Substacks recommended by Alison McGaughey

Recommended by Alison McGaughey

The nexus between extreme weather events and climate change - we will be connecting the dots between the two and why it matters to you.

Let's Talk Politics

By Dennis Goldford

These are short discussions of various aspects of American politics in particular and the nature of politics and political affairs generally.

Fellow member of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative

- Alison McGaughey

Taylor’s Millennial Mindset

By Taylor Deckert

What's happening in Siouxland? The perspective of a tech-savvy, Sioux City, Iowa-based news anchor prioritizing self care, mental health and a social life.

Fellow Iowa Writers' Collaborative member

- Alison McGaughey

The Racontourist

By Jason Walsmith

Hey there! I am Jason Walsmith - I am a traveling musician, photographer and storyteller. I write about music, travel, people, places and things.

That would be "...of the Nadas"! Fellow IWC member.

- Alison McGaughey

Illinois Drifter

By Justin Conn

Celebrating music.

Because I love reading, writing, and talking about music with fellow enthusaists!

- Alison McGaughey

From Red Earth Drive

By Ray Young Bear

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

Iowa Writers' Collaborative member!

- Alison McGaughey

Minding the Gaps

By Kali White VanBaale

Stories about gaps in mental health, social justice, crime, and more

The first post was so moving. Kali was an excellent instructor at the Okoboji Writers' Retreat.

- Alison McGaughey

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!

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative member and novelist!

- Alison McGaughey

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."

Okoboji Writers' Retreat alum!

- Alison McGaughey

Samantha Bee

By Plan Bee

Plan Bee is my weekly newsletter and source for all hard-hitting insights on women's health, pop culture distractions, recipes, and blazers, of course.

BECAUSE SHE IS THE FREAKING GREATEST

- Alison McGaughey

Sounds Great

By Gannon Hanevold

A blog about music and the things in life that feel like music

Former QC Times reporter- great series on music and already missed in the QC!

- Alison McGaughey

Rob Gray's Area

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

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

It Was Never a Dress

By Steph C

My personal Substack

You'll never see a "women's bathroom" sign in the same way!

- Alison McGaughey

Letters From Iowans

By Julie Gammack

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

Part of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative

- Alison McGaughey

Dave Price's Perspective

An award-winning Iowa journalist's observations on politics, current events, family and some random things, too.

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

Listening to the Land

By Larry Stone

Join me on my travels in Iowa outdoors.

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

The Swine Republic

By Chris Jones

Writing about confluence of agriculture and environment from the heart of the big ag beast here in Iowa

Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

The Crossover

By Jane Burns

Women's sports stories from Iowa - a place where new generations of female athletes carry on a century of success.

Iowa Writers' Collaborative member!

- Alison McGaughey

The Midwest Creative

By With Uncertainty

Essays and explorations on the creative life in the Midwest.

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

Miss Effie's Diary

By Cathy Linker Lafrenz

Picking flowers and picking myself up ... life as a widow

Funny, delightful, tender.

- Alison McGaughey

The Asian Iowan

By Jane Nguyen

Born in Saigon, Vietnam. Nearly lifelong Iowan writing about people, places, and things.

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist! Diverse viewpoints needed and welcomed in this state!

- Alison McGaughey

Hola Iowa

Connect with the Latino communities in Iowa.

Tar and Erica (owners) are great!

- Alison McGaughey

View from the Cedar Valley

By Pat Kinney

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

Iowa Writers' Collaborative member!

- Alison McGaughey

Showing Up

By Kurtis Meyer

My interests are diverse: history, politics, current events, music, life experiences. I write about things that interest me, things I know about... often reflecting my (primarily) rural perspective.

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

My Life, in Color

By John Naughton

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

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

Talking Good

By Teresa Zilk

In this space, I’ll write about the people, places, and learnings that have helped to shape me and my journey here in Iowa.

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

Fern and Joe

By Fern Kupfer and Joe Geha

opinions on topics

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

Mary Swander's Emerging Voices

Diverse people voice their opinions for the Iowa Writers Collaborative

former Poet Laureate of Iowa!

- Alison McGaughey

Kyle Munson's Main Street

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

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

Barry Piatt on Politics: - Behind the Curtains

Consistently ahead of the curve political commentary and analysis

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

Benign Inspiration

By Jody Gifford

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

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

Dispatches from the Heartland

By Suzanna de Baca

Reflections on change and transformation.

Check out this Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

A World of Your Own

By Debra Engle

Where writing and life meet—stories, reflections, and prompts to help you live more deeply and write more truly.

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger

...Iowa, small towns, and saddle shoes

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

Noted

By Jillian Hess

Tips from the world's best note takers

The Iowa Mercury

By Douglas Burns

Fourth-generation Iowa journalist dives deep with unpredictable, well-reported writing on rural America's people, politics and culture.

Fourth-generation journalist and the guy who got me started on Substack and interested in the Iowa Writers' Collaborative, all because of a t-shirt.

- Alison McGaughey

Iowa politics with Laura Belin

Where you get in-depth coverage and exclusive reporting about Iowa politics

Check out this member of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative!

- Alison McGaughey

Iowa Writers Collaborative Roundup

By Julie Gammack

Linking readers and professional writers who care about Iowa.

Get a digest of great writing from around the state sent to your inbox every Sunday morning!

- Alison McGaughey

Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture

By Robert Leonard

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

An Iowa Writers' Collaborative columnist!

- Alison McGaughey

Brecht's Beat

By Tory Brecht

On Iowa sports, life on the Upper Mississippi and other subjects.

Fellow member of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative!

- Alison McGaughey

Relatively Minor

By Vicki Minor

A newspaper column providing a weekly dose of humor.

Fellow member of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative!

- Alison McGaughey

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

Learn more about the economics of farming, the dirt on the politics of agriculture and tales from our ranch, Whippoorwill Creek Farm.

Iowa Writers' Collaborative member!

- Alison McGaughey

The Writing Life With Jason Liegois

A newsletter on writing and the writing life.

CAFÉ ANNE

By Anne Kadet

It's a wonderful world—meet the inhabitants!

HILAROUS, INTERESTING, QUIRKY, CREATIVE.

- Alison McGaughey

Austin Kleon

Weekly art, writing, and creative inspiration from the author of Steal Like an Artist and other bestsellers.

Julie Gammack and Guests

If Iowa had a group chat, this would be it. Hosted by Julie Gammack, this Substack blends independent journalism, lively opinion, and unexpected voices from across the state. Think potluck, but with more insight and fewer Crock-Pots.

Former Des Moines register columnist and a and major encouragers of the curator of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative!

- Alison McGaughey

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.

So, so good.

- Alison McGaughey

Out Here in the Fields

Recommended by Alison McGaughey