River to River
Weekdays @ noon on News & Studio One (FM) | Weekdays @ noon and 8 p.m. on News (Online & AM)
River to River is a conversation about the news — from an Iowa perspective. Together, we dig into the story behind the headlines, talking with newsmakers and experts to find out how the news affects you.
Ben Kieffer hosts this national award-winning program, which takes on challenging topics, explores issues from all sides, frames community problems, and fosters conversation and understanding. On Mondays during the legislative session, hear conversations with lawmakers and those impacted by actions at the statehouse. Wednesdays bring in political analysts from around the state to help you dissect the week in politics. And Fridays, we buzz through the week’s biggest news stories.
River to River 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 weekdays from noon to 1 p.m. at 866-780-9100 or email the show's hosts and producers at rivertoriver@iowapublicradio.org. If you miss the show, download the podcast to listen at any time.
Latest Episodes
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Election Day is less than a month away, and early voting starts in just a week. On this Politics Day episode, we get analysis from political scientists Megan Goldberg of Cornell College and Evan Renfro of the University of Northern Iowa. They discuss the recent debate between gubernatorial candidates Zach Lahn and Rob Sand, the Iran War, the Supreme Court's new term and more. -
On this episode, the science of menopause and the aging brain. Women are more vulnerable to strokes, yet they're historically underreported and underdiagnosed. On this episode, the science of menopause and the aging brain. First, University of Iowa neurologist Dr. Hannah Roeder shares how stroke risk in women nearly doubles in the decade after menopause, and the gender disparities of stroke cases, response and recovery. Then, we learn about a new study to examine whether the menopause transition quietly accelerates brain and blood vessel aging, potentially helping explain why women face higher risks of stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Finally, University of Iowa Comprehensive Stroke Center Head Dr. Enrique Leira joins to share how the Code Stroke system has improved recognition and response to strokes for the past 20 years across the state. (This episode was originally produced June 2, 2026.)
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A conversation with best-selling author Mary Roach. Her latest book, 'Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy,' is part medical history, part investigative travelogue, part unflinching look at how far we'll go to keep the body running. We discuss the science of rebuilding the human body from 16th-century prosthetic noses to gene-edited pig hearts to hair follicles grown from stem cells.
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Iowa lawmakers are back at the Capitol for one reason: a $15 billion steel mill, and what Iowa will pay to land it. On this Newsbuzz episode, IPR's Grant Gerlock on the special session over that steel plant. We also hear from Rachel Fey and Megan Kavanaugh about new maps that show how hard it is to get affordable birth control in Iowa. Then, we talk with Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. She represents Iowa's 1st Congressional District, and is running for reelection against Democrat Christina Bohannan. We also discuss a relay carrying a copy of the Declaration of Independence throughout Iowa with Butch Niebuhr and Mitch Barloga. And, IPR’s Nick Brunner grooves us into the weekend.
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Nearly 360 Iowa farms and food businesses carry the Choose Iowa label. Does buying local make a difference? On this episode, we discuss the Choose Iowa Program, the state's buy-local brand. First, we hear from Choose Iowa Program director Beth Romer. We also hear from Chris Deal, co-manager of Deal's Orchard, and Laura Cunningham, founder and owner of Skyview Beef, a dairy barn turned market for dozens of local farmers near Nora Springs. Then, we talk with Shelly Greving, a marketer mapping Iowa's back-road gems, and Andrew and Marissa Waldo, owners of Goose Hill Farm, which grows heritage wheat and other unique grains.
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President Donald Trump said it will be the biggest steel plant in American history — and its home will be Iowa. On this Politics Day episode, we talk with political scientists Peter Hanson of Grinnell College and Jim McCormick of Iowa State University. We get their view on the new steel mill proposed in eastern Iowa, what the latest polls say about Iowa's toss-up races, Iowa Republicans breaking with Trump over the Iran war and more.
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On this episode, a conversation with the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, state Rep. Josh Turek. The contest with Republican nominee Rep. Ashley Hinson is one of the most competitive Senate races in the country. Turek discusses fuel prices and the war in Iran, farm policy, healthcare and his record in the Iowa House. Then, we’ll hear about a new survey of rural voters from Liz Hamel of KFF, a healthcare policy nonprofit. We discuss rural voters' views of health care issues and how it may impact midterms.
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Author and conflict facilitator Priya Parker believes most people aren't over-fighting, they're under-fighting. On this episode, Parker joins us to explore how unhealthy peace can fracture families. Her new book is titled 'The Art of Fighting: The Transformative Power of Conflict.' The story opens at her grandfather's funeral in Waterloo, where the minister's highest praise for a 50-year marriage was that the couple never once quarreled.
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All but two of the University of Iowa’s Center for Intellectual Freedom advisory council members resigned this week. On this episode, we find out why from 'Gazette' reporter Vanessa Miller. Then, we talk with Robin Opsahl of the Iowa Capitol Dispatch about President Trump's lawsuit over the Iowa Poll. A court orders the state to reopen its historical research center in Iowa City. We hear from IPR's Maura Curran about this decision. We also talk with Mark Licht of Iowa State University about what a soggy September means for harvest. Then, we meet Wame Molefhe, a writer in residence from Botswana. And IPR’s Tony Dehner grooves us into the weekend.
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More than 10,000 Iowans are living with Parkinson's disease — and one state senator believes a common weed killer may be part of the story. On this episode, we talk with state Sen. Art Staed, D-Cedar Rapids, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2024. He's been pushing to ban paraquat, a widely used herbicide tied to higher Parkinson's risk. Luke Nozicka of The Midwest Newsroom joins us to discuss his reporting on the debate over banning paraquat, and we hear from Iowan Nate Peterson who believes his own diagnosis traces back to paraquat exposure. Peterson was diagnosed with Parkinson's at age 34. Later, a conversation with 1st Congressional District candidate Democrat Christina Bohannan. Bohannan is running against incumbent Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.