Talk of Iowa

Comedy legend Margaret Cho talks about returning to her roots in political comedy and why she calls this her most brutally honest show yet. She is coming to the Englert Theatre in Iowa City on March 27. Then, the Millennial Stone Cleaner shares how restoring gravestones has turned into a powerful way to honor forgotten lives. (A portion of this episode was originally produced Oct. 10, 2024)

When plants start growing and insects start buzzing, plant diseases aren't far behind. On this Horticulture Day episode, Chelsea Harbach of the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University joins to share what you can do to prevent some common diseases. Horticulture Specialist Aaron Steil and Iowa DNR forester Mark Vitosh also join to answer tree and gardening questions.

Cartoonist Lauren Haldeman talks about her new collection, Wild That We’re Alive. Then a dance theater performance explores the emotional and physical toll of infertility and pregnancy loss.

Lizzie Hershberger grew up in an Amish community in Minnesota. She is a survivor of sexual abuse and rape, and she left the community, eventually writing the memoir, Behind Blue Curtains: A True Crime Memoir of an Amish Woman's Survival, Escape, and Pursuit of Justice. Hershberger connected with journalist Sarah McClure, who published a year-long investigation about incest, rape, and abuse in Amis...

A new documentary, Simon Estes: A Heart and A Voice tells the remarkable story of a Centerville native who shattered the color barrier for Black men in opera, and has used his acclaim and devout faith to give back as a philanthropist and humanitarian. Then and interview with Council Bluffs-based author, John T. Price, about his latest work, Goethe’s Oak: A Holocaust Story.

When you plant a tree, the hope is that it will remain healthy and strong for decades but the recommendations for what to plant often change faster than the trees themselves, sometimes creating frustration and even controversy. On this Horticulture Day, we talk with Jeff Iles, professor of horticulture at Iowa State University, about how recommended plant and tree lists are created and why they so...

Many of the places where people gather have disappeared. In some cases, people have adapted to meet elsewhere. In others, people have become more isolated. On this epidsode, rural sociologist Dave Peters shares how gas stations have become a social hub for small towns. Library director Mary Kathryn Gepner talks about the local library enduring as a third space. Jennifer Drinkwater talks about her...

CultureAll is a Des Moines nonprofit that works to introduce Iowans of different cultures to each other with the goal of building community. One of the ways they do that is through their Open Book program — a community project that creates connections and builds social cohesion through story sharing. We learn about that project and new research that shows that Open Book and the act of reciprocal s...

Bison once dominated North America, with estimates between 30 and 60 million once roaming and shaping the prairies and grasslands. Westward expansion and U.S. policy greatly diminished the species, and by 1870, there were no more bison in the state of Iowa. On this episode, we learn about the keystone species with wildlife experts Jim Pease and Pete Eyheralde, and how the species became a conserva...

A new book uncovers the story of two Vaudeville performers from an Iowa coal mining town who rose to fame on the national stage. Dan Henderson is the author and the great-nephew of the book's subjects. He shares their how their story offers a window into everyday life and entertainment in the 1920s. Plus, the Iowa City High School teacher behind the viral TikTok account @squirehaligast talks about...

Thinking about planting fruit this spring? While it may take some time before you can enjoy the fruits of your labor, choosing the right cultivars can make all the difference in creating a successful home harvest. On this Horticulture Day, we talk with Randall Vos, an Iowa State University Extension horticulture specialist, about how to select the best cultivars for your garden. Then, horticulturi...

Over the course of his career, Dr. Michael Welsh has seen cystic fibrosis transform from terminal to highly treatable. On this episode of Talk of Iowa, we listen back to Charity Nebbe's conversation with Dr. Welsh of the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, who has been studying and treating Cystic Fibrosis for nearly 50 years. Dr. Welsh was awarded the 2025 Canada Gairdner Intern...

On this Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe speaks with experts in caregiving and those caught in this "sandwich generation," balancing care for aging parents and children. (This show originally aired May 22, 2025.)

Curtis Sittenfeld's short story collection, 'Show Don't Tell,' captures both the mess and the gifts of aging. Then, Shalika Kindurangala, the owner of a Piece & Freedom Bakery, a Ukrainian bakery in Ames, is creating community amid war at home. (Portions of this episode were originally produced March. 6, 2025 and Jan. 29, 2025)

Luther College professor Amy Weldon reimagines the life of Mary Shelley in her novel 'Creature,' offering a fresh perspective on the author of a classic. Then three-time Paralympic gold medalist Kevin McKee looks ahead to the Milano Cortina Games.

Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, brain fog — those are just a few of the things a woman might experience in and around menopause. These symptoms can be uncomfortable, confusing and disruptive. While menopause affects half of the population that reaches middle age, there are still a lot of myths and misconceptions about the condition. Host Charity Nebbe speaks with Dr. Linda Bradle...

Olympian, activist and entrepreneur, Sol Butler used sports to challenge racial barriers during the Jim Crow era. His life is chronicled in the new book, 'Sol Butler: An Olympian’s Odyssey through Jim Crow America,' written by University of Dubuque professor Brian Hallstoos. Hallstoos joins the program to discuss Butler's upbringing and impact. Plus, a look at the enduring impact of the 'Iowa Byst...

Writing in a diary or 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...

When temperatures drop in the fall, suddenly the outdoors becomes insect-free. That doesn’t feel like much of a mystery. But when temperatures rise in the spring and suddenly insects emerge, it raises questions, like how do these tiny creatures survive in subzero conditions? Entomologist Laura Iles demystifies this phenomenon. Later, horticulturist Aaron Steil joins the conversation to answer list...

100 years ago, historian Carter G. Woodson founded what would in 1976 become known as Black History Month. This centennial is happening at a time when exhibits and signage in National institutions are being altered and, in many cases, removing the stories of Black Americans. Founder and publisher of Black Iowa News Dana James and Abena Sankofa Imhotep — author and CEO of Sankofa Literary and Empow...

On this episode of Talk of Iowa, we discuss how educators are teaching teens about healthy relationships, consent and where to turn for help. Professor Carl Weems from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies joins us alongside project coordinators Rhonda Evans and Hannah Uhrich of the ADMYRE program. They discuss how teens define abuse, warning signs that often go unnoticed, and how...

In 2012, the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn began the process of transforming their 30-acre campus into the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park. Jens Jensen returns to the program to talk about the progress made over the last several years, along with MoDA Interim Executive Director Erik Andersen. Brett Seelman also joins to discuss a campus master plan that was recently adopted by MoDA, whic...

The Iowa State Normal School held its first classes on Sept. 6, 1876. This year, the University of Northern Iowa is celebrating 150 years of educating students. We learn about UNI's early history and then talk with organizers of various celebrations connecting with alumni, performing acts of service and special concerts.

High winds, severe thunderstorms, hail, tornadoes — we all know that Iowa weather can be unpredictable, and that severe weather can do a number on your roof. Home improvement expert, Bill McAnally offers advice on all things rooves: if and when it's time for a new roof, what options are and what options are worth it.

University of Iowa historian Ashley Howard discusses her new book Midwest Unrest: 1960s Urban Rebellions and the Black Freedom Movement. And the Ingersoll in Des Moines reopens after more than a decade and $4.7 million in renovations, aiming to reclaim its place as a cultural hub for the community.