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Welcome
to the Weekend!
Weekend
America: Iowa Edition is the local partner of Weekend
America, the acclaimed national radio program that’s
been described as “a weekend radio journey throughout
America… [a] weekly celebration of the diverse intellectual
and cultural richness of our country.”
Tune
in to WSUI AM910 each Saturday from 2–4 p.m. (CST)
for features, essays, documentaries and commentaries that
fit the groove of your weekend. Entertaining and informative,
engaging and offbeat, Weekend America: Iowa Edition
brings you thoughtful, in-depth coverage of weekly issues
and public affairs, arts and culture, science and technology,
sports and travel, and so much more.
Join
host Stephen
Grant as he brings you diverse voices and stories
from around the country and state. You are invited to kick
back, tune in, and relax into your weekend with Weekend
America: Iowa Edition. |
July
15 , 2006
The
Road to Recovery
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Live Interview: Kyle Gassiott and Stephen
Grant with
Mary Kay Wissink and John Linder
Feature with Steve Atkins Produced by Kyle Gassiott
July 13th marks the three-month anniversary of the tornadoes
that touched down in Iowa City on April 13th, 2006. That
night fifteen tornadoes blew through eastern Iowa and Western
Illinois, seven of them ripped through Johnson County. The
National Weather Service rated the twisters as F-2s with
winds up to 155 miles per hour. We hear from two individuals
who discuss how their lives have changed as a result of
the storm as they rebuild both lives and property.
Pub Quiz
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: John LaRue
Trivia
has long been a favorite pastime for Americans. Early radio
quiz shows like You Bet Your Life, and What's My Name? captivated
audiences. Soon high-stakes television shows matched radio's
output and The $64,000 Question and Truth or Consequences
were born. Today's electronic world allows more people than
ever to test their knowledge. The World Series of Pop Culture
is the latest TV trivia craze. But if you're camera shy
and looking for the more sociable and personal touch of
a trivia match, Pub Quiz at your nearby watering hole may
offer the perfect venue to test your wits. WSUIs John LaRue
took up the challenge and spoke with some local contenders.
|
July
8 , 2006
Where
have all the Nurses gone?
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Christy Logan
Production Assistance: Charley Groth and David Vaughn
Henderson
Low wages and inadequate working conditions are among the
complaints cited by nurses in the field. This nationwide
problem is reflected in Eastern Iowa's recent nursing strike
in Dubuque. In this investigative report, Weekend America:
Iowa Edition's Christy Logan found out what this national
shortage means for patient care at the University of Iowa
Hospital and Clinics
Shrinking Social Circles
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Live Interview: Kyle Gassiott with Lisa Troyer
Production Assistance: John LaRue
Americans have fewer close friends than they did 20 years
ago. Those are the results of a recent study entitled "Social
Isolation in America" published in American Sociological
Review. Some of the reasons for smaller social networks
include changes in the home and workplace, a decrease in
marriage rates, and increased uses of technology. WAIE host
Kyle Gassiott discusses the findings of this study and listens
to results of an informal survey of Eastern Iowan's social
networks with Lisa Troyer a professor of sociology at the
University of Iowa.
The Prairie Vanishing
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: David Vaughn Henderson
When most people think of Iowa they often imagine large
cornfields and endless prairies. The unfortunate truth is
that much of the natural prairie landscape in the state
is disappearing. Today, less than 1/10th of 1% of Iowa's
native prairies remain. The Iowa Prairie Network is one
group dedicated to the preservation of these prairie ecosystems.
David Henderson met with some of the group members to look
at some of the solutions being explored.
Ah, Those Memorable Vacations!
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Kyle Gassiott
Throughout the year Americans pack their bags, make last
minute hotel reservations, find someone to house sit, take
care of the dog or cat all in preparation for that great
annual event - the vacation. While destinations may be vastly
different for travelers, everyone returns home with the
same thing - a vacation story. Some good and others, well
. . . not so good.
|
July
1 , 2006
No
Thanks, I'd rather Write
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Craig Jarvie
Vacations and trips to the pool and beach are on most people's
minds during the summer months. But for some, the long days
of summer are a chance to focus on the glories of grammar.
One summer event that helps satisfy these literary appetites
is the Iowa Writer's Summer Festival, which brings authors
to Iowa City from across the country. WSUI intern Craig
Jarvie was one of this year's participants and he finds
out why this event gets people to shelve their swimwear
and vacations to hone their writing skills.
