Talk of Iowa
908 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day 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
The people that technology culture leaves behind
February 15, 2024 13:00Society's reliance on technology is not only a barrier but an equity issue.
Bus tour takes Iowans to iconic civil rights spaces
February 14, 2024 13:00The history of the Civil Rights Movement can feel far away.
Buxton, Alexander Clark and Iowa's Black history
February 13, 2024 13:00We examine the history of the fully-integrated mining town of Buxton and the activism and advocacy of Alexander Clark.
Listeners share love stories and songs with pianist Dan Knight
February 10, 2024 13:00Whether it's romantic or platonic, love is all around during February. Pianist Dan Knight highlights this feeling by playing listeners' favorite love songs.
Celebrating 50 years of music and more at The Maintenance Shop
February 08, 2024 13:00From 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.
'When you're a Black educator...' Ray Dial reflects on a lifetime of teaching
February 07, 2024 12:00Rev. 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.
New novel 'The Waters' discusses family, rural issues, donkeys and more
February 06, 2024 12:00The 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.
How to increase cut flower production from inside your home
February 03, 2024 13:00As 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.
Best-selling author Roxane Gay talks about abortion rights, book bans
February 02, 2024 13:00Roxane 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.
Not just gouda but grate cheese advice
February 01, 2024 12:00Chris Luken knows cheese more than almost anyone else and has gained some prestigious titles to back that up.
The UI Dance marathon has brought needed fun to young cancer patients for 30 years
January 31, 2024 13:00The 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.
How to keep your basement dry during the damp winter months
January 30, 2024 13:00Take 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.
Public lands are among the few bipartisan issues a historical retelling shows
January 27, 2024 13:00A 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.
Becoming a financially independent adult
January 26, 2024 13:00The path to becoming a financially independent adult is full of challenges, and some of the obstacles along the way are not easy to navigate.
Poet laureates and authors draw inspiration from UI Stanley Museum of Art
January 25, 2024 13:00The book, In a Time of Witness features literary pieces inspired by the art collection.
Finding joy in the winter months
January 24, 2024 13:00Whether 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.
Pomeroy community rallies around beloved music venue
January 23, 2024 12:00The 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.
How to keep the growing season going indoors for winter
January 20, 2024 13:00Though 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.
80% of people think sex equality is a part of the constitution. It's not.
January 19, 2024 12:00Looking back at 100 years of the Equal Rights Amendment and looking ahead to what's next
New graphic novel highlights composer Antonin Dvorak's impact on Iowa
January 18, 2024 13:00Iowa 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.
New documentary shows the difference individual actions can make to improve water quality
January 17, 2024 13:00The 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.
Keeping Shakespeare fresh and relevant for today’s students
January 13, 2024 13:00The 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?
Helping a community recover from a school shooting
January 12, 2024 13:00The residents of Perry, Iowa are mourning loss of life, injuries and a lost sense of safety.
New documentary highlights Hawkeye Elvis' burning love
January 11, 2024 13:00Gregory 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.
Rural "smart senior towns" care for older residents while making space for new leaders and ideas
January 10, 2024 12:00For some towns in rural Iowa, it's possible to shrink and yet still thrive.
The lasting impact of Bill Withers
January 09, 2024 13:00Beloved Cedar Rapids Blues musician Kevin Burt recently released an album dedicated to a major influence on his music career and life, Bill Withers.
I dream of seeds
January 06, 2024 13:00You may be dreaming big about the next gardening season. Seed catalogs are arriving just in time to fuel those dreams.
The many invisible services of Iowa AEAs
January 05, 2024 13:00For many Iowans, Area Education Agencies are an invisible part of our school system. For others, they are an essential lifeline.
Talk of Iowa's 2024 book club picks revealed
January 04, 2024 13:00Joe 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.
State fair book showcases food department's role in Midwest culinary experience
January 03, 2024 13:00The 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.
'Klara and the Sun' explores friendship, love, and what it means to be a person
January 02, 2024 13:00Today we listen back to an October 2023 installment of the Talk of Iowa book club.
Reading Robin Wall Kimmerer's gentle environmental manifesto
December 30, 2023 13:00For the Talk of Iowa book club, expert readers join host Charity Nebbe to discuss Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Understanding freedom through Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer-winning novel
December 29, 2023 12:00Colson 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.
A futuristic novel that explores possibility in the face of tragedy
December 28, 2023 12:00How High We Go in the Dark is a climate change and pandemic story that takes place over thousands of years
Ann Patchett explores life in big and small ways in 'These Precious Days'
December 27, 2023 12:00Ann Patchett joins the show to discuss the collection of essays with our expert readers.
The 'Weird, Wonderful and Obscure' stops to add to your next road trip
December 22, 2023 13:00Megan 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.
The state of mental health in Iowa’s Black communities
December 21, 2023 13:00Mental health representatives from the City of West Des Moines and NAMI Iowa join the show to discuss mental health efforts in the state.
Alison Bechdel reflects on 'Fun Home' 17 years later
December 20, 2023 13:00“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
How helping others can help you
December 19, 2023 13:00There are many reasons to do good things for others, but one is the personal benefits to health, happiness, and self-esteem that result.
How to keep indoor plants green and jolly this season
December 16, 2023 12:00Even 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.
Pianist brings listeners' holiday music and memories to life
December 15, 2023 13:00Iowa 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."
IPR Studio One hosts review the year in music
December 14, 2023 13:00As we near the year's end, we look back on the best music IPR Studio One brought to our playlists.
'Tis the season of giving to the natural world
December 13, 2023 13:00It'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.
The best home improvement tools for gifting or getting
December 12, 2023 13:00With 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.
Immortal grass and other tales from 30+ years of Horticulture Day
December 09, 2023 13:00Horticulture Day is a decades-old fixture, even surpassing the history of Talk of Iowa.
Introducing the new voices on your radio
December 08, 2023 13:00Getting to know the three of the newest voices of IPR
Exploring the impact of violent video games
December 07, 2023 13:00Iowa State University psychologists discuss the impact of media violence on children.
What's it like to be a college mascot? We sat down with former Iowa mascots and asked them
December 06, 2023 13:00Exploring how the role of mascots has changed over time and why they are so beloved
Richard Louv's Book "Our Wild Calling" Analyzes The Power Of Relationships With Animals
December 05, 2023 13:00Charity Nebbe speaks with author Richard Louv about his 2019 book, Our Wild Calling.
How to help wildlife with your landscaping decisions
December 02, 2023 13:00As the growing season ends, people can help critters and pollinators with their planting decisions.