Iowa Public Television

Past Episodes

• T. Boone Pickens' Energy Plan (#148)

  In August 2008, at a town hall meeting in Le Mars, Iowa, T. Boone Pickens discussed his plan for dealing with America’s energy issues.

• Producer Dayton Duncan Previews "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" (#165)

  In May 2009, award-winning writer and documentary filmmaker Dayton Duncan addressed a capacity crowd at Lekberg Hall on the campus of Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.

• Who Speaks for Islam? What A Billion Muslims Really Think (#146)

  This lecture, sponsored by the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, features Dalia Mogahed, the co-author of a new publication Who Speaks for Islam?, the culmination of a multi-year polling effort in 35 countries that disproves Western myths about Muslims. Ms. Mogahed’s lecture is followed by reactions from a panel of four Des Moines professionals: Dr. Mark Finkelstein, Dir. Of Community Relations, Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines; Khalid Khan, architect, HLKB Architects; Kyle Munson, writer/editor, The Des Moines Register, and Donna Scarfe, director of interpreting services, Deaf Action Center.

• Understanding the Economic Meltdown (#158)

  Presentation given in September 2008 by James Bernard, Jr., general manager of MarketWatch.com, part of the Wall Street Journal Digital Network.

• Thomas Friedman: Grinnell College Commencement Address (#164)

  In May 2009, three-time Pulitzer Prize winning author Thomas Friedman challenged Grinnell College graduates to embrace their liberal arts education to "rejuvenate, renew, and refresh America."

• Great Ape Trust Symposium: The Chimpanzee Mind (#144)

  Dr. Tetsuro Matsuzawa, a featured speaker at the 2008 Emergence of Mind Symposium sponsored by the Great Ape Trust of Iowa, researches chimpanzee intelligence and tool use.

• The Adversity Paradox: Achieving Uncommon Success in Business (#162)

  Des Moines business executives J. Barry Griswell and Bob Jennings discuss their new book The Adversity Paradox, a guide for achieving personal and business success. The book explores the paradox of how many people from difficult and unstable backgrounds leverage adversity into success. Much of the book examines how readers can turn adversity into an asset instead of a liability.

• U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan (#163)

  In April 2009, newly-appointed US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan addressed a near-capacity crowd at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

• How the Financial Markets Are Driving Globalism (#153)

  In September 2008, Iowa State University presented a lecture by James Bernard, Jr., general manager of MarketWatch.com, who shed light on the financial crisis.

• The Future of Journalism? (#157)

  On October 29, 2008, Drake University and the National Press Club co-hosted a panel on the future of journalism featuring key industry leaders -- Laura Hollingsworth, Des Moines Register; Steve Buttry, Cedar Rapids Gazette; Michael Gartner, Former President NBC News & Des Moines Register; David Busiek, KCCI, and Gil Klein, National Press Club. The event was part of the NPC's Centennial Forum project, "The First Amendment, Freedom of the Press and the Future of Journalism."

• Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln (#159)

  On the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, Iowa native Dr. John Stauffer of Harvard University, discusses comments on his most recent book,"Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln" at the Des Moines Public Library.

• Richard Florida (#117)

  On September 19, 2007, at Iowa State University author Richard Florida discussed his book The Flight of the Creative Class, an examination of the global competition for creative talent.

• Master of Mystery Lawrence Block (#166)

  Lawrence Block, one of the most widely recognized names in mystery, appeared at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines on May 22, 2009 to discuss his latest book, "Step by Step." Mr. Block has received numerous awards for his prolific body of work including the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master. One of his most recent books, "Hit and Run," was set in Des Moines.

• International Space Station Commander Peggy Whitson (#152)

  On September 2, 2008, NASA astronaut and Iowa native Peggy Whitson addressed a standing-room-only audience at Simpson College in Indianola. Commander Whitson recounted her recent experiences in space as the first female commander of the International Space Station. Whitson, who returned to Earth April 19, 2008 after approximately six months on the station, has accumulated more time in orbit than any U.S. astronaut. She conducted five spacewalks on Expedition 16, her most recent mission, and one on her previous flight. Whitson has totaled 39 hours and 46 minutes of spacewalking time, more than any other woman.

• Alternatives to Economic Globalization (#155)

  In October 2008, Iowa State University hosted Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch as part of their Technology, Globalization and Culture series.

• American Gothic: A Life of America's Most Famous Painting (#160)

  Author Steven Biel and Filmmaker Sasha Waters Freyer team up to present a fascinating glimpse at Grant Wood's most famous work --American Gothic.

• Beyond the Autism Diagnosis: How Professionals Can Help Parents (#129)

  Professor Marion O'Brien of the University of North Carolina discusses her research findings on children and families, particularly parenting practices and parental attitudes and their influence on parent-child relationships and child development. Her book, Beyond the Autism Diagnosis, was published in 2006.

• The Skeptical Environmentalist's Guide to Global Warming (#139)

  Bjorn Lomborg, author of The Skeptical Environmentalist and Cool It, is the director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center and an adjunct professor at the Copenhagen Business School. In 2004 TIME Magazine named him one of the 100 globally most influential people, and the UK's Guardian newspaper recently named him one of the 50 people who could save the planet. An environmental conservative, Lomborg has questioned the priority given to solving global climate change, arguing that we should first focus our resources on more immediate concerns, such as fighting malaria and HIV/AIDS and assuring a safe, fresh water supply. Mr. Lomborg appears as a featured speaker at ISU’s World Affairs Series.

• Running on Ice: Stories from a Warming Arctic (#127)

  Iowa State University graduate Elizabeth Andre shares stories from her 1200-mile dogsled trek across Baffin Island with renowned polar explorer Will Steger and a team of Inuit hunters, explorers and educators. She also recounts Inuit stories of living in a rapidly warming climate and offers insights on meeting the challenge of global warming.

• Statecraft: How to Restore America's Standing in the World (#143)

  Former U.S. Ambassador Dennis Ross has been active in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process for more than 12 years. He gave this lecture at Drake University in April 2008.

• The Ioway Nation in the New Millennium (#131)

  Lance Foster, a member of the Ioway Nation,discusses the history and culture of the Ioway Indians--the first tribe that inhabited the state of Iowa and parts of surrounding states.

• Putin's Petrostate: Power, Patronage and the New Russia (#156)

  On November 3, 2008, as part of their World Affairs Series, Iowa State University hosted Dr. Marshall Goldman, noted authority on Russian economics and politics and author of "Putin's Petrostate: Power, Patronage and the New Russia."

• Is Global Warming Affecting Hurricanes? (#140)

  Kerry Emanuel is an MIT professor of atmospheric science specializes in studying atmospheric convection and the mechanisms acting to intensify hurricanes.

• "Three Cups of Tea" Author Gregory Mortenson (#133)

  Gregory Mortenson is the author of the best-selling book “Three Cups of Tea” which recounts his lifelong dedication to promote education and literacy, especially for girls, in remote, volatile regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. As of 2007, Mortenson has established over 61 schools in these areas, which provide education to over 25,000 children, including 14,000 girls, where few education opportunities existed before.

• The Global Agricultural Crisis of the 21st Century (#151)

  Agricultural ecologist Sir Gordon Conway delivered the 2008 Norman Borlaug Lecture from Iowa State University.

• The Future of Pakistan (#147)

  The Iowa Council for International Understanding presents Mr. Khalid Hasan, former press secretary for President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and currently a senior journalist for a Lahore-based newspaper, The Daily Times. Mr. Hasan discusses the present state of affairs in Pakistan and what the future holds for Pakistan especially as it relates to the U.S. foreign policy.