Podcasts about Iowa State University

In this episode of the ITE Talks Transportation podcast, Dr. Shauna Hallmark, Professor at Iowa State University, and Ginny O'Connor, P.E., PTOE, RSP2I, Transportation Engineer at toXcel, explore the critical role of speed management in reducing fatal and serious injury crashes. They discuss how agencies can take a more proactive, systemic approach by examining operating speeds, roadway conditions, and potential conflict points rather than relying solely on crash data. The conversation also highlights speed management strategies, real-world examples from communities across the country, and the importance of matching roadway design with safe operating speeds. Hallmark and O'Connor close with practical considerations for transportation professionals, including appropriately setting speed limits, accounting for roadway users and conditions, and building public understanding of why speed management measures are needed.

One of the perennial questions we field on Horticulture Day is when to plant grass seed. The answer is right now. On this episode, we talk with Iowa State University turfgrass specialist Adam Thoms about seeding and overseeding your lawn. We also talk about the fall lawn chores you should have on your horizon. Then, horticulturist Aaron Steil also joins us to answer listener questions.

In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Dr. Barb Petersen, dairy veterinarian and owner of Sunrise Veterinary Service, explains how precision dairy technologies can improve early health detection and support better management decisions. She shares practical insights on interpreting health alerts, choosing the right monitoring system for your operation, and combining technology with hands-on animal observation to achieve the best results. Listen now on all major platforms!"Early disease detection creates opportunities to identify health problems before clinical signs become visible, making treatment timing one of the most important factors influencing successful health outcomes."Meet the guest: Dr. Barb Petersen is a dairy veterinarian and owner of Sunrise Veterinary Service in Amarillo, Texas. She works with dairy and beef operations across the Texas Panhandle, specializing in herd health, nutrition, diagnostics, and precision livestock management. Dr. Petersen earned her DVM from Iowa State University and an MBA from West Texas A&M University. She is nationally recognized for helping identify and confirm the first H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in dairy cattle. Learn more from Dr. Barb Petersen on The Dairy Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.Liked this one? Don't stop now — Here's what we think you'll love!Tara Bohnert: Smarter Herd Monitoring | Ep. 181Samantha Reighard: Data-Driven Dairy Nutrition | Ep. 186What you'll learn:(00:00) Highlight(01:36) Introduction(03:11) Early detection timing(06:06) Health alert troubleshooting(11:11) Fresh cow conditions(19:39) Adoption decisions(23:41) Successful technology users(28:51) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:* CowManager* Agri-Comfort* Afimilk* Evonik* Adisseo- dsm-firmenich- Chemlock Nutrition- DietForge- Agrarian Solutions- AHV- Natural Biologics- Protekta- Rangen Group

In this episode, Dr. David Laird of Iowa State University breaks down the most common beliefs around growing in clay soils.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!   Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:  Instagram  Instagram Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:  Carrot Cashflow  Farm Small Farm Smart  Farm Small Farm Smart Daily  The Growing Microgreens Podcast  The Urban Farmer Podcast  The Rookie Farmer Podcast  In Search of Soil Podcast Check out Diego's books:  Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon   Ready Farmer One on Amazon **** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

We are storytellers. From childhood fairy tales to the most erudite and complex cosmological theories, we use good stories to communicate truth. What exactly then is the story of the cosmos? Is there one? And what can modern science tell us about this story? Good science communicators attempt to answer these questions, composing their explanations about the heavens into meaningful and compelling narratives. But is the modern story of the cosmos the true story of the cosmos? Most scientific theories about the universe take little or no account for God. The universe is only or "just" what it is made of, just what it does, nothing more. But we here at Good Heavens! believe there is a true and good story about the universe that includes where it came from, what it all means, and to whom it points. Jesus. As Colossians 1 proclaims, "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven" (Colossians 1.17-20, NASB 1995). Astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink is a former senior research scholar at Reasons to Believe (RTB). He earned a BS in physics and a PhD in astrophysics from Iowa State University with a focus on gamma rays. He taught at and ran the planetarium at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, until postdoctoral research in gamma rays led him to the University of California, Riverside. Jeff spent years working on the STACEE and VERITAS gamma-ray telescopes and was involved in research projects such as the Solar Two project and the Whipple Collaboration. He continues to work as a project scientist at UCLA on GAPS, a balloon experiment seeking to detect dark matter. Zweerink is also a coauthor of more than 30 academic papers published in peer-reviewed journals such as Astrophysical Journal, Astroparticle Physics, and Astrobiology. While an undergrad at Iowa State University, he heard astrophysicist and RTB founder Hugh Ross speak on the constructive integration of science and the Christian faith. Ten years later, a professor encouraged Zweerink to enroll in RTB's volunteer apologists program. This involvement eventually led to a scholar position in 2005. Today, Zweerink writes and speaks on the compatibility of science and the Christian faith and on evidence for intentional design from multiverse theory and exoplanets, as well as artificial intelligence (AI). His speaking engagements take him to universities, conferences, churches, high schools, youth groups, and other venues around the world. His books include Is There Life Out There?, Who's Afraid of the Multiverse?, Escaping the Beginning?, and Building Bridges (coauthor). He has also made many media appearances on television, radio, and in print. Zweerink and his wife, Lisa, live in Southern California and have five children. Image credit (Crab Nebula): Hubble Space Telescope, NASA, Goddard. Two-part episode with cosmologist Dr. Luke Barnes on C.S. Lewis' science fiction. Part One Part Two Watchman Fellowship Resources on the Question of Aliens, UFOs, and UAPs: Free Four-Page Profile Articles UFOs and UAPs Raelians Heaven's Gate Disclosure Day The Urantia Book Podcast Episodes on UFOs, Aliens, and Extraterrestrials Aliens, Evolution, and Intelligent Design What is the Message of Spielberg's Disclosure Day? UFOS and Aliens Ufologist Gary Bates Part One Ufologist Gary Bates Part Two Ancient Aliens? No. Daniel's interview with Sasha Sagan, the daughter of the late planetary astronomer Carl Sagan Additional Resources FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give Good Heavens! is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

