10 Best Iowa History Podcasts

1. Iowa's Newsworthy Past

Play
Website Apple Spotify Episodes
No bells or whistles, just a read through select columns in historical Iowa newspapers on this day in history. Some readings may be shaky due to the quality of the scan and verbiage of the time. Access to these newspapers has been acquired digitally through the University of Northern Iowa's Iowa Historical Newspapers index. Many thanks to the folks who put in the work and manage the collection. These readings create a window back in time and are perfect for listening intently or as background, and hopefully stir the imagination!MORE Host Cristin Noonan
Producer/Network Cristin Noonan
Location Iowa, United States
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 6 Avg Length 12 min Format Short form Get Email Contact Get access to full database of 2.7M podcastsCreate podcast lists, export in spreadsheet or CSV file with email contacts and start your podcast outreach in minutes.Sign Up for Free with Email Continue with Google

2. A Novel Idea: The History of the Science of Reading

Play
Website Apple Spotify YouTube Episodes
Host Meg Mechelke explores the history of the science of reading and literacy instruction in the United States.
Producer/Network Iowa Reading Research Center
Email ****@iowareadingresearch.org
Location Iowa, United States
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 184Facebook 11.7KTwitter 4.2KInstagram 2.2K Avg Length 35 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

3. How It All Started In North Iowa

Play
Website Apple Spotify Episodes
Explore the tales and beginnings of North Iowa's businesses, people, and organizations. 
Host Erick Nganyange
Producer/Network Erick Nganyange
Email ****@gmail.com
Location Iowa, United States
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 2 Avg Length 58 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

4. Iowa Civil Rights History

Play
Website Apple Spotify Episodes
Discover Iowa's role in the advancement of civil rights. Learn how landmark Iowa court cases, the Iowa Underground Railroad, Iowa towns like Buxton, and Iowa civil rights pioneers like Alexander G. Clark, Ralph Montgomery, Edna Griffin, and more guided the future of the state and the nation. We will look at how the nation's path forward might be discovered by gleaning the wisdom of Iowa's history. For any questions or suggestions, please email Erick at ****@gmail.comMORE Producer/Network Erick Nganyange
Email ****@gmail.com
Location Iowa, United States
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 15Facebook 286 Avg Length 47 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

5. Iowa Almanac

Play
Website Apple Spotify Episodes
Podcast by Jeff Stein
Producer/Network Jeff Stein
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 2 Avg Length 3 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

6. The Homes (Life at the Homes)

Play
Apple Spotify Episodes
The true stories of life at a Lutheran institution housing orphans and the elderly in rural Iowa on the eve of the Great Depression. Almost lost to the passage of time, these stories of sorrow and joy, compassion and cooperation have been uncovered and can now be shared with you. Join mother and son hosts Karen Thalacker and Andrew Newell as you learn about life at the German Lutheran Orphans and Old Folks Home - or as it was commonly called The Homes. Follow The Homes on Instagram at lifeatthehomes for photographs and additional content.MORE Producer/Network Researched and hosted by Andrew Newell and Karen Thalacker. Sound edited by Robert Newell.
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 13 Avg Length 36 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

7. The Okoboji Project

Play
Apple Spotify Episodes
The Iowa Great Lakes story is a vibrant quilt woven from the threads of American history: railroad tycoons and boat builders, the U.S.-Dakota War, every beat of American music culture, evolutions in biology, and countless summer memories.MORE Producer/Network Ryan Maris and Emma Myhre
Email ****@okobojiproject.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 22 Avg Length 29 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

8. The Black Dirt Tapes

Play
Apple Episodes
The Black Dirt Tapes is a true crime podcast uncovering the dark, forgotten stories buried beneath Iowa's surface.Hosted, written, and produced by Cody Burk, each episode digs into the eerie, unsettling, and often unexplained history of small towns across the state--true crime, paranormal encounters, local legends, and the things people would rather forget.No teams. No studios. Just one mic and the stories that won't stay buried.Follow on Instagram and Threads for updates and behind-the-scenes content, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.MORE Estimated listeners
Avg Length 18 min Format Short form Get Email Contact