8 Oct 2026
EP 100 | Zach Lahn: The Political Outsider Who Won — And His Plan for Iowa
Zach Lahn came into the Republican primary as a political outsider. He left it as the Republican nominee for governor of Iowa.
In Part 2 of our conversation, Zach returns to The Oliver Bardwell Podcast to talk about what happens after the upset victory.
We get into the personal cost of running for governor, political attacks, leadership and conflict resolution, and Zach’s vision for transforming Iowa’s public education system. He explains why he believes school innovation should begin with willing teachers, principals and superintendents rather than another top-down mandate, and why he wants Iowa to move away from a system built around standardized testing.
We also discuss technology and privacy, Flock cameras and surveillance, mRNA technology and the COVID vaccine debate, medical freedom, grassroots citizen organizations, data-center incentives, Iowa-owned businesses, economic development, and keeping the next generation in Iowa.
One of the central questions of the conversation: Can a political outsider enter government without becoming part of the political establishment?
Zach’s answer is simple: stay close to the people.
Near the end of the conversation, he explains why citizen organizations can serve as a counterweight to lobbyists, special interests and established political power — and why he says an administration led by him would remain connected to grassroots organizations. ep100-lahn-youtube-upload
We close with Zach’s vision for an Iowa that is stronger for the next generation — and why he says he isn’t looking for the next political office: he wants to do this job, and otherwise, “you can find me on my farm.” ep100-lahn-youtube-upload
Chapters:
00:00 Why Zach Lahn Says He Wants This Job
00:22 Sponsor: Myriad Advisor Solutions
02:05 Election Night: When the Upset Became Real
04:07 The Personal Cost of Running for Governor
05:38 Political Attacks, Family & Protecting His Children
08:49 Fighting the Iowa–Kansas Narrative
10:06 Rob Sand, the Viral Video & a Debate Challenge
11:41 Leadership, Dialogue & De-escalating Conflict
13:03 Wonder School: Heroes Solve Problems
16:29 Four Major Issues Facing Iowa
17:08 School Choice & Rebuilding Public Education
19:33 Helping Kids Who Don't Fit the System
22:59 What's Wrong With Standardized Testing?
24:38 Apprenticeships & Mastery-Based Education
27:30 How Education Reform Could Actually Happen
34:42 Sponsor: Kairos Nexus
35:20 Education, Culture & Foundational Ideas
38:06 Critical Theory, Marxism & the Classroom
44:21 Building the Right Team
46:45 Every Child Has a Gift
49:25 The mRNA / COVID Vaccine Clarification
50:18 Technology, Flock Cameras & Surveillance
54:30 COVID Vaccine Safety & Adverse Events
57:20 Medical Freedom & Vaccine Mandates
58:15 Iowans for Freedom: The Grassroots Question
59:15 Staying Close to the People
1:00:20 Data Centers & Corporate Incentives
1:03:49 Jobs, Affordability & Iowa's Economy
1:06:16 Carbon Robotics & Building Companies in Iowa
1:07:35 Zach Lahn's Closing Message to Iowa
1:09:24 Final Thoughts
Topics include:
Zach Lahn • Iowa governor race • education reform • school choice • public school innovation • grassroots activism • medical freedom • Flock cameras • surveillance and privacy • mRNA technology • COVID vaccines • Iowa agriculture • data centers • economic development • leadership • Iowa politics
If you found this conversation valuable, please like, subscribe and share it. This is a grassroots podcast, and sharing the episode is one of the best ways to help us reach more people.
Episode Sponsors:
Myriad Advisor Solutions — strategic support, technology, marketing, and back-office solutions for financial advisors and business owners.
Kairos Nexus — a private Iowa network of business owners, community leaders, and public servants focused on strengthening families, protecting freedom, and leadership.
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