Podcast by Jeff Stein

Explore the tales and beginnings of North Iowa's businesses, people, and organizations. 

The true stories of life at a Lutheran institution housing orphans and the elderly in rural Iowa on the eve of the Great Depression. Almost lost to the passage of time, these stories of sorrow and joy, compassion and cooperation have been uncovered and can now be shared with you. Join mother and son hosts Karen Thalacker and Andrew Newell as you learn about life at the German Lutheran Orphans and Old Folks Home - or as it was commonly called The Homes. Follow The Homes on Instagram at lifeatthehomes for photographs and additional content. more

The Iowa Great Lakes story is a vibrant quilt woven from the threads of American history: railroad tycoons and boat builders, the U.S.-Dakota War, every beat of American music culture, evolutions in biology, and countless summer memories. more

Discover Iowa's role in the advancement of civil rights. Learn how landmark Iowa court cases, the Iowa Underground Railroad, Iowa towns like Buxton, and Iowa civil rights pioneers like Alexander G. Clark, Ralph Montgomery, Edna Griffin, and more guided the future of the state and the nation. We will look at how the nation's path forward might be discovered by gleaning the wisdom of Iowa's history. For any questions or suggestions, please email Erick at iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.com more

The Black Dirt Tapes is a true crime podcast uncovering the dark, forgotten stories buried beneath Iowa's surface.Hosted, written, and produced by Cody Burk, each episode digs into the eerie, unsettling, and often unexplained history of small towns across the state--true crime, paranormal encounters, local legends, and the things people would rather forget.No teams. No studios. Just one mic and the stories that won't stay buried.Follow on Instagram and Threads for updates and behind-the-scenes content, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. more

No bells or whistles, just a read through select columns in historical Iowa newspapers on this day in history. Some readings may be shaky due to the quality of the scan and verbiage of the time. Access to these newspapers has been acquired digitally through the University of Northern Iowa's Iowa Historical Newspapers index. Many thanks to the folks who put in the work and manage the collection. These readings create a window back in time and are perfect for listening intently or as background, and hopefully stir the imagination! more

Host Meg Mechelke explores the history of the science of reading and literacy instruction in the United States. more