Substacks recommended by Chris Jones

Recommended by Chris Jones

Dennis’s Substack

My personal Substack

My personal Substack

Narratives from a Meskwaki on modern day America in the Midwest.

Arnold Garson: Second Thoughts

A unique perspective on public affairs built on commentary, historical perspective, and subject matter that is deeply researched.

This Stays Here

By Nicole Baart

A Substack about community for people who want to be better neighbors. Life in my small, rural, Iowa town is idyllic--and also really hard. I imagine the same can be said about wherever you live. Come join the conversation!

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper

My name is Jess and I was a high school Literature teacher for 16 years until I decided to run as a Democrat in a rural, red district in Missouri. I bring you news and politics from Missouri and beyond from a rural progressive point of view.

Jess Piper has a good view of Iowa from her perch in Northern Missouri, where the problems, issues, and politics are similar to Iowa's. She's fighting for rural Missouri, and rural Iowa sorely needs a fighter like her.

- Chris Jones

The Inquisitive Quad Citizen

By Alison McGaughey

I write about places and people (including myself) that I want to learn more about, and that make the Quad Cities, Eastern Iowa, and/or the Midwest their home. Proud member of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative.

Rob Gray's Area

Musings and observations on sports, gardening, travel — and anything else I care to write about.

Letters From Iowans

By Julie Gammack

This column consists of Letters to the Editor of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative.

Listening to the Land

By Larry Stone

Join me on my travels in Iowa outdoors.

Great writer, great photographer, great guy. Check out Larry Stone's substack written from beautiful NE Iowa.

- Chris Jones

Wini’s Food Stories

By Wini Moranville

With 25-plus years of restaurant reviewing and food writing, I'm taking a close, weekly look at Des Moines food and dining.

Ice Cube Press: The Pulse of A Heartland Publisher

By Ice Cube Press: On Beats & Off Beats the Heart of Publishing

The thoughts, ideas, pulses, and opinions of a long-time indie Midwest publisher, since 1991.

Postcards from an Iowa Transplant

By A New Postcard

Building community among rural progressives

Unicorn's Soul Patch

By AJ Jones

The humor a lesbian, on the spectrum, in rural Iowa finds just doing the day-to-day. About the relatable need to communicate, through obstacles,with family and friends many who are "neurodynamic" in their own right.

The Midwest Creative

By Macey Shofroth

Essays and explorations on the creative life and those of us living it in the Midwest.

View from the Cedar Valley

By Pat Kinney

Column of news and observations from the Waterloo-Cedar Falls and greater Cedar Valley area.

Showing Up

By Kurtis Meyer

I write about the importance of simply showing up.

My Life, in Color

By John Naughton

Adventures in travel, food and fun. And Iowa sports, of course.

Fern and Joe

By Fern Kupfer and Joe Geha

opinions on topics

Mary Swander's Emerging Voices

Diverse people voice their opinions for the Iowa Writers Collaborative

Unfinished Business

By Cheryl Tevis

Current events, rural living/consumer issues, women's challenges, Iowa life

Benign Inspiration

By Jody Gifford

Consider this a warning: I write about whatever inspires me. It's random, I know.

Dispatches from the Heartland

By Suzanna de Baca

Reflections on change and transformation.

A Whole New World

By Debra Engle

We can make the world new every day.

Don Carr

Environmental writer and communicator. Author of the upcoming eco-thriller The Midnight Rambler.

Dave Busiek on Media

Viewpoint on current issues in media

Barbara’s Newsletter

By Barbara Leach

Saving the World One Vote At a Time

Along the Mississippi

By Ed Tibbetts

News, opinions and ideas from the Quad-Cities, where the river runs east to west

Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger

...Iowa, small towns, and saddle shoes

Mary Swander’s Buggy Land

By swandermary@gmail.com

The Amish, sustainability, and the wider rural environment.

Art Cullen’s Notebook

A view from rural America: immigration, agriculture, environment, politics

The Iowa Mercury

By Douglas Burns

Iowa's Politics, People, Economy and Culture

Doug Burns is one of the giants of Iowa journalism.

- Chris Jones

Iowa politics with Laura Belin

What an Iowa political reporter is reading and writing

Iowa Writers Collaborative

By Julie Gammack

Linking readers and writers who care about Iowa.

Where else can you find a group of writers more impressive than this!

- Chris Jones

Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture

By Robert Leonard

The politics and culture of Iowa, the midwest, and beyond.

Bob Leonard's writing is genuine and heartfelt, and Bob bleeds Iowa.

- Chris Jones

Emissions

By Michael Grunwald

wonking, usually about the climate

Okoboji Writers' and Songwriters' News

By Julie Gammack

The Okoboji Writers' Retreat is a tradition started in 2021. Writers of all skill levels come to experience Lake Okoboji for a 2.5 day retreat. Topics range from getting started, memoir, nonfiction, fiction, playwriting, opinion, and now songwriting.

In the Dirt

By Beth Hoffman

I dive into the the economics of growing food, give you the dirt on the politics of agriculture and occasionally share a funny tale from our ranch, Whippoorwill Creek Farm.

Great writer, you’ll love her book Bet the Farm, I did!

- Chris Jones

Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck

By Julie Gammack's Potluck

Julie unearths stories you'll want to read, and or listen to via podcast. She's in the know, so you'll be in the know. She was into 'reader engagement' before 'reader engagement' was a thing. Join the community!

Men Yell at Me

By lyz

Written from a journalist in a red state, this newsletter is personal, political, sometimes funny and always raises hell.

Popular Information

By Judd Legum

Independent accountability journalism.

The Swine Republic

Recommended by Chris Jones