The Iowa Podcast

It’s the most state-of-the-art EV charger in the country, the only one in Iowa, and you’ll never guess where it is. The V4 Tesla Supercharger is capable of an output of 350 hW per hour charging speeds and is located in Lamoni, Iowa at the Amish Country Store, right next to Amish Horse and Buggy Parking. Jeremy Sellars, owner of the store says it was a long time coming.

Tesla owners stop at the charger for ...

Have you heard of Pizza on the Prairie? Only in Iowa can you enjoy locally made pizza, made from scratch, out of an Italian pizza oven, sourced using ingredients grown right next to you, as you eat! Debra Houghtaling tells us why families come to learn about Iowa agriculture with their appetite! 

On Friday nights in the summer, Iowans are making their way to Orient, Iowa to enjoy Pizza on the Prairie. The ultra-local pizza is made ...

Representative Eddie Andrews has announced his run for Iowa Governor. As a Republican he doesn’t align with his party's lock step on everything, specifically the glyphosate shield law and eminent domain use for carbon pipeline companies. He also discusses mental health and property taxes, and ESA transparency.

Rep. Andrews discusses his take on issues, but also expands on his focus on mental health in the ...

Does Iowa have a rising tech scene? Many community leaders may brag about it often but the reality is… well, no. Liz Keehner, Principal of Next Level Ventures explains the hard truths that many Iowans probably don’t want to hear—the money isn’t there. So is it time to pack it in or double down?

The discussion ventures into uncharted territory many Iowans are reluctant to discuss. Venture investment represe...

Is Des Moines Water Works tap water safe? That depends on who you ask. Medical podcaster Dr. Andrew Huberman has recommended filtering your tap water on his popular show Huberman Lab due to new studies on DBPs and negative effects from fluoride. Polk County Supervisor Matt McCoy discusses water safety, addresses concerns, and explains why Des Moines Water Works is developing a new marketing campaign designed to encoura...

State Auditor Rob Sand is running for Iowa Governor. As the lone Democrat in Iowa public office, backed by a significantly weaker Democrat party, is he going to run as a Democrat or Independent? He discussed why he may not actually be opposed to the new ESA law, how he'll handle a GOP majority, and discusses his opposition to gender being removed from the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

Sand is positioning himself as an independent voice fo...

For the first time in history, the Pope isn’t just from the United States, but from the midwest! Pope Leo XIV hails from Chicago, and this close proximity to Iowa could have an impact. Tom Chapman, Executive Director of The Iowa Catholic Conference discusses Pope Leo’s history, what it means for Iowans, and tackles the big question we all want to know: is Pope Leo going to make a Midwest visit?

Pope Leo XI...

In today's episode guest host Mark Gannon sit down with Jessica Mazour of the Iowa Sierra Club and the carbon pipeline - what is it? Who's behind? And, most importantly, how does it affect us?

Some topics discussed include:

• The use of tax dollars by a private company to fund this project
• Use of eminent domain for a private company. How is this allowed?
• The dam...

Farms aren’t fun. Right? Someone tell Samantha (Sammy) Petersen of Bloomsbury Farms in Atkins, Iowa. As a 5th generation farmer she has helped her parents build an agritourism destination in the Eastern Iowa empire. While many Iowa farms have been jumping into the agritourism trend, Peterson says her mother jumped on the trend 30 years ago. Talk about agritourism trendsetters!

Starting out as a grain farm,...

In this episode of The Iowa Podcast, guest host Rob Newton chats with Elizabeth Weyers, Manager of the Downtown Farmers’ Market at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, as she shares what’s ahead for the 2025 season starting May 3rd. With over 300 vendors participating, Elizabeth highlights the Market’s wide-ranging showcase of Iowa’s agricultural bounty, food producers, artisans, and small businesses. She outlines the b...

If you’re a fan of Iowa’s famous breaded pork tenderloin, this special Iowa Eats edition of The Iowa Podcast is a must-listen. Guest host and fifth-generation chef Jensen Cummings chats with JayJay Goodvin—aka The Iowa Gallivant—about his flavorful journey across all 99 counties in search of the state’s best tenderloin.

Broadcast from Jethro’s BBQ studio in Des Moines, JayJay shares what went into crowning...

Public transit in Iowa is a challenge. Cities like Des Moines are more expansive and were built around the automobile. There are upsides of course, but it makes public transit quite a challenge. DART CEO, Amanda Wanke explains why central Iowan’s shouldn’t expect profitability any time soon, and speaks about their plans to address future budget shortfalls.

Public transit, says Wanke, is a challenge in many...

How do Iowa storm chasers get incredible footage? Do they go 120mph in sports cars around the state? Actually no, they just book a hotel room near the area they suspect of tornadic activity. Todd Rector with The Iowa Storm Chasing Network says they have advance notice. But there’s a breakdown in how that information is communicated to you.

Getting the word out and Iowans can be a challenge, the communicati...

If you ask some, the anti-Trump and Elon Musk protests are saving Democracy. If you ask others, the're burning Tesla stores and vandalizing property. Saturday protest organizer, Michaelyn Mankel describes their objectives, and tells us if anyone is getting paid to protest. 

Mankel says their objectives are around concerns with President Trump, Elon Musk, DOGE, and Congressman Zach Nunn are around them cutting social security, medic...

Kevin Foley has led the Des Moines International Airport for over a decade and is retiring in April, handing off operations to Brian Mulcahy. In this special episode, Mulcahy introduces himself to Iowans and Foley takes a walk down memory lane, including getting through the emotional period of the COVID-related global shutdown. This interview took place at the DSM Airport on video, between terminals A and C. 

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