Well, What Do You Know?

Have you ever had a teacher who changed your life—not because of one lesson, but because of who they were every single day? My guest today is someone who has spent nearly five decades doing exactly that. For 47 years, he poured his heart into music education, inspiring thousands of students along the way. From growing up on a dairy farm in northeast Iowa... to playing more than 20 instruments... t...

Welcome back to Well, What Do You Know? Every once in a while, an episode comes along that's a little different from the rest. This is one of those episodes. Today, I'm joined by two men who share a unique connection with me. Dave Lyons, Myrle Wayne Swank, and I all married into the same family. More specifically, we're all sons-in-law of a man who had a tremendous impact on our lives:...

Welcome back to “Well, What Do You Know?” I’m your host, Eric Padget. Today is Part 2 of my conversation with Jim Huber — and if you enjoyed the first episode, you’re really going to love this one. Jim is one of the most interesting people I’ve had the chance to sit down with. In this episode, we talk about his trip to England, visiting Stonehenge, life on his farm, raising sheep, making maple syr...

Welcome to Well, What Do You Know? I’m your host, and today we begin Part 1 of a fascinating conversation with Jim Huber. Jim grew up on a farm near Albia, Iowa, but his journey has taken him into archaeology, geology, environmental research, and even forensic science. Along the way, he’s worked on archaeological sites across the country, studied ancient environments through pollen analysis, and e...

Welcome back to Well, What Do You Know? . On this episode, I sit down with David Bultena for a conversation that covers nearly nine decades of life experiences and stories. David grew up in small-town South Dakota before moving to Anaheim, California, just as Disneyland was being built. He shares firsthand memories of watching Walt Disney’s dream come to life, along with stories from his time as a...

Today we’re joined by Phil Skamser, a veteran educator and coach who’s wrapping up a thirty-year career. We’re diving into his 'full circle' journey—from his birth near the stadium where they filmed The Natural to his years coaching basketball greats like Ben McCollum. We’ll also talk about his quest to visit every MLB park and his wild travel stories from Norway to Albania. 🔗 Catch up on...

Today’s episode is a really special one. I’m joined by Justin Flaws—head coach of the 3A State Champion Carlisle Wildcats. But this conversation goes way beyond basketball. We start at the beginning—growing up in Carlisle, the influence of family, and some unexpected twists along the way… including a journey through music that helped shape who he is today. Then in the second half, we dive into tha...

Welcome back to Well, What Do You Know? If you listened to the last episode, you heard Part 1 of my conversation with siblings Jack Albers and Beth Laws , where we talked about their childhood growing up in a large farm family in Iowa—including the remarkable story of their mother having three sets of twins . Today we’re continuing that conversation in Part 2 . In this episode, Jack and Beth share...

Welcome back to Well, What Do You Know? Today’s episode is a little different—and a lot of fun—because I’m joined by two guests at the same time . Siblings Jack Albers and Beth Laws sit down with me to talk about growing up in a big farm family in Iowa… and when I say big, I mean really big . Their family story includes multiple sets of twins, life on a farm near Belle Plaine, and the kind of chil...

Today’s guest is Gene Buis — and let me just say this: if you enjoy stories that start with, “Well, I probably shouldn’t tell this…” then you’re in the right place. Gene grew up when a good job paid about a dollar an hour, a push mower built character, and if something broke… you just figured it out. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t complain much, doesn’t exaggerate much — and somehow still ends u...

Welcome back to Well, What Do You Know? Today’s episode is a really fun one — and a first for the podcast. This is my first international interview! I’m joined by Emma Robbins, who grew up in England and took a huge leap of faith to move to Boone, Iowa on a basketball scholarship… despite barely having played basketball before. We talk about social anxiety, stepping out of your comfort zone, the c...

My guest today is Zach Backus. If you have lived around Baxter, IA in the last couple of decades, there’s a good chance you already know Zach—or at least remember him as “Jimmy.”  From front-yard cookie sales and mission trips to running live sports broadcasts with me as an eighth grader, Zach always seemed to have something going on. In this episode, we talk about growing up, trying a lot of diff...

