Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck

About Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck

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. okobojiwriters.substack.com (https://okobojiwriters.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Julie Gammack

Category

music · news

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

23 Feb 2023

Latest episode

17 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

141 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Does Democracy Matter?

   Ari Weinzweig’s event is Thursday, September 17, from 5–7 p.m. at Beaverdale Books. He’ll discuss Why Democracy Matters. Event details (https://beaverdalebooks.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Ari Weinzweig is the co-founder of Zingerman’s, the celebrated Ann Arbor delicatessen that grew into a community of independently operated food and service businesses. A University of Michigan graduate with a degree in Russian history, Ari took an unconventional path from washing dishes in a local restaurant to becoming a nationally respected entrepreneur, author and advocate for more humane workplaces. In his new pamphlet, Why Democracy Matters, Ari argues that democracy is not something we simply possess—it is something we must practice every day. He challenges us to turn fear and frustration into positive action, treat people with dignity, invite meaningful participation and learn to disagree without being disagreeable. His message is both urgent and hopeful: strengthening democracy begins not only in Washington, but in our workplaces, schools, churches, organizations and everyday conversations. Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat Two spots remain. Grab one. Look who is coming this year! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe (https://okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

2. 

   26 Jul 2026

   Charlie Cook, Founder of the Cook Report, Joins the Podcast

   For more than four decades, Charlie Cook has been one of the country’s most trusted interpreters of American elections. He founded the nonpartisan Cook Political Report in 1984 and helped make its race ratings an essential resource for journalists, candidates, donors and political professionals. On August 1, 2021, Cook transferred ownership and leadership of the publication to longtime colleague Amy Walter, who became its owner, publisher and editor-in-chief. Cook remains a contributor to what is now called The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. The Cook Political Report (https://www.cookpolitical.com/about/press/amy-walter-announced-editor-in-chief) That history made his recent conversation with members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative particularly newsworthy. Cook believes the 2026 election is developing according to the familiar midterm pattern: Democrats are highly motivated, Republicans are less energized, and independent voters are moving away from the president’s party. He did not predict an extraordinary Democratic wave. Instead, he explained why a favorable national climate can produce Democratic gains without automatically turning reliably Republican states blue. And, he often gives his predictions plenty of wiggle room incase the results land elsewhere. Iowa, however, may be behaving differently. Cook said the state is showing more signs of political movement than almost anywhere else. He predicted that Democrat Rob Sand would probably win the open governor’s race, while placing the chances of a Democratic victory in the U.S. Senate race at roughly one in four. His distinction is important: dissatisfied Republicans may cross party lines in a governor’s race, but in a federal contest they are more likely to stay home or skip the race than vote for a Democrat. The conversation is worth hearing for much more than its predictions. Cook explains why most self-described independents are actually dependable partisans, why candidate quality still matters, why immigration may energize the bases without moving many swing voters, and why reputable polling is better than its current reputation. He also speaks candidly about the decline of Congress, the future of Iowa’s caucuses and the danger both parties face when their primaries produce candidates poorly suited to the voters they must win. At a time when political analysis is often reduced to cheering, outrage and wishful thinking, Cook offers something considerably more valuable: perspective. His weekly column is available on Substack Charlie Cook (https://substack.com/profile/255658571-charlie-cook). Harkin is a regularly featured speaker in central Iowa through the Harkin Institute. Monday’s Podcast Guests We’re splitting Monday’s podcast hour down the middle to bring you two topics readers of this column adore: Iowa politics and the Iowa State Fair. First, the race for Iowa lieutenant governor. Laura Belin has broken story after story about the Republican candidate’s financial issues. She’ll join us to explain what she has uncovered—and why it matters. Then we’ll turn to the Iowa State Fair. Connie Taylor has been steeped in every aspect of the annual extravaganza. We’ll hear what she’s most looking forward to this year and learn what goes into the fair’s many competitions—the contests that bring out rolling pins, treasured recipes and competitive bakers from river to river. Subscribers receive the podcast Zoom link on Monday morning. Join the call. Ask questions. Engage. OKOBOJI RETREAT ADDS THREE NEW SPEAKERS Dana Kennedy, Kaitlyn Busbee and Kelly Crull expand instruction in Substack, filmmaking and children’s publishing OKOBOJI, Iowa — July 25, 2026 — The sixth annual Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat has added three speakers to its 2026 faculty: marketing and communications professional Dana Kennedy, award-winning filmmaker Kaitlyn T. Busbee and award-winning children’s book author Kelly Crull. The additions broaden the retreat’s hands-on instruction in three areas of growing interest to writers: building an audience on Substack, moving stories from the page to the screen, and navigating the children’s publishing process. The retreat will be held September 27–30 in the Iowa Great Lakes region and is expected to bring together approximately 300 participants and more than 60 speakers from Iowa and across the country. We look closely at the feedback participants submit before the retreat and determined there is a broader interest in the topics these speakers offer, and we were fortunate enough to add them to our list of over 60 speakers. Dana Kennedy is a marketing and communications professional with more than 30 years of experience in brand messaging, copywriting and integrated campaigns. She manages Story Summit’s Substack publication, teaches beginner and intermediate Substack classes, facilitates its monthly Substack Forum and provides individual coaching. At Okoboji, Kennedy will help writers understand how Substack can support their creative and professional goals, build stronger connections with readers and create momentum for publications that have stalled. Kaitlyn T. Busbee is a former Iowan, New York-trained and Chicago-based filmmaker whose character-driven work spans narrative and documentary film. A graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, she received the Martin Scorsese Scholarship and the 2023 ARRI Volker Bahnemann Award for Outstanding Cinematography. Her forthcoming thesis film, Jarfly, is executive produced by Spike Lee. Busbee’s Okoboji session, “Following Curiosity: From Observation to Page to Screen,” will explore how lived experience, observation and creative constraints can become the foundation for compelling screenplays and visual storytelling. .kaitlynbusbee.com/about (https://www.kaitlynbusbee.com/about?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Kelly Crull is a Des Moines children’s book author, photographer and educator whose seven books include titles published by National Geographic Kids and Lerner Publishing Group. His work has earned national honors and recognition from the American Library Association, National Council of Teachers of English, National Science Teaching Association, New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, Sierra Club and Science Friday. Crull will demystify how children’s books move from idea and manuscript to acquisition, design, publication and marketing, and will offer guidance on finding the right editors and agents. https://kellycrull.com (https://kellycrull.com) Okoboji For information about the retreat, faculty and registration, visit okobojiwritersretreat.com (http://okobojiwritersretreat.com). Who’s Coming? Check out our growing roster, then join us. We have participants joining us from all over the country. The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Roundup Sign up for a compilation of columns by this extraordinary roster of professional writers: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe (https://okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