“My writing often comes to me that way–something that interests me in the real life world, something kind of political and thorny, something I don't entirely totally know how I think about it, something I'm interested in exploring.” These words from short story writer and novelist Claire Boyles are at the heart of this episode on the relationship between fiction and real life. How might having personal experience in a certain arena both help and hinder our ability to use it as material for fiction? How can characters drive the way opinions are explored in a book? How do we create more compelling characters? What must be let go as we create a fictional realm? How can fiction help us explore “thorny” political themes? And how might our past lives help us in practical ways as we move forward in our creative lives?Claire Boyles (she/her) is a writer and former farmer. Her debut novel, Appraisals, is forthcoming in August 2026. A 2022 Whiting Award winner in fiction, she is the author of Site Fidelity, which won the High Plains Book Award and was longlisted for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Award, the Colorado Book Award, and the Reading the West Award. Her nonfiction has appeared in Sierra Magazine and Virginia Quarterly Review, among other journals, and she is a screenwriter with multiple credits on the Hallmark Channel. She splits time between Loveland, Colorado and Ames, Iowa, where she is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing and the Environment at Iowa State University.Claire will be a speaker at the Grand Mesa Writer's Symposium in Cedaredge on September 12. Details here: https://www.grandmesawriters.org/schedule This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emergingform.substack.com/subscribe

On this Politics Day episode, Dani Gehr sits in for host Ben Kieffer. We get analysis from political scientists Rachel Caufield of Drake University and Jim McCormick of Iowa State University on recent primary outcomes and how midterm races across the country compare to Iowa's. We also discuss a new political action committee born from an Iowa primary loss and more.

The teenage years can be tough for parents and kids and new research from Iowa State University tells us that the consequences of that conflict can linger for decades. On this episode, we learn about Iowa State's Family Transitions Project. It is one of the nation's most extensive longitudinal studies of family life. We talk with Iowa State University professor Tricia Neppl and doctoral student Jannatul Ferdous Zinia about the program and a recent study that came out of the project about tension between parents and their children. Then, 'Talk of Iowa Summer School' continues with middle school art teacher Rachael Ayers-Arnone. Her 'artist autopsy' project gives students a chance to study an artist and practice their style.

Sean and Andrew are back with Iowa State University's Dr. Sotirios Archontoulis to continue their conversation about nitrogen. The conversation digs into how breeders, agronomists and growers can work together to optimize nitrogen use.   The crew discusses: ✅ Achieving high harvest indexes ✅ Whole system nitrogen management ✅ Nontraditional high yield indicators  ✅ The relationship between breeders, agronomists and growers   Meet the Guests:

Dr. Tai Ogg graduated from Iowa State University in 2014. She spent the first 5 years after graduation as an associate working in privately owned and corporate medicine before transitioning to full time relief work in 2019. She has worked in emergency, shelter medicine, general practice, and urgent care. She started her own healing journey in 2020 that led her to learn reiki, become a Shamanic practitioner, and become certified in medical massage and botanical medicine for companion animals. She opened her own integrative mobile practice, Wilder Path Wellness, in January 2025 after feeling the pull to slow down for the benefit of pets and their guardians. She currently resides in the southwest suburbs of Chicago with her husband, step-son, and their pit-mix Fiona. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and making jewelry. Topics covered in this episode: Escaping a toxic corporate practice to build an independent house call business How shamanic training reshaped Dr. Tai's path Being unapologetically weird as a neurodivergent vet Unique holistic modalities, chakra clearings, botanical medicine, and more Links & Resources: Website: www.wilderpathwellness.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/wilder_path_wellness Facebook: www.facebook.com/wilderpathwellness The House Call Vet Academy Resources:  Download Dr. Eve's FREE House Call & Mobile Vet Biz Plan Find out about the House Call Vet Academy online CE course Learn more about the Concierge Vet Mastermind Get your FREE Concierge Vet Starter Kit mini course Learn more about Dr. Eve Harrison Learn more about 1-to-1 coaching for current & prospective house call & mobile vets Music:  In loving memory of Dr. Steve Weinberg.  Intro and outro guitar music was written, performed, and recorded by house call veterinarian Dr. Steve Weinberg.  This podcast is also available in video on our House Call Vet Cafe YouTube channel  P.S. Here's a special gift from me as a huge thank you for being a part of our wonderful House Call Vet Cafe podcast community! ☕️ GET 20% OFF your Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee when you order through this link! 4Sig truly is my favorite!!! Enjoy it in good health, my friends!

Host Eric Lanke commemorates the 10-year anniversary of NFPA's Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, where university teams simulate, design, build, test, and race hydraulics- and pneumatics-powered vehicles, judged on efficiency, speed/acceleration, regenerative braking, and sustained performance; the program hit a record 32 participating universities.   Guests Dr. Jake Swanson (Minnesota State University, Mankato), Dr. Brian Steward (Iowa State University), and longtime technical liaison Ernie Parker (recently retired from Hennepin Technical College) discuss how the competition's resources and industry mentoring support student learning, how the challenge has scaled to multiple sites and improved rules over time, and common hurdles such as design, component sizing, ordering and time management, and limited hands-on shop skills. They share memorable competition moments and advise new teams to start early, ask mentors for help, and plan extra time for debugging, emphasizing workforce development and pathways into the fluid power industry. To get involved, contact Mary Pluta, at mpluta@nfpa.com. Connect with our host, Eric Lanke, at elanke@nfpa.com.   Connect with Ernie Parker, at ernieparker1@msn.com.   Connect with Dr. Brian Steward, at bsteward@iastate.edu.   Connect with Dr. Jake Swanson, at jacob.swanson@mnsu.edu.   Learn more about the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, Hennepin Technical College, Iowa State University, and Minnesota State University, Mankato.   Find and share more interesting fluid power technologies and unique applications using #onlyfluidpowercan and follow podcast and other fluid power industry-related updates at @TheNFPA.   #FluidPowerForum #WorkforceDevelopment #VehicleChallenge #Engineering #Education

Here is a detailed episode description for the episode: Prevention is the Best Medicine: Daily Habits for Healthy FeetEpisode Summary With summer heatwaves sweeping the country, caring for our feet is more critical—and more complicated—than ever. In this episode of Caregiver SOS On Air, host Ron Aaron is joined by certified wound specialist physician Dr. Allison Larkin to discuss practical, everyday strategies for avoiding foot injuries, chronic wounds, and serious complications. From the hidden dangers of walking barefoot on scorching surfaces to the unexpected items hiding inside your footwear, Dr. Larkin breaks down why wound care is often misunderstood and how simple, budget-friendly daily habits can keep you—and those you care for—out of the wound clinic. Whether you are managing diabetes, helping an aging loved one with daily hygiene, or just trying to navigate the summer heat safely, this episode delivers essential guidance to protect your health from the ground up. Key Takeaways & Highlights The Three Pillars of Preventative Foot Care: Dr. Larkin outlines the fundamental elements of long-term foot health: good hygiene, supportive shoes, and consistent monitoring. The Summer Barefoot Trap: Walking barefoot outdoors during extreme heat—even for a quick trip across the pool deck—can lead to severe, slow-healing burns on the soles of your feet. Safe Daily Hygiene Practices: Learn the right way to wash and thoroughly dry your feet (especially between the toes) to prevent blisters, fungal infections, and skin breakdown. Plus, discover why plain moisturizers like Vaseline, CeraVe, or Aquaphor work best, and why you should never put moisturizer between your toes. Proper Nail Care & Pedicure Rules: Discover the proper technique for trimming toenails straight across to prevent painful ingrown nails. Dr. Larkin warns against using sharp objects like toothpicks under nails and shares important precautions for individuals with diabetes or peripheral arterial disease. Footwear Essentials: Get expert tips on choosing shoes with a wide toe box and thick, flexible soles. Learn why you should always shop for shoes in the afternoon, break new pairs in slowly, and shake your shoes out before putting them on. Basic Wound First Aid: Understand why wounds actually heal faster and stay safer when kept clean, slightly moist, and covered—debunking the common myth that "airing out" a wound is best. About Dr. Larkin Dr. Allyson Larkin earned her BA Magna Cum Laude in Zoology from Iowa State University and her Medical Degree with honors from Texas A&M University College of Medicine. She is board certified in Family Medicine and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine and is a Certified Wound Specialist Physician. Her specialty is healing chronic and complicated wounds, which she enjoys because it requires great attention to detail. Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs. Caregiver SOS On Air is a presentation of the WellMed Charitable Foundation. For more resources, tips, and past episodes, visit caregiversos.org or email your questions to radio@wellmed.net.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This podcast is an excerpt of a longer episode featuring an interview with poet Vida Cross. Vida Cross is a Visiting Fulbright Research Chair who has come to the University of Windsor at the invitation of Leddy Library and the Black Scholars Institute. She has been conducting intensive research towards a creative writing project, focusing on Underground Railroad journeys to the Detroit River Borderlands and especially to Canadian communities in the region. Vida is a blues poet, a two-time Pushcart nominee, a Carl Sandburg Literary Award honoree and a Cave Canem Fellow. Vida's work references her ancestry as a third generation Chigagoan as well as the work of Archibald J. Motley Jr. and Langston Hughes. Vida's work has appeared in multiple journals and anthologies such as The Creativity and Constraint Anthology for Wising Up Press, A Civil Rights Retrospective with the Black Earth Institute, Tabula Poetica with Chapman University, Transitions Magazine at the Hutchinson Institute, the Cave Canem Anthology XII, The Literary Review with Fairleigh Dickinson University, Reed Magazine at Reed College, and The Journal of Film and Video from The University of Illinois at Chicago. Her poetry collection Bronzeville at Night: 1949 was published by Avst Press in 2017. Vida Cross holds an MFA in Writing and an MFA in Filmmaking from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, an MA in English from Iowa State University and a BA from Knox College. She is a faculty member at Milwaukee Area Technical College and Chairperson of the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission.  https://vidacross.com/bio The Virtual Black History Presentation Vida recorded for the museum can be found here: https://youtu.be/BlMchbCSPYA?si=0_ca3rOOnfPt-6uy

This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center.  Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is the Director of the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center.  Growing up in Minnesota, he always had exposure to severe weather and took a keen interest early in his life.  He earned his Bachelor of Science in meteorology from Iowa State University.  Their research focuses on X-band radar that operates jointly between Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia.  They have done extensive research, with a major focus on lightning.  Michael Peterson, welcome to WeatherBrains! Tonight's Guest Panelist is a research scientist at the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center.  She received a Bachelor's Degree from Penn State University, and earned her Master's Degree in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma.  Jessica Losego, thanks for joining us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Jessica's early background in the field of weather (17:00) REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) (2:00) IHOP (International H2O Project) (21:00) When was the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center founded and what do they do?  (24:30) Dual Pol variables in X-Band (26:30) North Georgia Lightning Mapping Array (39:30) 2008 Downtown Atlanta, GA tornado during SEC tournament (57:30) GA Tech's research on tornadogenesis (01:01:00) What is cold air damming (CAD)? (01:03:30) New world record lightning flash discovered by SSRC (01:06:30) What is the definition of a mega flash?  (01:11:45) Difficulties forecasting random airmass convection in the Deep South (01:19:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:25:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:27:30) E-Mail Segment (01:29:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:38:30) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1072:   North Georgia Lightning Mapping Array Georgia Severe Storms Research Center Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: Jessica Losego - Weather with a Twist - Aaron Price on Substack Jessica Losego - "Atlanta Tornado of 1975" Volume 104 Issue 8 (1976) by E. F. Greneker Michael Peterson - Call for Papers - 2027 AMS Annual Meeting James Aydelott - OU Launches Oklahoma 3D Mesonet Jen Narramore - The Governor's Tornado - March 24, 1975 Rick Smith - Where Have the EF5s Gone? A Closer Look at the "Drought" of the Most Violent Tornadoes in the United States Troy Kimmel - GOES Image Viewer Kim Klockow-McClain - The Tiny Rain Icon On Your Weather App is Crushing Small Businesses John Gordon - Tornadoes in Wisconsin since 1950 Bill Murray - Out James Spann - NOAA's use of cloud infrastructure grows to include weather prediction models The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

What does it look like to grow up with a cleft lip and palate—and thrive? In this inspiring episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura Arroyo sits down with Malaki Ta'ase, Division I football player at Iowa State University, husband, father, and cleft advocate, to talk about his journey from childhood surgeries and speech therapy to competing at the highest levels of college athletics. Malaki shares how his parents and siblings helped build his confidence, why openness about his cleft made a lasting impact on his self-image, and how meeting other people in the cleft community shaped his perspective. He reflects on navigating questions from peers, overcoming insecurities, pursuing big dreams, and embracing what he now considers his "superpower." For parents raising a child with a cleft diagnosis, this conversation offers reassurance, hope, and a powerful reminder that a cleft does not define a child's future. From family life and football to advocacy and self-acceptance, Malaki's story highlights the resilience, possibility, and joy that can grow from even the most challenging beginnings. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, individual born with a cleft, or someone looking for encouragement, this episode is filled with practical wisdom and heartfelt perspective. Links: Malaki on Instagram Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group

On this episode, we learn about Harvest Academy, a recovery program in Indianola that's building a new campus in Des Moines. We meet Derek Johnson, the program's COO who landed in this line of work after his own years-long struggle with addiction. We also talk with Troy Roberts, a graduate of the program who now goes into Polk County Jail to recruit future students. Then, we talk with Iowa State University professor Raquel Espin Palazon, whose white blood cell research could lead to new cancer treatments.

