The Iowa Podcast

Back in 2012, downtown Burlington was a beautiful, albeit quiet. But today it's thriving and active, at times with four shows performing simultaneously in the downtown area. Jeff Poulter, Director of The Capitol Theater complex discusses the historic theater and the thriving Downtown area.  💡 Find this show on every app: https://iowapodcast.com/capitol-theater-burlington 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq ⚖️ Hurt on the job? Get Nate Boulton's help https://workerslawyers.com  Poulter isn't sure if the Theater's historic renovation set off the growth in Dubuque but the timing is notable. Oftentimes historic renovations and artistic pursuit are the catalyst to new growth. Poulter explains all the activity at the theater, the new speakeasy and gives a first-hand account of what traveling acts say about Dubuque when they stop by. Chapters:00:00 - Welcome to Burlington's Arts Hub 01:21 - Inside the Capitol Complex and Nightcap 07:58 - Renovation History and Riverfront Revival 15:16 - Local Music Partners 16:19 - Why Acts Return 22:25 - River Cruises And Events

Have you heard Iowans are "risk averse" creatures? Research from Iowa State University not only suggests this may be true, but its origin may be tied to farmer trauma, passed down to our children and grandchildren. Chris Morris, PhD research shows stress from farming has a compounding effect over time and becomes mentally destructive. The resulting trauma not only results in risk averse behavior and higher than average suicide rates, but is passed down.  Dr. Morris has spoken with farmers across the entire state, and his stories are heartbreaking and shocking. The immense pressure farmer's face of "feeding the world" and protecting their ancestors legacy are heavy burdens result in low-grade stress that builds. Making things more difficult, farmers rarely share these social pressures, and therefore lack the mental tools to reverse the trend. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/iowa-risk-aversion 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq   Chapters: 00:00 - Why Iowans Play It Safe 02:06 - Farm Trauma Explained 06:38 - Risk Aversion and Ripple Effects 16:52 - Stigma and Isolation 24:03 - Trauma Stories and Policy 29:32 - What Helps Farmers Heal

If you've seen a national media story featuring Iowa, visited the Des Moines airport, picked up an Iowa magazine, checked out the Iowa Road Trip Facebook page, or have seen any Iowa tourism website, you've likely appreciated his work. His name is Brian Abeling and he explains the stories behind Iowa's most iconic shots. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/iowa-road-trip 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Born in New York, Abeling lives in central Iowa and although it may seem like taking breathtaking Iowa photo is his full time job, he explains it's just a hobby, but his organizational skill and dedication to finding the most perfect Iowa shots are 2nd to none. He explains his favorite Iowa moments, how far Iowa nice goes, and his incredibly detailed system that grew his Iowa Road Trip Facebook page to over 330,000 followers.  Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome And Introduction 01:15 - Career Highlights And Features 03:15 - Day Job Vs Night Job 03:39 - Automating Iowa Road Trip 04:38 - Food Photos And Fan Encounters 07:45 - Iowa Safety And Iowa Nice 11:00 - Favorite Hidden Iowa Spots 12:48 - Page Growth And Content Strategy 14:48 - Iowa Pride And Social Media 16:24 - Ignore the Comments 16:51 - Quiet Iowa Moments 18:23 - When Fans Don't Believe 19:48 - Photos That Boost Business 21:27 - Iowa Food Obsessions 22:54 - Iowa Isn't Flat 24:03 - From New York to Iowa 25:35 - Photography Origin Story 27:05 - Planning Road Trip Shoots 29:31 Years of Dedication 30:28 - Where to Find Brian 30:54 - Wrap up and Closing

The Des Moines Symphony is 1 of 4 symphonies in the USA with a young musician academy, which is the focus of their final 3 Masterworks performances. Get 20% off using code: IOWAPODCAST to see this unique experience right here in Iowa! Maestro Joseph Giunta breaks down their final three Masterworks concerts featuring the Heartland Youth Choir singing the well known Shaker Hymn "Tis a Gift to be Simple" and 17-year old child prodigy Amaryn Olmeda for Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto and a whole lot more.  Chapters: 00:50 - Orchestra Size and Hall Acoustics  02:05 - Masterworks 5: Reflection featuring Stella Chen  09:44 - Masterworks 6: Hope featuring Heartland Youth Choir 14:13 - Masterworks 7: Courage featuring Amaryn Olmeda 15:32 - Alpine Symphony And Hall Sound 🎻 Get Masterworks tickets https://dmsymphony.org/about/news/des-moines-symphony-masterworks-2025-2026/ 💡 Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/dm-symphony 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq

As the Iowa Legislature navigates the accelerating reality of autonomous vehicles, State Representative Megan Jones (R-Sioux Rapids) is seeking a delicate balance between technological innovation and public safety. But the current state of the bill may create a regulatory framework that inadvertently bans them entirely.  💡 Find this show on your favorite app: https://iowapodcast.com/autonomous-cars-iowa 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq  Jones chairs the House Transportation Subcommittee. She addresses the evolution of bills like HF 2375, HSB 598, HF 2673, which aim to define the "rules of the road" for driverless technology in the Hawkeye State. Chapters: 01:00 - Bills and Safety Fears 07:51 - Hazmat Trucks and Future Proofing 14:41 - Public Input and Liability Questions 16:30 - Liability and Tort Reform 19:24 - Insurance and Road Safety 22:10 - Bill Language and Labor Concerns 29:50 - State Rules and Closing Thoughts

Americana and Django, two iconic Des Moines restaurants, are gone for good and they're not alone. 600 restaurants in Iowa will be closing in 2026 and it's because the challenges are too many to count. Scott Carlson, owner of The Craft Beer Tent, and Gilroy's opens up about Americana's closing. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/western-gateway-restaurants/ 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Increasing taxes, work from home, zero-proof, changing food preferences, homeless population, increasing food and labor costs, regulatory burdens, food delivery, and rising insurance rates are just a few challenges most restaurateurs have to deal with. But Iowa eateries are dealing with all of them simultaneously. Carlson breaks down what happened and what needs to change. Chapters:  00:00 - Welcome - Meet Scott Carlson 01:18 - Why Americana Is Closing: 'Death by a Thousand Cuts' 02:21 - Downtown Des Moines After COVID: Lost Office Crowds & Corporate Spending 04:54 - Western Gateway Headwinds: Homelessness, Street Closures, Construction & Plumbing 06:29 - The Bigger Picture 08:44 - New Pressures on Margins 11:56 - What Can Government Do? Small Business Blind Spots & the 'Slow Exit from COVID' Warning 15:20 - Regulation, Liquor Liability, Insurance & Credit Card Fees Squeezing Restaurants 18:59 - Changing Food Preferences 20:07 - Food cost spikes & the limits of raising menu prices 22:07 - Adapting without alienating customers 23:47 - Seed oils vs beef tallow: how health rules reshaped frying 26:11 - Food vs fuel 27:17 - Why it's called Gilroy's: the ginger-themed origin story 27:56 - Survival strategy: Des Moines' "Golden Circle" 31:04 - Construction & downtown events: the hidden cost to restaurants 33:38 - The downtown dining experience 35:57 - Wrap-up

The Florida surgeon general has labeled glyphosate a "contaminant" and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) considers it carcinogenic. So, why is it used on over 70% of Iowa fields? Dr. Richard Deming of MercyOne explains why Iowa is #2 in cancer rates and what can be done.   💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/iowa-cancer-r... 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq   Deming is an oncologist and director of the Richard Deming Cancer Center at MercyOne. He explains why almost 50% of cancer causes are preventable, but rates climb anyway. He goes into vivid detail on what causes cancer, including some of the very treatments that are supposed to fight it. He also explains why eating healthy food, lowering obesity, and perhaps even some yoga are stronger cancer fighters than we initially thought.   Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and Topic Overview 00:44 - Guest Introduction: Dr. Richard Deming 00:51 - The Complexity of Cancer Causes 02:32 - Government Actions on Glyphosate 03:12 - Public Policy and Cancer Prevention 04:35 - Environmental Factors and Cancer 15:15 - Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Cancer Risk 20:16 - Unique Cancer Risks in Iowa 24:08 - The Impact of Obesity on Cancer 24:30 - Organic Food and Cancer Rates 25:10 - Modern Agriculture and Food Distribution 26:04 - The Role of Mutations in Cancer 30:17 - Cancer Screening and Prevention 37:35 - Above and Beyond Cancer: A Public Charity 41:56 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Want to see bald eagles snatching fish out of the water? Would you like to have a front row seat seeing eagles fight over a fresh meal? Professional photographer Ron Maggard explains how to find the best Iowa locations and what times are ideal.  💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/eagle-watching-locations-in-iowa  🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq  Maggard is an Iowa-based wildlife photographer and he's a big fan of bald eagles. He explains why below zero temperatures in February are great for bald eagle photography and how to find the best eagle locations across the state. He also discusses some breathtaking experiences and what time of day gets the best photographs.    Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:10 Eagle Watching in Iowa: An Overview 00:25 Expert Insights: Ron Maggard on Eagle Watching 01:16 Best Locations for Eagle Watching 02:00 Why Winter is Ideal for Eagle Watching 07:24 Photography Tips for Capturing Eagles 10:51 Eagle Behavior and Interactions 13:28 Respecting Eagle Nests: Legal Distances and Common Mistakes 14:27 The Size and Construction of Eagle Nests 16:28 Eagle Watching in Iowa: A New Phenomenon 17:20 Photography Tips for Capturing Eagles 19:21 Eagle Behavior and Hunting Techniques 21:24 The Impact of Removing Roller Dams on Eagle Populations 22:29 Exploring Iowa's Hidden Gems Through Photography 24:40 Final Thoughts and Photography Advice

The drive down Ingersoll avenue is a juxtaposition of new and trendy, but also rundown and gross. But this month, with the launch of The Ingersoll that brand is finally behind us. Steve Peters, co-owner of The Ingersoll, and CEO of VenuWorks describes the process of saving the building and bringing back to life the iconic marquee.   💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/the-iconic-ingersoll/ 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq   Peters says every inch of the building needed to be gutted and redone to save it. But Iowans have responded favorably, selling the venue out every night in January. And the good news doesn't stop there. Despite it being open for only a few weeks, 50% of the acts are from across the country. Musicians, actors, and touring groups are already getting in line to come perform for Iowans.   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:13 The Ingersoll Theater: From Eyesore to Crown Jewel 01:14 Challenges and Delays in Renovation 03:04 The Grand Opening and Community Response  03:48 Historical Significance and Restoration Efforts 06:50 Modern Upgrades and Technological Enhancements 14:01 Community Support and Unexpected Challenges 14:53 Unexpected Challenges in Building Restoration  15:25 Community Support and Initial Steps 16:02 Long-term Viability and Programming Plans 16:31 Theater Offerings and Local Talent 18:58 Personal Connection to the Arts 19:36 Private vs. Public Funding in Theater Restoration 20:28 Ensuring Professional Management and Maintenance 23:03 Interest from Outside Acts and Community Involvement 27:29 Diverse Entertainment Spectrum 29:14 Conclusion and Ticket Information

20% of cyclists coming to Ankeny aren't from Iowa. The economic potential cyclists bring is estimated to be in the billions, but currently each stay only brings $250 in economic activity. Derek Lord, Ankeny economic development director explains the retail and business opportunity accommodate the massive and untapped revenue potential. Will retailers answer the call? 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/high-trestle-trail-ankeny 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq  Lord explains the High Trestle Trail has brought 250,000 cyclists through Ankeny every year. Cutting right through the middle of Uptown, the revenue potential has been immense. Will hospitality companies capitalize on the potential in 2026? Lord also addresses the growth plans for the NE Ankeny annexation, new mixed use retail and apartments in Uptown, and why traffic on Delaware is probably not changing any time soon, especially as new retailers show interest.   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 00:20 High Trestle Trail: A Unique Attraction 01:13 Flow Line and Glow Trail: Enhancing the Experience 03:39 Economic Impact and Visitor Statistics 08:22 Future Plans and Opportunities 16:21 Enhancing Hotel Amenities for Cyclists 16:42 Airbnb Opportunities in Rural Communities 17:29 Economic Impact of Bicycling in Iowa 18:40 Winter Biking Potential in Ankeny 21:14 Revitalizing Uptown Ankeny 28:05 Future Growth and Annexation Plans 30:56 Conclusion and Staying Informed

Many Iowans suffer from chronic health issues with 37% suffering from obesity. Will the new "MAHA" food pyramid actually help? The answer is yes, according to Dr. Rachel Poll. Poll is a functional medicine doctor at Delta Health in Clive, and has been recommending her own similar version of the new food pyramid to her patients for years, and the results are striking with many reversing chronic health issues.  This week the Department of Health and Human Services published a new version of the 1980s food pyramid, but the change is striking with them literally flipping much of it upside down. Healthy fats are good, red meat is on top, and grains are deemphasized. Poll said her patients have been eating a similar version of this recommended diet for years and the results she sees are irrefutable.   