3. 

   15 Jul 2026

   The Nastiest Saloon in Iowa

   Wait just a minute—where else can you join a one-hour conversation with debut authors and readers from across Iowa about a book that's sure to fascinate anyone interested in the hidden, sordid history of Des Moines? If you enjoy conversations like this, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps fund merit-based scholarships that enable emerging writers to attend the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat. (https://okobojiwritersretreat.com)See who is coming: David and Rose Donovan I interviewed David and Rose Donovan about their debut nonfiction book, The Nastiest Saloon in Iowa: Murder, Prostitution and Corruption in the Heartland. The conversation explored the remarkable family history and historical research that led to the book. We had a nice-sized group of subscribers on the call, too. A family mystery became Iowa history Rose Donovan is the great-granddaughter of Erastus Wallace Scott, the notorious saloon owner at the center of the story. What began as David Donovan’s genealogy hobby evolved into years of research uncovering a forgotten chapter of Des Moines history involving murder, prostitution, political corruption, land fraud, and organized crime. Rose admitted she initially resisted learning more about her family’s past, but the story ultimately became less about her ancestors and more about revealing an overlooked period in Iowa history. The murder that remains unsolved The book includes the 1905 murder of farmer Edward Gresser, whose land was the target of a fraud scheme. Although no one was ever convicted, the Donovans believe the evidence strongly suggests Wallace Scott was involved in the conspiracy, if not the actual killing. The case remained unresolved despite years of investigation. Two years of painstaking research David described an exhaustive research pouring through newspaper archives, census records, Ancestry.com, court and property records, wills, and other historical archives. He estimates reading hundreds of newspaper articles over a 20-year period, often searching every variation of names to uncover connections between the Scott family, the Carter gang, police officials, and politicians. Des Moines’ forgotten red-light district The authors explained that Scott’s saloon stood at East Court Avenue and First Street, just across the river from downtown Des Moines and only blocks from the State Capitol. His research included stories from the turn of the twentieth century of a where now government buildings stand that contained brothels, gambling, violent crime, corrupt police officers, and political payoffs. Corruption reached ‘respectable’ society One of the book’s more surprising revelations is that prominent Des Moines business interests allegedly profited by renting properties used as brothels. Newspapers of the time reported that city leaders also relied on fines collected from prostitution to help finance municipal government. Public health crisis The discussion explored how widespread prostitution fueled a severe syphilis epidemic. According to newspaper accounts of the era, the disease became so pervasive that public pressure finally forced the city to dismantle the red-light district. Rose believes her great-grandmother ultimately died from late-stage syphilis in the Clarinda State Hospital. Writing together David and Rose described an 18-month collaborative writing process: They intentionally limited themselves to facts supported by documentary evidence and avoided inventing dialogue. Artificial intelligence David emphasized that they deliberately did not use AI for researching or writing the book. After publication, he experimented by asking AI about the story and found numerous factual errors, reinforcing his belief that historical research still requires primary sources and careful verification. Looking ahead The Donovans expressed excitement about attending the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat, where they hope to: They also welcomed anyone with family photographs, letters, diaries, or information related to the Scott family or East Court Avenue to contact them: davedono@gmail.com Overall, the interview revealed how one family’s hidden history became a richly documented account of early Des Moines—showing that beneath Iowa’s reputation for quiet respectability lay a surprisingly violent and corrupt past. Or, remember the city slogan a few decades ago? Des Moines, the surprising place. Donovans on Tour Join David and Rose Donovan, co-authors of The Nastiest Saloon in Iowa, as they discuss their fascinating new book and the remarkable family history behind it at one of these upcoming Iowa events: Wednesday, July 16 — 5:00 p.m.Plain Talk Books602 E. Grand Ave.Des Moines, Iowa Thursday, July 17 — 6:30 p.m.Beaverdale Books2629 Beaver Ave.Des Moines (Beaverdale) Friday, July 18 — 11:00 a.m.Three Bells Books14 S. Commercial AlleyMason City, Iowa Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Did you catch the most recent roundup of columns by members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe (https://okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

Who has been a guest on Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Christine Brennan
• Admiral Michael Franken
• Kali White VanBaale
• Aaron Parnas
• Chris Cillizza

Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

86

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

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