Talk of Iowa

Danish artist Thomas Dambo has built giant troll sculptures all over the world. He makes them entirely out of reclaimed materials and hides them in natural spaces. Iowa is now home to four trolls, as part of Dambo's 'Trolls of America' dream to have at least one troll in all 50 states. On this episode we talk with Thomas about he came to be a world famous trash artist. Then, we hear from the Clint...

Home improvement expert Bill McAnally breaks down what’s worth fixing, what’s worth replacing and how to make your home more energy efficient. McAnally also answers listener questions about windows and other home improvement projects, offering practical advice for tackling the jobs on your to-do list and deciding what upgrades are worth the investment.

Blueberry bushes can be a rewarding addition to any garden, but getting them to thrive takes the right balance of soil, sunlight and care. From choosing the best variety to understanding soil acidity, successful growth starts well before the first berries appear. On this Hort Day episode, guest host Meghan McKinney talks with Randall Vos, Iowa State University Extension horticulture specialist, ab...

Writing in a journal is usually a personal and private act, but there are published diaries that have changed the world. There are scholars who study diaries and family members who treasure them. And if you have a diary, there just might be an archive that would like to collect it when you’re gone. Betsy Rubiner, a journalist, author and a life-long diarist discusses her book, 'Our Diaries, Oursel...

Pulitzer Prize winner Art Cullen is known for having a way with words — and for telling it like it is. His new book is called 'Dear Marty, We Crapped In Our Nest: Notes from the Edge of the World.' He writes about the Storm Lake he knew as a kid and how things have changed. He also chronicles the history of agriculture in Iowa, the challenges we're facing today and the people who are trying to mak...

In our consumer culture, it’s easy to buy low-cost goods that will ultimately end up in a landfill. The true cost of living that way is one we’ll all end up paying. On this encore edition of Talk of Iowa, different ways to reduce, reuse, repair, recycle and compost. Host Charity Nebbe spoke with Jane Wilch, the recycling coordinator for the City of Iowa City; Joe Bolick, the director of the Iowa W...

Crabapple trees get a bad rap for cluttering yards and attracting pests, but Iowa State University professor of horticulture Jeff Iles says not to write off all varieties. On this Horticulture Day, Iles joins to talk about the small trees missing from your yard. Then, Iowa State University Extension horticulture specialist Aaron Steil joins the conversation to answer listeners’ gardening questions...

Renowned artist and illustrator Gary Kelley passed away on April 12, 2026. On this episode, we revisit a conversation with Kelley and Kevin Mason about the history of the Spirit Lake Massacre and Kelley's graphic novel, 'Moon of the Snowblind.' Then, we talk with UNI professor Jim O’Loughlin about the life and work of poet and professor James Hearst. O'Loughlin has compiled Hearst's work into the...

Iowa native Brooks Wheelan realized a passion for comedy while attending the University of Iowa, but continued his studies, seeing biomedical engineering as a way to Los Angeles or New York. His plan worked, and he went on to be a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and the 'New York Times' called his comedy special 'Alive in Alaska' one of the best of 2024. Wheelan joins Charity Nebbe during a st...

In 'Safe: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care, and the Risks We Take for Family,' Mark Daley describes his journey to becoming a father through the often-frustrating foster care system. Daley discusses the memoir with host Charity Nebbe and expert readers, Lexie White and IPR's Meghan McKinney.

A new documentary, 'Kamal’s,' follows a Muslim chef and his Catholic wife as they build a life together in Grinnell, blending Middle Eastern traditions with Midwestern ingredients. We talk with filmmaker Nich Perez, along with Kamal Hammouda and Laura Fendt, the couple at the heart of the film and co-founders of The Iowa Kitchen. Later in the episode, April is National Poetry Month, and Iowa poets...

The earliest blossoms of spring have already arrived, but it’s not too soon to think about the next wave. Iowa State University Horticulturists Aaron Steil and Cindy Haynes talk about columbine, lungwort, bleeding heart and their other favorite spring blooming perennials. Then, they answer listener's gardening questions.

