Pulitzer Prize winning writer Art Cullen joins us on the podcast. Cullen, editor of The Storm Lake Times, won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Writing. His work detailed the role deceptive agricultural corporations played in a lawsuit between three rural Iowa counties and Des Moines Water Works regarding water pollution.
In the wake of that award, Cullen was approached by a handful of publishers about writing a book. He wrote Storm Lake: A Chronicle of Change, Resilience, and Hope from a Heartland Newspaper, a book about both his life and the life of a community in northwest Iowa that has been challenged by changes in the meat-packing industry and shaped by diversity.
In the podcast, Cullen talks about practicing journalism in a small community, the positive impact The Storm Lake Times has had on the town's large immigrant population, and more.
AViD author Russell Shorto joins special guest host Laura Rowley on the newest episode of the DMPL Podcast! Shorto wrote Revolution Song, which is a narrative history of the American Revolution. Shorto shares with Rowley why he settled on the six real-life characters that he chose to tell the story of the Revolution. He also shares a little bit about his next project, which is the story of the mafia - and also a family story.
Shorto will be at the Central Library as part of the 2018 AViD series on Thursday, June 14, at 7:00 PM.
AViD author Lea Berman joins special guest host Laura Rowley on the newest episode of the DMPL Podcast! She co-wrote Treating People Well with Jeremy Bernard. Both served as White House Social Secretaries - Berman under President George W. Bush and Bernard under President Barack Obama. During the interview, she talks about why she sees civility and manners as something that needs to be discussed in the current day and age. She also shares a couple of stories from her time at the White House.
Berman and Jeremy Bernard will be at the Central Library as part of the 2018 AViD series on Tuesday, May 15, at 7:00 PM.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
AViD author Stephanie Powell Watts joins us on the podcast! Guest host Laura Rowley talks with Watts about her career, her writing process, and how her original idea for No One is Coming to Save Us morphed into something completely different. Don’t forget, she’ll be at Des Moines University on Thursday, May 3, at 7:00 PM!
Amor Towles is coming to Des Moines for AViD! He speaks with guest host Laura Rowley about his newest book, A Gentleman in Moscow. They also chat about his writing process, life in New York City, and what his idea of perfect happiness is. Mark your calendars for Monday, April 23, at 7:00 PM for Amor’s visit – and don’t forget it’s at Roosevelt High School!
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
AViD author John Lescroart joins us on the podcast! He chats with special guest host Laura Rowley about his unique path to becoming a best-selling author and what motivates him. Lescroart will be at the Central Library on Tuesday, April 10, at 7:00 PM. Learn more about AViD!
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Children’s author and illustrator David LaRochelle comes on the podcast! He’ll be at the Franklin Avenue Library on Monday, April 16, at 5:30 PM. LaRochelle talks about his love for children’s books, how he writes them, and why being a picture book author is like being a director.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Our newest Podcast Picks podcast has Jen and Carrie in the studio! They’re talking about mysteries with a romantic twist to them. Check it out!
The series Jen and Carrie discussed are:
‘Veronica Speedwell,’ by Deanna Raybourn
‘Jackson Brodie,’ by Kate Atkinson
‘Kincaid & Jones,’ by Deborah Crombie
‘42nd Street Library,’ by Con Lehane
‘Magic Men Mysteries,’ by Elly Griffiths
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Forest Avenue Children’s Librarian Erica Eis talks about her favorite picture books with winter themes! She also talks about the importance of storytime, finding books your child is interested in, and ways to encourage them to continue reading, no matter their skill level.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Librarians Kevin and Kate tell us about lesser-known books that you should consider for your book club this next year. They also talk about what makes for a good book club discussion!
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Long-time Des Moines sports personality Larry Cotlar joins the podcast! Cotlar chats about some of the highlights of his lengthy sports media career, which has spanned more than three decades. He explains how things have changed, for good and bad, and then gives us a preview of his upcoming program at the Franklin Avenue Library. Cotlar will be at Franklin on Tuesday, November 7, at 6:30 PM to discuss the upcoming men’s college basketball season for each of the Division I programs in the state (Iowa, Iowa State, UNI, and Drake).
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Paranormal investigator Chad Lewis joins the show to talk about the wild and spooky things that he’s seen throughout his career. From hunting for the Tata Duende in Central America to looking for spooky sights throughout the Midwest, Chad has lots of experience with the supernatural. He’ll be presenting two programs in Des Moines: he’ll be at the Franklin Avenue Library on Tuesday, October 24, at 6:30 PM, and at the South Side Library on Wednesday, October 25, at 6:30 PM.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Librarians Sarah and Steph hop on the podcast to talk about our patrons’ favorite books! The books discussed are all books that readers chose during our “Book Your Escape” adult summer reading program this past year. There are mysteries, graphic novels, and more! Hear what books readers and listeners like you recommend!
