Chip Chat

In the spirit of last week’s “Small Rooms, Big Hearts” article about finding beauty where you seek it (especially in listening rooms across the Midwest), it’s a joy to bring you this interview with Byron Stuart, the creator of Legendary Byron’s. From the Wall Street Journal to Iowa Public Radio, to fellow Iowa Writers Collaborative Roundup member KC McGinnis’s “Hopeful Romanticism,” and a previous Chip Happens column, many journalists have covered the energy and community love that come together on Sundays at Byron’s. It’s a special place.

Here’s an opportunity to hear from the catalyst himself as Byron takes us through the history of his joint, telling folks to “be prepared to smile” when they make their way to Pomeroy on a Sunday afternoon. This road trip should be on the bucket list of every fan of live music in the state of Iowa. Below are pics from our IWC Hootenanny gathering last week and Steve Ross also captured the night here in his column, The Friends of Byron Project. As Steve’s subhead accurately reads, “it was a hoot”.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Thank you for your support!

Paid subscriptions are amazing, but I understand they aren’t for everyone. My Venmo is @chip-albright-1 if you feel inspired to support the cause at any level. You can also learn about my other professional services at www.chiphappens.life where I help folks evaluate strategic alternatives to traditional long-term care based on my experience as a family caregiver with loved ones going through cancer and dementia diagnoses. Thanks for reading, sharing and commenting on Chip Happens!

To find more stories and insights across the state of Iowa, please consider following and supporting the many talented journalists and storytellers of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative of which I’m a proud member. NOTE: All annual paid subscribers to the Chip Happens Substack also receive a copy of my CD compilation, Twenty-Five, that includes 25 original songs. If you are only in the market for the CD, it is available here for $25. CD art and design were completed by my amazing and talented wife, Jen Albright, who is the driving force behind our strategy + creative firm, AlbrightSpark.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Every day is a good day for poetry in Des Moines. With tender tones and extraordinary respect, Jim Autry curates and presents poems for the people on KFMG’s One Word After Another program that airs four times a day (3a, 8a, 3p, 9p except on Thursdays when it airs at 8p). With his iconic voice and an unquenchable passion for the arts, Jim’s presentation is a perfect opportunity to pause and reflect while a poem pulls you into its purview.

Due to vocal inconsistencies and complications from Parkinson’s disease, the now 93-year-old Mr. Autry is no longer actively recording new poems for KFMG. However, the thousands he meticulously presented with intentionality and purpose over the years co-mingle daily above the skies of our beautiful city, connecting minds with words and “what’s beneath them”. One Word After Another is an artfully unique radio program that enhances the human experience through voice and expression.

Earlier this month, Jim graciously agreed to an interview, and I’m pleased to present our conversation in this latest podcast episode. For additional backstory, I asked Ron Sorenson, General Manager of KFMG, a service of the Des Moines Radio Community Foundation, about the 2007 origins of the poetry program. He said, “When we discussed having Jim Autry read poetry on the station, there was some concern. I mean, POETRY? On what was primarily a rock-leaning radio station? Granted, KFMG also played Jazz and Celtic and Reggae and Blues. But POETRY? It’s not even music. We are VERY pleased that we did so. We have NEVER had a complaint nor unhappy feedback from a listener about the program, and have had MANY positive responses, including persons who provide financial support to the station specifically because of One Word After Another.” Here’s an example of Jim’s exquisite reading for One Word After Another.

There’s much to learn from Jim Autry. Beyond being an accomplished author and poet, he led many successful corporate and philanthropic endeavors along the way and is well-respected across many communities for his passion and perseverance. It was an honor to sit and converse with him about the many meaningful elements art adds to our daily lives. While there are numerous takeaways from the conversation, his handling of topic of “accessibility” to art is inescapable for me.

Jim came to poetry rather in late in life, amidst his corporate ascent. He was entranced by it after attending a reading by Deliverance author James Dickey while on a business trip. He started writing immediately thereafter and poetry has played a unique role in his life ever since. Here’s his reading of “What Personnel Handbooks Never Tell You” after our conversation.

Jim also made sure to note that Poetry Palooza is right around the corner. Hosted by Grandview University and DMACC April 16-18, “this festival celebrates esteemed poets, cultivates students and emerging talent, and demonstrates the positive power of poetry.” On Friday night, they will present Ray Young Bear, a Meskwaki poet and novelist, with the 2026 James A. Autry Award for Poetry and Leadership. Feels like a pretty special and accessible way to spend an evening with poetry. Thank you for the reminder and encouragement to us all, Jim.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

To find more stories and insights across the state of Iowa, please consider following and supporting the many talented journalists and storytellers of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative of which I’m a proud member. We’re planning two wonderful nights of music as part of our IWC Storm Lake retreat on April 23 and 24th. Admission is free for our paid subscribers. Please RSVP with the links below now as seating is limited for both events. The Weary Ramblers will perform on Thursday, April 23rd in the Mermaid Room of the Cobblestone Ballroom in Storm Lake and Friday, April 24th is the Inaugural IWC Hootenanny at Legendary Byron’s in Pomeroy.