The
Reincarnation of Gabe's Oasis
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Stephen Grant
Some live music clubs live long, live hard, and die hard
only to be reborn anew. Oasis has been a stage for emerging
and well-known bands for more than two decades. Doug Roberson,
who books the club's bands talks about some of the memorable
moments in Gabe's history and gives us a look at what will
and will not change when Gabe's Oasis closes and returns
as The Picador.
What's
in a Name? The Bad Plus
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Kyle Gassiott
A billboard outside the Minneapolis-St. Paul International
Airport advises travelers to report "Suspicious Activity,"
a phrase which typifies the "paranoid security-conscious
society in which we're now living," says Bad Plus bassist,
Reid Anderson. Struck by the advisory, drummer David King
found in it the perfect title for the new Bad Plus album
and the perfect metaphor for the group's new music. Kyle
Gassiott interviews this adventurous band during their visit
to Iowa City before their performance at Jazz Fest.
|
June
24 , 2006
Kevin
Gordon: A Little More Under the Hood
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: David Vaughn Henderson
A former Hawkeye returns to Iowa this week - for a brief tour
at least. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Kevin Gordon sits down
with David Henderson to discuss his writing and music and
deep love for visual art. Gordon's latest CD, O Come Look
at the Burning, is enriched with the spirit of the numerous
self-taught artists he's championed over the last decade.
Takin' It To The Streets
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Charley Groth
Spending time in a busy city affords certain luxuries - great
shopping, coffee shops on every corner and up-scale restaurants.
It also includes an ever-changing sound-scape provided by
those seemingly indelible fixtures - the street performers
. . . |
June
17 , 2006
The
Long Return Home
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Kyle Gassiott
For many Americans this past Memorial Day was a time to remember
and honor those who have given their lives in the line of
duty. Many families paid their respects by visiting cemeteries
where their loved ones are buried. But what if your loved
one was MIA and never found? We'll hear how a remarkable set
of circumstances brought the remains of one WWII soldier home
to rest – 61 years later.
You've Got the Cutest Little Baby Face
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Charley Groth
Essay by: Bryan Richeson
When you're 22 years old, the only change you're hoping for
is from childhood to adulthood; so when your face betrays
your age and people constantly mistake you for 15, it can
put a damper on your new-found adult life. Bryan Richeson
explains why it's not so cute to have a Baby Face.
Post-Graduate Blues
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Charley Groth
Essay by: Justin McDonald
Wouldn't it be great if when everyone got out of college there
was a nice cozy job waiting even before the graduation cap
hit the ground? The harsh reality is, a college degree doesn't
always guarantee a job. Justin McDonald surveys the post graduate
job-scape to find what he's going to do, now that he's all
grown up.
The Mystery of Irma Vep
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Stephen Grant
Arts and Culture Calendar
Producer: Erik Farseth
What happens when you take and actor from Chicago, an actor
from New York, add 39 costume changes and a director with
a passion for the plays of Charles Ludlam? The Mystery of
Irma Vep - a campy tour-de-force replete with mummies, vampires,
werewolves, and mystery. The Charles Ludlam Play, directed
by Rachel Edwards Harvith is a melodrama-spoof the NY times
calls "the funniest two hours anywhere!" Hear the
actors and directors take on this high-voltage comedy. And,
get the "what's happening" from the Eastern Iowa
Arts Calendar with Erik Farseth.
Barbershop
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Matt Hauge
The Barbershop quartet held a significant place in American
history but eventually went out of style. Or did it? What
ever happened to the Barbershop Quartet? Matt Hauge dug up
the facts and found out that The Barbershop Quartet is alive
and well. |
June
10 , 2006
The Art of War
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Charley Groth
Should
art about the war in Iraq be censored? With more and more
soldiers coming home from the war in Iraq, we are in effect,
brought closer to the war. One Iraq veteran, Jesse Albrecht,
returned home to the U of I to finish his graduate degree
in sculpture. Last fall, his new perspective on art took the
UI art department by storm.
Summer
Fun
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: John LaRue
Iowa City doesn't become a ghost town once the academic year
ends. In fact, the city has a lot to offer with the change
of weather. WSUI intern John LaRue attended the Iowa Arts
Festival to find out what Iowans look forward to during the
summer months.
Reflections
on the Mid-term Primaries:
an Interview with Chet Culver
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
In the hectic days before the primary, Weekend America: Iowa
Edition's David Henderson sat down with Chet Culver to learn
why he wants to be governor and, he responds to Ed Fallon's
critique of the undue influence of big money in politics. |
April
29 , 2006
Turning Points
Baseball
veteran Dave Winfield once said that “Everyone has a
breaking point, turning point, stress point, the game is permeated
with it.” Life is permeated with those turning points
too, and on today’s show, we take a look at some of
those make-or-break moments.
