About the podcast
Let's get to know each other, shall we?
Meet Sarah
Hello, I’m Sarah Davis, podcast consultant and host of Warmly, Iowa. I grew up in Iowa and left for many years, exploring and living on both coasts. I discovered that I had a deep appreciation for travel and exploration, and that was really important to me, no matter where I lived.
When I’m not creating this podcast, consulting for other podcasters, or growing my local podcasting community, I work as an instructional designer for a local University, manage care for my elderly mom, and co-host my first podcast, Breathing Wind.
Iowa was not my first choice
Initially, Iowa was not my first choice. I thought I’d be a digital nomad, traveling the world and funding it through freelance work. It took a pandemic and a lot of reflection for me to reconsider this choice. What I realized was that I valued a little more stability. And that I could have extended travel with a steady and affordable landing pad.
The value of travel
Travel is at the core of my joy in life. When I first left Iowa at 22, I was leaving behind feelings of boredom with my surroundings and frustration with the bubble that was created to protect me. I had gotten the travel “bug” when I studied abroad in China and that was when I felt most alive.
Traveling in Iowa doesn’t have the same draw as traveling abroad, but why can’t it?
What I learned through all of my travels, and what drew me to a nomadic life, versus a tourist life, is that the people in any given location make it interesting. What you can’t do if you are a tourist, or if you are a person who’s never left, is see a place from the perspective of those who live there and love it.
Before I moved back, I had to really examine why I was returning. I wanted to make sure that I was still living my values, and this podcast is part of my journey.
Coming Home
In 2022, I made the decision to move back to Iowa, after over 20 years living away. My father had passed away in 2016, and as my mother became more elderly, I sensed that I needed to be present and make a change. The life I had been living in the San Francisco Bay Area had also run its course.
As I packed up my belongings and left the coast, I felt a mix of apprehension and excitement about returning to the flat, land-locked fields of the Midwest. Although I thought I knew what to expect, I remained hopeful that my preconceptions would prove inaccurate.
Approaching life in Iowa with an open mind, I eagerly sought to discover the best in its people and communities and embrace the opportunity to be "home" once again.
Why this podcast
I became interested in this podcast because I wanted to continue to connect deeply with Iowans and with this new community I was seeing from my new-again, older and wiser Iowan eyes. And I want to share this with others. I want to help others see the beauty in front of them, even if they are in a place they have longed to leave. I also want my friends on the coasts to learn about a different Iowa than what is portrayed in national media.
What you can expect this season
In the first season, we’ll be exploring the answer to a question I was often asked over the years, “did you grow up on a farm?” For me, it’s more of a rhetorical question. I didn’t grow up on a farm, but I am Iowan. In my first full summer back, I learned about pizza farms and became very intrigued, discovering the reasoning behind it and the possibilities of farming and rural community building. This season, you’ll hear from Anna Geyer, owner of the Land Alliance Folk School and Retreat Center in Oxford, Iowa. You’ll also hear from Kathy Byrnes, a teacher, writer, foodie, and climate activist, who is Founder and Director of Birds and Bees Urban Farm in Des Moines, Iowa. Last, you’ll hear from Dr. Brian Rumsey, Environmental Sustainability Administrator at Wartburg College, and Maren Beard, Owner and Operator of Luna Valley Farm in Decorah Iowa. And, this summer, I’ll begin again, taking you with me behind the scenes as I create the stories for the next season.
Seasonal Bursts
Our plan for this audio podcast is to provide you with occasional, binge-worthy mini-seasons, 5 episodes each, at around 20 minutes per episode. It should take you no longer than an hour (ish) from start to finish, but you could listen to each episode by themselves on your commute.
Beyond the Podcast
In addition to the stories you’ll hear on the podcast, I’m also featuring written profiles, behind-the-scenes glimpses of my journey, and bonus discoveries in this newsletter. I’ll be sending out a newsletter every other week.
Meet Rob, Warmly, Iowa’s editor, Season 2
I got to know Rob while involved in a local group of podcasters in the Des Moines, Iowa metro area, and was immediately struck by his generosity with the other podcasters in the group, providing on-target advice and recommendations. In fact, his advice helped me begin a cohost format for Breathing Wind, my first podcast. I knew I wanted to work with Rob, but wasn’t sure how, or when…and was thrilled when he said “yes” to Season 2!
Rob Newton is first and foremost a radio host, a man, he would say that’s, “After Radio’s own heart”. With over 10 years in radio broadcasting, he has been blessed to meet, work with, and learn from some of the best in the business. His career has also brought him the experience and skills to work on various podcast projects, as well as live TV as a Producer. Rob lives with his wife, Aubrey, and 3 fur babies in Des Moines, Iowa. Learn more about Rob at newtonpodcasts.com.
Meet Ted, Warmly, Iowa’s producer, Season 1
This is not a travel podcast, though I wanted it to contain elements of travel and curiosity that come from travel. Ted Cragg, travel podcaster and tour guide, is someone I met when I started my first podcast, and I always wanted to work with him. He’s proven to be a diligent, highly detailed, and patient producer. It’s been fun working with someone who has such a love and appreciation for the nuances that come with a location-based audio podcast such as this one. You can find him online at tedcragg.com.
How you can get involved
Who should I feature next? Where should I go this summer? I’m eager to explore and to meet you. Let me know if there’s someone I need to talk to, who gives you that feeling of home whenever you see them. Or of Iowa.
My hope is to encourage listeners and readers to reflect and consider home and Iowa in a different light.