Talk of Iowa

As the Olympics near, we spotlight curling — a sport often forgotten outside of the winter games, but one that thrives year-round in eastern Iowa. We hear from Emily Nelson, marketing and communications coordinator for Cedar Rapids Curling, on the sport's history, its Olympic influence and why watching elite curlers inspires local players. Then, Charity Nebbe goes out on the ice with Kari Kozak, a founding member and events coordinator of Cedar Rapids Curling, for a crash course in sweeping and throwing stones. Later, historian Ricki King joins discusses her work preserving Iowa's Black history amid efforts to rewrite or erase it.

Our relationship with fruit trees is different from the way we interact with other trees. This hour, we'll dig into pruning fruit trees, vines and bushes with Iowa State University horticulturist Suzanne Slack. Later, horticulturist Aaron Steil joins the conversation to help answer your questions and share advice to keep your plants thriving.

Protest movements have been part of American history since before the United States was founded. In this episode, we hear from historians Ashley Howard, Amy Rutenberg and Daniel K. Williams about three different and powerful protest movements in U.S. history — the civil rights movement, anti-war movement during the Vietnam War and the anti-abortion movement. We'll also talk about the strengths, weaknesses, successes and failures of these movements.

The killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis have captured the nation's attention, but immigrant rights advocates in Iowa want Iowans to look closer to home. This hour, a conversation about the rights of immigrants and legal observers. Jose Yugar-Cruz joins, an immigrant from Bolivia who was recently released after a year and a half of illegal detention, talks about his experience through an interpreter. Then, attorney Lucas Asbury and community organizer Maria Acosta of Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice join the conversation to talk about the rights individuals have when they're approached, arrested or detained by ICE, as well as the rights of those who choose to act as legal observers.

Actor, comedian and writer Tom Arnold is performing for the first time in Iowa in over 15 years this week. He joins the show to talk about his childhood in Iowa, how he made his way to Hollywood, and life as a single dad now. Then, Des Moines native Zach Stoppelmoor is the first Iowan to make the U.S. Olympic speedskating team. He spoke with IPR 'Morning Edition' host Meghan McKinney. Then, host Charity Nebbe talks with hockey players and roommates Samuel Hlavaj and David Spacek. They've been playing the last few years for the Iowa Wild team, and will be competing for Team Slovakia and Team Czechia.

The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake is a rock and roll landmark and one of the few historic ballrooms still operating today. Its legacy is closely tied to "The Day the Music Died," when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson performed their final show at the Surf on Feb. 2, 1959, before their fatal plane crash in a field north of Clear Lake the following morning. The Surf has recently expanded with the opening of their Music Experience Center next door, which has artifacts of the three late stars, along with other artists that have performed at the Surf, since it first opened in 1933. In this episode Pete Potts, director of marketing and public relations, and Jeff Nicholas, president of the nonprofit that manages the Surf, give us a tour of the Surt Ballroom and Music Experience Center. We also visit the crash site with Nicholas, whose family owns and maintains the crash site, which has become a tourist attraction for music lovers around the world.

Joanna Dee Das, author of 'Faith, Family and Flag: Branson Entertainment and the Idea of America,' joins to discuss her new book. Then, Iowa duo Weary Ramblers share how they found each other, built their Americana sound and what's next after a major Blues competition win.

Scream into a pillow, punch a punching bag, vent. All these methods to "get anger out" could actually be making us angrier. Researchers Doug Gentile and Brad Bushman share their research into this common misconception and effective methods for reducing anger. Then, one Iowan believes reducing light pollution in Iowa could boost tourism. James Bruton from the Dark Sky Iowa Initiative shares the environment and economic benefits of a dark sky.

Some pet-owners are talking with their pets using augmentative interspecies communication devices — learning more about what animals want, feel and understand.

As survivorship increases for most cancers, the rate of uterine cancer survivorship is lower than it was in the 1970s. It's also the sixth most common cause of death among women in the United States. The preferred treatment is a hysterectomy, and young women who want to have children have to choose between becoming infertile or being at a higher risk of recurrence. On this Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe speaks with a survivor of endometrial cancer who was able to conceive her first child after undergoing hormonal therapy. Then, Nebbe is joined by a gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Megan McDonald, as well as researcher Kristina Thiel and a Ph.D. candidate in her lab, Katie Colling, who share their research into hormonal therapies.

