The Iowa Podcast

Lola's Fine Hot Sauce used to be an iconic Iowa brand that had achieved some impressive national success. But those days are over. Founder Taufeek Shah announces Lola's achieved what most consumer packaged goods (CPG) business owners only dream of: national distribution in Walmart. He discusses starting in an Iowa farmer's market, how COVID actually helped them grow, and teases 7 new products. Lol...

In a fascinating interview, the Director of the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), Scott Marler explains why 2023 had more fatalities than 2022, and why the COVID-related shutdown had a bizarre impact on Iowans lead foots. He also shares how roads are being re-engineered to accommodate mistakes we make when driving, and how they're anticipating the future of self-driving cars.  376 Iowans lo...

749,000 fish in Iowa waterways were killed when 265,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer was accidentally dumped into the East Nishnabotna River near Red Oak. Dr. Michelle Soupir, a Professor at Iowa State University with expertise in Nonpoint Source Pollution, waterways and watershed explains the impact, and cautions on drinking water in some parts of the state. On March 9th, a valve at NEW...

Governor Reynold signed HF 2612 into law, impacting all nine Area Education Agencies (AEAs) in the state. Senators Lynn Evans, a Republican, and Sarah Trone Garriottt, a Democrat came in studio to discuss how this negatively or positively impacts Iowans, and why they disagree on aspects of this bill.  Republicans say this was designed to bring accountability, transparency, and consistency to AEAs,...

Why are these famous people all coming to DMACC in Iowa? Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People," Dr. Alan Stern; National Geographic's "Adventurer of the Year;" Maureen "Mo" Beck; National Geographic Explorer Dr. Niall McCann; Commander Susan Kil-rain; youngest person to pilot a NASA space shuttle mission; and Jonathan Frakes, Commander Ryker on StarTrek. Provost Dr. Anthony Paustian says h...

How many times have you heard that installing solar panels on your roof will pay you back? Or perhaps you heard the energy companies will even pay you! That's not the full story says Ryan Warren of QsTN —an Iowa energy strategist and solar expert. He breaks down all the confusion, and says why Iowa's geography can generate similar solar energy to Arizona! Warren has a PhD in mechanical engineering...

Spring Break is here, but many Iowans will be staying within the state. According to AAA, nearly 25% of Iowans (22%) will take a Spring Break vacation. The result is local boutique experiences seeing an influx. "We're going gangbusters," says Pritesh Patel, Owner of Hotel Pommier in Indianola. He discusses a viral post, and why business is booming. Before COVID, business leaders like Bill Gates su...

The past two weeks, Ankeny High School and Ankeny Centennial High School have been hosting a career and college day for their students. Justin Brady was invited to attend, representing The Iowa Podcast and we asked the students about their future aspirations. Make sure to go to visit our website to see the video versions of these interviews.  Generally, there is a pattern of empathy blended with a...

I drank live bacteria on a podcast and lived to tell the tale. Not only was it delicious, but Jake Troja, founder of Kismet Kombucha explains why it's actually good for me. Jokes aside, Troja's journey into Kombucha, a naturally fermented beverage, started when he and his wife were looking for healthy alternatives.  What started as a hobby turned into a business during the pandemic. Today, Kismet...

Chief Dana Wingert is in charge of Iowa's largest Police force. In the last few years he recalls riots, protests, the defund the Police movement, and removal of the Student Resource Officer (SRO) program at Des Moines Public Schools. With a rise in violence in the schools, is it time to bring officers back into the schools? Are his officers seeing the impact of anti-Police rhetoric?  Wingert discu...

Hawkeye basketball superstar, Caitlin Clark, was knocked to the ground when a fan rushed the court causing injury concerns. Thankfully Clark is fine, but student athletes 22 and under like Clark are more injury prone than before, says Dr. Brett McDonough of Delta Health. Shoulder and elbow surgeries have increased by 500%, and ACL surgeries over 400%. What's going on? McDonough has worked with Min...

After closing their Clive location in July of 2021, Table 128 will officially re-open in downtown Des Moines in mid March. Facing numerous delays, the restaurant's future was a mystery until now. In this exclusive interview, Executive Chef and owner, Lynn Pritchard explains what's new, what remains unchanged, and tells the story on how restaurateurs like him pivoted to survive during the COVID pan...

