Iowa Writers' Collaborative Speakers Bureau
...need a speaker? Here are some folks who could be open to appearing
Speakers
Looking for a speaker for your local or regional event? As a service to our readers and writers, we've compiled a list of members available for speaking engagements across the state, subject to availability and location. Some may require a fee.
Also, each of our musicians has indicated a willingness to play a house concert at your home, business, or special event location! Click on their names to reach them through their column:
📖 Nicole Baart
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Depending on event and location
Topics: Community and being a good neighbor, Writing and publishing, Humanitarian work
🗣️ Rekha Basu
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Depending on event and location
Topics: Human rights, immigration, race and gender, global affairs
URL: Rekha Basu's Column
🏛️ Laura Belin
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Depending on event and location
Topics: What's happening in Iowa politics, overview of news from the Iowa legislature, previewing Iowa's 2026 campaigns for state and federal offices
URL: Laura Belin's Column
🌾 Hanah Breckbill
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Depending on event and location
Topics: Cooperative Farming, Rural Queerness
📰 Douglas Burns
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Depending on event and location
Topics: Journalism, Politics, and History
📖 Jane Burns
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Depending on event and location
Topics: Sports, Journalism
URL: Jane Burns' Column
📚 Rachelle Chase
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Yes
Topics: Beyond Buxton, Iowa; Creating the Black Utopia of Buxton, Iowa; Buxton, Iowa: Lessons From an Integrated Coal Mining Town
💻 Ken Chester
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Depending on event and location
Topics: Technology, the basics of AI, Mobility
URL: Ken Chester's Column
🏛️ Todd Dorman
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Depending on event and location
Topics: Iowa Politics, Education
URL: Todd Dorman's Column
📜 Dan Henderson
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Depending on event and location
Topics: Antiracism, US History, Spirituality
🏛️ Kurtis Meyer
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Depending on event and location
Topics: 20th-century authors rooted in Iowa, The importance of local history (with preservation ideas), The heart & soul of collecting …and of a collector
🍽️ Wini Moranville
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Yes
Topics: Des Moines Restaurant History; Restaurant Reviewing: A Peek Behind the Curtain; Central Iowa Dining: What We've Lost/What We've Gained
🌾 Mary Swander
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Yes
Topics: The Amish, The Irish, No-Till Gardening, Trigger Point Massage
🌎 David Thoreson
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Yes
Topics: Climate Change, Conservation, Photography, Adventure Travel
📜 Joan Zwagerman
Willing to Speak: Yes
Charges a Fee: Yes
Topics: The value of archives in society, The necessity of thinking about how to best preserve our digital "stuff", How to self-edit your essays to create a better-finished piece of writing
David Thoreson
Topic: Iowa Politics, Climate Change
Available for Public Events? Yes, for a fee
More Info
Wini Moranville
Topic: Food & Dining
Available for Public Events? Yes, for a fee
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Nik Heftman
Topic: Media
Available for Public Events? Yes, for a fee
More Info
Mary Swander (Emerging Voices & Buggy Land)
Topic: Health, Books, Art, Podcasts
Available for Public Events? Yes, for a fee
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Chris Jones
Topic: Agriculture, Iowa Politics
Available for Public Events? Yes, for a fee
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Dennis Goldford
Topic: National Politics
Available for Public Events? Yes, for a fee
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Dan Henderson
Topic: Things We Don’t Talk About Like Religion and Politics
Available for Public Events? Yes, book signings
Barry Piatt
Topic: National Politics
Available for Public Events? Yes, for a fee
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Maxwell Schaefer
Topic: Books, Art
Available for Public Events? Yes, for a fee
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Darcy Maulsby
Topic: Agriculture, Sports
Available for Public Events? Yes, for a fee
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Randy Evans
Topic: Iowa Politics, Freedom of Speech
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
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Christina Fernández-Morrow
Topic: Personal Growth, Boundaries
Available for Public Events? Yes, for a fee
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Beth Hoffman
Topic: National Politics, Agriculture
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
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Chip Albright
Topic: Music, Live Performances
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
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John Crabtree
Topic: Iowa Social Issues, Community
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
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Rekha Basu
Topic: National Politics, Immigration
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
More Info
Larry Stone
Topic: Weather and Environment
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
More Info
Alison McGaughey
Topic: Books, Art, Entertainment & Travel
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
More Info
Kurtis Meyer
Topic: Books, Art, History
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
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Vicki Minor
Topic: Iowa Features, Humor, Music
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
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Douglas Burns
Topic: Trends, Iowa Issues
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
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Phoebe Wall Howard
Topic: Automotive Industry, Trends
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
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Ken Chester
Topic: Technology, Iowa Issues (Audio Podcast)
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
More Info
Dave Price
Topic: Iowa Politics (Video Podcast)
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
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Teresa Zilk
Topic: Poetry
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
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Robert Leonard
Topic: Iowa Politics, Social Issues (Audio Podcast)
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
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Jane Burns
Topic: Sports
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
More Info
Todd Dorman
Topic: Iowa Politics
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
More Info
Musicians
From house concerts in your living room or back yard to a gig in the town square, our musicians can delight your audience. Support the arts and have a great time.
Jason Walsmith
Topic: Music gigs/house concerts
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
More Info
The Weary Ramblers (Chad Elliott and Kathryn Severing Fox)
Topic: Music gigs/house concerts
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
More Info
Carol Montag
Topic: Music gigs/house concerts
Available for Public Events? Yes, depending on event and location
More Info