Death is a natural part of life, but our society struggles to support those who are grieving. This hour, host Charity Nebbe speaks with grief counselor Lynette Jordan, as well as mother and son Brianna and Grayson Wills about how they developed an open dialogue of grief in the seven years since the death of Grayson's twin brother, Calder. Later we hear from CL Lepley, who has become an expert in supporting those who are grieving after experiencing many difficult losses in their life since the age of five. (This show was originally produced on Nov. 13, 2024.)

Oak wilt is a serious disease and the best way to protect your trees is by pruning them only in the dormant season. No one is telling you to go outside on one of the coldest days of the year to prune your oaks, but this is a great time to look out the window, make a plan, study the long-term forecast and put it on your calendar. On this Horticulture Day, Iowa Department of Natural Resources district forester Mark Vitosh joins to share everything you need to know about pruning and dispel myths around exploding trees. Then, Aaron Steil joins to help answer your gardening questions.

Black Future Fest is a month-long celebration focusing on Afrofuturistic art, fashion and community imagination in Iowa City. On this episode, Black Future Fest organizer Latasha DeLoach and professor of journalism and African American Studies Venise Berry join to discuss Afrofuturism and the upcoming events. Later, reflecting on the legacy of Lee Swearengin, who spent decades of his life institutionalized, but made tremendous contributions to Iowa archeology.

Though people don't typically go to the University of Iowa hospital and clinics for the artwork, the works can have a large impact on patients and loved ones. Project Art at University of Iowa Healthcare started in 1976. It now owns and displays more than 6,500 original works of art, and it's become an indispensable part of providing care. Charity Nebbe speaks with Project Art's director Allison Schwanebeck, the collections coordinator Anna Villareal and visual and performing arts coordinator Nicole Wolz. Then, we learn about research into who really drives pesticide regulation with rural sociologist Katie Dentzman.

Social media has rapidly become an unavoidable part of how people socialize, communicate and spend their free time. Experts Jonathan Platt, Gerta Bardhoshi, Kostadin Kushley and Rachel McLaren unpack the latest research on how social media affects teens' lives and mental health. We also explore how to break out of doomscrolling and realistic ways to limit screentime.

Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Art Cullen and president of Iowans for Stronger Communities Jesse Case join to discuss the new documentary series, 'What's Eating Iowa?' Then, two farmers share how their family has evolved to regenerative farming in northwest Iowa.

The 2018 film, 'The Miracle Season' tells the story of Caroline Found and the Iowa City West High volleyball team. Found tragically died in a moped accident in her senior year, and in the season that followed her team worked together through their grief and won the state championship. Recently, the movie came to Netflix. We revisit our conversation with Kathy Bresnahan, retired volleyball coach; Olivia Mekies, a friend and teammate of Found and screenwriter David Cohen. (This episode was originally produced March 2018)

Since its inception in 1965 in President Lyndon B. Johnson's "war on poverty," the federal Head Start program has served nearly 40 million children and their families in preparing to succeed in school and life. Head Start has faced a number of challenges in recent years, including flat funding, new mandates, attacks from the Trump Administration and a proposal to eliminate the program entirely. On this episode, we here from different Head Start stakeholders in Iowa about the services this program provides to young children and their families, how they are managing this changing landscape and what the future may hold for this program.

In 1965, John and Mary Beth Tinker protested the Vietnam War by wearing black arm bands to school. The incident led to a landmark Supreme Court decision that guaranteed free speech rights for public school students. The Tinkers reflect on this history and present day threats to the First Amendment. Later, a new play from playwright Megan Gogerty works through her complicated feelings about her father and family's history as a sixth generation Iowan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced changes to vaccine recommendations for children and infants — raising questions and concerns for parents and pediatricians alike. We talk with pediatrician Dr. Amy Shriver about what's changed in the childhood immunization schedule, as well as the overturning of policy on the hepatitis B vaccine for infants. Health policy expert Jen Kates of KFF joins to explain what the changes mean for insurance coverage, how states are responding and why vaccines remain available for families. Later, husband-and-wife musicians Annie and Dave Ducharme-Jones join to discuss their latest album, 'Lumina.'

