Saturday Special: Explaining the AI race. Does Iowa want data centers?
Release Date: 02/01/2025
DART CEO in Des Moines says they won’t be profitable. Is that ok?
The Iowa Podcast
Public transit in Iowa is a challenge. Cities like Des Moines are more expansive and were built around the automobile. There are upsides of course, but it makes public transit quite a challenge. DART CEO, Amanda Wanke explains why central Iowan’s shouldn’t expect profitability any time soon, and speaks about their plans to address future budget shortfalls. Public transit, says Wanke, is a challenge in many American cities. People who have a 5-15 commute by car are unlikely to take a bus that could take 30 minutes to 1 hour. COVID also cut into their margins a bit as more people found...
info_outline
Are Iowa severe weather alert systems outdated and dangerous?
The Iowa Podcast
How do Iowa storm chasers get incredible footage? Do they go 120mph in sports cars around the state? Actually no, they just book a hotel room near the area they suspect of tornadic activity. Todd Rector with The Iowa Storm Chasing Network says they have advance notice. But there’s a breakdown in how that information is communicated to you. Getting the word out and Iowans can be a challenge, the communication delay can be significant if alert systems are outdated, he says. Adding additional confusion, he says Iowans are facing alert fatigue. When sirens do go off, they’re unclear if it’s...
info_outline
Anti-Trump & Elon Musk Protest Organizer, Michaelyn Mankel, Outlines Objectives
The Iowa Podcast
If you ask some, the anti-Trump and Elon Musk protests are saving Democracy. If you ask others, the're burning Tesla stores and vandalizing property. Saturday protest organizer, Michaelyn Mankel describes their objectives, and tells us if anyone is getting paid to protest. Mankel says their objectives are around concerns with President Trump, Elon Musk, DOGE, and Congressman Zach Nunn are around them cutting social security, medicare, and medicaid despite their claims those benefits won't be removed. She says violence won't be tolerated at the protests, and protestors should not bring...
info_outline
Passing of the torch—DSM Airport Has New Leadership
The Iowa Podcast
Kevin Foley has led the Des Moines International Airport for over a decade and is retiring in April, handing off operations to Brian Mulcahy. In this special episode, Mulcahy introduces himself to Iowans and Foley takes a walk down memory lane, including getting through the emotional period of the COVID-related global shutdown. This interview took place at the DSM Airport on video, between terminals A and C. Brian Mulcahy joins the airport with aviation experience as a helicopter pilot from the Des Moines National Guard. Mulcahy outlines what the next few years look like and introduces...
info_outline
Iowa Cubs GM, Sam Bernabe Discusses What’s New for 2025
The Iowa Podcast
What’s new for the Iowa Cubs 2025 Season? General Manager and President, Sam Bernabe joins us. For starters the Iowa Cubs have seven of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 playing right here for the Iowa Cubs. It’s a great way to build momentum on what was already an incredibly talented year in 2024. We also find out why only ONE person operates the T-Shirt cannon and has never missed a game. Find this show on your favorite app:
info_outline
Is Drake University happy about losing their star coaches?
The Iowa Podcast
It’s a shaky time for Iowa basketball. Iowa Hawkeye men axe Fran McCaffery after a bad year. Iowa Hawkeye women have lost momentum in the post Clark era, and Iowa State men and women basketball have an average tournament showing. As Drake’s head coach Brian McCollum heads to Iowa however, are they the real winner? Ross Peterson of The Rush suggests this apparent loss may be a huge advantage. The Drake Bulldogs have now lost three high performing coaches, but as Peterson points out. They now find themselves as a pipeline that attracts premium coaching talent. Does this make Drake...
info_outline
Iowa Tiny Homes and ADU laws are confusing. Is that about to change?
The Iowa Podcast
Building a Tiny Home in Iowa or an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) sounds straightforward, but Iowa law makes it anything but simple—a new bill may rectify that. Depending on which city you live in, the laws and regulations may be entirely different. According to Mike Stuart, founder of Tiny Homes of Iowa, this complexity is driving costs up for home buyers entering a new stage of life, but it might not be who you think. Shockingly, younger buyers aren’t interested in low-cost tiny homes; retirees seeking to downside are. With high housing prices, Iowans entering their 70s are wanting...
info_outline
Is Christianity Really Declining in Iowa? The data may not paint the full picture.
The Iowa Podcast
Is Christianity on the decline in Iowa? The data may not paint the entire picture, explains Pastor Rob Pearson, Youth and Connections Pastor of Living Waters Fellowship. In 2007, 78% of people identified as a Christian, today the number is 63%. But the definition of “Christian” is also changing. Pearson explains that many Iowans he speaks to, despite claiming to be a Christian, tell him they aren’t actually sure what that means. In that same vein, people from other countries assume everyone from the USA are Christians. Are people really turning away from Christianity or are Iowans...
info_outline
Bruce Gerleman of Jethro’s reacts to fire and coaching Aquaman
The Iowa Podcast
Move over Dos Equis guy, Bruce Gerleman may very well be the most interesting man in Iowa. As the founder of Jethro’s, he reacts to the original Jethro’s location burning to the ground, a property he sold years ago. He also discusses his background in Iowa, how he paid for a building by selling the inventory inside it, why he coached Superman and Aquaman, and the origin story of the Adam Emmenecker challenge. Gerleman recounts the origins of Jethro's, his second restaurant concept in Iowa after Splash Seafood in Downtown Des Moines. He mentions he wanted to bring Texas BBQ to Iowa,...
info_outline
Cedar Rapids celebrity chef explains Iowa VS New York cooking
The Iowa Podcast
For those not in the know, just being recognized by The James Beard foundation is a big achievement, and Andy Schumacher of Cobble Hill in Cedar Rapids has the bragging rights. The celebrity chef, who was beaten by Guy Fieri on a reality show, discusses fine dining in Iowa. The chef and owner graduated from The University of Iowa and decided to move to Brooklyn, NY to pursue cooking. After sharing the stage on The Next Food Network Star with Guy Fieri, who ended up beating him, he eventually brought his culinary skill back to Iowa. Hear the full show:
info_outlineWhy did a Chinese AI app called Deep Seek crush our markets? Was any of it real? What is Stargate? Is Iowa an attractive location for data centers because of cheap land and energy? Will the AI race impact Iowans and do we really want more server farms here? AI consultant and early employee of Roboflow, Mohamed Traore explains.
There's a new story on AI every day, but most folks' experience with "AI" from tools like OpenAI or cheap apps is lackluster. But not only will AI transform every industry, but the impact on Iowa specifically could be huge as tech companies salivate over our cheap land and cheap energy.
Hear the full show: https://iowapodcast.com/Iowa-AI-data-centers-mohamed-traore