A new Potluck feature announced

This post is an audio version of our Zoom session last week featuring veteran broadcasters George A. Clark and Michael Libbie talking about their experience with podcasting. We also had Mary Swander and Bob Leonard on the call, who both have audio shows. This coming Monday, we are going to try something different. The open-show format was popular when I was a talk show host on WHO-AM radio, so let’s try it in the Zoom Monday Lunch space. Back in the day, I was known to throw out all kinds of topics, including one to this day that can cause guffaws and derision: If you were an animal, what animal would you be? The lines would light up - all the little red buttons in a row, bing-bing-bing. I heard from robins, eagles, badgers, dogs, cats, hawks, and mice… The topic was fascinating and revealing. As a business group facilitator, we often started a meeting with an ‘inclusion exercise’ - meaning it was an opportunity for all 16 people around the table to participate in the conversation, if even for just two minutes. Here are a few examples:* If a movie about your life was to be made, who would you pick to play the role of you?* Who would you choose if you were to hold a dinner party for eight and invite anyone you could - dead or alive? (omit family members)* Think of a place you’ve visited and would like to return to again. Talk about why. * If you had five minutes with the governor, what would you say? Of course, an open show is just that. You pick the topic. Are you working on a cause you’d like to talk about? An idea? Let’s hear it! I’ll make the audio available in podcast format as I have here. Folks are probably more apt to listen than watch a video of a Zoom call. Let’s try it. Who’s in? Put this on your calendar. Monday, February 27, Zoom lunch link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82396654484Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Have you signed up for the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat? www.okobojiwritersretreat.comLet us help you tell your story.The Iowa Writers’ CollaborativeI am so impressed by the members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. The collective wisdom and wit of our folks are something to behold. Once a month, we hold our Office Lounge session and invite our paid subscribers as a thank-you for doing so. If you are a paid subscriber of any of our columnists, feel free to join the fun. Tomorrow, February 24, is the date. It will start at noon central. Bob Leonard is your host:Office Lounge Zoom: Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/81660763778?pwd=OEYyK1NsZ25CTEsraWNvSXZTdFZQZz09Our group in alphabetical order:Laura Belin: Iowa Politics with Laura Belin, Windsor HeightsDoug Burns: The Iowa Mercury, CarrollDave Busiek: Dave Busiek on Media, Des MoinesArt Cullen: Art Cullen’s Notebook, Storm LakeSuzanna de Baca Dispatches from the Heartland, HuxleyDebra Engle: A Whole New World, Madison CountyJulie Gammack: Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck, Des Moines and OkobojiJoe Geha: Fern and Joe, AmesJody Gifford: Benign Inspiration, West Des MoinesNik Heftman, The Seven Times, Los Angeles and IowaBeth Hoffman: In the Dirt, LovillaDana James: New Black Iowa, Des MoinesPat Kinney: View from Cedar Valley, WaterlooFern Kupfer: Fern and Joe, AmesRobert Leonard: Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture, BusseyTar Macias: Hola Iowa, IowaKurt Meyer, Showing Up, St. AnsgarKyle Munson, Kyle Munson’s Main Street, Des MoinesJane Nguyen, The Asian Iowan, West Des MoinesJohn Naughton: My Life, in Color, Des MoinesChuck Offenburger: Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger, Jefferson and Des MoinesBarry Piatt: Piatt on Politics: Behind the Curtains, Washington, D.C.Macey Spensley, The Midwest Creative, Davenport and Des MoinesMary Swander: Mary Swander’s Buggy Land, KalonaMary Swander: Mary Swander’s Emerging Voices, KalonaCheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business, Boone CountyEd Tibbetts: Along the Mississippi, DavenportTeresa Zilk: Talking Good, Des MoinesIf you aren’t already receiving the weekly roundup of these columns, sign up here:We are proud to have an alliance with Iowa Capital Dispatch. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe