The Amplifying Black Voices in Iowa project has digitized thousands of resources created by Black Iowans from the 19th through 21st centuries. The project has digitized 'The Iowa Bystander,' the oldest Black newspaper west of the Mississippi, issues of 'The Waterloo Defender,' a weekly paper in the 60s and 70s, photographs, letters, oral histories and more. On this episode, we learn about the project with some of the people that made it possible — Iowa State University archivist Amy Treslan, Felicite Wolfe of the African American Museum of Iowa and historian Ricki King. Then, the spotted hyena is a fascinating creature with incredible hunting skills, problem solving abilities and a matriarchal pack structure. We talk with Michigan State University behavioral ecologist Kay Holekamp, who has spent the last 35 years studying hyenas in the field. Holekamp will be speaking at Iowa State University on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Memorial Union.

On this episode, we talk with Laura Wifler, a bestselling author of books for adults and children. She's hosted a popular podcast and founded Kid Lit Lab to help aspiring authors of children’s books. She writes about womanhood, motherhood, health and her Christian faith. A few years ago, she accidentally became a poet, and her latest book is a poetry collection called 'This Side of the Sky: 101 Poems and Scriptures for the Hungry, Hopeful and Homesick.' Then, a podcast created by an eighth grader in Marion is one of the middle school finalists in the 8th annual NPR Student Podcast Challenge. We talk with Kate Baker about her podcast, 'Dear Kate.' It’s a tribute to her Grandpa Ted and an effort to understand the disease — dementia — that took him from her.

Over 20 years ago, Iowa State University’s creative writing program wanted to elevate its Master of Arts program to a Master of Fine Arts, but the University of Iowa was already home to one of the most acclaimed MFA programs in the country. Iowa State University created something different — an MFA program focused on creative writing and the environment. On this episode, we mark the 20th anniversary of ISU's Creative Writing and Environment MFA program with professor Debra Marquart. We discuss the literary journal that predated it, the 'Flyway Journal of Writing and the Environment,' with founding editor Steve Pett. We also hear from Zara Chowdhary, a graduate of the program and assistant professor of English at the University of Iowa, and Charissa Menefee and Claire Boyles who teach in the program. The 20th anniversary will be marked at the annual Home Voices Festival, a celebration of the publication of new books by writers with ties to the Creative Writing Program.

It’s a staple in almost every kitchen, but if you’re going to grow your own garlic you have to do some planning ahead. On this Horticulture Day episode, Iowa State University horticulture professor and chair Ajay Nair guides us through planting, caring for and harvesting garlic. Then, horticulture specialist Aaron Steil joins us, and he and Nair answer listener questions.

Carlotta Walls LaNier is one of the Little Rock Nine — one of the first nine Black students to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in September 1957. Leona Tate is one of the McDonogh Three — one of the first three Black students at McDonogh elementary in New Orleans in 1960. On this episode, we talk with civil rights pioneers LaNier and Tate, who are speaking across Iowa this week. Then, we hear from actor Tony Danza who spoke with IPR's arts and culture reporter Nicole Baxter. He discusses how he made the switch from boxing to acting, his upcoming performance in Mason City and his ukulele, Lucy. (Danza's performance is part of the NIACC Performing Arts and Leadership Series, which is an underwriter of IPR.)

Your home is your first space. Work is your second space. A third space is a place where you can gather with other people in your community, meet people and make connections. But many of these spaces have disappeared, particularly in small towns. On this episode, rural sociologist Dave Peters shares how gas stations have become a social hub for small towns. Library director Mary Kathryn Gepner talks about the local library enduring as a third space. Jennifer Drinkwater talks about her work uplifting third spaces in Iowa's small towns and how they inspire her art. Finally, Tiara Phillips has been bringing people in the Iowa City area together with "stuff swaps," book clubs and bingo nights through her Instagram page, Bitchin' Events. (This episode was originally produced March 12, 2026.)