I’m Every Place
I’ve Ever Lived
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Craig Jarvie
One of life’s turning points comes when we move to
a new home. Craig Jarvie has seen plenty of cardboard boxes
and packing tape in his time. In this essay, he discusses
the meaning and effects of frequent jaunts with the U-Haul.
Shoeless Joy
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Rebecca Sheir
Sometimes our lives can change when we least expect it.
Nine years ago, in the middle of a cold October night, all
Eric Burchett wanted was a pack of cigarettes. What he ended
up getting, however, was something much more.
Under the Stiletto
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Stephen Koranda
When it comes to marriage, for guys, the Bachelor's Party
can be just as life changing as the actual ceremony - especially
if that pre-wedding bash ends up at the local strip club.
And if, like Stephen Koranda, you're new to the strip-club
scene, you may not walk out the same way you walked in.
Originally
broadcast April 2004 on Week's End
The IBTC
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producers: Rebecca Sheir & Dianna Stirpe
As Weekend America: Iowa Edition host Rebecca Sheir
faces the turning point of moving to the Alaska Public Radio
Network, we present one of her very first radio essays –
about an itty-bitty turning point during her teenage years…
one that affected her in pretty big ways.
The Road Less Traveled
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Kyle Gassiott
Some turning points can happen at the drop of a hat –
or the flex of a thumb. Kyle Gassiott brings us the story
of University of Iowa student Dana O'Shea, whose discovery
of hitchhiking at age 12 made her re-examine travel on the
open road.
Family Circle
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Charley Groth
Some turning points happen within families. When Mom and
Dad decide to call it quits, for example, everything can
get turned around. Nicole Reinard tells the story of what
happened when she met her mother’s new boyfriend.
She wrote this essay for the UI radio essay and commentary
course, Radio Voices, in Fall 2005.
Originally
broadcast May 14, 2005
Graduation Day
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Paul Flahive
Another major turning point for many – and one that’s
right around the corner – is graduation. Paul Flahive
graduated from the University of Iowa in 2005; in this piece,
he explores the annual phenomenon of 4,000 University of
Iowa students being put out on the street.
Junaidullah Khan: Islam in Iowa
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
History has offered up its fair share of turning points,
and September 11th, 2001 was an enormous turning point in
the American consciousness. For Muslims in America, it was
no less a turning point. David Vaughn speaks with UI senior
Junaidullah Khan about what it means to be an observant
Muslim in these times, in this place.
Pinball Fanatics: Spreading the Gospel
of the Silver Ball
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Erik Farseth
The big turning point for pinball came in 2000, when the
leading manufacturers abandoned the pinball industry. Today,
only one company still produces pinball machines. Erik Farseth
speaks with pinball collectors and fans about whether pinball
can survive in the 21st century.
|
April
22 , 2006
Special Earth Day Edition
On
today’s show, we feature stories -- both new and “recycled”
-- inspired by the earth and the world… and the people
who have rocked them both.
Humans
versus Nature, Smackdown!
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced
by: Craig Jarvie
When it comes to Mother Earth/Mother Nature and us humans,
what exactly is the deal? Are we friends? Are we foes? Craig
Jarvie explores the question.
Making a Comeback
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
Iowa City had its earth shaken with last week’s
tornadoes. The 900 block of Iowa Avenue was hit especially
hard, and while residents want to rebuild, their dreams may
be circumscribed by limited insurance payouts and delays on
federal relief.
Originally
broadcast November 12, 2005
"Do
Something!": An Interview with Jacki Lyden -- Part One
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Rebecca Sheir
Rebecca Sheir talks with National Public Radio senior correspondent
and nonfiction author Jacki Lyden about her life, her career,
and her escapades and exploits as an international adventurer
of the airwaves.
Originally
broadcast November 12, 2005
"Do Something!": An Interview with
Jacki Lyden -- Part Two
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Rebecca Sheir
NPR's Jacki Lyden sheds light on how growing up with a manic-depressive
mother inspired her to be bold, be creative, and make as many
mistakes as humanly possible.
‘Round Midnight with
Jim Dougherty
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Kyle Gassiott
Many WSUI listeners have had their late-night worlds
rocked by Jim Dougherty. Kyle Gassiott profiles the now legendary
host of “Jazz & Jim” and “Big Bands
Then & Now."
Onward
& Upward?
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
In 1965, Lyndon Johnson established Upward Bound to give potential
first-generation college students a chance at a university
education. 40+ years later, the 2007 US governmental budget
allots Upward Bound no funds. The Senate passed a resolution
to restore funding, but the House is keeping the Department
of Education in suspense. David Vaughn learned how the program
works at the University of Iowa and talked to students about
how Upward Bound changed their world.
Music
without Borders: An interview with Calexico’s Joey Burns
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
Calexico is a band from Tucson, Arizona, with a sound that
straddles cultural borders. With controversy over immigration
reform at full boil, WSUI intern David Vaughn and KRUI Music
Director Marcelo Mena spoke with Calexico’s Joey Burns
about world travel and the international flow of cultures,
on the occasion of the band’s new album, “Garden
Ruin."
Originally
broadcast December 10, 2005
Getting
There
Producer: Rebecca Sheir
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
The holidays aren’t the only reason December’s
so festive. For some college seniors, December is merry and
bright for a completely different reason: winter graduation.
UI senior Tamar Fox reflects on her world travels these past
four years, and the peculiar way she remembers each stop along
the way.
Originally
broadcast January 14, 2006
Study
Abroad… But Don’t Drink the Water
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
David Vaughn talks with University of Iowa alumnus David Marxuach
about what studying abroad in Cuba taught him about himself,
the Republican party, and a good pork sandwich. |
April
15 , 2006
Special Tax Day Edition
Tailgating and the Twister
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Paul Flahive
For procrastinators, April 15th - Tax Day - can be a day of
reckoning. But for the residents of Iowa City – procrastinators
or not – Tax Day 2006 brought in another day of reckoning.
Paul Flahive hit the streets after tornado touchdown to find
out what happens when you combine a town, a twister and –
strangely enough – a whole new kind of tailgating.
Whirlwind
Mill
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
It’s commonly reported that tornados sound much like
a freight train. But what happens when you’re in a place
where the noise is so loud even a freight train is too quite
to hear?
When several tornados touched down in Iowa City, David Vaughn
was at the Mill Restaurant soaking up the sounds of a local
band. Decibels high, it took him a while to realize that the
popping in his ears had nothing to do with the amps dialed
up to “11” . . .
After the Storm: An Interview with
the Red Cross’ Peter Teahen
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Rebecca Sheir
Iowa native Peter Teahen wears many hats: he’s a funeral
director, a certified traumatologist, the founder and president
of the International Mass Fatalities Center, and the national
spokesperson for the American Red Cross. In the aftermath
of this week’s tornado, he speaks with Rebecca Sheir
about the relief efforts in Iowa City.
Tornado Alley
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Erik Farseth
Nature works in strange and mysterious ways. John Lloyd
had a close encounter with a funnel cloud that took him
and his car for a ride down the streets of Iowa City, while
Postmaster Doug Curtiss had to deal with wreckage from the
twister at the busiest time of the year for the postal service
– Tax Time. Erik Farseth grabbed a microphone and
gathered a few twisted storm stories from several Iowans.
A
Sisterhood rises - after the fall
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Stephen Grant
As tornados cut a diagonal path through Iowa City, the sorority
house Alpha Chi Omega stood directly in their path. Inside,
27 girls ran for cover in the house’s basement just
seconds before the tornado struck. Two girls were trapped
on the second floor. As the tornado hit, the eastern side
of the house and the roof were torn off. Marsh Grady, the
sorority’s vice-president, sorority girls and a worried
parent talk about their ordeal as they move their belongings
to their new home - temporary housing at Phi Gamma Delta.
Original music composed by Michael Chimenti.
We’re
Not Gonna Take It: A History of Tax Protestors
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Craig Jarvie
Each year, the powers-that-be tell us to scrape together
those W2s and muddle sufficient sense out of them in time
for Uncle Sam’s big deadline. But what if… we
simply said “no”? According to Craig Jarvie,
we’d be joining a long line of tax protestors that
have appeared throughout history – from Lady Godiva
to the Montana Freemen.
Many Musical Returns
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Kyle Gassiott
What better way to celebrate tax season than with a little
music? Kyle Gassiott did a little musical tax preparation
of his own to find out what tunes you listen to after those
forms go in the mail.
Nature’s
Taxing Ways
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Stephen Koranda
The introduction of alien plant species into an ecosystem
can tax Mother Nature in big ways. Stephen Koranda talked
with local experts on invasive species in Iowa, and how
your tax dollars are spent fighting their taxing ways.
Tax & Syntax: Noam Chomsky in Iowa City
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Charley Groth
He may not be revered when it comes to “tax,”
but when it comes to “syntax,” linguist and
political critic Noam Chomsky’s the king. He visited
Iowa City this week to chat with the University of Iowa
Linguistics Department and give a speech on human rights,
and Charley Groth was there on the scene.
