The Flipside: Unfiltered Stories, Bold Voices, and the Iowa You Didn't See Coming

Mar 12, 2025

Iowa Writers' Collaborative Flipside Edition: What You’re Not Reading (But Should Be!)

Think you know what's happening in Iowa and beyond? Think again. The Flipside Edition brings you unfiltered, unexpected, and unapologetic stories from some of the boldest voices in the Iowa Writers' Collaborative. This week, we dive into political scandals, radical quilters, legume-fueled revelations, and the untold truth about Iowa’s libraries—yes, really.

What’s Inside This Edition?

In addition to extraordinary wordsmiths who make up the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative, we have creative artists in many forms, including music. Listen to their music embedded in these columns. Pure delight.

From Kathryn Severing Fox’s journey as a woman breaking barriers in the music industry to Chad Elliott’s poetic tribute to spring and Chip Albright’s soundtrack for the rolling hills of Iowa—these artists have stories to tell and songs to share. Read more and listen →

Music

Kathryn Severing Fox – At an International Women’s Day event in Perry, Iowa, musician and piano tuner Kathryn Severing Fox reflected on her experiences as a woman in the music industry, from being underestimated in her craft to the challenges of building community among female artists. She shares her journey, frustrations, and hope for deeper connections—plus an unreleased song, New England Free. Read more (and listen to her beautiful song!)
Chad Elliott
Singer-songwriter Chad Elliott reflects on the bittersweet beauty of spring, the deep pull of Irish music, and the inspiration behind his original song, Lake O’Brien. Read his lyrical musings and listen to the song here: Read more and listen!
Chip Albright
If you find yourself taking in the beauty and uniqueness of the rolling hills in Audubon and Cass Counties in Iowa, I recommend tuning in to KJAN AM 1220 or FM 101.1 on the dial to enhance your experience. Read more and listen!

World Affairs and Writing

The written word faces challenges on multiple fronts. Michael Judge revisits a 2022 conversation with Christopher Merrill, director of Iowa’s world-renowned International Writing Program, as federal funding cuts threaten its future. Meanwhile, Steve Semken reflects on the quirks of publishing, the writing life, and the lingering presence of voices from the past. Read more →

Michael Judge
In the wake of the ill-advised cancellation of federal funds for Iowa’s world-renowned International Writing Program, TFP revisits our 2022 conversation with a friend and IWP Director Christopher Merrill.
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Writing

Steve Semken
Publishing, Writing, being an odd man out, and always remembering that "some of the dead are still breathing."
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Human Interest
Phoebe Wall Howard
Talking to strangers changes us. It impacts political views and life choices. I stopped for a stranger. I wonder if others would, too. I hope so.
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Vicki Minor
Jason Walsmith: The Life of a Racontourist
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Agriculture

Rachelle Chase
In Ep. 11 of the Reading with Rachelle podcast, Denise Greer Jamerson shares her family's story of farming in Lyles Station—the last remaining Black settlement in Indiana—since 1855, and her father, Norman Greer's, recognition by the Smithsonian as one of the last remaining African American farmers still farming land that's been in their family since before the Civil War.
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Food & Dining

Hanah Breckbill
Food culture is a product of place. Hannah Breckbill writes about coming home after her weeks in Palestine through the lens of legumes.
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Wini Moranville More Great Finds and Candid Thoughts with Wini Moranville: A French-Asian Bakery, A $15 Gourmet Lunch, and a Butcher’s Best. Read the full column here: Link
John Naughton
John Naughton couldn't resist grilling out Sunday, when sunny temperatures reached into the 60s. Even if the local grocery store had a run on buns. How many Iowans are cooking out in early to mid-March?
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Humor

Vicki Minor
Living Life One Scroll at a Time
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Iowa at Large

Pat Kinney
More than two dozen watch parties are planned all over the state as the new USS Iowa submarine is commissioned into service in the Navy Saturday, April 5. Several hundred Iowans also are attending the Groton, Conn. event in person, with an Iowa State Fair-themed celebration to follow.
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Iowa Politics

Daniel P. Finney
Proposal to teach the Bible is yet another move to erase the line between church and state—as long as the church is Christian and the state is run by Evangelical Republicans, writes newsman-turned-teacher Daniel P. Finney.
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Todd Dorman
Iowa Republicans falsely claim Iowa's public libraries are exposing kids to obscene material.
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National Politics

Marianne Fons
Quiltropolitan Marianne Fons reports on radical quilters who speak up and speak out with needle and thread.
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Poetry

Kelsey Bigelow
"Let others tell you no" is the newest piece of life advice that Kelsey digs into alongside her poem "The Alchemist."
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Political Comedy

Romen Borsellino
As Joni Ernst makes headlines for highly unethical behavior, I can't help but think back to the 13 months I spent working on her opponent Bruce Braley's campaign.
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Religion

Dan Henderson
With all the finger-pointing and hyper-accusations against transgender people and the huffing and puffing about drag shows as predatory and a danger to women and children, your local church is a much riskier place.
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Pat Kinney
Pat Kinney was "surprised by joy" in an Ash Wednesday blizzard in Waterloo.
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Sports

Daniel P. Finney
The double overtime thriller for the Class 1A girls basketball state championship displayed everything that Iowans should treasure about the tournament, writes Daniel P. Finney in the Paragraph Stacker.
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Strictly Personal

Macey Shofroth
Macey Shofroth invites us to run alongside her in a personal essay that explores when to quit.
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The Iowa Angle

Sarah Scull
What would you risk for freedom? In “We Are All Mu,” Sarah Scull reflects on International Women’s Day and women like Mu, who have risked everything for safety and dignity. No matter where we’re from, all women face the threat of losing rights, choices, and access to the futures they deserve.
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