This week, the US Mint launched a new coin honoring Iowa and Dr. Norman Borlaug. Many Iowans have heard his name, but most still don't know who he is, how he saved billions of people or how why his innovation won him recognition alongside Nelson Mandela. Mashal Husain, President of The World Food Prize Foundation tells the story.  Borlaug's innovation in wheat is credited with saving billions of lives, and after he founded the World Food Prize in 1986, his work of ending global hunger continued. Husain unpacks his legacy, discusses the 40 laureates selected over the years, and explains the over 20 million dollar process to renovate the former Downtown Des Moines public library into the World Food Prize headquarters and Hall of Laureates in downtown Des Moines.  https://iowapodcast.com/norman-borlaug-coin *** Exclusive for IowaPodcast.com listeners: Get your free Jethro's BBQ $30 off e-gift card when you buy $100 of e-gift cards. Use this official link: https://jethrosdesmoines.cardfoundry.com/giftcards/card_details

48,000 of the Iowans we serve will fail their fitness New Year's resolutions. That's about 80% of our listeners if you're doing the math. The reason many people fail isn't because they think small, it's because think too big or have no specified goal at all. The 9% who hit their goals keep it way simpler says personal trainer Nick Fey.  Fey is a Doctoral Student in Kinesiology and has a Masters in Kinesiology. He explains the cycle of who shows up at the gym around this time, who gives up, how long they last, and why. Believe it or not, it's not the natural athletes who stick with it. It's people who keep things really simple.  💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/iowa-personal-trainer 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq  Chapters 00:00 - Shocking Fitness Statistics 00:53 Meet the Expert: Nick Fey 01:37 New Year's Resolutions and Gym Trends 07:13 Parkinson's Disease and Exercise 13:24 Creating Effective Fitness Plans 18:32 The Scale is a Liar 19:32 Setting Realistic Goals 20:21 Advice for Beginners 24:22 Understanding Good and Bad Soreness 30:05 Advanced Training Tips 31:51 Contacting Nick for Help  

As 2026 ushers in sweeping tax reforms for business owners, CPA Ann Hartz, founder of Ann Hartz CPA in Des Moines, offers tactical steps business owners can take before January 1st to avoid overpaying their 2025 taxes. 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/  🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq  💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/iowa-cpa Paying your taxes is a civic duty, but no one wants to overpay and deal with uncertainty. Hartz offers a strategic roadmap to navigate the changes, explains when to switch from sole proprietorships to S corps, and when it's appropriate to spend money at the end of the year to save on taxes, and when it's stupid. Keep in mind, this advice may not apply to your specific situation. Please reach out to Hartz's team or your own CPA with questions. Chapters: 00:58 - Iowa Business Tax Incentives for 2026 03:39 - Understanding QBI and Business Structures 08:50 - Filing strategies for Business Owners 12:27 - End-of-Year Tax Planning Tips 23:36 - Final Thoughts and Contact Information  

Antisemitism is a problem not just in Australia but here in Iowa. The last few years have been an eye opener for a few of us, but sadly not all. Sadly, most Iowans still have the blinders on, or think this problem will simply go away. In fact, it has gotten worse. Jarad Bernstein, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines discusses the violent Hanukkah attack at Australia's Bondi Beach and warns on the rise of antisemitism around the world—and its undeniable impact close to home. https://iowapodcast.com/iowa-jewish-community  *** Exclusive for IowaPodcast.com listeners: Get your free Jethro's BBQ $30 off e-gift card when you buy $100 of e-gift cards. Use this official link: https://jethrosdesmoines.cardfoundry.com/giftcards/card_details

Tell me if you've heard this one… three actors walk into a show, one gets sick and goes to the hospital, the others finish the show and the audience thinks it's part of the show. Patrick Albanese of Triple Espresso reacts to 30 Years, crazy stories, and what surprised him most about "Iowa Nice." Albanese couldn't have picked out Iowa on a map when he heard of the show opportunity but not only did he end up moving to Iowa permanently, he found his wife here! Albanese reflects on Triple Espresso's incredible success and why their apolitical, family friendly show grew in popularity. Full show notes: https://iowapodcast.com/patrickalbanese  *** Exclusive for IowaPodcast.com listeners: Get your free Jethro's BBQ $30 off e-gift card when you buy $100 of e-gift cards. Use this official link: https://jethrosdesmoines.cardfoundry.com/giftcards/card_details