For Mike Pedersen, Infocomm always feels like coming home. "It's a little bit like a family reunion," he told UC Today at this year's show in Las Vegas. "I get to see so many people I know and acquaintances I've made." But beyond the networking, Pedersen, Audiovisual Experience Manager at Iowa State University, had serious business to attend to, including speaking at the HETMA Higher Education Summit, a day-and-a-half event dedicated entirely to higher education AV professionals.His session focused on a topic close to his heart: standardisation. For universities managing dozens or even hundreds of classrooms, standardising AV systems delivers benefits that ripple across the entire institution. "Instructors can walk into any room, and it looks familiar," Pedersen explained. "They don't have to worry." From an operational standpoint, fewer SKUs mean bulk purchasing and tighter cost control, a significant advantage for institutions under constant budget pressure.Day-to-day, however, the challenges are more human than technical. Helping instructors feel comfortable with classroom technology remains an ongoing task. "Sometimes you've got to tell them how to share their laptop screen onto the projector," Pedersen admitted. The solution, he finds, is patience and careful one-on-one support.On the wider industry landscape, Pedersen is watching AI closely. He highlighted a prototype system from an Australian university that uses AI to autonomously test classroom AV equipment overnight, checking projector output and audio quality, then raising a ticket if something is off. "Those are the types of things that are coming," he said. "Labour savings and improving overall reliability, that's going to be huge."AV over IP is another trend he expects to accelerate, with falling price points making the technology viable for an ever-growing number of spaces.His takeaway from Infocomm 2026 was unambiguous: "AI is everywhere. If you're not coming up to speed on it quickly, you're getting behind."

On episode 77 of the Innovators Podcast, Rick Sanders, President and Director of the ISU Research Park, interviews Paul Gormley, Project Manager for The Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS). In this episode, they discuss Paul's time as a student at Iowa State University, CIRAS, and the impacts of AI. Thanks for listening!

Program Note: Daniel misspoke about the Tycho and Kepler supernovae. They were not the last to be seen in the universe but the last two supernovae to be seen in the Milky Way galaxy.   A great deal of time, effort, and tax dollars have been spent to explore the heavens. But even after all the expenditures, secular astronomy and cosmology are still unable to say what it all means. Some have suggested the universe doesn't mean anything, that it just is. Others say we can make up our own meaning. But we here at Good Heavens! believe the universe exists for one main purpose, to declare the glory and the righteousness of God, to display His handiwork and remind us of His many invisible attributes (Psalm 19; 50.6; Romans 1.18ff; Colossians 1.16ff). Here on this episode we sit down with Christian and astrophysicist Dr. Jeff Zweerink and get his thoughts about how he sees the universe pointing him to the glory of God. Astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink is a former senior research scholar at Reasons to Believe (RTB). He earned a BS in physics and a PhD in astrophysics from Iowa State University with a focus on gamma rays. He taught at and ran the planetarium at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, until postdoctoral research in gamma rays led him to the University of California, Riverside. Jeff spent years working on the STACEE and VERITAS gamma-ray telescopes and was involved in research projects such as the Solar Two project and the Whipple Collaboration. He continues to work as a project scientist at UCLA on GAPS, a balloon experiment seeking to detect dark matter. Zweerink is also a coauthor of more than 30 academic papers published in peer-reviewed journals such as Astrophysical Journal, Astroparticle Physics, and Astrobiology. While an undergrad at Iowa State University, he heard astrophysicist and RTB founder Hugh Ross speak on the constructive integration of science and the Christian faith. Ten years later, a professor encouraged Zweerink to enroll in RTB's volunteer apologists program. This involvement eventually led to a scholar position in 2005. Today, Zweerink writes and speaks on the compatibility of science and the Christian faith and on evidence for intentional design from multiverse theory and exoplanets, as well as artificial intelligence (AI). His speaking engagements take him to universities, conferences, churches, high schools, youth groups, and other venues around the world. His books include Is There Life Out There?, Who's Afraid of the Multiverse?, Escaping the Beginning?, and Building Bridges (coauthor). He has also made many media appearances on television, radio, and in print. Zweerink and his wife, Lisa, live in Southern California and have five children. Image credit (Helix Nebula): NASA/JPL-Caltech, Spitzer Space Telescope. Two-part episode with cosmologist Dr. Luke Barnes on C.S. Lewis' science fiction. Part 1:  https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/jwalker55293/episodes/2026-06-28T22_00_00-07_00 Part 2: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/jwalker55293/episodes/2026-07-05T22_00_00-07_00 Watchman Fellowship Resources on the Question of Aliens, UFOs, and UAPs: Free Four-Page Profile Articles UFOs and UAPs Raelians Heaven's Gate Disclosure Day The Urantia Book Podcast Episodes on UFOs, Aliens, and Extraterrestrials Aliens, Evolution, and Intelligent Design What is the Message of Spielberg's Disclosure Day? UFOS and Aliens Ufologist Gary Bates Part One Ufologist Gary Bates Part Two Ancient Aliens? No. Daniel's interview with Sasha Sagan, the daughter of the late planetary astronomer Carl Sagan Additional Resources FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give Good Heavens! is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2026 Watchman Fellowship, Inc. Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

We get Friday's show started to close out July with market analysis and perspective from Mike Castle, Senior Commodities Economist at StoneX. In Segment Two, we discuss the week in the cattle and hog markets and get perspective from Joe Kooima with Kooima Kooima Varilek. Then we spend the rest of the show talking about a wild month of market volatility and look at the ag economy with Chad Hart from Iowa State University.

A bipartisan bill is meant to protect kids online, but privacy experts are worried it could do more harm than good. First, we talk with Megan Graham of the University of Iowa College of Law on why the KIDS Act has raised some alarms. We also talk with Iowa State psychologist Doug Gentile about what's at risk when young people use social media. Then, we learn about Iowa State University's new game design major with its director, Alenka Poplin. She shares how games can help us better understand the world around us.