Tornadoes & Trump Cards
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Kyle Gassiott
For those people whose homes were in the tornado’s
path this week, the damage ranges from moderate to frighteningly
severe. Kyle Gassiott visited Iowa City resident Andrew
Rinner, who experienced the damage firsthand at his parent’s
house. |
April
1 , 2006
Special Spring Fund Drive Edition
Something old, something new... in honor of the spring fund
drive, we wed old favorites with brand new stories.
Unintentionally
Funny
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Craig Jarvie
It’s
April Fool’s Day, a time to laugh, joke and make merry.
But what about those times we laugh and make merry…
and no joke was intended?
Originally
broadcast April 2, 2005
Rock Around the Clock
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Rebecca Sheir
Daylight Saving Time kicked off this year on April 3rd...
but what exactly are we "saving" each year when
DST rocks us around the clock?
Originally
broadcast February 11 2006
The
Penelope Tapes: Leave Your Love After the Beep
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
Phones and answering machines didn’t exist in
the Bronze Age… or did they? What if Odysseus–-in
his tempestuous, twenty-year journey following the Trojan
War--was able to dial up his sweetie and leave his love
after the beep?
Originally
broadcast October 15, 2005
Reality TV
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Stephen Grant
With today's seemingly endless list of reality TV shows,
you have to wonder: is reality TV just another circus, where
the ringmaster lures you into an under-the-Big-Top world
of illusion? Stephen Grant takes to the streets and asks
whether reality TV is a turn-on... or a turn-off.
Originally
broadcast September 3, 2005
The
True Laborer
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Charley Groth
As a certain nine months wind to an end, Charley Groth investigates
labor of another sort -- one which he knows all too well…
or thinks he does, anyway. His wife just might beg to differ.
Originally
broadcast November 19, 2005
But we
can’t eat the Turkey!
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Erik Farseth
While the rest of us enjoy our holiday ham, turkey or turducken
- that’s a chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a
turkey – for vegetarians, steering clear of meat products
can be quite a challenge. WSUI intern/vegetarian Erik Farseth
shares his Thanksgiving day woes.
Originally
broadcast August
6, 2005
Senior Sluggers
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Rebecca Sheir
The Senior Softball World Series is returning to Des
Moines, Iowa, and a group of golden-agers is determined
to bring home the gold. Grab your peanuts and cracker jacks
and join producer Rebecca Sheir as she root-root-roots for
the home team at one very special -- but not-so-very "old"
-- ballgame.
Originally
broadcast January
21, 2006
Snooze-Button
Tango
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by Stephen Grant
Many of us have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning.
The alarm goes off, we whack the snooze button and drift
back to dreamland. University of Iowa student Tricia Ven
Horst outlines her escapades as she tangos with her own
snooze button. She wrote this essay for the UI radio essay
and commentary course, Radio Voices, in Fall 2005.
|
March
25 , 2006
Curse
of the Indian Chief Mascot
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
The Iowa Hawkeyes are out of the running for the NCAA. Were
they cursed by the University of Illinois's use of an Indian
Chief Mascot? Hear what some intramural basketballers have
to say at the University of Iowa's Field House, about the
use of Native American characters as mascots.
Scholars and Mascots
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
Beyond the floors of the Field House, WSUI intern David Vaughn
continues his contoversial story on mascots and heads to the
halls of academia where he seeks an erudite perspective on
the use Native American Mascots. He interviews Iowa Professor
Jackie Rand, who teaches a course on Native America at the
University of Iowa.
How High the Jazz: Good Night and Good
Luck Soundtrack featuring Dianne Reeves
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
Kyle Gassiott
The DVD of the Oscar nominated film Good Night and Good
Luck is out on shelves. While the film didn't walk away
with an academy award, the soundtrack won the Grammy for the
Best Jazz Vocal Album of 2005. Find out what makes this CD
a Grammy winner!
What's in a Photograph?
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Stephen Koranda
Old photographs transport us back in time and they always
have a story to tell. What kind of story can be told form
a World-War Two photo of a soldier and his gun. Truth is there's
more in this old black and white than meets the eye. Clue
number one? It's about the gun.
Serving for the Numbers
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Charley Groth
Once upon a time, when people went out to eat, the food would
be prepared from scratch and everyone, including the wait
staff would have a crisp shirt, a clean shave and fresh shoe
polish. Well, today, things have changed. But only for the
customers. What are the new rules for server/customer conduct?
Toast eaters, listen closely.
