What's the "spark" that shaped the lives of our local leaders? Each month, librarian Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez as they share their "Spark Story," the specific experience that sparked them to create change in the community. In addition, we’ll hear details about the work they are doing and what keeps...
Read MoreIt's State Fair time, and the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast is sure to make you hungry to head to the fairgrounds. Kay Fenton Smith is the author of Baking Blue Ribbons: Stories and Recipes from the Iowa State Fair Food Competitions. Smith and host Aaron Gernes talk about what happens duri...
Read MoreOn the latest DMPL Podcast, host Aaron Gernes chats with Haley, a Book Chat librarian, about series starters - books that are the first titles in their respective series. Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | Dow...
Read MoreOn the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, host Aaron Gernes sits down with Beth Hoffman, author of Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America. The book traces the journey Beth and her husband have taken as they started farming on a 5th generation family farm in south centra...
Read MoreAuthor Chuy Renteria joins the DMPL Podcast to talk about his memoir, We Heard It When We Were Young. The book details Chuy's life growing up Mexican-American in West Liberty, Iowa, the first minority-majority town in Iowa. During the talk, Chuy and host Aaron Gernes talk about his experie...
Read MoreOn today's DMPL Podcast, Sarah from the Book Chat team is talking about some of her favorite recent romance reads. Listen to the podcast, and then be sure to come to Meet Cute, Book Chat's romance event on Wednesday, June 15! Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Google Play | Spo...
Read MoreAViD Author Jason Mott joins us on the newest episode of the DMPL Podcast! During this chat, he talks about the development of Hell of a Book, including when how the special cameo by Nic Cage came to be. He also talks about the book's amazing reception and what surprising nonfiction topic he en...
Read MoreOn the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, we’re joined by Amanda Montell! Amanda is the author of Cultish: the Language of Fanaticism, and she co-hosts the hit podcast “Sounds like a Cult.” She is also the next author in our Authors Visiting in Des Moines series! Amanda will be in Des Moin...
Read MoreThe newest episode of the DMPL Podcast features Angeline Boulley, author of the hit novel Firekeeper's Daughter. Boulley chats with host Aaron Gernes about the whirlwind of a year she's had since her book was released to rave reviews from both the professional press and readers. She also discus...
Read MoreAViD author Brad Meltzer joins us on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast! Brad will be kicking off the AViD series on Thursday, March 17, at 7:00 PM at the Central Library. But before coming to town, he comes on the podcast to discuss how excited he is to be back on the road again. He also talks ...
Read MoreThe DMPL Podcast returns with Book Chat team member Carrie! She's chatting about books she loves that fulfill one or more categories of the 2022 Reading Challenge. If you haven't signed up for the Reading Challenge, do so now! It's a great chance to win books and win prizes in the process. Ap...
Read MoreOn the most recent episode of the DMPL Podcast, local author Amy Lee Lillard joins the show to discuss her debut short story collection, Dig Me Out. Amy and host Aaron Gernes her popular podcast Broads and Books. Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Google Play | Spotify |&nb...
Read MoreOn the latest DMPL Podcast, Book Chat librarian Rebecca joins host Aaron Gernes and completes a Book Chat request for him! You'll find out what Book Chat is, how it works, and then hear an example of how librarians handpick titles for patrons using Book Chat as she picks out some books she thinks Aa...
Read MoreOn today's podcast, author Katherine Dykstra chats with host Aaron Gernes about her 2021 book What Happened To Paula: On the Death of an American Girl. The book details the 1970 disappearance and death of Cedar Rapids teenager Paula Oberbroeckling, reflecting on who or what may have caused...
Read MoreOn the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, host Aaron is joined by Book Chat librarians Janeé and Steph to discuss their favorite books of 2021. If you're interested in hearing more about our librarians' favorite books, be sure to take part in our Best of 2021 virtual program next Wednesday...
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