Iowa Prairie Documentary Project

Charlie Morris
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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. APR 5

    S1:E16 PRESCRIBED PRAIRIE BURN (+music) feat. JOHN VAN RYBROEK

    I was lucky enough to be invited to film a fire last year and here is the result. Hop in the "side by side" with John Van Rybroek and find out a bit about why people here in Iowa do prescribed prairie burns, prairie reconstruction and more! I also get to chat with Grace, the safety drone operator from Americorps +Bur Oak Land Trust. MUSIC: Sarah Arnone- https://www.saraharnone.com Hanna Rumora- https://hrumora.wixsite.com/hannaplaysthecello Josh DeVries (no socials!) Full Fire Video with Fire Music: https://youtu.be/p6eU7lF_zY0?si=ZvdFzXykeN-wG_NQ Video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/_8IXBRl2-Vg?si=yfAggc59V867mT9u 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 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

    36 min

  2. MAR 25

    S1:E15 WHAT'S AT STAKE WITH ETHANOL? feat. CHRIS JONES

    Sit right down and take you a listen. Chris Jones dishes up the deets on all things Ethanol. Some of the things we cover in this episode: What is Ethanol? How is Ethanol made? Who uses Ethanol? (Spoiler Alert=Most Likely You and Me Both) What’s the connection between Ethanol production and Cancer in Iowa? How is the CO2 pipeline proposal in Iowa connected to Ethanol? How much farmland in Iowa is used to create Ethanol? What is it like to run for Secretary of Agriculture? Chris’ book: “The Swine Republic” https://icecubepress.com/2025/01/14/the-swine-republic-2/ Chris’ campaign website: https://chrisjonesforiowa.com/ Chris’ FB page: https://www.facebook.com/chrisjones4ia To watch this on Youtube: https://youtu.be/LaSDWLXk9VU 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 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

    47 min

  3. MAR 21

    S1:E14 ENVIRONMENTAL WITNESSING WITH JENNIFER NEW

    Jennifer talks about something I had never heard of before: "Environmental Witnessing." From visiting her grandparent's farm in Nevada, IA to meditating in front of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations...I think this episode is bound to offer some new perspectives on how we occupy the land. Some of the topics we cover:  What is Environmental Witnessing / Meditating at a CAFO / Remembering her Iowa farming grandparents / Beauty in Iowa / Nishnabotna River Chemical Spill / Native American Mounds / 200 - acre prairie restoration/  Data Centers in Cedar Rapids /  How to do Enviro Witnessing / Grandparents and the 1980's Farm Crisis in Nevada, IA To watch this on Youtube: https://youtu.be/GoVxeaN6i-Q Jennifer's website: https://www.hyphaconnect.com 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 Music by: Anthony Arnone https://music.uiowa.edu/people/anthony-arnone Intro Song/DAWN  Outro Song/FEELING FREE  Intro/outro Sound Mastering by: https://www.sieboldsound.com To contact Director: https://iowaprairieproject.blog 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 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

    1h 4m

  4. FEB 28

    S1:E13 NICOLAS FROM HOKSEY NATIVE SEEDS

    We didn’t just talk about the value of conservation and native seeds role in prairie restoration…we also talked about faith, family, how the bigger is better model has harmed farming community bonds. Nicolas talks about how Hoksey got its roots through his father and so much more…this one is really worth a listen.  Hoksey Native Seeds Prairie Farm Podcast https://hokseynativeseeds.com/the-prairie-farm-podcast To shop Hoksey Native Seeds https://hokseynativeseeds.com To watch this on Youtube: https://youtu.be/0RY6bA5s7Mw 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 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