Sean and Andrew are joined by Iowa State University's Dr. Sotirios Archontoulis to discuss his research on the relationship between different generations of corn hybrids and nitrogen variability.   The crew discusses: ✅ Managing the impacts of weather during the growing season ✅ Old era vs. new era hybrid research and data collection  ✅ Yield efficiency compared to physiological efficiency ✅ Nitrogen supply in relation to post-harvest management practices  ✅ GGD and SDD effects on yields  

Beef-on-dairy calves continue to bring strong prices, but producing calves that perform well from birth through harvest requires careful decisions about genetics and nutrition. In this episode, we look at current Minnesota calf markets, the factors influencing beef sire selection and recent research exploring how early feeding programs affect the long-term performance of Angus-Holstein calves.A University of Minnesota study compared conventional 20:20 milk replacer with a higher-energy 24:24 formulation. Calves receiving the 24:24 milk replacer had greater starter intake, faster weight and frame growth, and improved feed efficiency through eight weeks of age. The results suggest that supplying more nutrients early in life may encourage—not suppress—starter consumption.We also discuss an Iowa State University study that followed beef-on-dairy steers from the nursery through harvest. Although pelleted diets produced faster growth shortly after weaning, cattle raised on forage-based total mixed rations performed better later in the feeding period. The low-starch TMR group finished with heavier body and carcass weights, more Prime carcasses and greater carcass value, while the high-starch TMR group experienced substantially more liver abscesses.The research highlights why early growth should not be the only goal. Rumen health, feed costs, finishing performance and carcass quality all matter when developing profitable beef-on-dairy feeding programs.Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!Linkedin -> The Moos RoomTwitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafetyFacebook -> @UMNDairyYouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and HealthInstagram -> @UMNWCROCDairyExtension WebsiteAgriAmerica Podcast Directory 

Trade in those thirsty water hogs for some of these water-wise options   Do water shortages have you (and your garden) stressed? This episode is all about the toughest, thirst-averse plants out there — and how to build a landscape that thrives even when the rain is nowhere in sight. On this episode we have two expert guests from two very different climates: one in the Mid-Atlantic and one from the Southwest. Each of them will share the plants that they turn to when the conditions are dry and watering every day is out of the question.   We'll talk through which plants need a little help getting started versus which ones you can practically set and forget, and how to group plants with similar water needs so you're not overwatering your survivors to keep your divas alive. Whether you're xeriscaping a whole yard from scratch, converting a thirsty lawn bit by bit, or just trying to keep your patio containers alive through a brutal heat wave, tune in for practical, plant-nerd-approved advice.  Get the plant list for this episode on the Fine Gardening Website: https://www.finegardening.com/podcast Episode Experts: Ed Lyon is a horticulturist, an author, the former director of the Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University in Ames, and a frequent contributor to Fine Gardening magazine. He is nationally recognized as a top-tier garden educator with decades of experience helping gardeners cultivate beautiful, resilient landscapes. After many years in the Midwest, Ed relocated to Pennsylvania and launched Spellbound Garden Writing & Consultation.  Natalie McAnarney, known online as The Plant Ninja, is a Texas gardener and YouTube creator based about an hour north of Austin. A former U.S. Army officer who now works as a physician assistant, she began transforming her lawn into native and adapted plantings in 2020. Through her YouTube channel, The Plant Ninja - Texas Gardener, she documents her de-lawning projects and plant choices and features others in horticulture taking on similar approaches.   Natalie's efforts have also made her an advocate for drought-tolerant landscaping, after successfully persuading her HOA to approve a large-scale native-plant conversion of her front yard by citing Texas law protecting homeowners' rights to xeriscape.  

Agriculture's top stories this week include new USDA investments, updates from Washington and the latest on crop conditions as the growing season continues. This week's headlines include a new American Farm Bureau Federation analysis projecting another year of financial challenges for row crop producers, the latest on tariffs and global grain supplies, USDA investments in meat processing and agricultural innovation, and a request for $11.1 billion in emergency farm assistance. This week's interview is with Dr. Alison Robertson, professor of plant pathology and microbiology and Extension field crops pathologist at Iowa State University. She joins us to discuss current disease pressure in corn and soybeans, what growers should be scouting for in the weeks ahead, and how weather conditions could influence disease development as the growing season continues. Stay connected with us for daily agriculture content on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with our weekly videos!

Congress keeps funding the Iran war with little oversight.Political scientists Karen Kedrowski and Kelly Shaw of Iowa State University offer analysis on this and other political issues from the week.

In this episode of MeatsPad, host Phil Bass sits down with Dr. Steven Lonergan, incoming President of the American Meat Science Association (AMSA) and Professor at Iowa State University, to discuss how networking, mentorship, and scientific collaboration continue to shape the future of the meat industry.The conversation explores the science behind meat tenderness, including the role of calpains and calpastatin, why aging improves meat quality, recommendations for beef, pork, and lamb, and how genetics influence tenderness. They also dive into unique pork cuts like the Spanish Secreto and why understanding meat science leads to better products.Topics covered:AMSA and the value of networkingThe science of meat aging and tendernessCalpains and calpastatinGenetics and meat qualityBeef, pork, and lamb agingThe SecretoLearn more about the American Meat Science Association at meatscience.org.

Welcome to Episode 221 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa Farm Bureau economist Dr. Christopher Pudenz breaks down a new, 107-page report on Iowa's agricultural economy, including analysis of crops, livestock, trade, ag lending and more. The study – titled "2026 Iowa Agricultural Outlook: The Pressure is Rising" – was published jointly by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State University, the Iowa Bankers Association, and Iowa Farm Bureau. It was first released at Iowa Farm Bureau's 2026 Economic Summit, July 17 in Ankeny. Resources mentioned in this episode Read the full report, 2026 Iowa Agricultural Outlook: The Pressure is Rising. Report authors: Miguel Carriquiry — Instituto de Economía, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Rabail Chandio — Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), Iowa State University; John M. Crespi — Director, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), and Professor of Economics, Iowa State University (co-editor); Jerome Dumortier — Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Indianapolis; Amani Elobeid — Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), Iowa State University; Joohun Han — Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF), University of Missouri; Chad Hart — Department of Economics and Extension, Iowa State University; Sunghun Lim — Department of Economics, Iowa State University; Alejandro Plastina — Director, Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF), University of Missouri; Christopher C. Pudenz — Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (co-editor)

In today's show, Mark has a clip from the latest episode of Pods of Potential, Riley learns about the RuralSTAMINA project with Dr. Peter Dorhout of Iowa State University, and Dustin visits with Shelbi Nederhoff of Nutrien Financial.

