Welcome to over 101 new subscribers in the past two days. For those who landed here thinking they were subscribing to a column by Jane Burns, a former Des Moines Register sports reporter whose guest column about the hottest topic in the state - Iowa women’s basketball - racked up over 14,500 views, you’ve actually joined Julie Gammack’s Potluck column.
Surprise.
Here’s how we do things around here:
Most Monday’s I host a Zoom call over the noon hour with notable guests. The podcast included above is described below. I will not have a Zoom call today, April 3, however, pollster J. Ann Selzer joins me April 10 to discuss her comprehensive Iowa Poll results that have appeared in The Des Moines Register. She also produces the Grinnell College National Poll, which was conducted in March. If you’ve ever wanted to ‘meet’ this famous pollster, this is your chance.
Sometimes I write a column of a topical nature - women politicians wearing stilettos, for example - or go out in the state and take part in a potluck with local influencers from random Iowa towns. I’m a ‘people collector’ from way back, and believe there’s a story in everyone, so highlight them on this platform.
I should be retired, but I didn’t take to it, and launched the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat, now an annual event in 2021, and then founded the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative last July, now including 28 outstanding writers from around the state. I recommend subscribing because you’ll receive a weekly email with links to their columns. You’ll find writers you know and love, plus emerging voices waiting to be discovered. The full list is below.
Oh, yeah, and former Des Moines Register Opinion writer Rekha Basu and I launched a podcast titled: What the hell happened to Iowa? We uploaded our third episode last week.
BOAZ, podcast
I hope you enjoy the podcast featured today. I’m still learning rudimentary editing skills, and you’ll notice a bit of a rough start - the road to mastery starts with the imperfection of a beginner. The bulk of the 54 minutes with Boaz Rauchwerger is worth your time. This internationally acclaimed, keynote speaker, was our Monday Zoom lunch guest last week. He imparted very simple tips on how to meet people and start meaningful conversations, plus Boaz worked with our participants individually on a variety of issues.
As an example, one said she feels she has a ‘tiny’ voice and wants to work on public speaking. Boaz reframed her question to affirm that she has an ‘important’ voice. As soon as she spoke those new words, she said she felt empowered.
There are several other examples of how Boaz worked with our subscribers. Take a listen.
Below the paywall is a phone number and email address for Boaz. Feel free to call him about your individual concerns. This information is exclusively for paid subscribers, who are supporting the scholarship fund for the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat.
OKOBOJI
Ok, procrastinators. I know you. I see you. I am you. You’re thinking: The Okoboji Writers’ Retreat isn’t until September, so I have plenty of time to enroll.
Not so.
We are getting close to the limit of attendees, so I’ll probably be capping enrollment soon.
Save you place! Your fee is refundable until September 1, minus a $20 service charge.
Remember: There’s a story in everyone. Let us help you tell yours.
www.okobojiwritersretreat.com
There’s something for just about everyone:
If you’re interested in commentary by some of Iowa’s best writers, please follow the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members:
Laura Belin: Iowa Politics with Laura Belin, Windsor Heights
Doug Burns: The Iowa Mercury, Carroll
Dave Busiek: Dave Busiek on Media, Des Moines
Art Cullen: Art Cullen’s Notebook, Storm Lake
Suzanna de Baca Dispatches from the Heartland, Huxley
Debra Engle: A Whole New World, Madison County
Julie Gammack: Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck, Des Moines and Okoboji
Joe Geha: Fern and Joe, Ames
Jody Gifford: Benign Inspiration, West Des Moines
Nik Heftman, The Seven Times, Los Angeles and Iowa
Beth Hoffman: In the Dirt, Lovilla
Dana James: New Black Iowa, Des Moines
Pat Kinney: View from Cedar Valley, Waterloo
Fern Kupfer: Fern and Joe, Ames
Robert Leonard: Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture, Bussey
Tar Macias: Hola Iowa, Iowa
Kurt Meyer, Showing Up, St. Ansgar
Kyle Munson, Kyle Munson’s Main Street, Des Moines
Jane Nguyen, The Asian Iowan, West Des Moines
John Naughton: My Life, in Color, Des Moines
Chuck Offenburger: Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger, Jefferson and Des Moines
Barry Piatt: Piatt on Politics: Behind the Curtains, Washington, D.C.
Macey Spensley, The Midwest Creative, Davenport and Des Moines
Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Buggy Land, Kalona
Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Emerging Voices, Kalona
Cheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business, Boone County
Ed Tibbetts: Along the Mississippi, Davenport
Teresa Zilk: Talking Good, Des Moines
The Iowa Writers Collaborative is also proud to ally with Iowa Capital Dispatch, a hard-hitting digital news source.
Boaz: 619-723-3007
As you recover from last night's game