History

In his book 'Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights,' Peniel Joseph writes how 1963 was a landmark year for the Civil Rights Movement. Now, Joseph says, the United States is experiencing rollbacks of civil rights and racial justice ideals that the turmoil and violence of 1963 ushered in. Host Charity Nebbe speaks with Joseph about his book, and how the events of 1963 help us better understand contemporary political polarization and racial and cultural divisions. Joseph explains struggles for racial justice in 1963 reverberated worldwide, at times strengthening and damaging America’s global reputation in a manner that echoes the present. (This episode was originally produced June 17, 2025.)

Major news networks used to regularly present Americans with the same set of facts. Today, it's easy to stay in echo chambers with competing realities. On this episode, we take a look at how the media we consume and the ways we consume it have intensified community divisions.

The Center Street Neighborhood — a tight-knit, predominantly Black community — was destroyed by highway construction and city urban renewal projects. Our sense of community is tied to economic opportunity, and this hour, we explore this by starting with Richard Duncan, a former resident of the Center Street neighborhood, and his wife and documentary partner, Madison Deshay-Duncan. Then we return to the wealth inequality of the Gilded Age with economist and historian Joshua Rosenbloom to see what parallels we can draw to today. Finally, union president Charlie Wishman shares how fewer manufacturing jobs and weakened unions harmed our communities.

Maria Semple’s latest novel, 'Go Gentle,' draws on her own experiences with divorce, motherhood and starting over in Manhattan. In this episode, we hear a conversation between Charity Nebbe and the 'Where'd You Go Bernadette' author about fiction, reinvention and the unexpected turns life can take. Then, Cynthia Orozco, the national historian for the League of United Latin American Citizens, joins the program to discuss the organization’s history, legacy and impact in Iowa and across the country.

Renowned artist and illustrator Gary Kelley passed away on April 12, 2026. On this episode, we revisit a conversation with Kelley and Kevin Mason about the history of the Spirit Lake Massacre and Kelley's graphic novel, 'Moon of the Snowblind.' Then, we talk with UNI professor Jim O’Loughlin about the life and work of poet and professor James Hearst. O'Loughlin has compiled Hearst's work into the James Hearst Digital Archive housed by the University of Northern Iowa. (Segments of this program were originally produced in March 2021 and August 2025.)

Iowa native Brooks Wheelan realized a passion for comedy while attending the University of Iowa, but continued his studies, seeing biomedical engineering as a way to Los Angeles or New York. His plan worked, and he went on to be a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and the 'New York Times' called his comedy special 'Alive in Alaska' one of the best of 2024. Wheelan joins Charity Nebbe during a stop in Iowa City to talk about his career and what's next. Then, Lynetter Pohlman has led Iowa State University Museums for 46 years and has been there since its inception over 55 years ago. Ahead of her retirement, Pohlman joins the show to take a look back.