The Iowa Potluck features commentary, stories and interviews with notable leaders. Feel free to join our growing tribe, where you'll find a smart, engaged community of readers. <br/><br/><a href="https://okobojiwriters.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">okobojiwriters.substack.com</a>
Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck
Claim This Podcastby Julie Gammack
138 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
43
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality86
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement0
Podcast Overview
The Iowa Potluck features commentary, stories and interviews with notable leaders. Feel free to join our growing tribe, where you'll find a smart, engaged community of readers. <br/><br/><a href="https://okobojiwriters.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">okobojiwriters.substack.com</a>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/23/2023
Unlock The Full Podcast Authority Score Report
See how your podcast performs across key metrics
43
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality86
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement0
7
Excellent Areas
3
Good Performance
9
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
1h 8m
Performing excellently!
good
Publishing Consistency
Every 9 days
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
poor
Episode Thumbnails
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
+16 More Metrics
Unlock comprehensive insights including:
- • YouTube presence analysis
- • Social media reach metrics
- • RSS compliance scoring
- • Podcast 2.0 features
- • Technical standards
What's Included in Your Full Report
Detailed Analytics
- Complete breakdown of all 19 authority metrics
- Personalized recommendations for each metric
- Industry benchmarks and comparisons
- Technical RSS feed analysis and compliance scoring
Growth Strategies
- Step-by-step action plans for improvement
- Quick wins to boost your score immediately
- Pro tips from successful podcasters
Get your free podcast insights report
See how your show performs across every key metric
Instant delivery
No spam
Attract Better Guests
High authority scores make your podcast more attractive to industry leaders and influencers who want to appear on credible shows.
Secure Sponsorships
Sponsors look for podcasts with proven authority and engagement. Your score demonstrates your podcast's value to potential partners.
Grow Your Audience
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses helps you make data-driven decisions to expand your listener base effectively.
2 verified contact emails on file for Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
June 30, 2026
Creator Corps Founders Pat Rynard and Liz (from Iowa) Fleming
<p>My guests are <strong>Pat Rynard</strong>, founder of Iowa Starting Line, and <strong>Liz Fleming</strong>, better known online as “Liz from Iowa.” Together they’re leading the <strong>Iowa Creator Corps</strong>, a project that trains and supports content creators who use platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, podcasts, and Substack to tell Iowa stories and engage new audiences.</p><p>Our conversation explores the changing media landscape, the decline of traditional news outlets, and how younger audiences increasingly discover news through social media rather than newspapers or television. We also discuss how Creator Corps recruits and trains local voices, the importance of authentic community storytellers, and the opportunities—and challenges—of building trust, combating misinformation, and reaching people where they already spend their time online.</p><p>Whether you’re a journalist, writer, content creator, or simply interested in the future of local news, this conversation offers an inside look at how one organization hopes to reshape civic engagement and storytelling in Iowa.</p><p>See also:<a target="_blank" href="https://iowastartingline.com"> </a><a target="_blank" href="https://iowastartingline.com"><strong>Iowa Starting Line</strong></a></p><p> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.iowacreatorcorps.com"><strong> Creator Corps</strong></a></p><p>Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat - Early Bird Registration ends July 5</p><p>I am happy to announce that Pat Rynard and Liz Fleming will be joining us for the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat. You’ll learn how and why to use some of these social platforms for storytelling. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://okobojiwritersretreat.com"><strong>Learn more</strong></a></p><p>Iowa Writers’ Collaborative</p><p>Did you catch the roundup of extraordinary columns posted last week? </p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe</a>
June 27, 2026
Zach Lahn Lived (s) in Kansas; Why Run for Governor in Iowa?
