Iowa Prairie Documentary Project

Charlie Morris
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Documentary

From the last glacial era that covered Iowa to the year 2025, what can we learn about ourselves and how we choose to interact with the land...and how has it led to the nation's 2nd highest cancer rates and water we cannot swim in safely? This series covers updates and interviews as Iowa based filmmaker Charlie Morris works on a new film on the topic.

  1. Aug 5

    S1:E25 THE BIG PICTURE WITH STEVE GRUHN

    Part 1 of "THE BIG PICTURE WITH STEVE GRUHN" series. Big Spirit Lake resident. Conventional farmer turned Biochar researcher. Soil science thinker. Bergman Prairie explorer. Sustainable solutions guy. Former greenhouse owner. Nitrogen cycle minded. Former CAFO employee. Steve Gruhn has a lot of stories to tell about the land in Iowa and I think once you start watching or listening, you'll stick around to the end.  To watch this as a video: https://youtu.be/-TR6pyBU7t0 The intro and outro music are original compositions made for this podcast, created and played by Anthony Arnone of Iowa City. The music tracks were sound engineered by Jay Siebold of Sieboldsound.com. This work is a microbudget project that is self-funded by me, the host, Charlie Morris. If you would like to help me cover the costs of things like sound mastering or gas money to travel to visit interview subjects, my Venmo is @CharlieMakesMovies GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/3de50065e Music by: Anthony Arnone https://music.uiowa.edu/people/anthony-arnoneIntro Song/DAWN Outro Song/FEELING FREE Intro/outro Sound Mastering by: https://www.sieboldsound.com To contact Director: https://iowaprairieproject.blog My Substack: https://substack.com/@iowaprairieproject

  2. Jul 28

    S1:E23 OMAHA WISDOM W/RENEÉ SAN SOUCI

    There is nothing like sitting down to talk to a descendant of the original keepers of the prairie. Speaking with Reneé was completely unexpected. We literally ran into one another at the Loess Hills Prairie Seminar and within 15 minutes were doing a sit down interview in the setting sun there in Onowa, Iowa. Reneé Sans Souci is an Omaha Native American and I was very fortunate to have her agree to share her perspectives on the land, relatives, our connections with nature, indigenous knowledge, the impacts of colonization and so much more.  Reneé's email: renee.sans.souci@gmail.com To watch this episode as a video:  https://youtu.be/ltfeCiN-7ZM The intro and outro music are original compositions made for this podcast, created and played by Anthony Arnone of Iowa City. The music tracks were sound engineered by Jay Siebold of Sieboldsound.com. This work is a microbudget project that is self-funded by me, the host, Charlie Morris. If you would like to help me cover the costs of things like sound mastering or gas money to travel to visit interview subjects, my Venmo is @CharlieMakesMovies GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/3de50065e Music by: Anthony Arnone https://music.uiowa.edu/people/anthony-arnoneIntro Song/DAWN Outro Song/FEELING FREE Intro/outro Sound Mastering by: https://www.sieboldsound.com To contact Director: https://iowaprairieproject.blog My Substack: https://substack.com/@iowaprairieproject

  3. Jul 22

    S1:E22 DECORAH, CAVES AND KARST W/CHERYL JOHNSON

    Cheryl Johnson is a long time local of Decorah, IA. And when I say long time, I mean that a cabin on the property of the local Norwegian history focussed Vesterheim museum is one that used to belong to relatives of hers. In case you are curious it’s called the Egge Cabin. So yeah…she’s been around for a while. Seeing Decorah’s landscape and town with her is like walking around with the unofficial Mayor of Decorah. But what’s even more fascinating about Cheryl is her passion for being underground in caves! I’ll let her explain what she's been up to in this interview. https://caves.org To watch this episode: https://youtu.be/Aq7ZXvfWDOg The intro and outro music are original compositions made for this podcast, created and played by Anthony Arnone of Iowa City. The music tracks were sound engineered by Jay Siebold of Sieboldsound.com. This work is a microbudget project that is self-funded by me, the host, Charlie Morris. If you would like to help me cover the costs of things like sound mastering or gas money to travel to visit interview subjects, my Venmo is @CharlieMakesMovies GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/3de50065e Music by: Anthony Arnone https://music.uiowa.edu/people/anthony-arnoneIntro Song/DAWN Outro Song/FEELING FREE Intro/outro Sound Mastering by: https://www.sieboldsound.com To contact Director: https://iowaprairieproject.blog My Substack: https://substack.com/@iowaprairieproject

