1.96 KBIt’s too early to get planting in the garden, but it’s the perfect time to think about giving your shrubs and trees a trim. On this 'Horticulture Day' edition of Talk of Iowa , guest host Katelyn Harrop speaks with Richard Jauron of Iowa State University and Aaron Steil of Reiman Gardens about the best practices to prune and trim shrubs and trees.
Meet the Dog-Loving Boy Behind 'I've Pet That Dog'
March 19, 2020 00:24 - 17 minutes - 1.04 KBIt's a very simple idea. A boy, a dog and a short story. Migrate this simple idea to Twitter, and it becomes a phenomenon. As of this writing, @IvePetThatDog has more than 90-thousand followers. Gideon Kidd is the star of " I've Pet That Dog ." He's a normal nine-year-old boy from Cedar Falls, who is anything but typical.
Paddle for a Purpose: A Memoir
March 18, 2020 21:03 - 30 minutes - 1.82 KB* This program originally aired on June 14, 2018 An extended voyage down the Mississippi River in a kayak hasn't always been high on Barb Geiger's list of things she wanted to do. But one Sunday morning in 2013, after weeks of preparation, Barb and her husband set off in a self-built kayak for an epic five month journey of paddling and service work. “By having a hard start - with rain seven out of the first 10 days, two capsizes, and putting a hole in our boat in the rapids and having to get ...
Not All Insects Are The Same
March 13, 2020 20:22 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBOn this 'Horticulture Day' edition of Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe speaks with Donald Lewis and Richard Jauron of Iowa State University extension and Mark Vitosh of the Iowa DNR to answer listener questions about the bugs, plants, trees and prairies in their lives.
Dr. Francois Abboud On 60 Years At University Of Iowa
March 12, 2020 22:02 - 30 minutes - 1.79 KBDr. Francois Abboud describes his coming to the United States as serendipitous. In 1955, as a young up and coming doctor in Egypt, he had little knowledge of the United States' medical offerings. But after a family friend filled out an application for a fellowship at the University of Milwaukee, without his knowledge, he received an acceptance letter. He soon got married and within a few short months was on his way to America. This was the beginning of a medical career that has spanned more t...
Rachel Cox Explains Backstory Of "Shiny Ghost"
March 12, 2020 21:30 - 17 minutes - 1.02 KBRachel Cox’s grandmother was a woman with a big personality and a keen sense of fashion. When Cox, a photographer and assistant professor of photography at the University of Iowa, first started taking pictures of her grandmother, she didn’t have any particular projects in mind. But as her grandmother declined over the course of a decade, suffering from a degenerative brain disease, she felt compelled to photograph her life and death. The result is the book Shiny Ghost .
Rep. Finkenauer Fights For Seven Million Americans With Endometriosis
March 11, 2020 20:42 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBLast week, U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, stood up in front of the House of Representatives in Washington D.C. to share her painful story of living with endometriosis , a disease she was diagnosed with more than ten years ago.
New Book Explores Impact Of Violent Video Games
March 10, 2020 22:31 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBViolent video games are wildly popular and have been for decades. Games such as Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Doom and so many more are played by children across the country. In the new book " Game On! Sensible Answers about Video Games and Media Violence ," Iowa State University psychologists Doug Gentile and Craig Anderson explore the impact of media violence, including violent video games, on children and analyze behavioral trends. "You get desensitized. And not only desensitiz...
"Amazing Iowa Athletes" Highlights Accomplishments of Iowans
November 18, 2019 22:20 - 48 minutes - 2.84 KBFrom ice skating to ultimate frisbee, the new children's book "Amazing Iowa Athletes" highlights both prominent and little-known Iowa athletes who have accomplished extraordinary feats.
After 70 Years, Beloved Columnist Evelyn Birkby Says Goodbye To Her Readers
November 15, 2019 19:51 - 48 minutes - 2.84 KBIn 1949 when Evelyn Birkby began writing a weekly column for the Shenandoah Evening Sentinel, her publisher told her to include a recipe every week. She did, even though she couldn’t cook. The newspaper column “Up a Country Lane” has had a 70-year run. Birkby, now 100, has decided it is time for her to say goodbye to her readers.
Using Art To Address The Climate Change Crisis
November 12, 2019 22:29 - 17 minutes - 1.04 KBJustin Brice Guariglia gave up photojournalism to pursue environmental activism a few years ago. Today, he is most well known for his large scale photographic, sculptural and installation-based works inspired by the relationship between the earth and humans. He uses art to try and get his point across that humans are having a negative impact on the planet.
Andre Perry On His New Essay Collection "Some Of Us Are Very Hungry Now"
November 12, 2019 21:33 - 30 minutes - 1.8 KBIn a new collection of essays, “Some Of Us Are Very Hungry Now,” Andre Perry writes about his journey from Washington D.C. to Iowa City to Hong Kong exploring questions about race, racism, homophobia, self-discovery and identity.
