Need a song, a laugh, a great meal, a new trend?
...check out the Iowa Writers' Collaborative Flipside
Events … Speakers Bureau … Perks for Paid Subscribers …
Whew. Another big week at the ol’ roundup!
Not only do we have a fresh batch of can’t-miss columns here on the midweek Flipside, but we’re also rolling out something new—a Speakers Bureau! Many of our writers are available (for a fee) to speak to groups across Iowa. Whether you need a keynote speaker for a packed house or someone engaging for a small gathering, we’ve got you covered. Stay tuned for more details!
Your Flipside Roundup
Meanwhile, here’s what’s new from our Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members this week:
Music
Chad Elliott The writer, who often refrains from making political statements, felt compelled to create a satirical song, American Circus, as a response to the chaos, corruption, and spectacle in current events. Using circus imagery, the lyrics highlight grift, deception, and power struggles, painting a biting yet humorous critique of the state of affairs. Read More
Chip Albright
The time, the place, the people, the Zeitgeist was right for this gorgeous melody and philosophical message to take root right here in central Iowa.
Read moreKathryn Severing Fox
Returning to her childhood home in Janesville for Thanksgiving, Kathryn found comfort in its familiar sights, sounds, and memories—until a new piece of artwork stopped her in her tracks. That unexpected moment led to “Footprints,” a song that has since connected her with listeners in ways she never imagined. Listen to the song, too. Read moreJason Walsmith
Spring is in the air, and so is the music—after months in the winter doldrums, the gigs are rolling in, and the calendar is filling up. From small-town concert series to backyard house shows and The Nadas’ biggest traditions, it’s time to dust off the guitar, tune up, and hit the road—because hibernation season is officially over. Read moreCarol Montag
At the Okoboji Writers' and Songwriters’ Retreat, I had the chance to mentor an emerging songwriter, guiding her on the art of prosody—how melody, tempo, and chords should align with lyrics to create a cohesive, emotionally resonant song.. Read moreCarol Montag
From saving every paycheck for a Yamaha 12-string to playing her first gig over the roar of a restaurant blender, this is a story of music, memory, and the magic of a well-loved guitar. Step into the golden days of Eschbach Music House and the echoes of a songwriter’s journey in Monday’s Music... Read more
Hey, check out our new Speakers Bureau and book one of our musicians to come to your town, home, back yard, and put on a house concert!
Food & Dining
Wini Moranville
There's almost always a long wait for a table at Simon's, that amiable Italian-American restaurant on Merle Hay Road. Wini Moranville explains the appeal (and it's not all about the food).
Read more
Books, Art
Alison McGaughey
In the second installment of her Fool for the Cities series, Alison McGaughey highlights a "secret access" perk of living in Davenport. She also shares some reader responses to her previous post on the book “Polar Vortex.”
Read moreKurtis Meyer
Using a 1921 textbook, Kurt Meyer compares Iowa of a century ago to Iowa today. You might be as startled as the columnist was!
Read more
Trends
Douglas Burns
Can we ever live forever? Douglas Burns tackles immortality itself in an Iowa Mercury Column.
Read morePhoebe Wall Howard
When you get home at the end of a long day to plug in your car in the garage, discovering that you save time and money and hassle. One automaker is providing the install for free.
Read more
Diversity in the Heartland
Pat Kinney
What do Malcolm X, who was killed 60 years ago this month, and Hayden Fry have in common? They're both inspirations to Robert Smith, former Iowa Hawkeye football wide receiver and now director of the University of Northern Iowa Center for Urban Education in Waterloo. He's carrying those lessons forward as an educator.
Read more
Health
Mary Swander (Emerging Voices)
Are you tired of the warfare metaphors used to heal cancer and other diseases? Read Daniel Kolen's alternative approach.
Read more
Humor
Daniel P. Finney
Check out Finney's 5, a semi-regular humor newsletter by your friendly neighborhood paragraph stacker. It's a subscriber exclusive.
Read moreVicki Minor
Cereal Supreme: The Ultimate Breakfast Solution
Read more
Iowa at Large
Ken Chester
The Dubuque City Council is raising fees for electric vehicle charging stations in public parking areas by almost 50%. The new fee will increase from 17 cents per kilowatt hour to 25 cents per kilowatt hour. With just under 13,000 EVs registered in Iowa, does it really matter?
Read more
Bernie Sanders in Iowa
Rekha Basu
In an Iowa City interview, Vermont senator offers his view of Trump's moves and endgame.
Read more
Kids and Obscene Material - a hit and a miss
Daniel P. Finney
For a Republican-controlled legislature, targeting schools and libraries as kids' source for obscene material is incredibly poor marksmanship, writes Daniel P. Finney.
Read more
Media
Nik Heftman
Listen Up! Kenny Lilly from Math Talk 247 interviews Nik Heftman on his transition from the fast-paced world of mainstream news to the transformative power of documentary filmmaking.
Read more
Poetry
Kelsey Bigelow
Dreaming after survival mode isn’t always clear cut, and it’s often scary. Read how this poet reflects on the question of "what’s next?"
Read more
Public Affairs
Arnold Garson
The little-known story of a Sioux City family that risked its livelihood to fight antisemitism.
Read more
Sports
Jane Burns
In an intriguing "Where Are They Now?" Jane Burns finds that a large group of former Iowa women's basketball players have found coaching success at top programs throughout the country.
Read moreRob Gray
THE CREEPING DREAD: My annual queasy sojourn to the Iowa state wrestling tournament.
Read more
Strictly Personal
Hanah Breckbill
Hannah Breckbill explores what can happen when your time is not under your control.
