PlatPhorm Podcasts

PlatPhorm Podcasts

River to River

River to River is a conversation about the news with an Iowa perspective. Together we dig into the story behind the headlines - we talk with newsmakers and a diverse range of experts to find out how the news affects you. We take on challenging topics, explore issues from all sides, and foster conversation and understanding

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Episodes

9/25/2026

Does a common weed killer play a part in a neurodegenerative disease? artwork

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Does a common weed killer play a part in a neurodegenerative disease?

River to River

More than 10,000 Iowans are living with Parkinson's disease — and one state senator believes a common weed killer may be part of the story. On this episode, we talk with state Sen. Art Staed, D-Cedar Rapids, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2024. He's been pushing to ban paraquat, a widely used herbicide tied to higher Parkinson's risk. Luke Nozicka of The Midwest Newsroom joins us to discuss his reporting on the debate over banning paraquat, and we hear from Iowan Nate Peterson who believes his own diagnosis traces back to paraquat exposure. Peterson was diagnosed with Parkinson's at age 34. Later, a conversation with 1st Congressional District candidate Democrat Christina Bohannan. Bohannan is running against incumbent Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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9/24/2026

Vance supports for Iowa Republicans at Council Bluffs rally artwork

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Vance supports for Iowa Republicans at Council Bluffs rally

River to River

On this Politics Day episode, we hear from political scientists Sara Mitchell of the University of Iowa and Dave Peterson of Iowa State. We discuss Vice President JD Vance's visit to Council Bluffs, Trump's address to the UN, the White House banning three news organizations from official events and more.

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9/23/2026

A conversation with Iowa's major-party candidates ahead of 2026 gubernatorial election artwork

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A conversation with Iowa's major-party candidates ahead of 2026 gubernatorial election

River to River

Iowa will select its new governor in a few weeks. Where do candidates stand on some of the top issues on voters' minds? On this episode, host Ben Kieffer interviews both major-party nominees for governor — Republican Zach Lahn and Democrat Rob Sand. We get their views on the state’s poor water quality, Iowa's climbing cancer rates and education funding among other issues. Lahn and Sand are competing for the seat currently held by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

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9/22/2026

Develop healthy habits to protect the brain against dementia artwork

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Develop healthy habits to protect the brain against dementia

River to River

Dementia can feel like something every family faces alone — but it doesn't have to be that way. On this episode, we talk with Shelby Roberts of the Alzheimer's Association, Dr. Yogesh Shah of Broadlawns Memory Clinic and Iowa's state medical director, Dr. Robert Kruse, about brain health and innovative approaches to early identification, prevention and care for Iowans living with dementia. Then, a conversation with 3rd Congressional District candidate, State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-Des Moines.

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9/19/2026

Chinese writer-director shares perspectives on Iowa City campus life artwork

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Chinese writer-director shares perspectives on Iowa City campus life

River to River

Data centers are driving up Iowa's power demand. On this Newsbuzz episode, whether to build more wind and solar or invest in new gas and coal plants. First, we talk with Jason Clayworth of Axios Des Moines about how Iowa's new 2% property tax growth cap is forcing cities to weigh cuts to police and fire budgets, and Iowa's state climatologist Justin Glisan joins us with an update on September's record precipitation. We talk with higher education reporter Vanessa Miller about a new $5 million investment to speed up cancer treatments, and Emma Stapleton Thornell shares how this year's Iowa Climate Statement describes a "fork in the road" when it comes to electricity generation. We also hear from Hong Kong filmmaker and playwright Jun Li, who is a resident of this year's International Writing Program. Then, IPR’s Lucius Pham grooves us into the weekend.

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9/18/2026

Political analyst William Kristol on American democracy, modern conservativism artwork

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Political analyst William Kristol on American democracy, modern conservativism

River to River

He spent decades building the modern Republican Party, but has since left the party behind. On this episode, a conversation Bill Kristol at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City. Kristol has been a fixture of conservative politics for 40 years — chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle, founder of 'The Weekly Standard.' He's now editor-at-large of The Bulwark,'= a media outlet and podcast network he helped build as a landing spot for Republicans who've separated from President Donald Trump. We discuss his work defending America’s liberal democratic principles, the future of American conservatism and more.