Bye-Bye:
Touch-Play Machines, soon leaving a store near you
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Stephen Koranda
Touch-Play machines are a bust, according to the Iowa State
government. With several dozen of the machines in the downtown
Iowa City area, University of Iowa students are exposed to
them almost everyday. What do they have to say about these
machines getting the ax? |
March
18 , 2006
Special St. Patrick's Day Edition
It’s St. Paddy’s Day weekend, and though we can’t
offer you any green beer – or green rivers – we
can offer you a St. Paddy’s parade of good radio.
St. Urho’s
Day
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Craig Jarvie
Craig Jarvie gets in touch with his roots and tells us why
this was a great week to be Irish… and Finnish.
Never Mind the Shamrocks
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Erik Farseth
For many of us, our knowledge of Irish music doesn’t
extend beyond Riverdance. Erik Farseth brings us this corned-beef-and-cabbage
stew of new – and newly rediscovered – Irish
tunes.
Comic Relief
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Paul Flahive
In this tribute to everyday comic relief, Maggie Flanagan
explains why it’s important to drive with one foot,
not two - and why police officers and passing wind simply
do not mix. She wrote this essay for the UI radio essay
and commentary course, Radio Voices, in Fall 2005.
The Real Donnelly’s
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
A bar called Donnelly’s recently opened in Iowa City.
But for people who remember what the town was like before
the urban renewal of the 1970s, there can only be one real
Donnelly’s. Harold Donnelly presided over his namesake
tavern from 1934 to 1974, before yielding to mandated demolition
by bulldozer. David Vaughn asked Gerry Schmidt, an erstwhile
Donnelly’s regular, to share his memories of the old
watering hole.
Happy
New Year
[Listen with
RealPlayer]
Produced by: Charley Groth
For many, major holidays bring all sorts of emotional baggage.
Danny Bronson offers his own reflections on the last major
holiday of the year. He wrote this essay for the UI radio
essay and commentary course, Radio Voices, in Fall 2005. |
March
4 , 2006
Special Oscars Edition
The Academy Awards are one day away, and on today’s
show we explore the wide and wild world of entertainment,
from movies to music to television.
The Celluloid-Quote-a-holic
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with RealPlayer]
Producer: Craig Jarvie
Whether we mean to or not, many of the words we use in our
daily lives are ripped off from pop culture – often,
from the movies. We all know those individuals who can recite
a movie line at the drop of a dime. But, when does it cross
over into obsession?
And,
the Oscar goes to . . .?
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer: Stephen Koranda
At Oscar time, there's seemingly no shortage of experts ready
to put their two-cents in on who's walking off with the year's
Best Film, Actor or Director. Journey along with intern Stephen
Koranda as he asks some movie-going locals what their top
picks are.
Rec.
Room Rock
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with RealPlayer]
Producer: Charley Groth
For fans of underground music in the Cedar Rapids area, the
1109 House was the best –if not the only – live
music venue to cater to their tastes. Music writer Bill Fare
tells the story of the final days of a private residence that
lived somewhere in the grey area of a speakeasy and a house
party.
Cold-Blooded
Capote?
A
Discussion of Capote & Journalistic Ethics with Journalism
Professor
Don McCleese
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
The Oscar-nominated film, Capote, delves into the
methods behind the composition of Truman Capote’s classic
nonfiction novel, In Cold Blood. University of Iowa journalism
professor Don McCleese discusses whether those painstaking
and potentially dubious methods might have actually been “cold-blooded”
themselves.
Petrified
World: An Interview With Gary Panter
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Erik Farseth
Emmy Award-winning scenic designer Gary Panter has designed
some of the wackiest sets in TV history, including those for
the classic Saturday morning almost-cartoon, Pee-Wee’s
Playhouse. He discusses his background and beliefs as
a painter and designer.
When
You’re a Sith, You’re a Sith All the Way
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Rebecca Sheir
Movie
musicals: love ‘em, or hate ‘em? Actor and UI
student Eric Burchett discusses his own relationship with
a genre where spontaneous singing and dancing are par for
the course. |
February
25 , 2006
Special
Mardi Gras Edition
Mardi Gras is already underway in New Orleans. With Fat Tuesday
a few slender days away, we offer a taste of the Mardi Gras
revelries… along with the more serious side of what’s
been happening in the Big Easy since Hurricane Katrina.
Mardi Voix
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with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
With much of New Orleans still feeling the impact of Katrina,
debates are raging about whether it’s appropriate to
celebrate Mardi Gras this year. David Vaughn hit the streets
of Iowa City to find out what people in the heartland think
about busting out the bourbon and beads so soon after the
hurricane.
