The long history between Iowa and China

from River to River · host Ben Kieffer

From the first Iowan U.S. ambassador to Beijing, to Herbert Hoover's fortune in Chinese coal mines, to the soybean's journey from China to Iowa fields — Iowa and China’s relationship is older, stranger and more consequential than you might think. Ben Kieffer unpacks the deep and surprising ties between Iowa and China with Iowa State historian Tao Wang and political expert Jonathan Hassid.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 15, 2026

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

NOW PLAYING

The long history between Iowa and China

0:00 47:31

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of River to River?

This episode is 47 minutes long.

When was this River to River episode published?

This episode was published on April 15, 2026.

Can I download this River to River episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!