In 1965, John and Mary Beth Tinker went to school in Des Moines wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. They were suspended, and the incident led to a landmark Supreme Court decision that guaranteed free speech rights for public school students. Host Charity Nebbe revisits this history with John and Mary Beth and they discuss present day threats to the First Amendment. Then, Donna Reed is beloved for roles like Mary Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life' and Donna Stone in 'The Donna Reed Show.' She was born in Denison, Iowa, where the Donna Reed Foundation keeps her legacy alive. We speak with her daughter, Mary Owen, board member and treasurer for The Donna Reed Foundation. (Portions of this episode were originally produced on Jan. 13, 2026 and Sept. 22, 2025)
-
Former Iowa Gov. Robert Ray made a decision 50 years ago that echoed beyond Iowa's borders — a bold choice to welcome Tai Dam refugees from Southeast Asia in their hour of need. Matt Walsh, author of The Good Governor: Robert Ray and the Indochinese Refugees of Iowa, joins the show to discuss Ray's history-making decisions post-Vietnam. Then, Vinh Nguyen and Hieu Pham discuss their experiences as refugees who made Iowa home.This show was originally produced in May 2025. -
A new documentary captured the experiences of Vietnam War veterans in Iowa. Then, a theatre started by Grant Wood and his friends turns 100 years old. -
Vinh Nguyen has lived in Iowa for decades, but he grew up in Vietnam during the war, which ended April 30, 1975.
-
Remembering Iowa's decision to welcome southeast Asian refugees after the Vietnam war, and a look at their legacy in the state.
-
Vinh Nguyen has lived in Iowa for decades, but previously, he grew up in Vietnam during the war which ended April 30, 1975.
-
In April 1975, Marine pilot John Morgan received orders to fly his helicopter to Vietnam and help evacuate people after the war. It ended up being the largest helicopter evacuation in history — and a defining moment in his life as an American.
-
The service and sacrifice of Black Americans in defense of the United States is believed to be a driving force in the progress of civil rights over generations.
-
Author Jerry Harrington discusses his new book, Thunder from the Prairie: The Life of Harold E. Hughes.
-
Kim Phuong Taylor faced up to five years in prison on 52 counts of voter fraud. The federal judge worried the public might see the case as politically motivated.
