Episodes

  • A Night Out in 1926
    Aug 6 2025

    We'll pick you up at the train station, old sport!

    Explore photos from Arnolds Park, Prohibition in Okoboji and these incredible party destinations on our blog.

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    Explore The Dickinson County Museum and support their incredible work.

    Guests: Cole Clawson, Director of The Dickinson County Museum

    Jonathan Reed, Author and Historian

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    16 mins
  • Love Stories from Okoboji
    Jul 23 2025

    In Okoboji, romance is always in the air. For five couples, it’s where something lasting began.

    Check out heart-melting shots from our guest's photo albums on our blog -- and some bonus pictures of backdrops from these beautiful love stories.

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    Thank you to Bank Midwest for sponsoring this episode!

    Guests: Kenz Lode

    Dennis and Dori Lippon

    Brad and Sarah Bourret

    Nancy Payne

    Mark and Sheila Reed

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    25 mins
  • Wake Sports
    Jul 9 2025

    From homemade skis to world championships, we trace the homegrown history of wake sports in Okoboji -- and the lake rats who made it legendary.

    Check out more videos, maps, and illustrations about The Iowa Great Lakes' glacial history on our blog.

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    Follow Tyler on Instagram and TikTok. Follow Mia on Performance Stand Up Paddle and Vail Mountain Bike Camps.

    Guest: Tyler Stewart, Pro Wake Surfer

    Mia Stockdale, Okoboji Ski Club alumni

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    25 mins
  • The Life of the Lakes
    Jun 25 2025

    The Iowa Great Lakes region: shaped by ice, studied for over a century... and still revealing new discoveries.

    Check out more videos, maps, and illustrations about The Iowa Great Lakes' glacial history on our blog.

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    Explore incredible resources and community events at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Or learn how to get involved with CLAMP!

    Read a preview of The Iowa Great Lakes Water Diagnostic Study from the Iowa Geological Survey (IGS).

    Donate to support the IGS and their work across Iowa.

    Guest: Keith Schilling, State Geologist and Director of IGS

    Phillip Kerr, Quaternary Geologist at IGS

    Thomas Doyle, Hydrogeologist at IGS

    Mary Skopec, Executive Director of The Lakeside Laboratory

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    25 mins
  • The Flood of '93
    Jun 11 2025

    In northwest Iowa, The Flood of ’93 left more than damage. In 2024, those lessons rose with the water.

    Watch The Sandbag Summer and explore more stories on our blog.

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    Donate to Spencer's Flood Relief Disaster Fund.

    Launched by the Spencer Chamber Foundation, this fund supports local organizations helping the community recover, providing emergency housing, cleanup, repairs, and more. Your donation goes directly where it’s needed most.

    Follow Clay County Long Term Recovery on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all the ways to get involved and give back.

    Guest: Curtis Dean, former News and Public Affairs Director for KICD

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    27 mins
  • Her Majesty, The Queen
    May 28 2025

    The Queen isn’t a monarch—she’s a boat. A moving landmark, carrying the spirit of Okoboji. But her story is anything but smooth sailing.

    Explore more stories from The Queen and The Queen II on our blog.

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    Get your tickets to ride The Queen II this summer. And make plans to stop by the Maritime Museum in Arnolds Park to soak up even more of this incredible history.

    Guests: Jon Pausley, CEO of Historic Arnolds Park

    Rory Marra, Captain of The Queen II

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    30 mins
  • The Legend of The Loon Lake Cemetery
    May 14 2025

    The Loon Lake Cemetery was active for just fifty years, but a single myth reshaped its memory. We trace the records, names, and lives behind the legend.

    Explore more stories from The Loon Lake Cemetery on our blog.

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    Visit The Jackson County Historical Society in Lakefield, Minnesota. And consider making a gift to power their outstanding programs and scholarships.

    Guests: Nick Riordan, Director of The Jackson County Historical Society

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    25 mins
  • The Okoboji Foundation
    Apr 30 2025

    What do bike trails, an art center, and (several!) clean water projects have in common? A group of locals who rolled up their sleeves four decades ago.

    Explore some of our favorite community projects supported by the Foundation on our blog.

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    Love Okoboji? So do we. Visit The Okoboji Foundation’s website and follow them on Facebook to see how locals and lake lovers are making a difference—together.

    Guests: Tom Bedell, Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of The Okoboji Foundation

    Sue Richter, First President of The Okoboji Foundation

    Mindy Gress, President of The Okoboji Foundation

    Ali Schmitz, Administrative Director of The Okoboji Foundation

    Mark and Polly Peterson, Former Board Chairs

    Holly Skopec, Co-Creator of Youth in Philanthropy

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    33 mins