Please also note that all paid subscribers are welcome to join the monthly Iowa Writers’ Collaborative’s Office Lounge on Zoom. It’s the last Friday of every month and it’s a lively conversation with Dr. Robert Leonard moderating. Please join members of the IWC and other paid subscribers for an unscripted conversation here.

NOTE: All annual paid subscribers to the Chip Happens Substack also receive a copy of my CD compilation, Twenty-Five, that includes 25 original songs. If you are only in the market for the CD, it is available here for $25. CD art and design were completed by my amazing and talented wife, Jen Albright, who is the driving force behind our strategy + creative firm, AlbrightSpark. To learn more about my personal experience helping folks with caregiver and home health care insurance, please click here.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

It’s a beautiful and unseasonably warm Friday morning in February. The sun is shining as I drive crosstown with the sunroof open listening to local, independent KFMG on the airwaves. As I get out of the car and grab my gear, I hear a woodpecker providing a little extra rhythm to my beat.

I’m feeling blessed. Not only is the natural world providing me with unignorable nourishment and encouragement, but I’m about to kick it with the legendary Dartanyan Brown, chatting music and life in his home studio.

Before I knock on his door, I spot a small stone echoing my mood. It reads, “There is always music amongst the trees in the garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.” I’m happy to be where I am.

Dartanyan welcomes me with a tour of his home full of art and intrigue. Dartanyan’s partner, Paula Egan, is a talented visual artist and the home is full of her work and that of others. Sunshine radiates through the home in all directions.

After the tour, we sit down for the podcast and discuss a range of topics including growing up in Des Moines, R. Buckminster Fuller’s “comprehensivists” thinking,” Dartanyan’s experience as a “copy kid” at the Des Moines Register in the ’60s, the state of journalism today, Julie Gammack and the Iowa Writers Collaborative Roundup, and Dartanyan’s robust column, “My Integrated Life” found here on his Substack site.

The time flew by and I can’t wait to do it again. It was an absolute treat. Thank you Dartanyan L. Brown for your time and all the wisdom.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

My next public performance is this Thursday, February 19th, at the Unity Center in Des Moines. This is the inaugural night of our new listening room series in this beautiful space located in the heart of Des Moines at 414 31st St. Doors open at 5:30pm and we’ll play from 6-7pm. It’s a free event modeling the coffee house stylings of the 60s basket houses that were critical to the folk music movement. My talented wife, Jen, is joining me for this first hour-long set. Each Third Thursday throughout 2026 will feature another local artist. We hope you can make it out.

To find more stories and insights across the state of Iowa, please consider following and supporting the many talented journalists and storytellers of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative of which I’m a proud member. We’re planning two wonderful nights of music as part of our IWC Storm Lake retreat on April 23 and 24th. Admission is free for our paid subscribers. Please RSVP with the links below now as seating is limited for both events. The Weary Ramblers will perform on Thursday, April 23rd in the Mermaid Room of the Cobblestone Ballroom in Storm Lake and Friday, April 24th is the Inaugural IWC Hootenanny at Legendary Byron’s in Pomeroy.

Please also note that all paid subscribers are welcome to join the monthly Iowa Writers’ Collaborative’s Office Lounge on Zoom. It’s the last Friday of every month and it’s a lively conversation with Dr. Robert Leonard moderating. Please join members of the IWC and other paid subscribers for an unscripted conversation here.

NOTE: All annual paid subscribers to Chip Happens also receive a copy of my CD compilation, Twenty-Five, that includes 25 original songs. If you are only in the market for the CD, it is available here for $25. CD art and design were completed by my amazing and talented wife, Jen Albright, who is the driving force behind our strategy + creative firm, AlbrightSpark. To learn more about my personal experience helping folks with caregiver and home health care insurance, please click here.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

About a year ago, I met Dr. Bryan Hall, a licensed mental health counselor. I handed him one of my “We Are All Living Chemistry Experiments” merch stickers and it sparked a broader conversation about mental wellbeing. In that short conversation, I first heard about the term “learned helplessness” that I’ve now referenced in many conversations along the way.

