Talk of Iowa
Weekdays @ 10 a.m. on News & Studio One (FM) | Weekdays @ 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on News (Online & AM)
Talk of Iowa is a place for Iowans to interact with and learn from each other. Together, we delve into culture, history, art and literature. We want you to come away connected to our culture and what it means to live in Iowa.
Host Charity Nebbe brings a mix of regular guests and a range of experts to the microphone to discuss what’s happening in Iowa and what makes this a special place. Every day brings something new — even if it's in a recurring segment like Talk of Iowa Book Club or comes from a familiar voice on Horticulture Day.
Talk of Iowa 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 on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 866-780-9100. Email the show's hosts and producers anytime at talkofiowa@iowapublicradio.org. Or download the latest episode to listen to the conversations you missed.
Latest Episodes
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Shakespeare is everywhere in Iowa this summer! On this episode we talk to the creatives behind the inaugural Northern Iowa Shakespeare Festival in Cedar Falls, which is holding its final performances of 'As You Like It' this weekend. Then, we feature two established Shakespeare events in the state - Riverside Theatre's Free Shakespeare in Lower City Park which is performing 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' this June in Iowa City, and Shakespeare on the Lawn, which is co-produced by Iowa Stage Theatre Company and Salisbury House and Gardens in Des Moines. They're producing 'Measure for Measure' this July. Later in the episode, Amanda Thomas-Murphy of Iowa Pride Ensembles joins to talk about their busy Pride Month with marching band performances around central Iowa, as well as their jazz and concert bands. -
A summer road trip is a ticket to adventure, and experienced road trippers know to expect the unexpected. On this episode, we’re hitting the road — we’ll hear stories about two of Iowa’s most over the top road trips, RAGBRAI and Relay Iowa, a cross-country journey with a few twists and a happily-ever-after, and much more.
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Mark Twain said the Missouri River is too thick to drink and too thin to plow. The Big Muddy doesn’t get the kind of attention the Mighty Mississippi does, but it’s the longest river in North America and pivotal in the history of our nation. When it was time for Lisa Dill’s family to replace the old pontoon boat on Lake Okoboji, her cousins suggested taking it on a journey down the Missouri and giving it away at the end. Dill jumped on board. She wrote about the experience and the river in 'Around the Bend: Floating Down the Missouri River.' Then, school's out for summer, but that doesn't mean we can't still learn. In the first installment of 'Talk of Iowa Summer School,' middle school science teacher Mark Dorhout shares how birdhouses can be a tool to encourage the next generation of citizen scientists.
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A pediatrician who works with a range of patients with autism helps us understand autism spectrum disorder, why diagnosis is more common today and what we know about possible causes on this award-winning episode. Then, Iowans in the autism community share their thoughts and experiences. (This episode was originally produced in October 2025.)
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There are a lot of different things that can derail a fruit crop, even after your blossoms have survived the last frost. It was a tough spring for many fruit crops, but if you are lucky enough to have some fruit on your tree, there are a few things you can do to help them thrive. On this Horticulture Day episode, we hear from Iowa State University Extension Horticulture Specialists Randal Vos and Aaron Steil. We find out what we should be doing when it comes to summer fruit management and answer listener questions.
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Jean Lloyd-Jones served in both the Iowa House and the Iowa Senate, starting in 1979. Now, at age 96, she has published a memoir called 'A Women's Place: My Life as a Public Servant.' On this episode, Lloyd-Jones shares about how her career expectations didn't extend much beyond finding a husband in the early 1950s, to then spending 60 hours a week volunteering for the Iowa League of Women Voters, realizing that she can make a difference at the Iowa Capitol and helping other women pursue careers in politics.
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Frederick Newell came to Iowa City 20 years ago as a college freshman and single father, who recognized a need for support for young parents and underrepresented Iowans. As social worker, in 2012 Newell founded Dream City, a nonprofit that supports youth, families and entrepreneurs in Iowa City. Later in the program, we hear from documentary filmmaker and Muscatine native Chris Ward about his new film, 'The Journeying.'
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Behind every great man in a powdered wig is a remarkable woman. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we’re reading about some of the women who helped shape our country at its founding. On the 'Talk of Iowa' Book Club, host Charity Nebbe and expert readers discuss 'Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation' by Cokie Roberts. The book shares stories of the many roles women played in the Revolutionary War and the founding of the United States.
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Clematis plants make a beautiful addition to any yard. Iowa State Horticulturists Cindy Haynes and Aaron Steil share tips for growing and caring for your clematis.
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Best-selling author Tim Johnston was a master of the thriller. He passed away in May. To mark his passing, we’re revisiting a conversation from 2025 with Johnston and author Anna Bruno. We talk about their books 'Distant Sons' and 'Fine Young People' and the art of writing suspense. Then, the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County reopened the Rails West Museum after a year and a half of renovations, where people can explore a historic train depot and train cars. We’ll talk to the museum’s site manager as well as the site manager of the Squirrel Cage Jail. (This show was originally produced July 21, 2025.)