Storytelling

CultureAll is a Des Moines nonprofit that works to introduce Iowans of different cultures to each other with the goal of building community. One of the ways they do that is through their Open Book program — a community project that creates connections and builds social cohesion through story sharing. We learn about that project and new research that shows that Open Book and the act of reciprocal storytelling can cultivate empathy. Later, we talk with Drake University health sciences professor Stacy Gnacinski. When she's not teaching, Gnacinski does mental performance consulting for athletes, from local youth, to the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, where she's a mental performance consultant. She shares about her recent trip to the Winter Olympics.

Five Iowans told stories with the theme water, the current of life, in front of an audience at Trumpet Blossom Cafe in Iowa City. Host Charity Nebbe was emcee for the event hosted by Investigate Midwest, an independent nonprofit newsroom that reports about agriculture with data-driven investigative journalism. Hear from storytellers Kylah Hedding, Larry Weber, Katie Roche, Parker Field and Judith Joyce.

Two new exhibitions at the Dubuque Museum of Art rethink representation through Indigenous, Latinx and community-centered storytelling. Then, two sisters organize an annual Thanksgiving day giveaway of pies, no questions asked.

The inaugural Cedar Rapids Storytelling Festival, a four-day event created by TellersBridge, showcased stories that span decades, cultures and emotional tones — including a first kiss, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights movement and a reflection on belonging from a storyteller who immigrated to the United States.

On this special edition of Talk of Iowa, a taste of the storytelling event, Stories to Tell My Daughter

Journalists aren't superheroes - but without good, ethical journalists doing their best, we would be lost.

What can ghost stories tell us about the world? The Talk of Iowa team takes a ghost tour of Cedar Falls and discusses ghost stories with author Carmen Maria Machado.

Carmen Maria Machado, a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, is known for her spooky stories. After Talk of Iowa's ghost tour in Cedar Falls, she breaks down what makes ghost stories stick around.

Studies tell us many healthcare professionals hold negative attitudes toward patients with substance use disorders, and these attitudes can result in patients receiving suboptimal care. On this episode of River to River — how hospitals are working to reduce stigma for people with addiction.

Sandy Moffett discusses his debut novel, a murder mystery set in the Midwest. And Akwi Nji shares why she started a new project that emphasizes letter writing.