Newly elected Mayor of Des Moines, Connie Boesen has completed her first 30 days in office and she explains the feedback she's heard, and how she plans on attracting businesses back to Des Moines. Boesen takes the role at a challenging time with nearly 1 million square feet in Des Moines empty, and businesses like Nationwide and Wells Fargo pulling staff out of downtown. Boesen explains how diffic...

Winter is so hot right now, at least if you're in Northwestern Iowa. Tomorrow, Iowans and folks from around the country will jump in a frozen lake, play human foosball, broomball, and fly 30-100ft massive kits. Kiley Zankwoski, the Director of Marketing and Events for The University of Okoboji Winter Games tells us what to expect and how to participate.  This unique event transforms cabin fever in...

Mike Berland worked with President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Clinton and Mayor Michael Bloomberg and he explains how the AP was able to call the Iowa Caucuses for Trump early. He also discussed why pollsters like himself rarely use polls to predict results for national elections.  Berland is a political powerhouse. He goes into detail on what the Iowa caucus results really show, and why Nikki...

As blizzard conditions roll into Iowa, host Justin Brady started a Spaces event on X.com (fka as Twitter.) Iowans who joined were Roger Riley of Channel 13 reporting from Ames. Elias Johnson of Channel 13 reporting from Urbandale, along with Mario Rossi of Channel 5 from Des Moines, Nelson Bontrager from Bloomfield, and Nancy Mwirotsi from Des Moines. The consensus across the state is still that t...

The Iowa Caucuses take place January 15th and Jeff Kaufmann, Chair of the Iowa Republican Party tells us what to expect, which candidates are favored, and why the one who skipped Iowa will be skipping the White House. He also explains why Iowa Democrats can still save the Iowa Caucuses, and what happened in 2012 when Romney was falsely announced as the winner. Kaufmann also explains what party uni...

The success rate for ending homelessness in Iowa can go from 5% to 80% but spending more money isn't it. After fighting homelessness for over 30 years, Andy Bales returns to Iowa from Los Angeles infamous skid row and he has a strong message for Iowans. Spending billions of dollars won't fix it.  In the 90s Bales founded Good Samaritan Urban Ministries. Homeless youth who went through the program...

Iowa has quite the past and tomorrow (December 28th) marks the anniversary of Iowa becoming the 29th state in the Union. Most Iowans don't know about Iowa's rich heritage and why, at least in part, we have the French to thank for our great state. Leo Landis, State Curator, State Historical Society of Iowa shares all the juicy details, both the good and bad.  Landis is also the Museum Curator of th...

Iowans live in a leading agriculture state but do many of us truly understand the science of farming? Do we know what no-till is or why it's important? Do we know why soil quality is eroding? Jayson Ryner, founder ReEnvision Ag, and Iowan farmer, explains soil degradation and what his company invented to fix the problem.  Farmers are often faced with a delicate balance of producing, but also makin...

One Iowa town is known for having the largest gardens in the state of Iowa, and just in time for Christmas and Hanukkah they have transformed their entire outdoor garden space into what they're calling a Winter Wonderscape. Ed Lyon, Director of Reiman Gardens talks about winter experience. Reiman Gardens are the largest gardens in the state of Iowa with tens of thousands of plant varieties and flo...

Guest host Greg Bailey interviews Brian Gumm, founder of Ross Street Roasting , a rural Iowa coffee tradition turned national brand. Gumm shares the company's origin, tracing its humble beginnings to the essence of its creation and the early days' customer reception. He delves into the roots, motivations, and initial challenges faced while establishing the specialty coffee roasting business. The c...

Iowa's largest mall has some surprising facts and figures. Did you know many retailers designate central Iowa as one of their top 5 retail locations by revenue? And why in a time malls across the country, why is one Iowa mall doing so well? We sit down with Randy Tennison, the head honcho of Jordan Creek Town Center which is 99% full, to ask him what they're doing differently.  Tennison gives the...

The biggest critics of The Honey Creek Resort at Lake Rathbun are its new owners. Beth and Terry Henderson had originally planned on working with the resort to host some events for their agriculture company, but quickly ran into a problem: the resort fell short of their expectations. So they bought it. Even though they took over in April, they've already been quickly renovating the property and ha...

"I think skepticism is warranted." says Joseph Nelson, CEO of A.I company Roboflow regarding President Biden's new executive order focused on artificial intelligence (AI). Nelson was quick to point out that while the objective of Biden's order appears to have good intentions, regulators should use caution or they may inadvertently stifle innovation in multiple sectors like healthcare or the enviro...