Nearly all of Kolton and Kinleigh Grim's Angus memories include each other. The siblings started showing Angus cattle at a young age, and their partnership began. Today, they approach their cattle operation with a similar mindset — how you work the animals at home is a direct reflection of how they'll behave in the ring. In a flurry of National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) competition, the Grims paused to share their tips for preparation and advice for making the most of the experience. HOSTS: Miranda Reiman, Mark McCullyGUESTS:Kolton and Kinleigh Grim, Beaver Creek Angus, have been involved in their family's Thomasville, Pa., cattle herd from very early ages. They're both currently serving in leadership roles on the Pennsylvania Junior Angus Association board and are active in the National Junior Angus Association. They were members of this year's Team Fitting Champion team.  GUEST HOST: Ava Leibfried is a third-generation Angus breeder from Platteville, Wis., currently serving as the National Junior Angus Association board chair. Ava is studying agricultural business at Iowa State University and intends to keep Angus cattle as part of her long-term career goals.RELATED CONTENT:   I Am Angus: Beaver Creek Angus, York County, Pa.Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Some of the most formative years of an Angus junior's life are spent in the barns. That's how it was for the Wood Family of Willow Spring, N.C. When it comes to the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA), all three of the siblings — Justin, Mary and Ava — have been involved in everything from exhibiting animals and competing in contests to attending conferences and serving in leadership roles. As they have grown, they've put the skills they honed through their involvement with the NJAA to work on their own Angus operation, which now includes a wedding venue and meat market.HOSTS: Miranda Reiman, Mark McCully GUESTS:  Siblings Ava and Justin Wood grew up on their family's Willow Spring, N.C., Angus operation. Along with their sister Mary, they have been long-time participants in the National Junior Angus Association, including all three serving on the organization's board of directors. Justin is now back home on the family farm, and Ava is studying ag business at North Carolina State University.  GUEST HOST: Ava Leibfried is a third-generation Angus breeder from Platteville, Wis., currently serving as the National Junior Angus Association board chair. Ava is studying agricultural business at Iowa State University, and intends to keep Angus cattle as part of her long-term career goals. RELATED CONTENT: Dreamers, Believers and Go-GettersA Woman Worth Looking Up ToTransitioning to a New RoleDon't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

The secret to success isn't a secret so much as it is hard work. National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members Piper Cates and Sloane Curtin both say that there's a lot of practice put in before they ever step in the show ring. On this episode the two competitors share their show day tips and encourage young members to seek out mentors, while talking about their own favorites and teasing next year's National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) location and theme.HOSTS: Miranda Reiman, Mark McCullyGUESTS:Piper Cates, Modoc, Ind., has been an active member of the NJAA since she was old enough to join. She's participated in everything from the NJAS photography contest to the Auxiliary-sponsored All-American Certified Angus Beef Cook-Off. Cates currently serves as the Indiana Angus Association junior princess and won Reserve Champion Junior Showmanship A in both 2025 and 2026 at the National Junior Angus Show.Sloan Curtin, Oxford, Iowa, has had much success in her time as an NJAA member, including many champion and reserve champion wins. She was the 2025 Showmanship winner in the National Junior Angus Show intermediate B division.GUEST HOST: Ava Leibfried is a third-generation Angus breeder from Platteville, Wis., currently serving as the National Junior Angus Association board chair. Ava is studying agricultural business at Iowa State University, and intends to keep Angus cattle as part of her long-term career goals. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

President Donald Trump reverses course to endorse Zach Lahn. On this Politics Day episode, we take stock of the Iowa governor's race. We talk with political scientists Donna Hoffman of the University of Northern Iowa and Kelly Winfrey of Iowa State University. We also preview Trump's primetime address, talk about ICE shootings across the country, the scramble to replace Graham Platner in the Maine U.S. Senate race and more.

