Cornhole Champions Podcast

It's easy to miss what's happening in Iowa when you're scrolling past headlines. GDP down 6.1% in Q1. Soybean markets shipped to Argentina. A $20 billion bailout that somehow bypassed the farmers who needed it most. But this isn't just about tariffs or trade policy. It's about who holds power in Iowa and who gets left behind. On Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith sat down with Chase Seibert and Liz Fleming to unpack the New York Times story everyone should be reading: how Trump's economic policies hit Iowa harder than almost anywhere else in the country. Toss some bags about Iowa’s economic woes… health insurance costs going up… and some reflection on a year of Cornhole Champions. It's a conversation about reality, responsibility, and refusing to pretend everything's fine when it clearly isn't. And if you've been following this show, you know we don't do academic jargon — just honest talk about what's happening in Iowa and why it matters. Cornhole Champions is a weekly politics and policy podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line, hosted by Zachary Oren Smith and produced by Rebecca Steinberg, with music by Avery Mossman and art by Desirée Tapia. SHOW RUNDOWN: 0:00 – Marinette Miller Meeks refuses town halls: "When hell freezes over" 4:30 – Welcome and what's coming this episode 6:30 – Trump's economic disaster hits Iowa hardest: the New York Times story 17:00 – ACA open enrollment and what Iowans need to know now 25:00 – Why Iowa journalism matters more than ever 36:00 – Reflecting on a year of Cornhole Champions 41:00 – How to support the show and send us your questions 42:00 – Outro and what's next *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights is challenging Republican Congressman Zach Nunn for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. As the first woman to lead Iowa House Democrats, Konfrst has spent seven years fighting for reproductive rights, healthcare access, Medicaid funding, and school voucher accountability while building power in the minority. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Konfrst explains why voters feel frozen by political uncertainty, how Democrats can win even when outnumbered, and what effective opposition actually looks like in Iowa politics. Cornhole Champions is a weekly politics and policy podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line, hosted by Zachary Oren Smith and produced by Rebecca Steinberg, with music by Avery Mossman and art by Desirée Tapia. *SHOW RUNDOWN:* 0:00 - Intro and Jennifer Konfrst's congressional run 1:15 - Why voters feel unheard by Congressman Zach Nunn 3:00 - The stakes of Iowa's third district race for House control 5:00 - Susan B. Anthony list enters the race on abortion rights 9:30 - Getting things done as the minority party in Iowa legislature 13:45 - What effective opposition looks like in politics 16:30 - How to make politics feel less like a game 18:00 - Hedgie's bookstore and hope in small town Iowa *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s easy to romanticize small-town Iowa — cornfields, calm mornings, and hardworking families. But behind the postcard image is a story of consolidation, pollution, and the steady draining of civic power. For my penultimate episode of the 2025, I spoke with Pulitzer Prize–winner Art Cullen has spent decades writing from Storm Lake about the forces reshaping rural life. In his new book Dear Marty, We Crapped In Our Nest: Notes from the Edge of the World, he reflects on how we got here, what we have left, and what it would take to turn things around after a century of extraction. Toss some bags about Iowa’s petrochemical farm economy… the hollowing out of our small towns… And the politics of pollution and power… It’s a hard read. But if you like this show, I think it’s up your alley. A conversation about responsibility, hope, and the cost of pretending everything’s fine. And for my money, it has one of the best essays I’ve read on the history of corn in the US. Super interesting. Cornhole Champions is a weekly politics and policy podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line, hosted by Zachary Oren Smith and produced by Rebecca Steinberg, with music by Avery Mossman and art by Desirée Tapia. *SHOW RUNDOWN:* 00:00 – Iowa’s rural myth vs. the reality of industrial agriculture 04:00 – Who is Marty? The friendship behind Dear Marty, We Crapped in Our Nest 07:00 – The “Corn Gospel”: How petrochemicals and subsidies changed Iowa 10:00 – When Big Ag bought Iowa politics 15:00 – Can Iowa’s populist right break from corporate control? 