Welcome back to Well, What Do You Know? This week’s episode features a conversation that’s honest, raw, and at times hard — but also incredibly powerful. My guest, Kelsey Lust , shares her story of growing up in a complicated family, navigating loss and trauma at a young age, and finding resilience through some truly difficult chapters of her life. This is a conversation about perseverance, accoun...

Welcome back to Well, What Do You Know? Today we’re jumping into Part 2 of my conversation with Livv Seddon. Even though Livv and I barely knew each other when we sat down to record, the conversation flowed so easily that it became a two-part episode. In Part 2, Livv dives into the college recruiting process, her time as a player, her coaching career at Kansas State, Iowa State, and Oregon State,...

Welcome back to Well, What Do You Know? When I sat down with today’s guest, Livv Seddon, it was only the second time we had ever spoken — but the conversation took off so naturally that we ended up recording for more than an hour, which turned into this two-part episode. In part 1, Livv talks about her childhood, moving all over the country, her family, and how soccer became such a huge part of he...

Today’s episode is a special one — and a little different. This conversation wasn’t recorded by me. Instead, Rosalie Lyons, a longtime resident of Westminster, California, sat down with her son Dave and her granddaughter Karissa to share some stories from her life. And honestly, that makes this episode feel even more personal and warm. It’s three generations, all in the same room, capturing precio...

In this episode of Well, What Do You Know? , I sit down with Kenny Long — a lifelong Iowan, master mechanic, and comedian masquerading as one. Kenny’s stories take us from his childhood on the family farm near Moravia to a life spent fixing engines, raising a family, and turning everyday moments into laughter. It’s part history, part stand-up routine, and a full dose of small-town Iowa charm. 🎙️ S...

In this episode, I sit down with Steve and Gloria Crall, a couple who’ve spent their entire lives in southern Iowa. Steve has worked the land as a farmer, while Gloria has worn many hats — including years as a dedicated cook at Moravia Community School District. Married for 55 years, the Cralls have built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work. Together, they’ve raised three wonderful child...

Welcome back to Well, What Do You Know? — the podcast where we explore the stories behind the people you think you know. Today, we’re kicking off Part 2 of my conversation with Rob Luther . If you missed Part 1, Rob shared his Iowa roots, his start in coaching, and his unlikely journey into school administration. In this episode, we go deeper. Rob opens up about his coaching philosophies, the lead...

Today kicks off part one of a two-part conversation with Rob Luther. Rob has lived a life full of chapters—successful high school athlete, New York actor, long-time high school principal, football coach at programs across Iowa, and above all, a devoted father and husband. In this first episode, Rob takes us back to his roots in Des Moines and Maxwell, shares how he found his way into coaching, and...

I had the pleasure of sitting down over Zoom with Rose Cochran who lives in Wisconsin and just recently turned 85. Rose has such a wonderful way of telling stories, and she shared some truly meaningful memories from her life. You’ll hear about the special bond she had with her grandmother, the way her two older brothers looked out for her as she grew up, and how listening to St. Louis Cardinals ga...

Whether you know her as Jane Stupka, Bauman, or Fuhs you know her as a passionate educator and loyal friend. You’ll love her story! 

In this episode, Jerry picks up where we left off, reflecting on starting his own business, the people who shaped his path, his marriage to Judy, and the unforgettable experience of taking an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. It’s another chapter in a life full of resilience, faith, and community.

Kicking off the Well, What Do You Know podcast, I’m joined by Jerry Power from Moravia, Iowa. Jerry’s done it all—a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War, a small-town businessman who’s kept things running for more than 40 years, and a husband, dad, and grandpa who’s never too busy to lend a hand or share a story. Around south central Iowa, if something needs to get done, chances are Jerry’s t...

Know someone with great stories? I'd love to talk to them!