Send us Fan MailPricing AI is the hardest pricing problem in software right now, and most SaaS leaders are getting it wrong on the first try. In this episode of Navigating the Customer Experience, host Yanique Grant sits down with Dan Balcauski, founder of Product Tranquility, to unpack why the first AI price a company sets is always wrong, how to set usage caps when you have no historical data, and what smart B2B SaaS leaders do differently to turn pricing from a liability into a strategic advantage.Dan has spent more than 20 years in software, starting as an engineer before moving into product management and discovering that how a company captures value matters far more than how it builds the product. Today he advises B2B SaaS CEOs on the AI pricing and packaging decisions that keep them up at night, and in this conversation he shares the frameworks, the mistakes to avoid, and the practical playbook he uses with real companies.WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODEWhy the first AI price is always wrong, and why that has nothing to do with how smart your team or your consultants are. Dan explains the fundamental economic shift underway in software, where both sides of the pricing equation are moving at once. On the cost side, he points to a benchmark showing the cost per task for a top model dropping by roughly 390 times in a single year, a change no normal business ever absorbs in its cost of goods sold. On the value side, models keep getting more capable, handling this month what they could not handle last month. His research shows that every application layer software company he studied that released AI capabilities revised its pricing and packaging within 18 months. The lesson is not to price perfectly on day one. It is to build for change.How to set usage caps and pricing tiers with zero historical data. Dan frames the real problem plainly. You know what a token costs, but you have no idea what customers will actually do with a new AI feature. Products are full of features that barely got adopted, and AI features do not get to skip that step of the innovation cycle. On top of that, a small group of power users, often around 5 to 10 percent, can drive the overwhelming majority of usage and cost. That makes the tempting shortcuts unreliable. Using dashboard views as a proxy breaks down because good AI gets used far more than the dashboards it replaces, and a beta group rarely matches the usage profile of the full market.The early access playbook that sits between beta and general availability. Dan recommends a stage where companies announce their limits, put a price on the feature, and communicate it clearly, but do not enforce or meter it yet for a defined window that can run anywhere from six weeks to 18 months. This eases customer anxiety about surprise bills, encourages real adoption, and lets the company gather genuine usage patterns instead of guessing from proxies that break down.Why you should separate ordinary plan limits from fair use limits. Even when you are not metering usage, Dan explains, you can reserve the right to throttle or downgrade the rare customer using a capability a hundred or a thousand times more than the average, much like companies already do with API request limits. Those levers let teams keep experimenting during early access without the finance team panicking when the bill arrives.Why communication is where pricing changes succeed or fail. As Dan puts it, most pricing blowups come not from the change itself but from the fact that it was communicated poorly or not at all. Agility beats certainty, and reviewing pricing on a quarterly cadence beats the old annual or five year rhythm.This episode is essential listening for SaaS founders, product leaders, pricing strategists, and customer experience professionals who want to understand how AI is reshaping the economics of software and what to do about it before the market forces the decision for them.ABOUT DAN BALCAUSKIDan Balcauski is the founder of Product Tranquility, where he helps B2B SaaS CEOs turn pricing from a confusing liability into a strategic advantage. With more than 20 years in software, Dan began his career as an engineer before moving into product management and discovering that how companies capture value matters far more than how they build it. His work now centers on one of the most pressing questions in software today: how to price AI. Before founding Product Tranquility, Dan was a principal product strategist at SolarWinds and head of product at LawnStarter. He holds a BSc in computer engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, where he also helps teach executive education courses on product strategy. He is the host of the SaaS Scaling Secrets podcast.QUESTIONS YANIQUE ASKEDCould you share a little about your journey and how you got from where you were to where you are today? You have said the first AI price is always wrong. Why is that, and what should a SaaS company do differently knowing they are going to get it wrong the first time? So many companies are trying to set usage caps and pricing tiers for AI with zero historical data. How would you advise a CEO to make that decision when they are essentially flying blind? What is the one online resource, tool, website, or application that you absolutely cannot live without in your business? Can you share one or two books that have had a positive impact on you, professionally or personally? What is one thing going on in your life right now that you are really excited about? Do you have a quote or saying that keeps you on track during times of adversity? Where can listeners find and connect with you online?KEY TAKEAWAYSThe first AI price is always wrong, and that is not a failure of intelligence. It reflects a fundamental economic shift where both cost and value are moving fast. Every application layer company Dan studied revised its AI pricing and packaging within 18 months. Plan for revision, not perfection. Agility beats certainty. Review pricing on a quarterly cadence rather than annually or every five years. Communication is where pricing changes succeed or fail. Most blowups come from poor communication, not the change itself. Usage proxies break down. Dashboard views and beta groups rarely predict how customers will actually use an AI feature. A small group of power users can drive the majority of usage and cost, so average user assumptions are dangerous. Early access is the smart middle stage. Announce and price the limits, communicate them, but do not meter yet while you gather real data. Separate plan limits from fair use limits. Reserve the right to throttle extreme usage even when you are not metering everyone. Do not borrow problems from the future. Anxiety about what has not happened yet only adds problems to the present. AI is making custom, personal business software economically viable for the first time, opening the door to tools built exactly the way you work.CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Guest Bio 01:51 Dan's Journey: From Engineer to Pricing Strategist 04:03 Learning That Pricing Is Different in Every Industry 04:49 Why the First AI Price Is Always Wrong 05:36 The 390x Cost Shift and the Moving Value Equation 06:49 Agility, Faster Pricing Reviews, and Communication 09:28 Setting Usage Caps With No Historical Data 11:32 Why Dashboard Proxies and Beta Groups Break Down 12:59 The Early Access Playbook Between Beta and GA 13:20 Plan Limits vs. Fair Use Limits 17:04 The One Tool Dan Cannot Live Without: Claude Code 17:38 Book Recommendation: Monetizing Innovation 18:31 Building Custom Business Software With AI 19:55 How to Connect With Dan Online 20:27 Dan's Guiding Quote: Don't Borrow Problems From the FutureFEATURED RESOURCESBook mentioned: Monetizing Innovation by Madhavan Ramanujam and Georg TackeTool mentioned: Claude Code, Dan's work surface and the engine behind his custom business softwareCONNECT WITH DANLinkedIn: Search Dan Balcauski on LinkedIn, and mention that you heard him on the podcast so he can separate you from the spamWebsite: producttranquility.comPodcast: SaaS Scaling Secrets, wherever podcasts are foundDAN'S GUIDING QUOTE"Don't borrow problems from the future." Dan BalcauskiDan explains that most of our anxiety is about things that have not happened yet. Worrying about a future scenario pulls that problem into the present before it ever arrives, giving you more to carry now for no reason. Like debt, it is borrowing against your future self. His practice is to stay focused on what is real and in front of him, which keeps him grounded when challenges or uncertainty threaten to pull him off track.ABOUT N

Greg Peterson – Machinery Pete – provides a report on recent and upcoming auctions of used machinery equipment, including his Pick of the Week, and shares a personal story of the loss of a fan. And Professor Alison Robertson of Iowa State University, joins us to share her insights on various potential disease pressures in Iowa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks to storms and severe weather, tree limbs are down while tree stress is up. But there are ways to help the timber in your area and to keep damage from happening. On this Horticulture Day episode, Caitlin Troutman sits in for Charity Nebbe. We talk with Iowa State University professor of horticulture Jeff Iles about helping trees with storm damage, as well as preventative measures to consider before the next round of severe weather. Then, Iowa State University Extension Horticulturist Aaron Steil joins us to answer listener questions.

Thanks to storms and severe weather, tree limbs are down while tree stress is up. But there are ways to help the timber in your area and to keep damage from happening. We talk with Iowa State University professor of horticulture Jeff Iles about helping trees with storm damage, as well as preventative measures to consider before the next round of severe weather.

Tensions flare again between the U.S. and Iran and NATO leaders wrap up a tense summit. On this Politics Day episode, we discuss the political fallout with political scientists Jim McCormick of Iowa State University and Evan Renfro of the University of Northern Iowa. We hear about the new round of U.S.-Iran hostilities that overshadows the days-long funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader, take a look back at the nation's 250th birthday celebration and more.