There are a number of nonprofits operating in Iowa that are focused on giving beginning farmers access to land, education and equipment. On this episode, we hear about four of these organizations, and how they've been impacted by the sudden termination of a grant program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Effective vaccines have transformed the world. Robust support for vaccination in the United States allowed us to eradicate Smallpox and eliminate polio, diphtheria, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome and, of course, measles. But a seismic shift that has taken place in recent years. Vaccine uptake is declining and measles outbreaks have emerged in the United States. Vaccines are the theme of t...

Climate change is real, it’s happening and humans are at fault. More than 99% of peer reviewed scientific papers have reached that consensus. So why do we continue to question this reality? Naomi Oreskes, a world-renowned earth scientist and co-author of several books, joins the show to answer that question. Later in the episode, 52% of rural Iowa hospitals are no longer offering obstetric care. T...

A map created by leaders of the Ioway Tribe in 1837 to defend claims of their homeland offers a powerful perspective on history, one that challenges how we understand early American mapping. We speak with author William Green and tribal historian Alan Kelley about what this map reveals. Plus, a look back at the 2020 Midwest Derecho and what scientists have learned in the years since.

When you encounter an insect in a surprising place it can be alarming, particularly if you’re one of the many people who has an uncomfortable relationship with insects. Entomologist Zach Schumm of Iowa State University joins this Horticulture Day to give us the tools we need to decide if an insect is a pest or something we should leave in peace. Extension horticulture specialist Aaron Steil also j...

Tinnitus affects an estimated 25 million Americans, yet many don’t seek help despite its strong connection to hearing loss. Audiologists Elise Dornier and Ann Perreau explain what causes tinnitus and how people can manage it. We also hear personal stories from John Wanamaker and Carol Montag about living with the condition and finding ways to cope.

In his new book, historian Kevin Mason looked into the 1835 Dragoon Expedition along the Des Moines River to better understand how Iowa’s landscape has transformed over time. He retraced the 371-mile expedition on foot. He joins 'Talk of Iowa' to share insights from his journey and new book.

With hopes of curbing rural population loss, Iowan Jessie Field Schambaugh created programs that led to the largest youth development organization in the United States. We hear about the history of 4-H from Laurel Burgmaier, the producer of a new Iowa PBS documentary, 'The Legacy of 4-H,' and Harry Smith, who voiced and co-wrote the script. Then, we learn about some of the oldest book clubs in Iow...

In 2022, Ava Jones was an outstanding high school basketball player, heading for a college career at the University of Iowa, when her life changed in a moment. Jones was walking with her parents and younger brother in Louisville, Kentucky, when an impaired driver jumped the curb and struck them. Ava and her mother Amy were seriously injured, and her father Trey died days after the incident. The Un...

Catalog descriptions and garden center tags can make every cultivar sound like the perfect choice, but sometimes you need advice from someone who’s actually grown them. On this Horticulture Day, we talk with Dan Fillius of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach about the cultivars he loves most in his own garden. Then, Aaron Steil joins the show to answer your gardening questions and help yo...

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa turns 100 this year and the way we care for our pets has changed dramatically in the last century. Spaying and neutering and regular vaccinations were once revolutionary, and they’re only a small part of the story. Host Charity Nebbe explores the evolution of animal welfare with ARL Iowa CEO Tom Colvin and Janet M Davis, author of The Gospel of Kindness.

'National Geographic' photographer Joel Sartore is on a mission to capture every species in captivity. So far through his Photo Ark project, he has photographed nearly 18,000 of them. He joins the show to discuss the urgent effort to protect at-risk species. Later, Iowa State Ph. D. student Derrick Kapayou examines how the 2018 Des Moines flash floods reshaped East Des Moines communities and resid...

The Violins of Hope all have connections to Jewish musicians and the Holocaust. These instruments are now touring in Iowa, keeping history alive. Plus, Emily Bright shares her new poetry collection 'This Ground Beneath Our Feet.'