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
State Librarian of Iowa Michael Scott talks about the role of the State Library, increasing broadband access throughout Iowa, and his fascinating career path that led him to Des Moines.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes interviews Rachelle Chase, author of Lost Buxton. In 1900, at a time when Jim Crow, segregation, and the Ku Klux Klan kept blacks and whites separated, residents in Buxton, Iowa—a thriving coal mining town established by Consolidation Coal Company—lived, worked, and went to school side by side. African Americans—miners, teachers, business owners, doctors, lawyers, and more—made up more than half of the population for the first 10 years and remained the largest ethnic group until 1914. By 1922, Buxton was a ghost town. Using photographs and rare audio clips from interviews with former Buxton residents, Chase will share what made Buxton so unique, both in terms of the residents and the town itself—and why Buxton is still being talked about today. Chase will present Buxton, Iowa: A Coal Mining Town Ahead of Its Time at the Forest Ave. Library on Saturday, July 29th at 2:00 PM.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Heather Gudenkauf wraps up the AViD lecture series on Tuesday, May 30 at the Central Library. Gudenkauf, who lives in Dubuque, will be celebrating the release of her newest novel, Not a Sound. Gudenkauf is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of seven novels, including One Breath Away, The Weight of Silence, and These Things Hidden. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education, has spent her career working with students of all ages, and continues to work in education as a Title I Reading Coordinator in Dubuque, Iowa.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes is joined in the studio by DMPL librarian Carla Tibboel. Carla discusses All Things Irish. Books mentioned in this episode include The Case of the Missing Books, Road to McCarthy: Around the World in Search of Ireland, Brooklyn, and Real Irish Food. For links to each of these books in our catalog visit this book list.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special guest host Laura Rowley interviews famed and award-winning author Nathan Hill! Hill is the author of the best-selling novel The Nix. His debut novel, The Nix was recognized as one of 2016’s best books by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsday, Library Journal, and Entertainment Weekly, among others. A native Iowan, Hill received a BA in English and Journalism at the University of Iowa before attaining his MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Hill has taught writing at Florida Gulf Coast University and is an Associate Professor of English at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He currently resides in Naples, Florida. Hill will be at the Central Library as part of the 2017 AViD series on Thursday, May 11 at 7:00 PM.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special guest host Mike Draper interviews bestselling author Jon Ronson! Ronson is a Welsh nonfiction author, documentary maker, and screenwriter. He’s written ten books, including the best-sellers So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, The Psychopath Test, and The Men Who Stare at Goats. Ronson regularly contributes to The Guardian and BBC Radio 4, where his series Jon Ronson On... has been shortlisted for the Sony Award four times. In the United States, Jon is a regular contributor to This American Life, GQ, The New York Times Book Review, and has appeared at TED and on The Daily Show. Ronson will be at Sheslow Auditorium on the Drake University campus as part of the 2017 AViD series on Wednesday, April 12 at 7:00 PM.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special guest host Laura Rowley interviews famed and award-winning author Eloisa James! James is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 romance novels. She has been nominated for a RITA – the highest award in romance fiction – several times, and she won her first RITA in 2003. James graduated from Harvard and received post-graduate degrees from Oxford University and Yale University. In addition to being an author, James is a Shakespeare professor at Fordham University. James will be at the Central Library as part of the 2017 AViD series on Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 PM.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes is joined in the studio by DMPL librarian Sarah Lane! Sarah really upped the creativity with her picks, and chose eight genre bending romances to talk about (genre bending is when a work has elements of two or more genres). Books mentioned in this episode include Food: A Love Story, Never Let Me Go, and Dark Matter. For links to each of these books in our catalog visit this collection. For more information about the library, great free events, and more visit our home online at dmpl.org.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes speaks with award-winning author Michelle Hoover! Hoover is the author of two novels, including Bottomland, the 2017 All Iowa Reads title. Hoover is currently the Fannie Hurst Writer-in-Residence at Brandeis University in Boston, where she teaches advanced fiction workshops and works with students on honors and thesis projects. Hoover is the co-founder and head of the GrubStreet Novel Incubator program in Boston. Hoover will be at the Central Library as the first author in the 2017 AViD series on Tuesday, March 7 at 7:00 PM.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes chats with DMPL librarian Stephanie Fruhling! Stephanie came to the studio armed with fantastic reading recommendations to check out while keeping warm indoors this winter (preferably with a warm beverage and some PJ's, if you ask this podcast crew). Books mentioned in this episode include The City Baker's Guide to Country Living, Just One Damned Thing After Another, and Soul of an Octopus: a Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness. For links to each of these books in our catalog visit this collection.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Host Aaron Gernes chats with our very own librarian Cat Bierling! Cat stopped by the podcast studio with some great reading recommendations for this time of year. For everyone from Science Fiction lovers and History Buffs to Romance lovers and fans of children's books, Cat has an excellent recommendation. For a full list of books mentioned in this episode, visit dmpl.org.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC
Special host Laura Rowley interviews Jenny Lawson! Lawson is the bestselling author of Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things. In her book, Lawson explores her lifelong battle with depression and anxiety in the hysterical style she’s famous for. Lawson also wrote a memoir, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, which became a #1 New York Times bestseller. Her blog, thebloggess.com, has been nominated for multiple awards and has been recognized by Forbes and The Huffington Post. Lawson was also a contributor to the “Good Mom/Bad Mom” blog for the Houston Chronicle. Lawson will be at Des Moines University as part of this year's AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) events on Thursday, July 7 at 7:00 PM. Visit dmpl.org for more information about AViD and the library.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC