Originally broadcast 12/09/2016
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Bleeding Heartland blogger Laura Belin helps us break down the reconfiguration of Iowa political leadership as Governor Terry Brandstadt accepts the position of Ambassador to China.

The Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines has a baby black rhino, the first rhino born in Iowa. Kevin Drees, director of animal care and conservation for the zoo, tells the story of how the baby was conceived and born, explains the nature and temperament of black rhinos, and describes how the largeness and value of this animal is the perfect symbol for the 50th anniversary of a small zoo that rose to the mission of conservation of endangered species and other big ambitions.

Merry Rankin, Director of Sustainability for Iowa State University and also Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Ames, and Anne Owens with the Volunteer Center of Story County describe the state of volunteering in Story County and make the case that volunteering is another embodiment of the holiday spirit.

Originally broadcast 12/07/2016
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In Pilot Mound, IA, Mayor Leda Burton and concerned resident Jeff Lass describe that little town's unsuccessful struggle to get answers about safety to its own well-based water supply from the Iowa Utilities Board and Energy Transfer Partners, builders of the pipeline.

Yvonne Scott, a former mid-westerner who is driving through Iowa as part of her journey to travel the length of the pipeline to witness its impact, describes how much the journey has moved her. She also describes how she used the only available map of the pipeline to make her journey; the map was made by Ames resident map maker, Nitin Gadia. Yvnne is documenting the journey with her blog, including photos along the way.

Nitin Gadia explains why he made the only publicly available map of the Bakken pipeline, the power of maps, and how making this map has transformed his perception of the Standing Rock Struggle. Nitin, who works for Mapstory, a cooperative map-building web site, speaks about projects he has been inspired to undertake, including a history of American Indian lands and sacred sites.

David Gradwohl, professor of Anthropology and founding director of the ISU Archeology Lab explains sacred sites and the difficulty in defining and protecting these in white American cultural terms. He describes his experiences with the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as a landmark case of national significance about regulating sacred sites - which occurred in Ames.

Originally broadcast 12/02/2016
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As the last bit of 30-inch Dakota Access pipe is pulled through the bore hole under the Des Moines River, we hear from two Lakota elders who have been contesting the company's presence on treaty land in North Dakota: Emmanuel Red Bear, a 7th-generation descendant of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, and Winona Gasteau, the head cook for Oceti Sakowin camp on the Missouri River, where thousands of water protectors have gathered in prayer to support the Lakota in their struggle against a black snake that their prophecy said would come to threaten their very existence.

Jessica Fears, a young mother from Ames describes the nonviolent direct action she participated in on Thanksgiving Day in the city of Mandan. Local whites shoved and shouted at water protectors; local police towed legally parked cars identified as anti-pipeline. Then, Bruce Espe, a Vietnam War veteran from Des Moines, explains his reasons for joining the contingent of some 2000 veterans traveling to the Oceti Sakowin camp in support of the Lakota this weekend.

Susan Gwiasda of Ames introduces Donald Kom of Ames Electric Department, who describes the city's comprehensive efforts to reduce demand for power. The peak demand has remained stable, not exceeding its 2012 levels despite the growing population and industry base. Susan reminds us that Ames Humanitarian Award nominations are due December 16, and announces the Nada Silent Night concert December 17.

Originally broadcast 11/25/2016
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People who are Born on Third Base Don't Need to Hit a Triple--but They CAN Work for their Communities. An interview with Chuck Collins, author of Born on Third Base, and many other books on economic justice. Chuck is a researcher and social justice campaigner as well as a prolific writer.

He's also a member of the wealthiest one percent of people in this country, the great-grandson of the meat-packer Oscar Meyer. But Chuck believes in the estate tax, and in progressive taxation generally, with wealthy people paying their fair share of taxes. He calls on the one percent to bring their wealth home to invest in their own communities, and in a more fulfilled and meaningful life for themselves and others. In the process Chuck explodes various myths about wealth creation and the privatization of security for ourselves and our families.

Kay Puttock interviews Chuck Collins about his latest book and his ideas on economic justice, including solutions to our growing inequality.