The Iowa Podcast

Why does Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft own 600 acres of Iowa farmland? As an agricultural state that takes a lot of pride in our state's farmland, it may seem suspicious, says Peter Jaques, formerly of Farmland Finder, but there are a few good reasons. Should Iowans take farmland more seriously?  There are a few conspiracy theories as to why Gates is buying so much farmland. Some believe he...

Any dog lover has probably heard the term puppy mill, but what exactly does that mean? Cathy Erickson, the director of the Iowa Pet Expo walks us through the definition. A puppy mill is an establishment that breeds puppies for sale, typically on an intensive basis and in conditions regarded as inhumane. Cages stacked on top of each other, with no air conditioning or heat, just dogs made to sell. I...

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously to add the COVID vax to childhood vaccine schedules . But what does that mean, are children and risk, and is there really a myocarditis link? Dr. Jon Van Der Veer has made the decision to vaccinate against COVID-19 for his family and children despite them being in a very low-risk category. For example, during the height of the...

One story, and corresponding Tweet, started a firestorm in Iowa: "The state of Iowa is planning to dramatically scale back the routine inspection of restaurants and other food-service establishments by making only one onsite inspection every five years." But is that accurate? "No, that is not accurate," says Jessica Dunker, CEO of The Iowa Restaurant Association.  Dunker debunks the wild story say...

From Chicago to Ankeny, the school systems are a lot more similar than what you might expect. Dr. Erick Pruitt is in his second year and explains what they have in common and answers questions on school choice, recovering enrollment, and the recent NEA poll that showed 90% of teachers want to quit. Joining a school district in the aftermath of COVID-19 is no easy task. But Pruitt says the district...

Taste testing cookies as a career is a dream job for most of us. For Beth Shelton, this is her reality. As Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, tasting cookies is just another day in the office. Listen to the episode to find out more about what exactly that entails. That's only a very small part of her job however. Shelton spends her days leading the charge setting up women for...

Bryan Etchen, the owner of Iowa Orchard, explains why Honeycrisp apples are expensive, delicious, and why they make experienced growers want to pull out all their hair. We also ask why his orchard looks more like a winery, what local growers DON'T spray on their apples, and he names growers you can visit to pick your own apples.  Etchen's father started Iowa Orchard in the 70s, so his family has b...

We all know the term "farm to table" but what about indoor farm-to-table AND same day harvest-to-table? That's definitely a new one. Clayton Mooney, founder of Clayton Farms, formerly known as Nebulam explains how their model works in this episode. Mooney believes indoor farming in Iowa and same day harvest-delivery subscription service is the future of produce. Their original plan did not include...

Growing up, we all knew that one kid who was constantly starting new business ideas and finding ways to get ahead. How many of them actually went on to start a successful business later in life? Mike Draper owner of Raygun is the perfect example of a "hustle bro" turned successful business owner/entrepreneur. Raygun is an Iowa-based brick-and-mortar business that focuses mostly on custom printing...

Drake University's President, Marty Martin believes everyone deserves a pathway to achieve success, but success looks different for everyone. He explains how Drake University has a spot for everyone, starting with affordability, countless opportunities, and most importantly the University's ability to create "Unicorns" for the workforce. Martin is a highly accomplished individual, serving as a Lie...

Innov8 Lab is a nextgen makerspace in Iowa City. Founder Tracy Jon Sargeant explains why the lab is making 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, soldering irons, and even sewing machines accessible to the community.  As a security engineer, Tracy Jon Sargeant came to a realization there weren't many people that looked like him in IT. Why was that? Unlike most people when they encounter a big l...

Jay Byers is CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. He answers the question you were too afraid to ask. Who really cares about the Des Moines skate park and potential soccer stadium? Iowa has seen record business filings and is showing strong signs of growth despite national inflation concerns. Byers explains how the Greater Des Moines area and central Iowa is helping drive that growth. He als...

Kim Casko, CEO of the Iowa City Area Business Partnership says the Iowa City area has really big plans. A new mass transit system, affordable childcare, affordable housing, internet for all, and new river projects. She explains how the Project Better Together Plan came to be and how the pandemic helped.  Casko expands on Iowa City area projects focused on growing the area in 2030 and beyond and ho...

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand is very passionate about breakfast pizza: Casey's or Kum and Go, which wins the crown for top spot? As of now, Kum N Go remains at the top by offering all day breakfast pizza, something Casey's does not deliver. However, Sand confirms "zero tax payer dollars are put into breakfast pizza". This hobby is kept off the clock, so what does Sand and the rest of the office do,...

WHO-TV Channel 13 has a new anchor. Elias Johnson took over after Dan Winters departed from the station in early May of 2022. Johnson is trying to bring something new to the station by changing his role as an anchor. Viewers should be ready for a holistic approach to storytelling and quite possibly a new era of restored trust in the media since 50% of Americans no longer trust the media. Johnson's...

You probably heard about it from a friend getting your morning coffee at Brewhemia or Daisy Chain ☕️ . Or perhaps you saw your favorite Iowan post about it? Maybe you searched the net for something that perked your interest in Iowa.  What is The Iowa Podcast? We hear you. You want to hear from real Iowans, talking about real stuff within the state worth paying attention to. And you don't want the...