    1h 14m

  5. JAN 30

    S1:E12 TALKING PRAIRIE WITH DR. THOMAS ROSBURG

    This is episode 12 and was recorded on October 4th, 2025 on the Drake University Campus in Des Moines Iowa and features an interview with Dr. Thomas Rossburg. When I made my first post about this project on the Iowa Prairie Network’s Facebook group, it was Tom’s name that was mentioned the most as a person that I absolutely had to interview. Here is why… I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that his observations and thoughts have informed an entire generation of prairie restorationists and many people consider him the grandfather of the modern prairie restoration movement. He is the guy you call when you want to know what your land has been through and how to consider what could be done for prairie restoration. So, within the boundaries of the state called Iowa, where prairie restoration is connected to healing the land, air and water and providing habitat once again…he’s a very important figure to know about and his knowledge is crucial. This following interview is also one of the few long form interviews with him that exist. I almost didn’t get out my camera for this one…I was going to just make it a podcast audio only format. But then I asked Tom if he had done any recent in depth sit down interviews in front of a camera…to which he responded in the negative. For someone who has so much to offer it’s surprising but true. If you google him and try to find a long form video interview, let me know, because I couldn’t find one. The guy is so busy teaching and being outside, he doesn’t sit still long enough for this kind of thing often…so I feel very fortunate that he gave me this chunk of time with my mic and camera.  To watch this on Youtube: https://youtu.be/evGakDgeYqE 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 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

    1h 52m

  6. JAN 5

    S1:E11 "CANCER IN IOWA" feat. DAVID CWIERTNY

    This is episode 11 and was recorded on November 11, 2025 in Iowa City and features an interview with David Cwiertny…it’s part 4 of my Cancer in Iowa series. In case you are a first time listener…I want to ever so briefly answer your question…What does cancer have to do with prairie? Well it has more to do with what is here in place of the prairie that used to exist. Spoiler alert: If we had more prairie we’d have less cancer in the state of iowa This interview covers a ton of important topics but in case you are wondering if it’s going to be worth your time…here are some highlights of what you’ll hear...We’ll be talking about: nitrates, the hypoxic zone of the Gulf of Mexico, Hemoglobinemia, recommended cancer studies for Iowa that were ignored over a decade ago, the water crisis in Des Moines and more…believe me… you don’t want to miss this one if you are wondering about the connections between cancer and environmental pollutants here in our state.  This interview is also available to view on Youtube. Link to one of David's University pages: https://cheec.uiowa.edu/people/david-cwiertny 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 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

    1h 14m

  7. 12/28/2025

    S1:E10 "CANCER IN IOWA" feat. LARRY WEBER

    Part 3 of the "Cancer in Iowa" series. Iowa has some of the USA’s worst water quality AND some of the highest cancer rates in the nation. Larry Weber, who is this episode's featured speaker has spearheaded the effort to create one of the United State’s most advanced watershed nitrate monitoring systems. We can now tell where the most pollutants are coming from. We can tell what times of year the nitrate loads will be the highest and in what river system. There is a treasure trove of real time data and thank god for that right…?? Because without it, how do we even know where to start in terms of tackling cancer rates and cleaning up our water?   Inexplicably…There are people here in Iowa, with a vested interest in eliminating this program. People in positions of influence actually voted to know LESS about how to pursue cancer and water quality in our state. If something doesn’t change, in 2026…We are going from having one of the nation’s most sophisticated water monitoring systems, to possibly having none. Larry has a lot to say about this and other incredible projects he has worked on…and I think you should listen. Link to Iowa's Water Quality Monitoring site: https://iwqis.iowawis.org To watch this episode: https://youtu.be/AFniafBoR7Y 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 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

    1h 4m

  8. 12/21/2025

    S1:E9 "CANCER IN IOWA" feat. SHAWN ELLERBROEK

    Shawn Ellerbroek is a cancer researcher based in the state of Iowa. I wanted a snapshot of where are we at, right now in the year 2025? I wanted to know how what we put onto corn and soybean fields in Iowa translates to cancer in our bodies? What is the actual mechanism that can turn our drinking water, into something that can give us cancer? Shawn agreed to sit down allow me to put these questions to him…and I tell you what…he delivered. What Shawn shares in this interview should honestly rattle every single iowan. This is the kind of interview that I have lost sleep over. Shawn is also running for office here in Iowa, links below...remember, you drink the water that you voted for. Shownotes links for Shawn: https://shawnforiowa.com Deciding Iowa To see this episode as a video: 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 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

    1h 7m
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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
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Iowa Prairie Documentary Project
  • Show Website
    Iowa Prairie Documentary Project

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