No
Small Deed Goes Unnoticed
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with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Erik Farseth
February is full of red-letter days: Valentine’s Day,
Presidents’ Day, and, of course, Fat Tuesday. But a
couple of red-letter weeks also occur during the second month:
International Friendship Week (19-25) and Random Acts of Kindness
Week (14-20). Pat Griffin provides a touching example of both
occasions in this essay, which he wrote for the University
of Iowa radio essay and commentary course, Radio Voices, in
fall 2005.
Soul
Savers in the Big Easy
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Stephen Grant
Three members of a civilian first-responder team known as
"The Soul Patrol" give riveting accounts of their
rescue efforts following the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe
in the Big Easy's seventh ward. |
February
18 , 2006
Zeus
in a Pickup Truck
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with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
In those wide-eyed days of childhood, we often elevate our
parents and other grown-up relatives to near-superhero status.
In this essay, Kate Browne pays tribute to one such element-fighting,
gravity-defying, mind-reading demigod: her uncle. She wrote
this essay for the UI radio essay and commentary course, Radio
Voices, in Fall 2005.
Why Madison County Hates the Scottish
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with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Rebecca Sheir
Iowa boasts its share of attractions: the future birthplace
of Captain Kirk, the country’s largest revolving jail,
and the Field of Dreams. Winterset, Iowa – tucked inside
that bridge-crazed Madison County – lays claim to an
attraction all its own, and Eric Burchett paid a rather curious
visit. He developed this story in the UI radio essay and commentary
course, Radio Voices, in Fall 2005.
Don't Call 'Em Hippies
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with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Charley Groth
What do Emo Thug, American Rockabilly and Reggae Funk have
in common? Join Charley Groth on his journey to Battlerusa
in search of the answer.
Change
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Craig Jarvie
As children, we often idolize our older relatives: parents,
grandparents, aunts and uncles. But Scott Hoffman examines
a different side of the issue. He wrote this story for the
UI radio essay and commentary course, Radio Voices, in Fall
2005. |
February
11 , 2006
Valentine’s
Day: Yea or Nay?
Valentine's
Day: either you love it… or you hate it. On today’s
show, we offer stories for those on both sides of the V-Day
fence. Time
of Our Lives
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Rebecca Sheir
Each February 14th, Americans exchange 180 million cards.
This number excludes those cutesy, packaged valentines from
grade school. It also excludes non-printed variations, like
one man’s radio valentine to someone rather unexpected:
his father. Ryan Rosenberg wrote this piece for the UI radio
essay and commentary course, Radio Voices, in Fall 2005.
Be
Mine
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Charley Groth
WSUI Intern Charley Groth was curious about what it
means to be somebody’s "Valentine," so he
hit downtown Iowa City to find out.
The Penelope Tapes: Leave Your Love After the Beep
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
Phones and answering machines didn’t exist in
the Bronze Age… or did they? What if Odysseus–-in
his tempestuous, twenty-year journey following the Trojan
War--was able to dial up his sweetie and leave his love
after the beep?
Dear
John
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Craig Jarvie
Valentine's Day is a time for lovers. But love can go sour
for anyone, even the hottest and heaviest of celebrity couples.
Craig Jarvie speculates about what the end might look –
and sound – like, for some prominent celeb pairings.
|
February
4 , 2006
I'll Tell You What You Really Need
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
In
this age of cubicles and computer screens, wouldn't it be
a breath of fresh air to ditch the office, work with your
hands and interact with Average Joes? Laura Markley isn't
so sure, as she explains in this cautionary tale about the
perils of working the county fair beer tent. She wrote this
essay for the UI radio essay and commentary course, Radio
Voices, in Fall 2005.
Brimful
of Asha: A Review of You've Stolen My Heart
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Kyle Gassiott
Among the Grammy Award nominees for this year's Best World
Music Album is the new release from the Kronos Quartet. Kyle
Gassiott introduces us to an album whose influences come from
a much-loved international film genre: Bollywood.
Prelude
to the Apocalypse: An Interview with the Rev. Russell Rathbun
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Erik Farseth
The Rev. Russell Rathbun is a minister at the House of Mercy
Baptist Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Rathbun recently applied
to the Iowa Writers Workshop. He speaks with Erik Farseth
about his latest book, Post-Rapture Radio: Lost Writings
from the Failed Revolution at the End of the Last Century.
Welcome
to Our Town: Your Slogan Here
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by: Craig Jarvie
What is your town most known for? Is there a sign at the city
limits bragging about it? What does your town’s slogan
mean to you? Craig Jarvie explores these questions and more
in this essay. |
January
28, 2006
Flossing
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with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
Jessica
Fritts ponders existential mysteries while practicing good
hygiene, and explores the deeper implications of dentail --
dare we say, "mental" -- flossing. She wrote this
essay for the UI radio essay and commentary course, Radio
Voices, in Fall 2005.