When we met, I told Bryan a bit about Tonja, my older adopted sister who had recently passed away at the young age of 56. (In my song and eulogy, Lady Unicorn, I share her story which includes abandonment at age 6 by her biological parents.) Bryan remarked that many people who suffer trauma at such a young age have a hard time because of a condition called “learned helplessness.” I found it quite insightful.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I reached back out to him recently to see if he would be willing to hop on my podcast to chat mental wellbeing and he kindly agreed. We discussed a handful of topics promoting mental wellness that I hope you find beneficial.

Thanks for reading and listening to Chip Happens! This post is public so please share it.

To find more stories and insights across the state of Iowa, please consider following and supporting the many talented journalists and storytellers of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative of which I’m a proud member. My next public performance is at Board and Batten in Dallas Center in their amazing Basement Speakeasy on Thursday, February 12th with my wonderful wife, Jen, joining me for the night. It’s a lovely place run by some folks that are incredible supporters of independent and local music in Iowa. You can RSVP for the free show here to make sure you have a seat. I’ll be at Rumley’s Reclaimed Things on Saturday, February 14th from 2-4pm in Historic Valley Junction as we continue our Second Saturdays series.

NOTE: All annual paid subscribers to Chip Happens will now receive a copy of my CD compilation, Twenty-Five, that includes 25 original songs. If you are only in the market for the CD, it is available here for $25. CD art and design were completed by my amazing and talented wife, Jen Albright, who is the driving force behind our strategy + creative firm, AlbrightSpark. To learn more about my personal experience helping folks with caregiver and home health care insurance, please click here.

Please also note that all paid subscribers are welcome to join the monthly Iowa Writers’ Collaborative’s Office Lounge on Zoom. It’s the last Friday of every month and it’s a lively conversation with Dr. Robert Leonard moderating. Please join members of the IWC and other subscribers for an unscripted conversation here.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Nestled just a whisper west of magnificent Maffitt Lake in southeast Dallas County thrives a beacon of respect and love for independent musicians who call Iowa home. Once a humble detached garage, The Gilded Palace—a passion project of father-son duo Sean Thomas Sullivan and Sean Michael Sullivan—is now a serene and sonically-superior listening room designed for livestream perfection.

Both talented artists themselves, the Sullivans share a love for original music. This focus is the driving force behind their mission to showcase Iowa talent to the world from an authentic setting where artists can tell the stories behind their songs and play them in an intimate setting perfect for capturing musical magic.

As the concept has evolved, so has the setup and the robust roster of performing artists. Legendary Iowa musician Jason Walsmith performs next on Live From the Gilded Palace this Wednesday, February 4 at 7pm. Jason had this to say about the burgeoning series: “Iowa really is a special place for music and art. We have such a supportive community. That is one of the main reasons we have chosen to make it our home base for a 30-year career. What the Sullivans have set up with the Gilded Palace is magic. They do it for the love of music and out of a desire to share the experience. I spent the last few years traveling around the country playing house concerts and the Gilded Palace creates that same kind of experience that is so special. Whatever happens, only happens once.”

Shows from this season will air through May. You can find the schedule of performances below and access archived shows at LiveFromtheGildedPalace.com. Streaming and supporting the musicians is a wonderful way to engage and encourage the scene. You can listen, tip and share good cheer with these artists from the comfort of your home, then find them out in the musical landscape that is central Iowa at a later date. Thank you for listening to this podcast interview and tuning in throughout the Gilded Palace’s season in support of independent and original music!

Thank you for reading. Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

To find more stories and insights across the state of Iowa, please consider following and supporting the many talented journalists and storytellers of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative of which I’m a proud member. My next public performance is at Board and Batten in Dallas Center in their amazing Basement Speakeasy on Thursday, February 12th with my wonderful wife, Jen, joining me for the night. It’s a lovely place run by some folks that are incredible supporters of independent and local music in Iowa. You can RSVP for the free show here to make sure you have a seat. I’ll be at Rumley’s Reclaimed Things on Saturday, February 14th from 2-4pm in Historic Valley Junction as we continue our Second Saturdays series.

NOTE: All annual paid subscribers to Chip Happens will now receive a copy of my CD compilation, Twenty-Five, that includes 25 original songs. If you are only in the market for the CD, it is available here for $25. CD art and design were completed by my amazing and talented wife, Jen Albright, who is the driving force behind our strategy + creative firm, AlbrightSpark. To learn more about my personal experience helping folks with caregiver and home health care insurance, please click here.