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9/17/2026

DHS Secretary Mullin calls Democrats communists at Miller-Meeks fundraiser artwork

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DHS Secretary Mullin calls Democrats communists at Miller-Meeks fundraiser

River to River

President Donald Trump said AI's biggest safety warnings are a conspiracy — even as Iowa towns pass moratoriums on the data centers powering it. On this Politics Day episode, we explore the president's clash with his own tech allies over AI safety. Political scientists Jonathan Hassid of Iowa State University and Wayne Moyer of Grinnell College join us with their analysis. We also discuss the latest election polls and Iowa's Senate and Governor races, SCOTUS blocking Trump's mail-in voting rule and more.

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9/16/2026

A look at Iowa's environment during the nation's founding artwork

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A look at Iowa's environment during the nation's founding

River to River

Our nation is 250 years old — but 250 years ago, Iowa was a world apart. On this episode, an ecologist takes us back to a yesteryear’s landscape of endless tallgrass prairie, bison, elk and whooping cranes, and explains why Iowa is now the most ecologically altered state in the nation. A historian discusses the Indigenous nations living here in 1776 and why the American Revolution mattered enormously to people who may not have even known it was happening. And the tribal historic preservation officer of the Meskwaki Nation joins the program to discuss on her people's presence in Iowa. (This episode was originally produced June 18, 2026.)

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9/15/2026

A therapist's journey with Alzheimer's artwork

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A therapist's journey with Alzheimer's

River to River

More than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. On this episode, a look at what the disease feels like from the inside. Volker is a retired professor and former president of the American Family Therapy Academy who spent decades building couple and family therapy programs at the University of Iowa and Purdue University. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2025, though symptoms first appeared in 2022. Edie, his wife, joins the conversation as his primary caregiver. (This show was originally produced Nov. 24, 2026.)

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9/12/2026

Former Iowa governor recounts 9/11 attacks and response on 25th anniversary artwork

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Former Iowa governor recounts 9/11 attacks and response on 25th anniversary

River to River

A quarter of a century later, we're still living with the world September 11th made. On the 25th anniversary of the attacks, we talk with Tom Vilsack, who was Iowa’s governor during the deadliest terrorist attacks in U.S. history. He remembers where he was and how he chose to respond. Then, we talk with Mark Listes of Pendulum Intelligence on the AI-fueled disinformation war reshaping elections and public trust, and what it means for us ahead of the midterms. We also meet Amber Essau, an International Writing Program resident from New Zealand. Then, Studio One's Cece Mitchell grooves us into the weekend.

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9/11/2026

Political strategist David Axelrod on partisanship, midterms and more artwork

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Political strategist David Axelrod on partisanship, midterms and more

River to River

On this episode, highlights from a wide-ranging conversation with David Axelrod at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City earlier this year. Axelrod has been one of the most influential voices in American politics for four decades — he helped build the Obama coalition, he has watched the Democratic Party lose its way with working people, and he's not pulling punches about what comes next. This event, recorded live on April 28, 2026, was part of the Levitt Lecture series presented by Hancher Auditorium and the University of Iowa College of Law. (This episode was originally produced on April 30, 2026)

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9/10/2026

Iowa GOP pushes back on 90-day plan to waive tariffs on foreign beef imports artwork

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Iowa GOP pushes back on 90-day plan to waive tariffs on foreign beef imports

River to River

Canada retaliates with new tariffs — and Iowa is named a deliberate target. On this Politics Day episode, we get analysis from political scientists Jim McCormick and Kelly Shaw of Iowa State University. With just over 50 days until the election, we look at how the trade war is shaping our state's most competitive races. Republicans hold their first-ever midterm convention starting Wednesday in Dallas — and some Iowa Republicans are staying home. We also discuss a new rule on mail-in voting heading to the Supreme Court for the third time and more.

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9/9/2026

Iowa native reflects on his 9/11 volunteer experience 25 years later artwork

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Iowa native reflects on his 9/11 volunteer experience 25 years later

River to River

On this episode, we talk with Iowa native and retired Green Beret John Paluska. He recounts the day he watched from his dorm roof in New York City as the second tower collapsed, his days of working at Ground Zero, his military career it inspired and the years-long effort to bring his Afghan Special Forces counterpart to safety. Then, University of Iowa historian Colin Gordon joins us to look at how 9/11 reshaped domestic spending and priorities over the last 25 years.

