The most beautiful and best Iowa Park may be found in your corner of the state claims Sally Ortgies, the “Iowa Park Lady.” Ortgies has visited all Iowa state parks and has seen every corner of Iowa and knows better than anyone the beauty it offers. She has recommendations in your part of the state. 

It took Ortgies just over one year to complete her tour of all state parks but she says the experience was well worth it. In NE Iowa, she said Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge stood out. In NW Iowa the ancient pink rock formations are worth visiting not to mention the rolling hills which “feel like a roller coaster.” In SE Iowa the river formations are incredible, and SW Iowa is home to her favorite state park. Listen to her explain why.

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/best-iowa-parks                    

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The Hamas slaughter of innocent Israeli citizens and the Jewish people is enough evil for a lifetime, but pro-Hamas protests in Iowa have the Iowa Jewish population noticeably concerned, saddened and sick. As state and city leaders rally around our Jewish population, now’s the time to stand up, says Jarad Bernstein, Executive Director of The Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines.

Despite threats to kill Jewish people, Bernstein’s strength and determination are incredible to witness. He gives a very important history lesson on the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. He explains how Hamas’ goal is to kill, and how they use their own children as human shields. He also explains the lengths the Israeli Defense Force goes to ensure civilian life is protected. 

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/jarad                 

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You may have heard of The Villages of Van Buren, but what is it exactly? Is it a town? A county? An entertainment destination? Not quite. Emily Starnes, the executive director, explained the background of the area, and told the story of when Missouri threatened to invade Iowa over honey trees. (Iowa won)

The Villages of Van Buren is actually 11 small towns with a combined population of just over 7,000 in Van Buren county. Not only is the area focused on nature, with lots of trails and a 9000 acre forest, but it’s home to many artisans and has the oldest courthouse in continuous use, west of the Mississippi River. 

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/villages-of-van-buren-scenic-drive-festival                

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This year marks the 30th anniversary of Anamosa, Iowa being named the Pumpkin Capital of our state. The town hosts Pumpkinfest every year, says executive director of the Anamosa Chamber, Blaire Lawton. They smash cars, toss pumpkins, carve pumpkins, smoke pumpkins, roll pumpkins, but get this: you can test your pumpkin agility skills using big construction equipment! (With supervision of course) That's crazy!

The Anamosa Pumpkinfest originally began as a tribute to Ryan Norlin after his passing. Norlin died young and his parents wanted to do something in his honor. Because he had a love for pumpkins, they started with a small pumpkin weighoff competition. But the event has substantially grown, getting recognized state-wide. 

See the full show notes: https://iowapodcast.com/anamosa-pumpkinfest-blaire-lawton

For those not in the know, The Slaughterhouse in Des Moines, Iowa is a highly sophisticated and upgraded version of the haunted house. But the owner, Ian Miller has gone one step further opening a secret underground Haunt Speakeasy opening Halloween of this year. If that sounds fun, there’s a catch, to get in on opening day you’ll need a hidden key for access. 

Gone are the days of cheap outfits, and volunteers who may have startled you, but certainly did not scare you. Miller says, The Slaughterhouse has 69 actors, and the entire experience is engineered to scare the crap out of you. Literally. It’s happened. But don’t worry they have people on site for cleanup. 

Partnering with SlipKnot a few years ago, The Slaughterhouse has become a popular attraction, bringing tourists from around the entire country. But now Miller is taking it a step further with a hidden underground Haunt speakeasy. 

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/haunt-speakeasy-des-moines-iowa  

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For the first time, fewer Iowans are using Instagram. According to a new report by Iowa company, Blue Compass Iowans are changing their social media habits. Drew Harden shares how Iowans use social media, why Facebook is regaining some steam, and why small businesses actually have an edge on big brands.

Harden and his team analyzed the impact of Elon’s Twitter takeover, Snapchat’s incredible growth, and we discussed if LinkedIn has any hope of recovering from its death spiral. We discuss how Iowans use social media and why they still rely on local businesses and one really easy hack for local businesses to get Google to find their web page and rank it highly. 

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/what-social-media-do-Iowans-use  

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Human trafficking may seem like a distant problem, but it’s far closer in Iowa than you think. Iowa Secretary of State, Paul Pate explains trafficking today happens to kids still living at home, with parents having absolutely no idea. Trafficking can start on social media, and target children in safe suburbs. 

Sound of Freedom has been quite the popular film with a powerful message, but most of us feel powerless to help. What are the signs? How do we detect it? What can be done? What groups are impacted and where does it happen? Secretary Pate explains how we can turn the trafficking tables by seeing the signs, and reporting scenarios quickly. 

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/how-to-identify-human-trafficking-iowa-secretary-of-state-paul-pate      

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What the heck is happening in Bondurant? From 2010 to 2020 they have nearly doubled their population size at a growth rate of 91%, making them the 2nd fastest growing city in the state, and with what would normally be growing pains taxes actually fell! Mayor Doug Elrod explains why young people are moving in, and the new recreation activities they’re planning for.

Mayor Elrod also discusses why Amazon moved into town and the surprisingly positive impact that move had on the community. When it comes to entertainment, he explains that because residents have been vocal about their love for the outdoors, they have some exciting things planned for the future to maintain the small town's outdoorsy feel. Attractions include a splash pad and amphitheater as reported by The Des Moines Register, but also outdoor water activities like paddle boarding and kayaking.

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/bondurant-iowa-growth-park     

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It's no secret, Iowa Universities and Colleges took a beating the last few years, and with the student debt crisis taking center stage, how is enrollment? Pete Moris, Director of University Relations at The University of Northern Iowa explains the outlook, discusses their mental health efforts, and tells parents (and students) what to expect and how to prepare.

We also discuss if the zero-alcohol moment has come to college campuses, and the role higher education plays in preparing students with time management, healthy habits, and the future AI-infused workforce. Moris also discusses why the college experience as a whole is the antidote for the isolation problem sweeping the country. 

Full show notes: https://iowapodcast.com/university-of-northern-iowa-pete-moris 

Audio Edit Note: I have seasonal allergies which led to throat clearing and sniffling issues. The microphone mute function apparently did not work during recording. This has been edited and removed. My apologies for not catching it sooner.

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Some people in Iowa are already chomping at the bit for Autumn, and with the spooky holiday season that quickly follows. Iowa has a rich history, and thanks to one of the state’s natives, Lauren Riensche, Iowans can experience Cedar Falls’ creepy true stories. Riensche is the owner and host of Cedar Falls Ghost Tour which returns this October.

This will be Cedar Falls Ghost Tour’s third year of chilling the spines of its guests. In this episode, Lauren will give you a taste of the fantastic, true stories you’d hear while walking through Cedar Falls. Learn about the banker who seems to have never really retired even after his body was buried.  

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/lauren-riensche-cedar-falls-ghost-tour 

Special thanks to Rob Newton, host of What's up Des Moines for guest hosting this week. Check out his show here: https://sites.libsyn.com/439296/site 

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