This is one of the last episodes of Cornhole Champions for 2025. We’re taking November and December off, coming back in January with fresh ideas. But before we wrap, it felt right to step back and talk about what this year has been—and what 2026 might bring.
On Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith sat down with Chase Seibert and Liz Fleming to talk about the future of the podcast and of the state it was created to serve.
Toss some bags about Iowa’s economic woes… health insurance costs going up… and some reflection on a year of Cornhole Champions.
Cornhole Champions is a weekly politics and policy podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line, hosted by Zachary Oren Smith and produced by Rebecca Steinberg, with music by Avery Mossman and art by Desirée Tapia.
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
0:00 – Taking a break: last episode of 2025
1:30 – What it’s like building a podcast in Iowa
3:00 – Why the news cycle moves too fast for weekly shows
4:30 – The difference between videos and podcasts as mediums
6:30 – Why human connection matters more than traditional media
7:00 – Creating space that shows what life in Iowa could be
11:00 – Legacy media vs. new platforms: who’s doing the work?
13:00 – Writing stories about Iowans for Iowans
14:30 – What stories should we cover in 2026? Send us your ideas
15:00 – Thank you for a year of Cornhole Champions
*LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:*
– YouTube – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju
– Substack – https://cornholechampions.substack.com/
– Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714
– Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64
– PocketCasts – https://pca.st/74atty1j
… and everywhere you listen to podcasts
*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
– Twitter – https://x.com/zacharyos
– Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith
– Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social
– Threads – https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith
– LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/
*FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
– Twitter – https://twitter.com/iastartingline
– Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine
– TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline
– Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline
– YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w
WATCH: Protestors chant ‘quit your job’ at ICE officers in Cedar Rapids
This video was posted to social media amid a growing presence of ICE across the nation. Follow Iowa Starting Line for more.
WATCH: How Iowans can push back this Banned Books Week
Have a favorite banned book? Share it with us in the comments! We promise not to report you to Kim Reynolds.
WATCH: UnityPoint spends millions on union-busting instead of safer workplace policies
Nearly 2,000 nurses at UnityPoint Health are unionizing in what is considered the largest union effort in Iowa's history. They're also facing a...
WATCH: Trump float booed at Iowa City homecoming parade
Parade attendees expressed their frustration amid immigration crackdowns in Iowa.
WATCH: Long-term impacts of Iowa’s abortion ban
New data reported by abortion providers show the impacts of Iowa's six-week abortion ban have been felt far and wide.
WATCH: The Iowa Investigator’s advice for aspiring content creators
JT Vonderhaar (@jttheiowainvestigator on TikTok) has some advice for aspiring content creators: "climb cringe mountain." Check out the latest...