High tea, Victorian costumes, classy Christmas parties, and you're invited. Did you have any clue that any Iowan can sign up for tea parties, and this month the official Terrace Hill Christmas party? Also called the Governor's Mansion you can also do a tour, but you can't go to the basement vault. We asked Terrace Hill administrator, Molly Franta what's inside. Terrace Hill hosts Christmas and tea parties and most Iowans have no idea they can come and check it out, sip some tea and enjoy the music. The party benefits the Iowa National Guard and care packages are sent to our troops. Franta also shares some of the coolest rooms in Terrace Hill that most folks don't have access to. Full show notes: https://iowapodcast.com/terrace-hill-christmas *** Exclusive for IowaPodcast.com listeners: Get your free Jethro's BBQ $30 off e-gift card when you buy $100 of e-gift cards. Use this official link: https://jethrosdesmoines.cardfoundry.com/giftcards/card_details   

In this special Thanksgiving show, host Justin Brady asks his wife, Vanessa Brady, how to whip up a 15 minute cranberry sauce for those of you with no time, using few ingredients. This cranberry sauce is a yearly go-to. It can be prepped early, but in your case, you can go to the store, buy a few ingredients, prep, make, and serve all in 2 hours or less. She also explains why actions you take today and tomorrow will determine how easy next year is. Now is the best time to plan, and she explains how to do it and how to organize notes so next year involves no guessing and no stress. Go to https://iowapodcast.com/thanksgiving for the recipe and show notes. *** Exclusive for IowaPodcast.com listeners:  Get your free Jethro's BBQ $30 off e-gift card when you buy $100 of e-gift cards. Use this official link: https://jethrosdesmoines.cardfoundry.com/giftcards/card_details *** Chapters:  00:00 - Last-Minute Dish & Prepping for next year 01:10 - Thanksgiving Preparation and Family Roles 03:16 - Stuffing and Mashed Potatoes Tips 05:22 - 15-min Cranberry Sauce Walkthrough 12:49 - Final Thoughts and Additional Resources

"Move that bus!" is a phrase ABC watchers remember. And so does Rick Tollakson, the CEO of Hubbell Realty, Iowa's largest real estate company. He discussed working with Extreme Home Makeover and how it changed Iowa real estate. He also gives his expert analysis on Iowa home values, home costs, and how to keep young people in Iowa. Tollakson just launched a new book called  Think Bigger, Lead Better. In the book he discusses stories about Iowa and how he grew Hubbell into the powerhouse it is today. Tollakson also dives into current market conditions, downtown Des Moines challenges, affordable housing, and the ICON water trails taking inspiration from… Idaho?  Full show notes: https://iowapodcast.com/iowa-real-estate-market *** Exclusive for IowaPodcast.com listeners: Get your free Jethro's BBQ $30 off e-gift card when you buy $100 of e-gift cards. Use this official link: https://jethrosdesmoines.cardfoundry.com/giftcards/card_details   

If you're a Shark Tank fan, you saw Iowa Falls native Billie Asmus, Founder of Repaint Studios get a deal with Chip and Joanna Gains, and Barbara Corcoran. But you also didn't see quite a bit. You didn't see the full 1 hour pitch, you didn't see Chip trying to crush her paint tray, and you didn't see the 5 years leading up to her "lucky break."  Asmus discusses her experience, and tells other Iowans how to get in the tank: Spoiler: it's about hard work and trying over and over again. She explains her backstory and risks, but also explains how she mitigated risks up front before spending over $30,000 on a mold for her product. For Shark Tank fans, and prospective entrepreneurs, Asmus gives a crash course worth hearing.  Full show notes: https://iowapodcast.com/billie-asmus-shark-tank-repaint-studios  *** Exclusive for IowaPodcast.com listeners: Get your free Jethro's BBQ $30 off e-gift card when you buy $100 of e-gift cards. Use this official link: https://jethrosdesmoines.cardfoundry.com/giftcards/card_details