The Power Of Organic Farming In Iowa
November 08, 2019 21:53 - 48 minutes - 2.84 KBOrganic farming is on the rise in Iowa according to ISU Extension Organic Specialist Kathleen Delate. "Unique advantages associated with organic practices are pushing the industry forward," she says. Delate joins Talk of Iowa host Charity Nebbe to talk about organic farming and how crop diversity can optimize profits during this episode of the show. By cultivating many different types of organic plants, she says farmers avoid the risk of growing just one or two failing crops. "Organic farms a...
Hannah Holman's YouTube Series Explores The Lives Of Female Cellists In History
November 07, 2019 20:58 - 17 minutes - 1.05 KBWhen cellist Hannah Holman began her YouTube series exploring the lives of female cellists throughout history , she did not anticipate getting many views or subscribers. Austin McConnell, a YouTuber with nearly one million subscribers, recently promoted Holman's channel in one of his videos, helping Holman develop a larger audience.
Ben Percy's First Short Story Collection "Suicide Woods" Conjures Horror And Crime
November 07, 2019 20:44 - 30 minutes - 1.81 KB"Suicide Woods" is author Ben Percy's first collection of short stories. The book delivers a combination of horror, crime and weird happenings in the woods. This book is a dark, inventive collection full of eerie and can't-miss tales.
Estimated 400 Deaths Per Year In Iowa Are Caused By Radon-Induced Lung Cancer
November 07, 2019 17:02 - 30 minutes - 1.81 KBAn estimated 400 deaths per year in Iowa are caused by radon-induced lung cancer. That is approximately the number of Iowans who die in traffic accidents each year. All of Iowa's 99 counties have the highest potential for radon levels and is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
The Iowa Center For The Book Announces The 2020 All Iowa Reads Selection
November 07, 2019 00:32 - 17 minutes - 1.04 KBSince 2003, The Iowa Center for the Book has been picking an All Iowa Reads book. The goal is to foster a sense of unity in our state through reading. Starting in 2018, the All Iowa Reads Committee expanded the program to include three books, one for adults, one for teens and one for children.
Classroom Conversations on Injustice and Oppression
November 05, 2019 22:01 - 49 minutes - 2.89 KBThis program originally aired on 4-24-18 When Leigh Ann Erickson taught in Chicago and New York, she witnessed the effects of social injustice every day. But the view from small town Iowa can be very different. That’s why Erickson founded a social justice course, an African American literature course, and the CARE Conference at Mount Vernon High School. Through this curriculum, Erickson hopes to broaden her students' perspectives about income inequality, race, and the criminal justice system....
Too Much Love is Not Enough: Talking About Child Sexual Abuse
November 04, 2019 06:00 - 48 minutes - 2.84 KBThis program originally aired on 4-18-18. Imagine the scene at drop-off at an elementary school, all those children smiling laughing. Statistics tell us that one in every 10 of those children in the United States will be sexually abused before they turn 18. During this hour of Talk of Iowa , host Charity Nebbe talks with Rosenna Bakarai about her new book Too Much Love is Not Enough: A Memoir of Childhood Sexual Abuse." She's the founder of a support network for adult survivors called Talking...
Preparing Plants For Winter
November 01, 2019 19:14 - 48 minutes - 2.83 KBIn order to thrive in spring, plants have to successfully transition through the long winter months, so prepping many types of plants and gardens ahead of time is a key step. On this edition of 'Horticulture Day,' Assistant Director of Reiman Gardens Aaron Steil and ISU Extension Horticulture Specialist Richard Jauron join Charity Nebbe to lay out the do's and don'ts of getting ready for winter. Steil recommends collecting and storing seeds, such as marigolds and zinnias, to plant in the spri...
Natural Causes: Killing Ourselves To Live Longer, Not Better
October 30, 2019 18:05 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBBarbara Ehrenreich is best known for exposing what is like to try to get by when you are earning minimum wage in America in her best selling book "Nickled and Dimed." In her newest book, she turns her unflinching gaze on health care, the fitness industry, the human drive for immortality, and she describes how people relentlessly worry about what is, in the end, inevitable.
Sharing Chores May Contribute to Relationship Happiness
October 29, 2019 14:43 - 48 minutes - 2.84 KBThis program originally aired on 4-16-18 Who does the dishes in your household? The answer to that question may reveal quite a lot about your relationships and level of happiness. On this Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe chats with Dan Carlson, assistant professor of family and consumer studies at the University of Utah. A report he co-authored for the Council on Contemporary Families was recently featured in The Atlantic . Ann Oberhauser, professor of sociology and director of women's and gender ...
"Mid-Americana" Podcast Shares Stories Of The Midwest
October 28, 2019 20:39 - 17 minutes - 1.02 KBA new podcast, "Mid-Americana: Stories from a Changing Midwest" is harnessing the power of oral storytelling to explore the history and identity of the Midwest.
Self-Taught Geologist Donates 18,000 Fossils to UI
October 28, 2019 16:08 - 30 minutes - 1.78 KBRobert Wolf, a self-taught geologist, has devoted the last 55 years to scouring for fossils across the Midwest. He accumulated 18,000 specimens, which he recently donated to the University of Iowa after years of collecting and cataloging them in a garage. Wolf and Paleontology Repository Collections Manager Tiffany Adrain join Talk 0f Iowa host Charity Nebbe to talk about Wolf's vast collection. Wolf, 64, says his passion for rocks was sparked in the fourth grade after discovering his first f...
Weather's Effect On Struggling Trees
October 25, 2019 18:01 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBIowa's rapidly changing range of weather conditions can pose a challenge for many types of trees. On this weekly 'Horticulture Day' edition of Talk of Iowa , ISU Horticulture Professor Jeff Iles and ISU Horticulture Extension Specialist Richard Jauron describe the toll last winter and spring has had on many trees across the state. Since wet conditions promote a variety of tree diseases, Iles recommends planting trees that are known to withstand adverse conditions, such as choosing a bald cypr...
Iowa State University Promises Gender Parity In Theater Arts
October 25, 2019 14:51 - 17 minutes - 1.02 KBTheater has a problem. Only 30% of all plays performed nationwide last year were written by women , and that number is even lower in parts of the Midwest. Iowa State wants to change that. On this episode of Talk of Iowa , host Charity Nebbe is joined by Brad Dell, Director of Theatre at Iowa State University for a look at the upcoming “ HERoic ” theater season at ISU. For the first time ever, the university’s theater season will be made up of plays exclusively written by women as a celebratio...
Women Writers Take On #MeToo Around The World
October 24, 2019 18:42 - 30 minutes - 1.78 KBWhen the #MeToo movement took off in the United States, it sent ripple effects around the world. On this episode of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe is joined by two writers from very different parts of the world for a look at how violence against women and other vulnerable individuals manifests across the globe, and how it is countered and called out by women who write.
Places To Visit During Fall and Halloween In Iowa
October 23, 2019 21:41 - 30 minutes - 1.78 KBWith fall colors at their peak in Iowa, and Halloween around the corner, it's a great time for some spooky adventures and fall foliage visits. In this edition of Talk of Iowa , host Charity Nebbe explores both beautiful and spooky fall excursions with travel writer Megan Banister as she shares her favorite must-see fall destinations. But first, a look at the newly reopeneed Cedar Bridge – one of the six famous covered bridges in Madison County. Spooky Iowa Destinations Roseman Covered Bridg...
The What's Good Project
October 22, 2019 21:39 - 17 minutes - 1.04 KBIt’s easy to focus on all the things that are wrong in the world today, but Jennifer Drinkwater has a way to recognize the good that is hiding in plain sight. The What’s Good Project is a collaborative archive of the good in communities which feature paintings inspired by interviews, stories, photos, and drawings. In this segment of Talk of Iowa , Jennifer Drinkwater joins host Charity Nebbe to discuss how art has a positive impact and how this project can help shape a community. “Focusing on...
Bridging The Gap Between Science And Faith
October 22, 2019 20:42 - 30 minutes - 1.8 KBClimate Change is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity today. Understanding and responding to climate change has also become one of the most divisive issues in our culture. It has become a political lightning rod and the schism between the scientific community and those who believe in the work of scientists and those who do not is deep. But one climate scientist, and devout Christian, says it doesn’t have to be this way. On this Talk of Iowa , host Charity Nebbe speaks with atmosph...
Author Marcus Zusak Reveals Process Behind "Bridge Of Clay"
October 21, 2019 19:45 - 47 minutes - 2.81 KBThirteen years after the release of his internationally bestselling novel, The Book Thief, author Marcus Zusak has emerged with a novel he describes as his most personal yet. Bridge of Clay tells the story of five brothers living alone together after their mother's death and their father's abandonment. The fourth brother dreams of achieving greatness through building a bridge. As the nonlinear plot jumps through time, the many pieces of the boys' lives are revealed. Zusak says the first spark...
Understanding Iowa Spiders
October 18, 2019 21:51 - 48 minutes - 2.84 KBBy mid fall, spiders gain their most visible presence as they reach full maturity, build larger webs, and prepare to lay their egg sacs for the spring. ISU Professor of Entomology Donald Lewis joins Talk of Iowa host Charity Nebbe for this weekly edition of 'Horticulture Day.' He shares facts, debunks myths, and offers words of appreciation about spiders. "All spiders are predators that are feeding on other critters: things that we don't want in the house, things we may not want in the garden...