Talk of Iowa
Weekdays @ 10 a.m. on News & Studio One (FM) | Weekdays @ 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on News (Online & AM)
Talk of Iowa is a place for Iowans to interact with and learn from each other. Together, we delve into culture, history, art and literature. We want you to come away connected to our culture and what it means to live in Iowa.
Host Charity Nebbe brings a mix of regular guests and a range of experts to the microphone to discuss what’s happening in Iowa and what makes this a special place. Every day brings something new — even if it's in a recurring segment like Talk of Iowa Book Club or comes from a familiar voice on Horticulture Day.
Talk of Iowa is produced by Caitlin Troutman, Danielle Gehr and Samantha McIntosh, and our digital producer is Natalie Dunlap. Our executive producer is Katherine Perkins. Our theme music is by The River Monks. Call into the live show on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 866-780-9100. Email the show's hosts and producers anytime at talkofiowa@iowapublicradio.org. Or download the latest episode to listen to the conversations you missed.
Latest Episodes
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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 bringing classroom humor to 1.4 million followers. -
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, horticulturist Aaron Steil joins the conversation to answer listeners' questions.
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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 International Award for his work on cystic fibrosis. Then, we hear about the Homestead Folk Art Museum in the Amana Colonies. (This show was originally produced on June 5, 2025.)
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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.)
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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)
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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.
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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 Bradley of the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio about the specific challenges facing women of color as they navigate perimenopause and menopause. Then, Dr. Holly Marie Bolger of the University of Iowa will address some menopause myths and bring us up to date on treatment options.
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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 Bystander,' considered the oldest Black newspaper west of the Mississippi River.
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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, Ourselves: How Diarists Chronicle Their Lives and Document our World. Also in this episode, we listen back to a conversation with Stella Youngbear, who has been creating beadwork for over 65 years. (A portion of this episode was originally produced Aug. 8, 2024.)
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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 listeners' questions. To further grow your gardening knowledge, sign up for our Garden Variety newsletter. And check out all the episodes of Garden Variety, the horticulture podcast for all the things you’d like to grow or grow better.