Please also note that all paid subscribers are welcome to join the monthly Iowa Writers’ Collaborative’s Office Lounge on Zoom. It’s the last Friday of every month and it’s a lively conversation with Dr. Robert Leonard moderating. Please join members of the IWC and other subscribers for an unscripted conversation here.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

At the risk of exposing my own naivety, I sure thought we the people were more aligned on the proverbial “American Dream,” which Wikipedia describes as “a phrase referring to a purported national ethos of the United States: that every person has the freedom and opportunity to succeed and attain a better life.”

Perhaps the word “purported” is the fly in the ointment of this definition, but the energy and beauty that radiate from the shared idea that every person has the freedom and opportunity to succeed and attain a better life is powerful. It’s enlightened and exceptional—the soul of a meaningful democracy.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Optimism doesn’t come easily when we feel surrounded by tragedy and violence. In the last week alone, I’ve heard from many friends and family members who are feeling overwhelmed by the darkness of current events. The videos. The sadness. The anger. The hurt. The disagreement. Disappointment. Disillusionment. Where is the America, the Beautiful that so many of us want to believe in?

Last week, I caught part of Tonya Mosley’s interview with award-winning actor Tessa Thompson on Fresh Air. Her timely words fell like much-needed rain, soaking into my thirsty core. “I am optimistic,” she said, “in the same way that I love stories that are audacious. I love storytellers that are audacious. I love people — full stop — that are audacious. I think one of the most audacious things, currently, is to be optimistic, and so I try to be.”

It takes courage to be optimistic when we’re surrounded by so much dissonance. It takes heart to “imagine all the people, living life in peace,” as John Lennon wrote. Tessa’s enthusiasm and conviction brought this home for me in a wonderfully profound way, so I’m compelled to pass it on. May we all be audacious in our hope and want for a better world. “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”

I’ve been working through these thoughts in a song, and the timing feels right to share it in its current form. It’s called “Dreams Never Die,” and it’s a work in progress, just like me. Just like America. It’s for all the dreamers and doers of good that continue to believe that one day “the world will live as one,” even though we may view things quite differently today. So, may we all be audacious in the beauty we seek, the kindness we share, and the dreams we imagine.

Dreams Never Die (unreleased) by Chip Albright

Cry with me, our world’s on fire you see. They’re burning it down, and it’s scaring me.

Sing with me, our world’s on fire you see. They’re burning it down, for you and me.

1..2..3..4

Feel the open road with your heart and your soul and look into the mind of what you control and there’s nothing we can’t be.

Love’s a special gift that we bring to the world, lest we not forget the way we’ve twirled and there’s nothing we can’t be.

Why can’t we live like dreams never die?

Where we all find our castle in the sky.

Hustling everyday but still learning from the whys/wise, I hear you yearn for more as we look into the skies and there’s nothing we can’t be.

Looking deep within, we know truth outweighs the lies, my promise is to listen and see through your eyes and there’s nothing we can’t be.

Why can’t we live like dreams never die?

Where we all find our castle in the sky.

I’m going to live like dreams…never…die.

…

Try with me, our world’s on fire you see.

Thanks for reading Chip Happens! This post is public so feel free to share it.

To find more stories and insights across the state of Iowa, please consider following and supporting the many talented journalists and storytellers of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative of which I’m a proud member. My next performance is at Rumley’s in Valley Junction at 2PM on Saturday, January 24 as part of CITYVIEW’s Fire and Ice event.

NOTE: All annual paid subscribers to Chip Happens will now receive a copy of my CD compilation, Twenty-Five, that includes 25 original songs. To those of you that have already upgraded and purchased the CD, my sincerest of thanks! You are a critical component of making Chip Happens! You can upgrade your subscription here and receive a copy for your physical music collection. If you are only in the market for the CD, it is available here for $25. CD art and design were completed by my amazing and talented wife, Jen Albright. To learn more about Chip and his personal experience with caregiver insurance, please click here.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

About once a month, I volunteer with the Des Moines Community Radio Foundation’s radio station, KFMG, as a host of their long-running Iowa Homegrown show that airs on Sunday afternoons from 2-5pm. The show rotates between volunteer hosts Joel Kinser, Michael Murphy, Marty Enslow, Ryan O’Rien, me and station brass Ron Sorenson and Gary Monte.