<p><strong>Kansas Journalist Tim Carpenter Offers Perspective on Zach Lahn’s Kansas Years</strong></p><p>Veteran Kansas political reporter Tim Carpenter joined the Potluck to discuss what Iowa voters may want to know about Republican gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn’s years in Kansas. Throughout the conversation, Carpenter was careful to distinguish between documented facts, his own observations, and areas where he believes additional reporting is needed.</p><p>Carpenter noted that Lahn spent much of his adult life in Kansas, particularly in the Wichita area, where he became involved in politics, nonprofit work, education, and business ventures. Carpenter said he first became aware of Lahn’s Kansas background shortly before Iowa’s primary election and wrote a story examining that connection.</p><p>One of Carpenter’s observations was that Lahn presents himself as a political outsider, despite having spent years working in politics and advocacy organizations, including Americans for Prosperity, a national conservative organization with ties to businessman Charles Koch. Carpenter suggested that voters may wish to consider how that experience aligns with Lahn’s outsider message.</p><p>The discussion also focused on Lahn’s connection to the Koch family. Carpenter noted that Lahn worked with the Wonder School, an innovative private school in Wichita, and later married Annie Koch, formerly married to Chase Koch, son of Charles Koch. Carpenter said these connections are part of Lahn’s public biography and may help explain some of the opportunities available to him during his time in Kansas. However, Carpenter emphasized that he has no direct evidence regarding the role, if any, that Koch family members or Koch-affiliated organizations are playing in Lahn’s Iowa campaign.</p><p>Several participants asked about the Wonder School. Carpenter described it as an unusual educational model that has attracted attention in Wichita. At the same time, he said he would like to learn more about the school’s operations, outcomes, and leadership structure. Carpenter characterized his own understanding of the school as incomplete and said further reporting would be valuable.</p><p>Carpenter also discussed Lahn’s campaign positions on issues such as water quality, agriculture, and corporate concentration. He observed that some of Lahn’s rhetoric differs from traditional Republican messaging, particularly his criticism of agricultural monopolies and concerns about water pollution. Carpenter said it remains to be seen how prominently those issues will feature in the general election campaign and whether Lahn’s positions evolve over time.</p><p>When asked directly about Lahn’s honesty or trustworthiness, Carpenter repeatedly declined to offer a personal judgment. He stressed that he has written only one story about Lahn, has never interviewed him, and has not spent enough time around him to assess his character. Carpenter contrasted that with politicians he has covered for decades, where long experience sometimes gives reporters insight into a public official’s credibility. In Lahn’s case, Carpenter said he simply does not know enough to reach such conclusions.</p><p>The issue of residency also arose during the discussion. Carpenter acknowledged that Lahn appears to satisfy the legal requirements to run for governor of Iowa. However, he said voters may reasonably ask questions about a candidate who spent much of his adult life outside the state before returning and seeking statewide office. Carpenter framed this as a political question for voters rather than a legal challenge.</p><p>Overall, Carpenter portrayed Lahn as an intriguing and unconventional candidate whose background warrants continued scrutiny by journalists and voters alike. Rather than drawing firm conclusions, Carpenter repeatedly encouraged further reporting and fact-checking. His central message was that Iowans still have much to learn about Zach Lahn’s years in Kansas, his business and educational ventures, his political evolution, and how those experiences may shape his candidacy for governor.</p><p>The Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat is Proud to Sponsor Julie Gammack’s Potluck</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://okobojiwritersretreat.com"><strong>Learn more</strong></a></p><p></p><p>Iowa Writers’ Collaborative</p><p>Did you catch the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Roundup on Wednesday? </p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe</a>
June 17, 2026
A Baseball Writer Who Was Born for the Beat
<p></p><p>Our guest on Monday knew at a very young age that he wanted baseball to be part of his life. As fate would have it, that wasn’t going to happen as a player.</p><p>Some people seem born for their names. Judges judge. Farmers farm. Bakers bake. And then there’s Jared Diamond.</p><p>A diamond, of course, is the shape of a baseball field. Not every Diamond becomes a baseball writer, but if you’re going to spend your career covering America’s pastime for The Wall Street Journal, it doesn’t hurt to have a memorable surname.</p><p>My Potluck podcast guest this week was sports journalist Jared Diamond, the national baseball writer for The Wall Street Journal. Jared has covered Major League Baseball for more than a decade, including assignments following both the New York Mets and New York Yankees before taking on his current national role. He joined the Journal in 2011 after graduating from Syracuse University’s renowned S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.</p><p>Jared is also the author of the bestselling book Swing Kings: The Inside Story of Baseball’s Home Run Revolution, an inside look at the data, technology, and personalities that transformed modern baseball. His reporting has taken him deep into some of the sport’s biggest stories, from the Astros sign-stealing scandal to labor disputes, gambling controversies, and the changing economics of professional sports.