African violets may be finicky, but that's part of the fun. Iowa State University horticulturists Cindy Haynes and Aaron Steil answer your questions and share tips for growing these beautiful houseplants. To further grow your gardening knowledge, sign up for our Garden Variety newsletter. And check out all the episodes of Garden Variety, the horticulture podcast for all the things you'd like to grow or grow better.

The first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell lived to be 111. She was admired for her wit and wisdom and helped with the preservation of her rich family history. We listen back to producer Dani Gehr's 2025 conversation with Renfrow Smith at her home in Chicago. Then, host Charity Nebbe spoke with the author of a children's book about Renfrow Smith, 'No One is Better Than You,' and the Grinnell professor that led the Renfrow family history project, Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant. Then, we learn about an Iowa organization that keeps pets and their owners together, assisting elderly and low-income Iowans and those with disabilities.

Iowa has been awarded a $209 million federal grant to expand and improve health care across the state — the first installment of what officials say could total $1 billion over the next five years. The funding is part of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program and is aimed at strengthening access to care, equipment and workforce development in rural communities. Leaders from Iowa's critical access hospitals talk about what this funding could mean on the ground and why they say it falls far short of what rural providers are bracing for. We also discuss workforce shortages, the challenge of recruiting specialists like OB-GYNs, and the “hub and spoke” model Gov. Kim Reynolds has promoted to reshape rural health care delivery. Later, host Charity Nebbe announces Talk of Iowa's 2026 Book Club selections with IPR talk show producer, Caitlin Troutman.

Maintaining mobility as we age is critical when it comes to independence and quality of life. Kinesiologist Gregory Welk and research scientist Abbie Coniglio of ISU join the program to talk about what adults of any age can do to maintain or increase mobility as they age. Later in the episode, author and master of flash fiction Grant Faulkner returns to talk about his newest book, 'Something Out There in the Distance.' Faulkner also shares about his newest writing community, Memoir Nation, and a reality show he's executive producing. He will be reading at Beaverdale Books on Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

For the Talk of Iowa book club, author Carol Roh Spalding and expert readers discuss the short story collection 'Waiting for Mr. Kim.' The connected stories in 'Waiting for Mr. Kim' are quintessentially American — an immigrant family builds a life in San Francisco drawn by the promise of opportunity. Over the decades, the family grows and struggles with the tension between two different cultures.

A conversation with expert readers about 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' for the 'Talk of Iowa' Book Club. Author Zora Neale Hurston drew on her experience as a folklorist, anthologist and a Black woman who came of age in the Jim Crow South when she wrote her beloved novel. (This show was originally produced August 12, 2025.)

'Warrior Girl Unearthed' is a young adult thriller that gives readers insight into Ojibwe culture, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, missing and murdered Indigenous persons and teenage shenanigans. On this episode of 'Talk of Iowa,' host Charity Nebbe talks with author Angeline Boulley about her inspiration for the novel, then turns to three expert readers. (This episode was originally produced June 10, 2025.)

In this episode of the 'Talk of Iowa' book club, author Sarah McCammon and expert readers discuss 'The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church.' The book is a blend of memoir and reporting, focusing on McCammon's life growing up in an evangelical church in Missouri and attending an evangelical college before parting ways with the church as a young adult. McCammon also writes about the experiences of other so-called "exvangelicals." (This episode was originally produced April 15, 2025.)

'James' is a retelling of Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,' but this time the story is told by Huck's companion, Jim or James. James is an enslaved man who flees when he learns that he is at risk of being sold. Expert readers Rachelle Chase, Faye Dant and Jocelyn Chadwick discuss their reading experiences for this episode of the 'Talk of Iowa' book club. Please be advised: a portion of this show references racist language used in the book. (This episode was originally produced on Feb. 11, 2025.)

In 1946 Joseph Geha moved with his family from Lebanon to Toledo, Ohio. He grew up on his family's stories and delicious Lebanese food, and brings them together in the book 'Kitchen Arabic.' On the Talk of Iowa book club, Geha discusses the book with host Charity Nebbe and expert readers.

Paul Lasley has repaired and donated 18 used violins in the last year for students in need. Also in this episode, ISU psychology professor Doug Gentile shares how acts of kindness towards others can help us take better care of ourselves, too.

IPR Studio One hosts Nick Brunner, Tony Dehner, Cece Mitchell, Sean McClain and Tressa Glass share their favorite new music from the last year.

As winter holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah and the solstice bring light into the darkest time of year, we're taking a closer look at the plants tied to those traditions — beyond poinsettias and Christmas trees.

Five Iowans told stories with the theme water, the current of life, in front of an audience at Trumpet Blossom Cafe in Iowa City. Host Charity Nebbe was emcee for the event hosted by Investigate Midwest, an independent nonprofit newsroom that reports about agriculture with data-driven investigative journalism. Hear from storytellers Kylah Hedding, Larry Weber, Katie Roche, Parker Field and Judith Joyce.

We listen back to a favorite episode of holidays' past about how four Iowa families have used their creativity to make Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas extra special for their families. (This episode was originally produced Dec. 21, 2022.)

We talk all things Jane Austen in celebration of the 250th anniversary of her birth. First, Iowa City-based artist Sonja Strathearn began making Regency-era attire three years ago to attend The Jane Austen Fest and the obsession has only grown from there. Strathearn invites us into her closet to show off her Regency attire. Then, Nebbe speaks with author Curtis Sittenfeld, an Austen fan and the author of the 'Pride & Prejudice' reimagining, 'Eligible.' Finally, musicologist Marian Wilson Kimber talks about Austen's musical inclinations, the pieces in her playbook and the ways music influenced her books.

On this special bonus episode in honor of Jane Austen's 250th birthday, 'Talk of Iowa' host Charity Nebbe and producer Dani Gehr settle a debate they've been having for years: Which adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice' is best? Nebbe makes her case for the longer and more by the book 1995 BBC miniseries, while Gehr advocates for the iconic moments in the more modern 2005 film with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. You can see the two debate in Regency-era outfits on IPR's Instagram, Facebook and TikTok accounts.

The holidays are often framed as a season of joy, generosity and togetherness. But for many families, they also bring financial stress — from buying gifts and hosting meals, to booking travel and navigating expectations, especially with kids in the mix. Chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz breaks down the latest data on holiday spending, debt and travel. Then, journalist Annaliese Griffin shares how her family has embraced secondhand gifts, experiences over things and open conversations about money. Lastly, developmental psychologist Maryam Abdullah discusses how kids experience gift-giving and what actually matters most for their well-being during the holidays.

In the novel Nothing to See Here, 28-year-old Lillian Breaker is unhappily drifting through life when an old school friend asks for a big favor. Suddenly she is the caretaker of 10-year-old twins — who sometimes burst into flames. Kevin Wilson's novel is also about friendship, class, politics, parenting and family, both found and biological. On the Talk of Iowa book club, host Charity Nebbe talks about the work with author Wilson and expert readers, Lauren Haldeman, a poet and graphic novelist, and Karen Kedrowski, professor of political science at Iowa State University.

Gathering with extended family can be wonderful, pleasant, awkward, difficult or even toxic. Sylvia Mikucki-Enyart, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Family Communication, joins with advice about how to navigate the stress of hosting, be a gracious guest and bring new people into family traditions. But first, holiday gatherings can be a great opportunity to learn more about a family member on a deeper level. Von Diaz, senior producer at StoryCorps, shares tips for asking them questions.

Comedian Jane Lynch, known for roles in Glee and Only Murders in the Building, has been bringing holiday spirit and her musical talents across the country for the last decade. Lynch spoke with Charity Nebbe ahead of her Iowa City performance about spreading the Christmas spirit through song. But first, we get to know Studio One host Mark Simmet, as he prepares to retire, and Iowa Public Radio's Morning Edition host Megan McKinney.

When science journalists Sadie Dingfelder mistook a stranger for her husband at the grocery store, it was the beginning of her discovery that she literally sees and processes the world differently than most people do. She details her experience in the memoir, Do I Know You?: A Faceblind Reporter's Journey into the Science of Sight, Memory, and Imagination. Host Charity Nebbe talks with Dingfelder about her journey of self discovery and her obsession with hidden neurodiversities. (This episode was originally produced April 28, 2025.)