Substacks recommended by Chris Jones

Recommended by Chris Jones

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast, powered by Iowa Starting Line, where we throw bags at Iowa's biggest stories and maybe sip a beer or two.

My personal Substack

My personal Substack

My personal Substack

News & ideas for ecological repair

Stray Thoughts

By Randy Evans

Thoughts on government transparency, politics and civic affairs written weekly -- and sometimes, weakly -- by a longtime advocate for government transparency.

Newburg Stories

By J. Harley McIlrath

Exploring the history of Hickory Grove Township and the town of Newburg in Jasper County, Iowa.

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!

Barnstorming Brain

By Tim Grover

My mind wanders far and wide. History, genealogy, current events, nature, and sports...and whatever "godservations" may come my way. Author of the book "Barnstorming Babe--A Slugger's Bumpy Trek Across Small-Town America."

Iowa Captive

By IowaCaptive

I am a white, queer, longtime iowaphile, who has finally relocated and wonders what the f(&# did I do?? Writing about the intersection of relocation, education and queerness. And a smattering of anything else that gets stuck in my craw.

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

Stories (and questions) about Midwestern lives, including my own.

Rob Gray's Area

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

Rooted--Land at the Edge of the Sky

By George Shurr

Deep history of a place in the Eastern Great Plains where the tall grass prairie carved by deep river valleys intersects with the area that has wooded lakes left by the last glacier.

Letters From Iowans

By Julie Gammack

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

Corn Belt Confidential

By Nina Elkadi

The history and science behind agriculture, water, and our food systems.

Between Two Rivers

By Jeff Morrison

Exploring Iowa, the "Land Between Two Rivers," through history, road trips, and more. Posts appear about every 10 days.

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

Dining Well in DSM by Wini Moranville

By Wini’s Food Stories

Where you'll discover great food finds and the best restaurant experiences in Des Moines.

Ice Cube Press: Publishing, Writing, and Smart Life Secrets

Where Fact and Fiction Merge Into One. Smart Thinking, Creativity, and Celebrating Being Bold, Ferocious, and Brave. An Independent Press in a Red State.

'Because we are all in this together'.

By Ralph Rosenberg

“Politics isn’t won by commanding the facts, but by connecting with people’s experiences.” – Milo Yiannopoulos. “The compassionate actions of its members most accurately measure the greatness of a community.” – Coretta Scott King Finding humanity in all

Postcards from the Heartland

By A New Postcard

Changing the channel on rural America

Unicorn's Soul Patch

By AJ Jones

Life through the lens of a neurodivergent lesbian living in rural Iowa.

Podcast By George

Release the Truthtellers!

The Midwest Creative

By Macey Shofroth

Essays and explorations on the creative life 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

Kyle Munson's Main Street

Stories from along the thoroughfare and down the side streets, too

Unfinished Business

By Cheryl Tevis

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

On the Oxbow

By Eleanore Taft

Fighting for love and beauty in a crumbling world

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 World of Your Own

By Debra Engle

A place to make meaning through writing, meditation and miracles. Discover how the thoughts you think, the stories you tell, and the way you look at life determine the world you live in.