</p><p>One of the most interesting parts of our conversation had nothing to do with baseball.</p><p>Jared believes artificial intelligence is already changing sports and journalism, but not in the way many people fear. While he uses AI regularly for research and reporting support, he doesn’t use it to write. Instead, he sees it as a tool that can make journalists more efficient. The real value, he argues, will shift toward original reporting because AI can only analyze information that is already public. It cannot uncover stories that haven’t yet been reported.</p><p>In Jared’s view, the ability to discover new information — the essence of reporting — is “AI-proof” and may become even more valuable in the years ahead.</p><p>We also had terrific audience participation from Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members Chuck Offenburger, Rob Gray, Bob Leonard and Barry Piatt, along with Potluck readers Tim Grover and Brice Oakley.</p><p>Chuck was first up with a question many of us were wondering: How in the world did a young sportswriter land one of the most coveted jobs in journalism?</p><p>The podcast actually begins with Jared’s answer. Due to pilot error (me), I neglected to restart the recording after our opening conversation.</p><p>As it turns out, Diamond joined The Wall Street Journal almost by accident. After graduating from Syracuse University and completing an internship at the Virginian-Pilot, he learned that a former mentor was launching a sports section at the Journal. A simple email led to a job, then a baseball assignment, and ultimately a 15-year career covering the sport.</p><p>Today he enjoys extraordinary freedom to pursue stories that interest him rather than chasing transactions and breaking news.</p><p>He described his role as looking for stories that reveal something larger about baseball, business, culture, or human nature. Unlike many national baseball reporters, Diamond isn’t interested in being first with trade rumors or contract signings. Instead, he searches for stories no one else is telling and that wouldn’t exist without original reporting.</p><p>Diamond credits much of his success to Syracuse University’s student newspaper, The Daily Orange, where editors painstakingly reviewed and improved his work. He also emphasized a lesson that applies far beyond sports: Writers don’t need to be experts in a subject to tell compelling stories. Curiosity, fresh eyes and an interest in people matter more than encyclopedic knowledge.</p><p>Another topic that generated discussion was sports gambling. Diamond expressed deep concern about its rapid growth, calling it “an incredible net negative for sports.” He worries that a generation of young people has grown up with betting apps such as FanDuel and believes the long-term consequences are only beginning to emerge. He suggested that sports leagues are just starting to understand the risks gambling poses to the games themselves.</p><p>Throughout the conversation, Diamond returned to a theme that would resonate with any writer: Whether covering baseball, politics, business or the Olympics, the best stories are ultimately about people.</p><p>Statistics, analytics and technology have transformed sports. Human stories remain at the center of why readers care.</p><p></p><p>Okoboji</p><p><strong>Tick tock. The Early Bird discount ends July 5.</strong></p><p>If you’ve been thinking about joining us in Okoboji this fall, now is the time.</p><p>This retreat is going to be the best one yet. Five literary agents. New memoir coaches. Bestselling authors. Journalists. Songwriters. Filmmakers. A community of people who understand what it means to create something from nothing.</p><p>Whether you’re just beginning to imagine a project or arriving with a manuscript under your arm, you’ll find encouragement, practical advice and fellow travelers on the path.</p><p>All skill levels are welcome. The expert was once a novice.</p><p>Come. Our T-shirt theme this year: Courage is contagious. </p><p>Iowa Writers’ Collaborative</p><p>I am delighted to be a founding member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. On July 7, Richard and I will host a special gathering for paid subscribers of the Iowa Down Ballot podcast.</p><p>Dave Price, Kathie Obradovich and Laura Belin are among the sharpest political observers in Iowa. Together, they provide reporting, analysis and context that help make sense of an increasingly complicated political landscape.</p><p>Independent journalism doesn’t happen by accident. It requires readers who value it enough to support it. We are grateful to the paid subscribers who help make Iowa Down Ballot possible, and we look forward to thanking them in person for sustaining this important work.</p><p>If you can join us from 4-6:30 p.m. on July 7, please RSVP and we will get you the location information. </p><p>Please subscribe to Iowa Down Ballot:</p><p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe</a>
138 total episodes available
Recent guests on Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Christine Brennan
Guest
Admiral Michael Franken
Guest
Kali White VanBaale
Guest
Aaron Parnas
Guest
Chris Cillizza
Guest
Chris
Guest
Joe Stevens
Guest
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
The Jim Acosta Show
Jim Acosta
The Bulwark Podcast
The Bulwark
Bulwark Takes
The Bulwark
Letters from an American
Heather Cox Richardson
Pod Save America
Pod Save America
Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast
iHeartPodcasts
The Best People with Nicolle Wallace
MS NOW, Nicolle Wallace
Pivot
New York Magazine
Morning Joe
Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, MS NOW, Willie Geist
Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov
Vox Media Podcast Network
SmartLess
Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett
Deep-dive analytics for Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.