  4. Jul 20

    S1:E21 OVERSPRAY AND CHEMICAL DRIFT W/SHAD SWANSON

    Featuring southwest Iowa organic vegetable farmer Shad Swanson, this video dives into overspray and chemical drift here in the state of Iowa. What is it? How does it happen? How severely can it impact an organic farming operation? What can we do when it happens? Shad shares his personal experience with all of these issues. I also share what happened when I asked the internet for footage of overspray and chem drift. Shad's Links:  https://www.gardenofparadiseiowa.com  https://www.facebook.com/Garden0fParadise To watch this video:https://youtu.be/-TFYF8MHZic   The intro and outro music are original compositions made for this podcast, created and played by Anthony Arnone of Iowa City. The music tracks were sound engineered by Jay Siebold of Sieboldsound.com. This work is a microbudget project that is self-funded by me, the host, Charlie Morris. If you would like to help me cover the costs of things like sound mastering or gas money to travel to visit interview subjects, my Venmo is @CharlieMakesMovies GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/3de50065e Music by: Anthony Arnone https://music.uiowa.edu/people/anthony-arnoneIntro Song/DAWN Outro Song/FEELING FREE Intro/outro Sound Mastering by: https://www.sieboldsound.com To contact Director: https://iowaprairieproject.blog My Substack: https://substack.com/@iowaprairieproject

  5. Jul 18

    S1:E20 WILD RHYTHMS WITH DEB MATLOCK

    I first found out about Deb Matlock via Facebook. Her work, which is under the banner of Wild Rhythms, popped up on my feed and I was like…hmmm…not enough people talk seriously about reconnecting with nature. I think I'll give this a follow. Her website has a featured one liner on it that states: “For those called into deeper conversation with earth, animals and spirit.” Most of these episodes talk about the mess we are in. And we can talk all we want about the science of toxins, prairie restoration efforts, nitrates, cancer, water quality and Big Ag…but those are all on the symptoms side of things. But…What’s the cause? Deb and I will be getting into that during this interview.  For the video version of this episode:  https://youtu.be/Ym0riZ53fpw Deb's website: https://wild-rhythms.com  Deb's FB: https://www.facebook.com/WildRhythms/ The intro and outro music are original compositions made for this podcast, created and played by Anthony Arnone of Iowa City. The music tracks were sound engineered by Jay Siebold of Sieboldsound.com. This work is a microbudget project that is self-funded by me, the host, Charlie Morris. If you would like to help me cover the costs of things like sound mastering or gas money to travel to visit interview subjects, my Venmo is @CharlieMakesMovies GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/3de50065e Music by: Anthony Arnone https://music.uiowa.edu/people/anthony-arnoneIntro Song/DAWN Outro Song/FEELING FREE Intro/outro Sound Mastering by: https://www.sieboldsound.com To contact Director: https://iowaprairieproject.blog My Substack: https://substack.com/@iowaprairieproject

  6. Jun 14

    S1:E19 THINKING ABOUT HOPE (AND PRAIRIES) WITH CONNIE MUTEL

    Originally recorded April 17, 2026, this interview features Connie Mutel. She's a prolific author on ecosystems and prairie who lives here in Iowa. I would consider this a must listen or must watch episode! Decades of ecosystems understanding are on full display here folks! Connie's message of hope in these trying times is particularly moving. To watch on Youtube The intro and outro music are original compositions made for this podcast, created and played by Anthony Arnone of Iowa City. The music tracks were sound engineered by Jay Siebold of Sieboldsound.com. This work is a microbudget project that is self-funded by me, the host, Charlie Morris. If you would like to help me cover the costs of things like sound mastering or gas money to travel to visit interview subjects, my Venmo is @CharlieMakesMovies GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/3de50065e Music by: Anthony Arnone https://music.uiowa.edu/people/anthony-arnoneIntro Song/DAWN Outro Song/FEELING FREE Intro/outro Sound Mastering by: https://www.sieboldsound.com To contact Director: https://iowaprairieproject.blog My Substack: https://substack.com/@iowaprairieproject

  7. Apr 26

    S1:E18 THE ONE WHERE I GET INTERVIEWED

    This episode is different than all the others. This is the one episode where someone is interviewing me. Beth Waage of KHOI radio's morning "Local Talk" asks me all sorts of interesting questions. I think you might like it.KHOI Mary Swander The intro and outro music are original compositions made for this podcast, created and played by Anthony Arnone of Iowa City. The music tracks were sound engineered by Jay Siebold of Sieboldsound.com. This work is a microbudget project that is self-funded by me, the host, Charlie Morris. If you would like to help me cover the costs of things like sound mastering or gas money to travel to visit interview subjects, my Venmo is @CharlieMakesMovies GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/3de50065e Music by: Anthony Arnone https://music.uiowa.edu/people/anthony-arnoneIntro Song/DAWN Outro Song/FEELING FREE Intro/outro Sound Mastering by: https://www.sieboldsound.com To contact Director: https://iowaprairieproject.blog My Substack: https://substack.com/@iowaprairieproject

  8. Apr 24

    S1:E17 THE C.A.F.O. TRUTH WITH DIANE ROSENBERG

    I first saw Diane Rosenberg speak at an event in late 2025. She was talking about the dangers of CAFO’s. At the time I still hadn’t seen a CAFO in Iowa. Well, I mean…I had seen the buildings but didn’t know what they were. During her talk I quickly was made to understand that CAFO’s in Iowa were a huge factor in terms of water quality and animal welfare. When we met in March for this interview, I still knew very little about the topic though. And so the questions you will hear me ask may seem super basic…it’s because they are. I was starting at the very beginning in terms of my research of the role that CAFO’s play here in Iowa. Diane's Links: www.jfaniowa.orgjfan@lisco.comwww.Facebook.com/JFANIowahttp://www.iowaresponsibleagriculture.org/ Charlie's Links: https://iowaprairieproject.blog Venmo= CharlieMakesMovies Substack: https://substack.com/@iowaprairieproject The intro and outro music are original compositions made for this podcast, created and played by Anthony Arnone of Iowa City. The music tracks were sound engineered by Jay Siebold of Sieboldsound.com. This work is a microbudget project that is self-funded by me, the host, Charlie Morris. If you would like to help me cover the costs of things like sound mastering or gas money to travel to visit interview subjects, my Venmo is @CharlieMakesMovies GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/3de50065e Music by: Anthony Arnone https://music.uiowa.edu/people/anthony-arnoneIntro Song/DAWN Outro Song/FEELING FREE Intro/outro Sound Mastering by: https://www.sieboldsound.com To contact Director: https://iowaprairieproject.blog My Substack: https://substack.com/@iowaprairieproject

See All (24)

About

From the last glacial era that covered Iowa to the year 2025, what can we learn about ourselves and how we choose to interact with the land...and how has it led to the nation's 2nd highest cancer rates and water we cannot swim in safely? This series covers updates and interviews as Iowa based filmmaker Charlie Morris works on a new film on the topic.

Information

  • Creator
    Charlie Morris
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Iowa Prairie Documentary Project
  • Show Website
    Iowa Prairie Documentary Project

You Might Also Like