Every song on the show has a connection to the state. My general approach is to amplify local independent artists and pay homage to greats like Iowa native Greg Brown and Grinnell College graduate Herbie Hancock. I also try to pay special attention to new releases, seasonality, and timely information like upcoming shows because show attendance is so critical to the success of independent artists.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

As I prepare each show, I almost always discover a new Iowa connection that’s fun to share. Recently, I was chatting with Mike Condon of Get Off My Lawn and learned about a delightful Christmas music project he did with some friends a few decades ago. Below is that story as explained by Mike:

“Sometime in the ’90s, Terry Rich and Rick Condon had the idea to produce a version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer where kids would respond to the lines in the song. Apparently, this was a common deal, but no similar version had ever been recorded. Rick arranged and engineered. Bob Cook plays Grandpa. Dick Wulf plays Santa. Rick’s kids play the kids. I wrote the little story patter that weaves in and out of the song. Credit also to Johnny Marks, the original composer, who granted permission to pull this off.”

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

I (mostly) successfully recorded this weekend’s episode of Iowa Homegrown, and I hope you enjoy it. The show kicks off with the Rudolph song discussed earlier. Big shout out to KFMG for this long-running show and to all the station’s volunteers and supporters.

To find more stories and insights across the state of Iowa, please consider following and supporting the many talented journalists and storytellers of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative of which I’m a proud member. Thank you to everyone that made it out recently for our Holiday Party at the Harkin Institute. What a wonderful gathering and evening it was. Please have a wonderful Christmas This Year wherever it might find you and remember to give yourself, and those around you, some grace. After all, we are all living chemistry experiments. Thank you for being a part of my journey.

NOTE: All annual paid subscribers to Chip Happens will now receive a copy of my 2025 CD compilation, Twenty-Five, that includes 25 original songs. To those of you that have already upgraded and purchased the CD, my sincerest of thanks! You are a critical component of making Chip Happens! You can upgrade your subscription here and receive a copy for your physical music collection. If you are only in the market for the CD, it is available here for $25. CD art and design were completed by my amazing and talented wife, Jen Albright. To benefit and learn more about Chip’s personal experience with caregiver insurance, please click here.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Having come to know Maxwell Schaeffer in the last couple of years, it’s of zero surprise to me that his name literally means “great stream.” Not only does he create and produce the Maxwell’s Iowa CoffeeCast podcast that streams across the state, the creative-at-heart with his signature voice and Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame credentials, is a constant flow of talent and support in a myriad of great roles performing on stage with the Des Moines Playhouse, traveling the world with his playwright wife (Karen Schaeffer), an Iowa Writers Collaborative Roundup member, a playful papa with the grands, on the mic at Iowa Wild hockey games, a heartfelt songwriter, fruit tree arborist, non-profit supporter, conference presenter, podcast consultant, you-name-it. If it’s a role that’s putting some good into the world, Maxwell is going to pour his heart into it.

Maxwell and I continue to bond over songwriting. We’ve shared many songs with each other, chatting about our songwriting heroes (he’s a huge Dan Fogelberg fan) and loved on the power of music and story together. Unbeknownst to many, well before Maxwell moved to Iowa to create a hall-of-fame legacy as a radio DJ and good dude, he was a musician and performer fully intent on it as his pathway to the future. His travels before Iowa start in Hershey, Pennsylvania and move through Austin, Texas, Southern California and Florida until making the Hawkeye State home.

With these travels come many fantastic stories. After sitting through a podcasting class Maxwell taught at the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat V earlier this fall, I asked him if we could flip the mic sometime to hear more of his story through the format he’s mastered. He graciously agreed and my first podcast experience as an interviewer flew by.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber.

Please enjoy learning more about Maxwell’s early life, his love for the “acoustic balladeer” and an intimate performance of his song “Wild Atlantic Way” recently written after his trip to Ireland.

Maxwell is joining the songwriter round to support KFMG Community Radio this Sunday, November 23 at 3pm so please mark your calendars for this FREE Musical Feast at xBk in Des Moines. We’ve got a robust group of Iowa singer-songwriters coming together and the highly acclaimed Get Off My Lawn ready to rock.

To find more stories and insights across the state of Iowa, please consider following and supporting the many talented journalists and storytellers of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative of which I’m a proud member. The IWC Holiday Party will be Wednesday, December 17 at the Harkin Institute in Des Moines at 7pm. It’s FREE for any paid subscriber to any IWC writer column, including this one, or $35 the night of the event. The award-winning duo Weary Ramblers will be performing and IWC authors will be on hand for socialization and goodwill. Please RSVP here.

NOTE: All annual paid subscribers to Chip Happens will now receive a copy of my 2025 CD compilation, Twenty-Five, that includes 25 original songs. To those of you that have already upgraded and purchased the CD, my sincerest of thanks! You are a critical component of making Chip Happens! You can upgrade your subscription here and receive a copy for your physical music collection. If you are only in the market for the CD, it is available here for $25. CD art and design were completed by my amazing and talented wife, Jen Albright.

Chip Happens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.