As you recover from last night's game

Welcome to over 101 new subscribers in the past two days. For those who landed here thinking they were subscribing to a column by Jane Burns, a former Des Moines Register sports reporter whose guest column about the hottest topic in the state - Iowa women’s basketball - racked up over 14,500 views, you’ve actually joined Julie Gammack’s Potluck column. Surprise. Here’s how we do things around here:Most Monday’s I host a Zoom call over the noon hour with notable guests. The podcast included above is described below. I will not have a Zoom call today, April 3, however, pollster J. Ann Selzer joins me April 10 to discuss her comprehensive Iowa Poll results that have appeared in The Des Moines Register. She also produces the Grinnell College National Poll, which was conducted in March. If you’ve ever wanted to ‘meet’ this famous pollster, this is your chance. Sometimes I write a column of a topical nature - women politicians wearing stilettos, for example - or go out in the state and take part in a potluck with local influencers from random Iowa towns. I’m a ‘people collector’ from way back, and believe there’s a story in everyone, so highlight them on this platform. I should be retired, but I didn’t take to it, and launched the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat, now an annual event, in 2021, and then founded the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative last July, now including 28 outstanding writers from around the state. I recommend subscribing because you’ll receive a weekly email with links to their columns. You’ll find writers you know and love, plus emerging voices waiting to be discovered. The full list is below. Oh, yeah, and former Des Moines Register Opinion writer Rekha Basu and I launched a podcast titled: What the hell happened to Iowa? We uploaded our third episode last week. BOAZ, podcastI hope you enjoy the podcast featured today. I’m still learning rudimentary editing skills, and you’ll notice a bit of a rough start - the road to mastery starts with the imperfection of a beginner. The bulk of the 54 minutes with Boaz Rauchwerger is worth your time. This internationally acclaimed, keynote speaker, was our Monday Zoom lunch guest last week. He imparted very simple tips on how to meet people and start meaningful conversations, plus Boaz worked with our participants individually on a variety of issues. As an example, one said she feels she has a ‘tiny’ voice and wants to work on public speaking. Boaz reframed her question to affirm that she has an ‘important’ voice. As soon as she spoke those new words, she said she felt empowered.There are several other examples of how Boaz worked with our subscribers. Take a listen.Below the paywall is a phone number and email address for Boaz. Feel free to call him about your individual concerns. This information is exclusively for paid subscribers, who are supporting the scholarship fund for the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat. OKOBOJI Ok, procrastinators. I know you. I see you. I am you. You’re thinking: The Okoboji Writers’ Retreat isn’t until September, so I have plenty of time to enroll.Not so. We are getting close to the limit of attendees, so I’ll probably be capping enrollment soon. Save you place! Your fee is refundable until September 1, minus a $20 service charge.Remember: There’s a story in everyone. Let us help you tell yours. www.okobojiwritersretreat.com There’s something for just about everyone:Fiction/nonfiction/opinion/columnwriting/poetry/spokenword/NANOWRIMO/memoir/gettingstarted/meetanagent/selfpublishing, and a whole lot of fun. If you’re interested in commentary by some of Iowa’s best writers, please follow the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members: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 MoinesThe Iowa Writers Collaborative is also proud to ally with Iowa Capital Dispatch, a hard-hitting digital news source. If you like being a part of this Potluck column, please tell a friend. That’s how we grow. 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