The
Plastic Purse
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced
by: S. Bailey Jacobson
In this essay, S. Bailey Jacobson explores the world of family
memorabilia. This piece was originally produced for "Collecting,"
her show in the UI Intermedia Department, where she is earning
her B.F.A.
Take
Me or Leave Me
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced
by: Charley Groth
Johanna
Meetz offers some insight on getting in touch... with your
inner nerd. She wrote this essay for the UI radio essay and
commentary course, Radio Voices, in Fall 2005. |
January
21 , 2006
The Playwright from Malaysia: An Interview
With Sandra Sodhy
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by Stephen Grant
Sandra Sodhy is the founder of Malaysia's foremost political
satire troupe, the Instant Cafe Theater Company. Sodhy tells
University of Iowa journalism student Hieu Pham about her
first impressions of Iowa, censorship and the challenges of
being a playwright.
Snooze-Button
Tango
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with RealPlayer]
Produced by Stephen Grant
Many of us have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning.
The alarm goes off, we whack the snooze button and drift back
to dreamland. University of Iowa student Tricia Ven Horst
outlines her escapades as she tangos with her own snooze button.
She wrote this essay for the UI radio essay and commentary
course, Radio Voices, in Fall 2005.
Where
Have All the Cowboys Gone?
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with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
Two Iowa City Western wear and cowboy gear retailers have
hung up their spurs.
In a town seemingly mad for bars, malls and mega-apartments,
is there still space on the Iowa City frontier for small,
independent businesses?
Rock
Band 101
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by Charley Groth
University of Iowa student Eric Burchett offers some tongue-in-cheek
advice on how to start your own rock band, in eight easy steps
-- with 37 parts. He wrote this essay for the UI radio essay
and commentary course, Radio Voices, in Fall 2005.
Brats
and Angels
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by Erik Farseth
University of Iowa student Rollin Perry talks
about one of his most memorable summer jobs – and why
he’s not exactly sure he believes that the children
really are our future. He wrote this essay for the UI radio
essay and commentary course, Radio Voices, in Fall 2005. |
January
14 , 2006
My
Dad the Criminal
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with RealPlayer]
Produced by Rebecca Sheir
Claire Shaw is a member of the Writing Your Life Story class
at the Iowa City Senior Center. In this story, she talks about
how sometimes Father Knows Best… especially when it
comes to less-than-lawful dealings.
(Not) Getting to Know You: Confessions of a Facebook
Hypocrite
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by Rebecca Sheir
As college students return to school after the holidays, they’re
reuniting with friends they haven’t seen since last
year. But Kristi Karlson has been thinking about another kind
of friendship – one in which the friends in question
might not ever see each other… let alone meet. She wrote
this commentary for the UI radio essay and commentary course,
Radio Voices, in Fall 2005.
We’re Not in Iowa Anymore, Toto
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by Rebecca Sheir
Before moving back to his native Iowa, Troy Peters experienced
a taste of glitz and glamour working as a set designer in
Hollywood. But his star-studded career didn’t have such
a star-studded start. He wrote this essay for the UI radio
essay and commentary course, Radio Voices, in Fall 2005.
Writing Iraq: An Interview With Sherko Fatah
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by Stephen Grant
Sherko Fatah, a participant in the Fall 2005 University of
Iowa International Writing Program, is the son of a German
mother and an Iraqi Kurd father. He spent part of his childhood
in Iraq, the subject of his Aspect Prize winning debut novel,
At the Borderline. He speaks with UI student Stephanie Tokheim
about his passion for fiction and his perceptions of Iraq.
Cosmo Kazakhstan: An Interview With Anna Rogozhnikova
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Produced by Erik Farseth
Anna Rogozhnikova is the first participant in the University
of Iowa’s International Writing Program to hail from
Kazakhstan. She writes short fiction and is an editor for
Cosmo Kazakhstan. She speaks with UI student Rebecca McKanna
about her experience with the magazine, women’s literature,
and the role that men play in her stories.
Study Abroad… But Don’t Drink the Water
[Listen
with RealPlayer]
Producer:
David Vaughn Henderson
David Vaughn talks with University of Iowa alumnus David Marxuach
about what studying abroad in Cuba taught him about himself,
the Republican party, and a good pork sandwich. |
For
2005 and earlier shows, click here |
|
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The University of Iowa
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Last Updated: July 21, 2006 |
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