Read more
Travel
John Naughton
Curious about the man behind Polk County’s name, John Naughton takes a deep dive into the life and legacy of President James K. Polk—visiting his former Tennessee home and uncovering the complexities of his presidency, policies, and personal history.
Read more
Weather & Environment
Larry Stone
With white-tailed deer shedding their antlers, Larry Stone is prowling the woods in search of the animals' discards.
Read more
Events -
If you haven’t. had a chance to hear Chad Elliott and Kathryn Severing Fox, the Weary Ramblers, we have a special event coming up for Iowa Writers’ Collaborative paid subscribers!
will be hosting the event to be held on Whippoorwill Creek Farm in Lovilia. Save the date for Sunday, June 29. Bring a chair for an outdoors concert, and a guest can accompany you for $25. Details to be announced.
Events
March 1, 2025
John Crabtree – Lunch at La Chozita
🕛 Time: 12:00 PM
📍 Location: La Chozita restaurant, Hampton, IA
💰 Cost: Lunch on your own
ℹ️ More Info: Not available
March 2, 2025
Chip Albright – Musical Live Performance
🎶 Time: 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Legendary Byron’s
💰 Cost: $20
ℹ️ More Info: Not available
March 5, 2025
David Thoreson – Eye-Witness to Climate Change, Lecture/Book Signing
📖 Time: 7:00 PM (Pacific Time)
📍 Location: University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
💰 Cost: Free
ℹ️ More Info: Not available
March 6, 2025
Rekha Basu – Immigration and Business Luncheon
🍽️ Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
📍 Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, 350 1st Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, IA
💰 Cost: Not listed
ℹ️ More Info: Not available
Rekha Basu – Keynote Speaker, Immigration and Business Awards Luncheon
🏆 Time: 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, Cedar Rapids, IA
💰 Cost: Not listed
ℹ️ More Info: Not available
March 10, 2025
Larry Stone – Iowa: Portrait of the Land
📸 Time: 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Terrace Hill Drawing Room, Des Moines, IA
💰 Cost: Free (registration required)
ℹ️ More Info: Call 515-281-7205 or check Eventbrite
March 14, 2025
Weary Ramblers – Live at Elliott Art Studio
🎶 Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 Location: Jefferson, IA
ℹ️ View Event →
March 15, 2025
Beth Hoffman – Wine: Off the Beaten Path Tasting Class
🍷 Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Whippoorwill Creek Farm, Lovilia, IA
💰 Cost: $100
ℹ️ More Info: Not available
Weary Ramblers – Live at Corning Opera House
🎶 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Corning, IA
🎟 Tickets & Info | View Event →
March 22, 2025
Julie Gammack – DSM Book Festival: Iowa Writers Collaborative Panel
📚 Time: 1:15 PM
📍 Location: Franklin Event Center, 4801 Franklin Avenue, Des Moines, IA
💰 Cost: None
ℹ️ More Info: Not available
Weary Ramblers – Live at Maquoketa Brewing
🎶 Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
📍 Location: Maquoketa, IA
🎟 Tickets & Info | View Event →
Carol Montag – An Evening with Carol Montag and the Songs of Joni Mitchell
🎶 Time: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Location: The Wilson Performing Arts Center, 300 Commerce Dr., Red Oak, IA
💰 Cost: $30
ℹ️ More Info: Not available
April 25, 2025
Weary Ramblers – Live at Crossroads Hotel & Event Center (Blues at the Crossroads)
🎶 Time: 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
📍 Location: Fort Dodge, IA
ℹ️ View Event →
April 26, 2025
Weary Ramblers – Live at Parea Cocktail Lounge
🎶 Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 Location: Glenwood, IA
ℹ️ View Event →
May 8, 2025
Weary Ramblers – Fundraiser for Winnesheik Water Protectors
🎶 Time: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
📍 Location: Decorah, IA (Time/Location TBA)
ℹ️ View Event →
May 9, 2025
Weary Ramblers – House Concert
🎶 Time: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
📍 Location: Kasson, MN (Time TBA)
ℹ️ View Event →
June 1, 2025
Weary Ramblers – Live at Middlebrook Mercantile
🎶 Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Cumming, IA
ℹ️ View Event →
September 28 - October 1, 2025
Julie Gammack – The Okoboji Writers' and Songwriters' Retreat
🎶📝 Time: Three days
📍 Location: West Lake Okoboji
💰 Cost: $895.00
ℹ️ More Info: View Event
New! Speakers Bureau
Need a speaker for a meeting, a banquet, a keynote…
Perks for Paid Subscribers
Perks for our paid subscriber community (we need you, we thank you)
Lovilia: We will have regional events for paid subscribers! Save the dates of June 29th to hear the Weary Ramblers play in concert at
’s farm (see below).Winterset: Join fellow Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members for a special two-day gathering in picturesque Madison County, hosted by
, , and Vicki Minor. With local exploration, and an exclusive screening of the documentary, ‘Storm Lake’ followed by a Q&A with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist , featured in the film. It’s a weekend you won’t want to miss—mark your calendars for July 25-26, 2025!Your home office: On the last Friday of each month, the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members invite our paid subscribers to join us for an informal Office Lounge conversation via Zoom. It is hosted by
Robert Leonard
, and we usually have 10-15 of our writers in attendance. It’s your turn to tell us what you’re thinking about.
Here is the Zoom link for this month’s Office Lounge for paid subscribers. It’s always held on the last Friday of the month at noon, except for November and December. I hope to see you there on February 28.
FAQ: If you are a paid subscriber to any one of our 79 writers, and or this roundup, you are welcome to attend these events.
Did you miss the Sunday Roundup? Get your fill of politics, policy, and problems with solutions:
In the Events section, it says to save June 29 for an event with the Weary Ramblers. In the Perks section, the date is listed as June 26.