Grab a Lemon Shake-Up or a Pork Chop-on-a-Stick and gather around Grandstand for a fun-filled conversation with Gary Slater, CEO and manager of the Iowa State Fair.

In this episode of the Iowa Food & Family Project Table Talk podcast, we sit down with Gary to learn what it takes to put on the time-honored, wildly popular Iowa State Fair. You’ll get a preview of the “moments” in store for the fair’s anticipated 1.1 million guests – including new fair foods, goat yoga and the inaugural Farm to Fair event.

Gary also shares some of his favorite fair memories, his food stand of choice and the story behind his new golf cart security measures!

S1E7: Gary Slater | Iowa State Fair

Welcome to the Iowa Food & Family Project’s Table Talk podcast. This season, we’ll be exploring your questions about food, and everything is on the table! You’ll hear from Iowa experts on topics across the farm to fork chain – ranging from confusing food label claims and product recalls to menu trends and food waste.  

In the first episode this season, we sit down with Dr. Ruth MacDonald. She’s the Chair of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University and is passionate about combating myths and misinformation around today’s food system. 

She’ll help you separate fact from fiction about the preservatives, GMOs and hormones in the products you find at the grocery store. “It’s really gratifying when I can help people realize they don’t need to be afraid of food, that conventional food is just as safe to feed your kids as organic,” she says.

S2E1: Dr. Ruth MacDonald | Iowa State University

Join us as we gather around the shopping cart for a fun-filled and insightful conversation about the grocery industry with Tina Potthoff, the vice president of communications at Hy-Vee. 

In this episode of the Table Talk podcast, we dig into the Iowa-based grocer’s innovation and commitment to hometown values. You’ll learn about on Hy-Vee’s new store formats, food recall procedures and in-store services shoppers can leverage to meet their wellness goals.

S2E2: Tina Potthoff | Hy-Vee

Grab a cup of coffee and tune in for a conversation about all things agriculture with Julie Kenney. She’s the Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and is passionate about the rich history and exciting future of farming in Iowa. 

In this episode of the Table Talk podcast, we dig into pride points for Iowa agriculture – from start-up innovation to cross-industry water quality leadership. You’ll learn about Julie’s experiences hosting international groups on her farm, connecting with food-minded consumers and traveling the U.S. to represent Iowa agriculture.

S2E3: Julie Kenney | Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by food marketing or confused about label claims, this episode of Table Talk is for you! We sit down with Roxi Beck, vice president of Look East and consumer engagement director of Center for Food Integrity, for a conversation about the intersection of food, farming and consumer trust.

S2E4: Roxi Beck | Look East & Center for Food Integrity

In this episode of the Table Talk podcast, Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, shares about the creativity and entrepreneurship that spans Iowa’s 6,200 restaurants and taverns. She gives you an inside look at nose-to-tail food trends, consumer dining preferences and the value of building connections between Iowa farmers and chefs.

S2E5: Jessica Dunker | Iowa Restaurant Association

Gather around the kitchen table for an insightful conversation with Mary Shell, a food scientist and creator of the Food Science Secrets blog. She’s an expert in the science of how some of your favorite food products – like ice cream and mayonnaise – go from an idea to a store shelf. 

In this episode of the Table Talk podcast, we break down some of the functional ingredients that appear on food labels and the important role they play in keeping products fresh and safe. You’ll also get tips on how to navigate terms like “sell by” or “best by” and kitchen hacks for storing fruits, nuts and baked goods.

S2E6: Table Talk with Mary Shell

We unite Iowans in conversations about food and farming and celebrate our state's rural and urban communities.