House Concerts, Rock-Star Twins & Broadway Nights: Iowa Writers’ Coast-to-Coast Flipside
From intimate living-room gigs and a surprise Tous Les Jours debut to twin musicians heading home, a 146-year corporate saga, flood-praying poets, and a powerful essay inspired by a dream
Welcome to the midweek Flipside edition of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative, where feature stories about or from our members are rounded up for your benefit.
From the county fair midway to the fading lights of Broadway, from the sweet scent of a new Tous Les Jours bakery to the urgent questions of global birth rates.
You’ll meet twin rock-star brothers saying farewell to Iowa and returning home to Brazil, dive into a 146-year corporate saga that helped build our state’s economy, and witness poets and painters bearing witness to floods, faith, and the soil beneath our feet. Whether you’re craving travel tips for your next road trip, wrestling with the same questions a small-town farmer and an artist ponder in dialogue, or seeking solace in a poem that’s both prayer and protest, this edition has a voice—and a lesson—for you.
Food & Dining
Wini Moranville
Wini Moranville got the scoop on the surprise Fourth of July opening of the highly anticipated Tous Les Jours bakery chain in West Des Moines. Read more
Poetry
Michael Judge
The Drowned — a poem for America and a prayer for the victims of the Texas floods. Read more
Around Iowa
Darcy Maulsby
It’s county fair season, a prime time for fun opportunities to showcase a taste of Iowa, with a dash of tradition. Read more
Books, Art
Alison McGaughey
On “discovering” a Quad Cities legend, or at least caring about him for the first time. Plus: a peek at the new Honduran restaurant in Davenport. Read more
Business
Tej Dhawan
Even Fortune 500 companies were once an idea, a spark in a founder’s mind. People and technology played a key role in their lateral and vertical growth, and today’s guest post takes us through such a journey in the 146-year life of an impactful corporate partner in the Iowa entrepreneurial ecosystem. Read more
Entertainment & travel
Jason Walsmith
A Barn Burner, a Lake Side Chat and a Garden Party. Read moreJason Walsmith
The magic of attending and performing house concerts. Read moreJohn Naughton
John Naughton is a veteran road warrior when it comes to travel. He’s sharing Five Essential Road Trip Snacks that you could consider for your own trips. Read more
Humor
Vicki Minor
Lather, Rinse, What is that smell? Read more
Human Interest
Christie Vilsack
Christie Vilsack details the amazing life Louise Lex has led in her pursuit of equity and justice. Read moreDan Henderson
“Today, I stumbled onto a scene of community-wide grief, mourning, sorrow, and solidarity like I have seldom ever experienced. The scene was an accident of circumstance on my part. I had no idea what I was walking into. It was sort of like a scene from ‘Forrest Gump’ where Forrest constantly shows up unknowingly at major historical events. I was like Forrest Gump today.” Read more
Music
Chip Albright
A doubleheader of live and hot shows this past weekend had singer-songwriter Chip Albright channeling the great Ernie Banks and being grateful for the opportunity to do what you love. Read moreChristina Fernández-Morrow
Discover the inspiring journey of the Brazilian 2wins, twin musicians who rose from the favelas of Niterói to rock stages across the US. As they prepare for their Iowa farewell tour and return to Brazil, learn how music, family, and culture continue to shape their story. Read moreJohn Naughton
Great musicians like Teddy Swims and Mavis Staples put on Iowa’s best and biggest free concert Saturday in Sioux City. John Naughton has the details. Read more
John Naughton visited one of the best (and free!) concerts around - Sioux City. Maxwell Schaefer
In his episode of Maxwell’s Iowa CoffeeCast, Maxwell sat down with Iowa singer-songwriter Chip Albright to explore his gigging journey and the emotional impact of his songs. From playing in a small-town church to releasing a 25-track album, Chip shares what it means to connect with people through story-driven original songs. Read more
Kathryn Severing Fox
“Beaver Moon” takes you from candid pep talks with musician parents to starlit nights on Wisconsin backroads, sharing the untold backstory of an unreleased song and the wild ride of chasing a life in music. Read more
Agriculture
Mary Swander (Emerging Voices)
Farmer/artists Josh Anderson and Austen Camille dialogue about the intricacies of soil. Read more
Personal Growth & Professional Development
Abena Sankofa Imhotep
A dream? Read more
Religion
Dan Henderson
My column today will explore the commonalities between Trump’s version of Christian Nationalism and Putin’s version of Christian Nationalism and the various links and networks between the two countries. They are only different in terms of local names and institutional identities. Their methods and goals are the same, and they pose a threat to global progress. Read moreKurtis Meyer
Filling in to lead worship last Sunday… and the lessons were about joy. And comfort. Oh, and love. Here’s what Kurt Meyer shared. Read more
Spiritual
Debra Engle
Sometimes the most ordinary objects hold the most extraordinary stories. Read more
Sports
Jane Burns
A new book, Becoming Caitlin Clark, puts basketball star’s success in the context of the sport’s history in Iowa. A chat with author Howard Megdal. Read moreJulie Gammack
Caitlin Clark is the subject of a book released this week, and Julie Gammack and her guests were able to interview the author, Christine Brennan. Read more
Strictly Personal
Kelsey Bigelow
Unlearning lessons that were instilled in us while growing up is a challenge, but not impossible. For example, did you know it’s actually good to be seen excited and passionate about your interests? I’m still learning that, as are a lot of us. Progress may be slow, but it’s still progress. Read moreLisa Grouette
Lisa Grouette shares the bittersweet experience of watching someone die. Read morePat Kinney
A reflection on flying the flag on the Fourth — or any day — in challenging times. Read moreRick Morain
Twenty-four hours over the Fourth bolstered his trust in America’s path. Read more
Travel
Jane Nguyen
Go on a first-time adventure to The Big Apple with Jane Nguyen. Read more
Jeff Morrison
A museum in a tiny northwest Kansas town brings in world-class traveling exhibits, and Jeff Morrison happened to visit the day before the opening of one that’s all about being an astronaut on the International Space Station. Read more
Weather and Environment
Joan Zwagerman
Population experts are raising the alarm about a dearth of births worldwide. What does it mean for our future and what may be done about it? Read more
Sailing
Phoebe Wall Howard
As sailors ready themselves for the 101st Port Huron to Mackinac Race on July 12, 2025, this column plunges into the bone-chilling 1985 Tomahawk disaster—when a sudden cold front ripped a hole in her hull, 40-knot winds and ten-foot waves forced a desperate mayday and a midnight rescue that still sends shivers through every skipper’s soul. Read more
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