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Michelle Kromm, Principal of Food Forward LLC, explains why highly pathogenic avian influenza requires a broader risk management strategy beyond biosecurity alone. Practical insights include vaccination, surveillance, stakeholder collaboration, trade considerations, and long-term disease resilience to protect poultry health, production, and food systems. Listen now on all major platforms!Click here to read the full research article!"Biosecurity remains essential regardless of housing design because consistent execution by knowledgeable personnel protects poultry more effectively than procedural changes alone."Meet the guest: Dr. Michelle Kromm is a board-certified poultry veterinarian with expertise in risk management, food safety, disease outbreak preparedness, and antimicrobial stewardship. After earning degrees from Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Georgia, she held leadership roles at Jennie O Turkey Store and Hormel Foods. Learn from Dr. Michelle Kromm on The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast. Listen now on all major platforms!Liked this one? Don't stop now — Here's what we think you'll love!What you'll learn:(00:00) Highlight(01:41) Introduction(03:33) Vaccine differences(06:46) Production systems(10:55) One Health(13:16) Future success(15:56) Nutrition role(18:21) Closing thoughtsThe Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:* Fortiva* Kemin- DietForge- Poultry Science Association- Anitox- The Owner's Box- Elevate- WiseVAs- ZentrixOS- Zentrix Insights

Data can provide a clear picture of trends and performance across a swine farm, but its greatest value comes from putting those insights into action. In this episode, Dr. Edison Magalhães, assistant professor in the department of animal science at Iowa State University, discusses how producers can leverage data to make informed decisions that improve herd performance from birth to market. He highlights the challenges of siloed data across different teams, the impact those gaps can have on performance and the importance of integrating data to gain a more complete picture of herd health and productivity. He also explains the PROSPER (Predictors of Swine Performance) tool, which combines data from multiple sources to help producers better understand herd performance.

Welcome to Episode 220 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we explore why young Iowa adults are increasing their consumption of animal-based proteins and other findings from the 2026 Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index ® – an annual survey of Iowa grocery shoppers conducted by The Harris Poll. We also share new data from EPA and Iowa State University demonstrating the progress Iowa's farmers are making in protecting water quality here in Iowa and down in the Gulf of America.   Resources mentioned in this episode Read more highlights from the 2026 Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index®. Read EPA's report on the reduction of nitrogen flowing into the Gulf of America. Learn more about the Iowa Department of Agriculture's new cover crop program for counties north of Des Moines. Check out the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance Conservation Compass tool. Learn more about Iowa's conservation progress at ConservationCountsIowa.com.

Peter Simons, author of 'Global Heartland: Cultivating the American Century on the Midwestern Farm,' shares an in-depth look at the role farmers throughout the Midwest played in America's rise to power post-WWII. Then Adam Janke, Iowa State University wildlife extension specialist, joins the program. Janke's new series of articles shares low-cost, accessible tips for landowners and homeowners to sustain wildlife. (This show was originally produced August 11, 2025.)

Iowa's farmland sits on more than soil — deep underground may be the makings of a clean energy economy. On this episode, we go beneath Iowa's surface to talk about a billion-year-old rock formation where geologic hydrogen is hiding. We talk with Ryan Clark, associate state geologist at the Iowa Geological Survey and Betsy Swanner, an Iowa State University professor of Earth, atmosphere and climate to find out what it would take to actually build a hydrogen economy in Iowa. Then, Iowa State University agronomist Jianming Yu shares what artificial intelligence and citizen science reveal about how plants adapt to their environments.

The Supreme Court has ruled on birthright citizenship, transgender athletes and the flow of money in politics. Today, analysis from political scientists Sara Mitchell of the University of Iowa and Dave Peterson of Iowa State University. We discuss the power balance in Washington and what these rulings mean for Iowans. We also reflect on House leadership sending lawmakers home early, the new Iowa laws going into effect and more.

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Michelle Kromm, a poultry veterinarian and risk management consultant, discusses the ongoing impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza on poultry production. She examines outbreak trends, biosecurity challenges, endemic virus dynamics, economic pressures, mental health considerations, and the evolving discussion around vaccination strategies. Learn how these issues are shaping poultry production today. Listen now on all major platforms!Click here to read the full research article!"Highly pathogenic avian influenza has become endemic within wild bird populations, creating continuous exposure pressure for poultry operations throughout the year."Meet the guest: Dr. Michelle Kromm is a board-certified poultry veterinarian with expertise in risk management, food safety, disease outbreak preparedness, and antimicrobial stewardship. After earning degrees from Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Georgia, she held leadership roles at Jennie O Turkey Store and Hormel Foods. Learn from Dr. Michelle Kromm on The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast. Listen now on all major platforms!Liked this one? Don't stop now — Here's what we think you'll love!What you'll learn:(00:00) Highlight(01:42) Introduction(04:14) Avian influenza trends(06:58) Endemic virus challenges(10:07) Commercial flock impacts(12:47) Biosecurity limitations(18:49) Vaccination considerations(19:24) Closing thoughtsThe Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:* Fortiva* Kemin- DietForge- Poultry Science Association- Anitox- The Owner's Box- Elevate- WiseVAs- ZentrixOS- Zentrix Insights

Native plants improve biodiversity and help local wildlife thrive. On this Horticulture Day episode of Talk of Iowa, host Dani Gehr sits in for Charity Nebbe. She talks with Iowa State extension horticulture specialist Ray Kruse about what natives have succeeded in his garden, and what plants he's needed to pull. Then, Iowa State University extension horticulture specialist Aaron Steil joins us to answer listener questions.

Professor Chad Hart, extension economist at Iowa State University, joins us for a look at the markets as the situation with Iran continues to develop. Cary Artac of artacadvisory.com and wickedstocks.com shares a chart update and stock watch. Jack Scoville of The Price Futures Group has price action perspective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Newsbuzz episode, IPR's Gavin McGough joins to discuss a new gas power plant that was approved by the Cedar Falls City Council this week, and IPR's Rachel Cramer shares how Iowa's landfills are filling up fast. Cami Koons of Iowa Capital Dispatch reports on a multistate research project that held a panel of rural Iowans Tuesday, and we hear about the U.S. losing ground in the higher education space as Iowa State University and University of Iowa continue to slip in university rankings. Humans for Racial Justice hosts their second annual Juneteenth event which tours local Underground Railroad sites in Cedar County, and IPR Studio One's Nick Brunner grooves us into the weekend.

Three Libertarians who filed to run for governor, lieutenant governor and U.S. House in Iowa won't appear on the ballot. That's after members of the Republican party challenged their paperwork, and the state objection panel voted to remove the names of Nicholas Gluba, Jules Cutler and Marco Battaglia from Iowa ballots. In this episode, host Ben Kieffer recaps that decision as well as the state party conventions with Megan Goldberg of Cornell College and Jonathan Hassid of Iowa State University. They also discuss looming changes to Social Security and the tentative peace deal with Iran.

The general election battle has begun in Iowa. On this Politics Day episode of River to River, analysis from political scientists Karen Kedrowski of Iowa State University and Wayne Moyer of Grinnell College on Rob Sand's pick for a running mate, the growing fight for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat, updates from the war in Iran and more.