Katherine Perkins
Executive Producer of Talk Shows & Program Director News & TalkExpertise: Management and team building, audio editing, copy editing, interviewing, hosting, journalism ethics and building relationships in underserved communities, all in order to help IPR listeners and readers better understand, appreciate and explore their state
Education: Masters degree from Sangamon State University; Bachelors degree from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Favorite Iowa Destination: Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fairgrounds
Experience:
Has served as the Executive Producer for Talk Shows since 2013 and the Program Director News/Talk for IPR since 2014
- Served as a producer and the host of Talk of Iowa and Midday on WOI Radio and, later, Iowa Public Radio
- Served as Morning Edition host and program director for KTPR in Ft. Dodge
- Has hosted a talk show live on C-Span
- Led planning and coordination of five community listening sessions across Iowa in 2023
Served as executive producer for live caucus night coverage in 2020, which was carried by multiple stations across the country
- Has led presidential and midterm election night coverage since 2010
- Is a multi-award-winning host and reporter
- Has reported and produced features for Morning Edition
- Led efforts to establish IPR's participation in NPR’s Next Generation Radio in Iowa
- Has taught classes on reporting and journalism at Iowa Central Community College
My Favorite Conversations
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On this special edition of Talk of Iowa, a taste of the storytelling event, Stories to Tell My Daughter -
The history of the Civil Rights Movement can feel far away.
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In her memoir, Lucinda Williams explains how she spent her career making music on her own terms.
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At 42-million strong, many political pundits are watching how Gen-Z, those between the ages of 18 and 27, will vote in this election. This hour, we explore their thoughts going into the election.
My Latest Stories
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How women and men perceive their safety is often very different, as is how we socially condition girls and boys to think about their safety. Experts say reframing the conversation around gender-based violence is key to prevention. -
Men from a variety of different backgrounds with connections to Iowa reflect on what it means to be a man in 2025. -
IPR held events at Drake and Iowa State University to discuss politics with Gen Z voters.
My Latest Podcasts
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Three Libertarians who filed to run for governor, lieutenant governor and U.S. House in Iowa won't appear on the ballot. That's after members of the Republican party challenged their paperwork, and the state objection panel voted to remove the names of Nicholas Gluba, Jules Cutler and Marco Battaglia from Iowa ballots. In this episode, host Ben Kieffer recaps that decision as well as the state party conventions with Megan Goldberg of Cornell College and Jonathan Hassid of Iowa State University. They also discuss looming changes to Social Security and the tentative peace deal with Iran.
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Mark Twain said the Missouri River is too thick to drink and too thin to plow. The Big Muddy doesn’t get the kind of attention the Mighty Mississippi does, but it’s the longest river in North America and pivotal in the history of our nation. When it was time for Lisa Dill’s family to replace the old pontoon boat on Lake Okoboji, her cousins suggested taking it on a journey down the Missouri and giving it away at the end. Dill jumped on board. She wrote about the experience and the river in 'Around the Bend: Floating Down the Missouri River.' Then, school's out for summer, but that doesn't mean we can't still learn. In the first installment of 'Talk of Iowa Summer School,' middle school science teacher Mark Dorhout shares how birdhouses can be a tool to encourage the next generation of citizen scientists.
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Fire blight can spread fast through orchards and backyard fruit trees, leaving growers scrambling to protect their crops. On this Horticulture Day episode, we talk with Iowa State University assistant professor and fruit tree specialist Suzanne Slack about how fire blight develops, what warning signs to look for and the impact it can have on fruit trees across Iowa. Later, Aaron Steil, Iowa State University Extension horticulture specialist, joins the conversation to share more gardening insight and answer listener questions.