21:00 – Pipelines, property rights, and the cracks inside the GOP 30:00 – Art Cullen on cancer, rural healthcare, and what it means to stay 36:00 – “Dear Marty” epilogue: despair, democracy, and a flicker of hope *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation, and it's getting worse. State Rep. Austin Baeth isn't just a politician. He's a practicing physician who sees cancer patients every day and watches people die from this disease in his palliative care work. His unique perspective as both doctor and lawmaker reveals the harsh reality: Iowa's cancer crisis has identifiable causes and policy solutions, but special interests keep blocking progress. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, I speak with Baeth about why Iowa's cancer rates are skyrocketing when other states are improving. From radon in 70% of Iowa homes to untaxed vaping products, from water contamination to landlord lobbying, we explore the specific regulatory tools that could save lives—and the political roadblocks preventing action. Toss some bags at Iowa's cancer emergency... Why $20,000 for radon testing disappeared in two months... And how special interests are hurting Iowans... Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. It’s produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:00 Iowa's Cancer Crisis: Second Highest Rate and Rising 03:30 Why Current State Efforts Are Just Getting Started 05:30 The Real Drivers: It's Not Just Smoking and Obesity 08:00 Radon: The Silent Killer in 70% of Iowa Homes 10:00 Why Landlords Block Life-Saving Radon Protections 13:00 New Home Construction: Simple Solutions Blocked by Builders 15:00 Tobacco Taxes: The Evidence-Based Solution Iowa Won't Use 17:00 Making the Political Case When Lives Are at Stake 19:30 How to Contact Lawmakers About Cancer Policy *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Hedlund and Diana Mondragon were groomed and sexually abused by the same high school teacher 20 years ago - but their paths to justice couldn't have been more different. Not because of the facts of their cases, but because of where they lived. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with the co-hosts of "Blooming After Grooming" to explore how a predator moved from Iowa to Illinois after Hedlund ended the relationship, and how state laws either support or fail survivors seeking accountability. From Iowa's restrictive statute of limitations to Illinois' more progressive laws that still fell short, their story reveals the shocking gaps in our systems meant to protect children. Discover how Hedlund found Mondragon through a cold LinkedIn message, why the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners became the unlikely hero of their case, and what parents, educators, and students need to know about recognizing and preventing grooming. Toss some bags at survivor accountability... the trauma onion that keeps peeling... and why "why now?" is the wrong question... Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation, and Dr. Andrew Nish has a blunt explanation: "Politics and big money." After 34 years treating cancer patients in Iowa, the medical director of John Stoddard Cancer Center connects our climbing cancer rates to everything from agricultural practices and contaminated water to our drinking culture and lack of green spaces. In this episode of Cornhole Champions, Dr. Nish explains the "exposome" - all the environmental factors we're exposed to over a lifetime that influence cancer risk. From ultra-processed foods disrupting our microbiome to nitrates in our water system, he argues that Iowa's health crisis stems from the same forces shaping our economy. Toss some bags about why politics and big money block solutions to Iowa's cancer crisis and and what one doctor thinks we need to change to save lives. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. It’s produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. SHOW RUNDOWN: 02:00 - Welcome to Cornhole Champions: Accountability and Healing 04:00 - How Two Survivors Found Each Other Through LinkedIn 05:30 - The Grooming Started: From Iowa to Illinois 09:00 - Different States, Different Laws, Different Outcomes 11:30 - Iowa's Statute of Limitations vs Illinois' Progressive Laws 12:30 - How Iowa Board of Education Became the Unlikely Hero 16:30 - The Trauma Onion: When Systems Fail to Protect 22:30 - Why Survivors Wait: The Average Age is 52 LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation, and it's getting worse. A million-dollar study confirmed what many suspected: agricultural pollution is poisoning our water and making Iowans sick. However, after scientists completed their research, the $400,000 set aside to tell Iowans about it simply disappeared. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with investigative journalist Carey Gillam, editor-in-chief of The New Lede and author of "The Monsanto Papers" and "Whitewash." She spent 17 years as a senior correspondent with Reuters international news service. Her work has been at the center of how powerful agricultural interests suppress critical public health research while Iowa families pay the price. From EPA officials grilling pork chops with polluters to the revolving door between Big Ag and government regulators, we explore how corporate money corrupts the science that should protect us all. Toss some bags at Iowa's cancer crisis cover-up… Trump's EPA reversing water protections… And why farmers are fighting back on their own… Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. It’s produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:00 - Iowa's Shocking Cancer Statistics: Second Worst in America 01:30 - The $400,000 Cover-Up: Public Health Funding Disappears 05:00 - Pattern of Suppression: Multiple Studies Buried by Officials 07:30 - EPA Chief Grills with Polluters at Iowa State Fair 09:00 - Big Ag's Corruption Playbook: Ghost Writing and Revolving Doors 12:30 - Trump EPA Reverses Water Protection for Iowa Rivers 16:30 - Farmers Fight Back: Real Solutions from the IDEA Network 19:00 - Why Voluntary Change Won't Save Iowa's Water LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ty Rushing made history as the first Black reporter and editor at eight different Iowa publications, but his journey from breaking barriers to breaking down stories reveals something deeper about the evolution of journalism. From covering northwest Iowa's "playground" of small towns to mentoring the next generation at the University of Iowa, Rushing offers some insight into what shoe leather teaches about the craft. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith dives deep with the Emmy-nominated documentarian about the art of local journalism, the challenge of "parachute reporters," and why every gas station should have decent coffee. Toss some bags at making the jump from veteran reporter to rookie professor… The real difference between local and parachute journalism… And why Mike Jones references don't land with Gen Z students… Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. *SHOW RUNDOWN:* 00:00 From Local to Statewide: Expanding Your Coverage Playground 02:30 The "Helicopter Journalist" Problem in Iowa 05:00 Defending Iowa from Coastal Elite Takes 07:30 Transitioning from Top Reporter to Rookie Professor 10:30 Teaching Local Government: More Than Just Meeting Coverage 16:00 Preparing Students for a Consolidated News Industry 18:00 The Time-Consuming Reality of Academic Grading 23:00 Generational Gaps: Mike Jones vs. Gen Z Students *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're just a week out from the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and since then we've seen Iowa Republicans lash out at everything from local teachers to the Iowa National Guard in response. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers and Avery Staker break down the state's response to Kirk's assassination, the impact you can have on city-school elections, and why the Iowa Gov. thinks she can withhold her emails from the public. Toss some bags at city-school elections this fall... Iowa's response to Kirk's assassination... And what about Gov. Kim Reynolds' emails?! Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. It’s produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. *SHOW RUNDOWN:* 00:00 Sweet Corn Controversy: Mississippi vs Iowa Food Fight 08:30 Local Elections: Why 80% of Iowans Skip Races That Matter Most 15:30 Political Violence Statistics: 23% of Americans Now Support Violence 22:30 Iowa Teachers Face Firing Over Social Media Posts 28:30 Johnson County Defies Governor's Flag Order 35:00 Kim Reynolds Can't Deny "Money Laundering" Claims on Camera 40:30 Email Lawsuit: What Is Reynolds Hiding from Taxpayers? 43:00 Government Transparency vs Executive Privilege Battle *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa chose loyalty over lawsuits when Trump cut $11 billion in federal health funding. And we paid the price. While blue states sued and kept 80% of their CDC grants, Iowa lost all 12 of its targeted research grants. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down how Iowa's decision to stay quiet cost millions in federal dollars while other states fought back and won. Plus, why your congressman thinks town halls are "taxpayer-funded protests" and the 2026 scramble as Ashley Hinson jumps to Senate. Toss some bags at Iowa losing research funding... why your congressman is skipping out on town halls... and the musical chairs of 2026 as Iowa's biggest seats come open... Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. It’s produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. RUNDOWN: 00:00 - Miller-Meeks vs Rob Sand: The Breakfast Pizza Twitter Drama 07:30 - Iowa Lost ALL Health Funding While Blue States Fought Back11:00 - 80% vs 5%: The Shocking Funding Numbers Explained 15:00 - Zach Nunn Calls Town Halls "Taxpayer-Funded Protests" 21:30 - Why Your Congressman Only Listens to Corporate Donors 27:00 - Ashley Hinson's "Orchestrated" Senate Run in 3 Hours 32:30 - 2026 Election Scramble: Which Seats Are Actually Competitive 38:00 - Iowa Democrats' Best Shot at Flipping Federal Seats in Years LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation, and Dr. Andrew Nish has a blunt explanation: "Politics and big money." After 34 years treating cancer patients in Iowa, the medical director of John Stoddard Cancer Center connects our climbing cancer rates to everything from agricultural practices and contaminated water to our drinking culture and lack of green spaces. In this episode of Cornhole Champions, Dr. Nish explains the "exposome" - all the environmental factors we're exposed to over a lifetime that influence cancer risk. From ultra-processed foods disrupting our microbiome to nitrates in our water system, he argues that Iowa's health crisis stems from the same forces shaping our economy. Toss some bags about why politics and big money block solutions to Iowa's cancer crisis and and what one doctor thinks we need to change to save lives. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. It’s produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. SHOW RUNDOWN: 02:00 - Doctor blames "politics and big money" for blocking cancer prevention 06:00 - Iowa's shocking cancer statistics: 2nd highest in nation, only getting worse 18:30 - Iowa's binge drinking problem affects highest earners most 22:30 - Why sitting is literally deadly and increases cancer risk 29:30 - Sleep study: 2 fewer hours drops immune cells by 40% 33:30 - Nitrates in Iowa water: "It's not pretty" says cancer expert 40:00 - Why Iowa has world's largest nitrate removal facility 43:00 - Shocking comparison: Iowa's hog waste equals 83 million people LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa ranks fifth nationally for melanoma—a rate similar to Arizona—and the reason might surprise you. It's not just about UV radiation. It's about who's spending their days outside and how we protect ourselves. Dr. Marta Van Beek, a dermatologist at UI Healthcare, breaks down the reality: agricultural workers face 60% higher skin cancer rates, there's no such thing as a "healthy tan," and most of us are applying sunscreen completely wrong. (Spoiler: it's every two hours, not just when you remember.) Toss some bags with a dermatologist about why Iowa's skin cancer rate is high and what you can do to reduce your chances of being part of the statistic. Toss some bags at Iowa's surprising skin cancer crisis... why "pale is in vogue"... and the two-hour sunscreen rule that changes everything... *SHOW RUNDOWN:* 00:00 - Why Iowa ranks 5th nationally for melanoma (higher than Arizona!) 01:58 - Agricultural workers face 60% higher skin cancer rates 03:30 - The two-hour sunscreen rule most people don't follow 06:30 - Rural healthcare barriers: living far from dermatologists 09:00 - "No such thing as a healthy tan" - myth debunked 10:00 - Iowa's tanning bed problem: one of only 6 states with no restrictions 12:00 - Why tanning is actually addictive (endorphins released) 14:30 - "It's never too late" - why 50-year-olds should still protect skin *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa's public schools are hemorrhaging students while 157 districts now depend on budget guarantees to survive. Meanwhile, the state is dismantling 168 years of history by closing Iowa City's Historical Society research center to save money. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker connect three stories that reveal how Iowa systematically undermines the foundations that could keep families here. Toss some bags at declining school enrollment... the coming loss of a historical archive in Iowa City... And how the 1986 Deere strike connects to today's tariff layoffs... Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. RUNDOWN: 07:00 - 157 School Districts on Budget Guarantee: The Enrollment Crisis Explained 11:00 - Why Moving 6th Grade Back to Elementary Is Just a Band-Aid Solution 14:00 - Iowa City Rally: Fighting to Save 168 Years of Historical Archives 16:30 - Meskwaki Nation Artifacts at Risk: What 60% Collection Loss Really Means 19:00 - The Intangible Cost: How Archive Closures Kill Student Curiosity 24:00 - 39 Years Ago Today: The Longest John Deere Strike in History Began 26:00 - $600 Million in Tariff Costs: How Trump's Trade War Hits Iowa Workers 29:00 - Waterloo's Five John Deere Plants: When Layoffs Devastate Entire Communities LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in America, and Dr. Richard Deming has been fighting this crisis for four decades. In this powerful conversation, Iowa's leading oncologist reveals what you can actually do about it. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, we explore the mortality wake-up call that cancer brings and the simple---though not easy---steps that could save thousands of lives. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:00 Iowa's Cancer Crisis: Why We're Second in America 05:30 The Mortality Wake-Up Call: Cancer Changes Everything 12:00 From Navy Diver to Cancer Fighter: An Unlikely Journey 20:00 Why Screening Saves Lives (But Can Also Harm) 28:00 Iowa's Two Big Problems: Radon and Farm Chemicals 34:00 The 45% Solution: What We Already Know Works 36:30 Why Smoking Is Still Cancer's Biggest Killer 42:00 Healthcare Access: The Hidden Cancer Crisis LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The "One Big, Beautiful Bill" promises to help working Americans – but when you dig into the details, it's just another political bump-it: looks impressive from far away, falls apart up close. Republicans are celebrating "no tax on tips," but what does it actually do for Iowa service workers making $2.13 an hour? On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith and Amie Rivers dig into the truth behind the tax policy that expires when Trump leaves office. Toss some bags at "no" tax on tips... merit pay for teachers... Catelin Drey is running in a Sioux City special election next week... and Iowa Rep. Lindsay James is a candidate taking on US Rep. Ashley Hinson. SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:30 - Republicans' Viral "Bump It" Tax Ad Gets Exposed 06:00 - GOP Rep's Embarrassing 10% Tip Goes Viral 10:30 - Iowa DOGE Wants to Turn Teachers Into Products 17:30 - "Moms for Iowa" Founder Runs for Deep Red Senate Seat 21:30 - From Uvalde to Campaign Trail: Mom's Political Awakening 33:30 - Can Democrats Flip Ashley Hinson's Safe Seat? 37:30 - Insulin or Rent: The Impossible Choice Driving This Campaign 46:00 - Good Samaritan Politics vs. $5 Million War Chest LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa uses more pesticides per capita than any other state—nearly 54 million pounds annually. But according to research engineer Chris Jones, we might be focusing on the wrong chemicals when it comes to cancer risk. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with Jones, author of "The Swine Republic" and president of Driftless Water Defenders, to unpack Iowa's chemical cocktail crisis. We explore why 60% of Iowa's corn goes to ethanol production that exists only because of policy—not environmental benefits. Jones argues it's time to "slaughter the sacred cow" and redirect farm conservation dollars toward systems that don't pollute in the first place. Toss some bags at Iowa's pesticide problem... why ethanol might be our biggest policy mistake... and what a progressive water quality platform actually looks like. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. SHOW RUNDOWN: 01:00 - Iowa uses more pesticides per capita than any other state 02:00 - The dangerous "chemical cocktail" effect explained 03:30 - Neonicotinoids: The overlooked pesticide in our drinking water 07:00 - How weeds fighting back is making everything worse 08:00 - Dicamba drift: Why everyone in Iowa is breathing toxic chemicals 12:00 - The "D-Day invasion" of crop dusters poisoning our air 22:00 - Why ethanol is Iowa's biggest policy mistake 24:30 - Slaughtering the sacred cow: What needs to change now LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zachosmith Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter -   / iastartingline   Facebook -   / iowastartingline   TikTok -   / iowastartingline   Instagram -   / iowastartingline   YouTube -    / @iowastartingline   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Reynolds administration is targeting public retirement—again. Despite promising to "protect and defend" IPERS in 2018, Gov. Kim Reynolds's handpicked DOGE task force now wants to eliminate pensions for new state employees. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down how wealthy business executives are targeting the 11th best-funded pension system in America. Toss some bags at Iowa DOGE's pension grab... Josh Turek's Senate bid... And how cancer research cuts are shutting down labs across Iowa... Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:00 Cold Open: The Great Donut Debate 04:30 Iowa DOGE Targets Teacher and Police Pensions 06:00 What is IPERS and Why It Matters 10:30 Iowa Has the 11th Best Pension System in America 14:00 Josh Turek Announces Senate Bid Against Joni Ernst 27:00 Why Josh Turek Thinks Democrats Can Win in 2026 30:30 Cancer Research Funding Cuts Shut Down Iowa Labs 35:00 Why Private Funding Can't Replace Public Research LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes the science moves faster than public policy. And it has real impacts on your health. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Orne Smith explores this gap with Dr. David Cwiertny, an environmental engineer at the University of Iowa. Toss some bags at the science-policy gap… why we find chemicals everywhere we look… and what mass balance means for Iowa's future. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. *SHOW RUNDOWN:* 0:00 - Welcome: Iowa's cancer rates and chemical safety evolution 2:30 - Mass Balance Principle: Why chemicals never really disappear 5:00 - Neonicotinoids: The pesticides painted on seeds 8:00 - Atrazine Study Reversal: Same research, opposite conclusions 11:30 - The Science-Policy Gap: 20-year lag between discovery and action 14:00 - Why Simple Answers Don't Exist for Complex Problems 16:30 - Living in the "Gray Area" of Chemical Safety 18:30 - Alternative Agriculture: Different models, same profitability *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa is hemorrhaging talent, and the numbers are staggering. With 34% more college graduates leaving than staying, the state lost $17.6 billion in potential income from just the 2023 cohort alone. But that's not the only crisis hitting Iowans hard. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers Rivers, and Avery Staker dive into Iowa's brain drain crisis and explore why young professionals—especially LGBTQ+ Iowans—are fleeing the state. Toss some bags about the economic cost of brain drain… how pesticides contribute to Iowa’s cancer problem… and how the Iowa Supreme Court is approaching new “strict scrutiny” language. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by Zachary Oren Smith and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. Watch the full episode on Iowa Starting Line’s YouTube. YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:00 - Classic 1980s Waterloo Tourism Commercial (Viral Opening) 06:30 - Iowa's $17.6 Billion Brain Drain Crisis Begins 08:30 - Why 34% More College Graduates Leave Iowa Than Stay 16:30 - LGBTQ+ Exodus: "Most of My Friends Are Leaving the State" 19:00 - 53 Million Pounds: Iowa's Massive Pesticide Problem 24:00 - Cancer Rates & Agricultural Health Study Findings 32:30 - Iowa Supreme Court's Surprising Gun Law Divisions 36:00 - Domestic Violence & "While Criming" Court Cases LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube -    • Cornhole Champions - Full Episodes   Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA... PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos Instagram -   / zacharyosmith   Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bs... Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith LinkedIn -   / zacharyos   FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter -   / iastartingline   Facebook -   / iowastartingline   TikTok -   / iowastartingline   Instagram -   / iowastartingline   YouTube -    / @iowastartingline  \ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Mary Charlton directs the Iowa Cancer Registry, tracking cancer diagnoses across the state for over 50 years and helping researchers understand Iowa's stubbornly high cancer rates. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith talks with Charlton about what the data really shows, why simple explanations for complex problems fall short, and the challenge of doing long-term science in a world that wants quick answers. Toss some bags at complicated truths... geographic patterns that don't fit neat theories... the politics of risk factors... why linking cancer to environmental causes takes decades... and the funding crisis threatening Iowa's public health infrastructure. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by Zachary Oren Smith and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube | Substack | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | PocketCasts | ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts. FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been one year since Iowa's near-total abortion ban took effect, and the numbers tell a devastating story. A 74% drop in abortion services in Iowa means Iowans are traveling hundreds of miles and paying thousands more for healthcare. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down the real impact of Iowa's restrictive abortion law on families and communities. From $19,000 emergency cases to overnight drives with young kids, we explore how the ban has forced care out of state. Toss some bags at one-year of Iowa’s near-total abortion ban… Trump revoking visa workers in Ottumwa… And why LGBTQ Iowans are leaving… Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube | Substack | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | PocketCasts | ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts. FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices