© 2025 Iowa Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Blogger who calls Iowa home travels the world to visit Independent bookstores

Ways To Subscribe
Talk of Iowa, hosted by Charity Nebbe

Over the past ten years Bob Manson has visited 49 states, three foreign countries and 601 independent bookstores.

On this episode of Talk of Iowa, author and poet Mario Duarte joins host Charity Nebbe to share his new collection of micro-poetry, To the Death of the Author. They also discuss his short story collection My Father Called Us Monkeys: Growing Up Mexican in the Heartland. Duarte is a Mexican American writer and an Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate.

Later in the hour, book enthusiast Bob Manson joins the program. Manson has visited 601 independent bookstores. He updates his travels on the blog, The Indie Bob Spot.

Guests:

  • Mario Duarte, author, poet and Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate
  • Bob Manson, retired teacher, blogger, Indie Bob Spot
Charity Nebbe is IPR's 'Talk of Iowa' host. She also hosts IPR's podcasts 'Garden Variety' and 'Unsettled'. Since 2010, Nebbe has interviewed, conversed with, and shared ideas from guests of all backgrounds and locations, and has helped listeners better understand, appreciate, and explore their state and the world around them. Nebbe has a bachelors degree from Iowa State University.
Samantha McIntosh is a talk show producer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from St. Cloud State University. Since 2022, McIntosh has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's listening audience.
Madeleine Willis is IPR's Production Assistant supporting the talk shows and The Sunny Side Project. Willis has experience in audio production, reporting, writing and editing stories and conversations. She's reported and produced conversations on womanhood, sports, and good news from across Iowa. Willis will receive her bachelors degree from the University of Iowa in May 2025.