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9/5/2026

Gov. Reynolds calls for total ban of kratom artwork

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Gov. Reynolds calls for total ban of kratom

River to River

Kratom is often found at gas stations and convenience stores and is marketed as a natural supplement for pain and anxiety. Gov. Kim Reynolds is calling for a total ban of the product and other synthetic varieties, alleging dozens of kratom-related deaths in Iowa since 2024. On this Newsbuzz edition of River to River, Ben Kieffer speaks with the 'Iowa Capital Dispatch's' Clark Kauffman about this call to ban kratom. Also, the 'Des Moines Register's' Brianne Pfannenstiel shares how candidates are approaching water quality this session, a registered nurse who found a side hustle fighting poison ivy and columnist Rekha Basu shares the impact of Gloria Steinem. Finally, our International Writing Program series returns with Mexican writer Juan Carlos Reyes and Studio One's Erin Fuller grooves us into the weekend.

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9/4/2026

5 years after withdrawal, Afghan refugees in Iowa face ongoing uncertainty artwork

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5 years after withdrawal, Afghan refugees in Iowa face ongoing uncertainty

River to River

Afghan soldiers stood beside American troops for 20 years. Now, five years after the evacuation, many still don't know if they'll be allowed to stay. On this episode, we take stock of what's happened since roughly one thousand Afghans resettled in Iowa. We talk with Fatima Saidi, national director of We Are All America and Robyn Barnard of Human Rights First. We also discuss what today's shifting immigration rules mean for Afghans still in limbo. Then, we talk with Cate Dicharry, the new director of the University of Iowa's International Writing Program. It’s been a year and a half since federal funding cuts threatened the program, and we discuss what its future holds.

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9/3/2026

Canadian trade war, Iowa elections and escalating tension in Iran artwork

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Canadian trade war, Iowa elections and escalating tension in Iran

River to River

Canada is due to hit back in the trade war— and Iowa's farmers and manufacturers will feel it directly. On this Politics Day episode, analysis from political scientists Donna Hoffman of the University of Northern Iowa and Wayne Moyer of Grinnell College. We also get their views on escalating tension between the U.S. and Iran, Iowa's Senate and governor's races and more.

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9/1/2026

Meet the prosecutor and former lawmaker running in Iowa's 4th Congressional District artwork

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Meet the prosecutor and former lawmaker running in Iowa's 4th Congressional District

River to River

The midterm elections are ramping up. We launch our candidate series with Dave Dawson, the Democrat running in Iowa’s 4th District. Dawson is running against Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president Chris McGowan, a seat currently held by Rep. Randy Feenstra. We talk with him about running as a Democrat in a red district. But first, we revisit a conversation with an astrophysicist who discusses new research on white dwarf stars 200 light-years away and learn about scientists at the University of Iowa working on a virtual lunar landscape complete with low gravity and lunar dirt. (Portions of the episode were originally produced Feb. 3, 2026.)

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8/29/2026

Student visa policy changes impact international students across Iowa artwork

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Student visa policy changes impact international students across Iowa

River to River

Iowa is caught in the middle of an escalating trade war between the U.S. and Canada. On this Newsbuzz edition, we talk about what that means for Iowa’s economy, and your wallet. First, we learn about Iowa's new property tax law, then discuss the economic impacts the trade war will have in Iowa. We also discuss the two Iowa clergy members are running for Congress, visa rules on Iowa college campuses and we hear about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library early literacy skill building program in Iowa. Then, we groove into the weekend.

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8/28/2026

Should it take a supermajority to raise taxes? artwork

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Should it take a supermajority to raise taxes?

River to River

This November, Iowans will decide whether it should take two-thirds of the legislature — not a simple majority — to raise the state income tax. Guests explain what yes and no votes really mean. Then we meet an Iowa teenager who is building an award-winning, low-cost prosthetic hand.

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8/27/2026

U.S. trade war with Canada could impact Iowa exports artwork

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U.S. trade war with Canada could impact Iowa exports

River to River

Canada is Iowa's number one export market — and the trade war with our biggest customer just escalated. Political scientists Evan Renfro of UNI and Karen Kedrowski of ISU offer analysis on these tariffs, the new sanctions campaign against Iran, Iowa's toss-up Senate race, the Supreme Court's ruling on mail-in voting and more.

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