Fri, 06 Mar 2026 20:35:36 -0500 http://cornbeltchronicles.com en-us © 2026 The Cornbelt Chronicles yes b6118829-47c9-5833-90f4-0dd1378d1172 Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla episodic true Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) midwest, comedy, history, sociology, iowa, nebraska, american culture, culture Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla https://storage.buzzsprout.com/owlp4hni1quusmujl6rh633rvr3p?.jpg http://cornbeltchronicles.com Oscar Micheaux Katie tells Rachel about Oscar Micheaux, one of the most prolific filmmakers of all-black films from 1918 to 1950. Not only was he a filmmaker, but he was also a railroad worker, farmer, frontiersmen on the South Dakota prairie, novelist, director, and so much more. 

]]> Katie tells Rachel about Oscar Micheaux, one of the most prolific filmmakers of all-black films from 1918 to 1950. Not only was he a filmmaker, but he was also a railroad worker, farmer, frontiersmen on the South Dakota prairie, novelist, director, and so much more. 

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-10141926 Fri, 25 Feb 2022 07:00:00 -0600 3624 oscar micheaux, film, film critique, movies, south dakota, frontier, american history, midwest, comedy, film history 1 17 full true African American Migration in the Midwest: Part Two Katie and Rachel continue their discussion of the history of African American migration in the midwest, focusing on the patterns of travel, political organization, and culture that created predominantly black cities in the American midwest. They also discuss the policies that led to redlining and briefly touch on the lives of current African immigrants to the midwest who choose to settle in rural areas.

]]> Katie and Rachel continue their discussion of the history of African American migration in the midwest, focusing on the patterns of travel, political organization, and culture that created predominantly black cities in the American midwest. They also discuss the policies that led to redlining and briefly touch on the lives of current African immigrants to the midwest who choose to settle in rural areas.

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-10099747 Fri, 18 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0600 3603 history, comedy, iowa, culture and society, midwest, black history, african american history, african american, migration, demography, immigration, sociology 1 16 full true African American Migration in the Midwest: Part One Katie and Rachel break down and discuss the history of black midwesterners moving to the region and forming powerful communities that impact the culture and landscape of the midwest today.

]]> Katie and Rachel break down and discuss the history of black midwesterners moving to the region and forming powerful communities that impact the culture and landscape of the midwest today.

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-10055778 Fri, 11 Feb 2022 07:00:00 -0600 3830 history, comedy, iowa, culture and society, midwest, black history, african american history, african american, migration, demography, immigration, sociology 1 15 full true Iowa City: Part Two Max Asman joins Rachel and Katie again to tell us about Iowa City, its history, and the story of Burch the Bear, who was UI's first mascot (and a real bear).

]]> Max Asman joins Rachel and Katie again to tell us about Iowa City, its history, and the story of Burch the Bear, who was UI's first mascot (and a real bear).

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-10017414 Sat, 05 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0600 2270 midwest, history, comedy, american history, iowa, illinois, american history 1 14 full true Iowa City Part One with Max Asman Katie and Rachel are joined again by their friend Max Asman to talk about Iowa City, the first capital of Iowa and current home to the University of Iowa.

]]> Katie and Rachel are joined again by their friend Max Asman to talk about Iowa City, the first capital of Iowa and current home to the University of Iowa.

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson, Rachel Overla, and Max Asman Buzzsprout-9926403 Fri, 21 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0600 3419 history, comedy, iowa, culture and society, midwest 1 13 full true Foods of the Midwest Katie and Rachel are joined by friend Max Asman to discuss the regional cuisine of the midwest, with all its unique pairings and flavors. 

]]> Katie and Rachel are joined by friend Max Asman to discuss the regional cuisine of the midwest, with all its unique pairings and flavors. 

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-9886094 Fri, 14 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0600 4013 history, comedy, iowa, culture and society, midwest, food, cuisine, recipes, cooking, corn belt 1 12 full true Jack Trice Katie and Rachel discuss Jack Trice, the first black student-athlete at Iowa State University, and his death on the football field.

]]> Katie and Rachel discuss Jack Trice, the first black student-athlete at Iowa State University, and his death on the football field.

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-9846260 Fri, 07 Jan 2022 07:00:00 -0600 2614 history, comedy, iowa, culture and society, midwest, football, race 1 11 full true Youth in Agriculture Katie and Rachel are joined by a special guest to discuss youth development programs in agriculture like 4-H and FFA. What are they? Who can join? Nick Thompson, Katie's younger brother, and club president of a local FFA chapter answers all the questions!

]]> Katie and Rachel are joined by a special guest to discuss youth development programs in agriculture like 4-H and FFA. What are they? Who can join? Nick Thompson, Katie's younger brother, and club president of a local FFA chapter answers all the questions!

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson, Rachel Overla, and Nicholas Thompson Buzzsprout-9811108 Fri, 31 Dec 2021 08:00:00 -0600 4630 history, comedy, iowa, culture and society, midwest, agriculture, youth development, youth in ag, farming, 4-H, FFA 1 8 full false Black Panther Party of Des Moines Rachel and Katie discuss the creation and eventual destruction of the Des Moines chapter of the Black Panther Party. 

]]> Rachel and Katie discuss the creation and eventual destruction of the Des Moines chapter of the Black Panther Party. 

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-9697603 Fri, 10 Dec 2021 07:00:00 -0600 3326 history, comedy, iowa, culture and society, midwest 1 7 full true Bleeding Kansas Katie and Rachel learn about the violence that broke out in Kansas during the 1850's over the fate of Kansas as a free state or slave state.

]]> Katie and Rachel learn about the violence that broke out in Kansas during the 1850's over the fate of Kansas as a free state or slave state.

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-9656375 Fri, 03 Dec 2021 07:00:00 -0600 2478 history, comedy, kansas, culture and society, midwest, civil war 1 7 full true The Mormon Trail The Church of Latter-Day Saints organized and carried out a mass migration across the midwest during the mid-1800s, forever shaping the landscape and future of those areas. 

]]> The Church of Latter-Day Saints organized and carried out a mass migration across the midwest during the mid-1800s, forever shaping the landscape and future of those areas. 

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-9616818 Fri, 26 Nov 2021 08:00:00 -0600 3012 history, comedy, iowa, culture and society, midwest 1 6 full true McDonald Territory Join Katie and Rachel as they discuss the time that McDonald County in Missouri tried to secede from the United States.

]]> Join Katie and Rachel as they discuss the time that McDonald County in Missouri tried to secede from the United States.

]]> Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-8674941 Fri, 19 Nov 2021 07:00:00 -0600 3584 midwest, history, comedy, american history, iowa, missouri, illinois, american history 1 6 full true Ranking Midwest States No history this time! Katie and Rachel get goofy and rank every midwestern state in order of how much they like them.

]]> No history this time! Katie and Rachel get goofy and rank every midwestern state in order of how much they like them.

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/ Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-9537325 Fri, 12 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0600 4130 midwest, history, comedy, western, american history, iowa, missouri, illinois, american history 1 5 full true Annie Oakley Annie Oakley might have become famous for her time in the American West, but she was an Ohio native with her roots right here in the midwest. Born as Pheobe Ann Mosey, she went on to become the most prolific sharpshooter of her time. Listen as Katie tells Rachel all about Little Miss Sure Shot.

]]> Annie Oakley might have become famous for her time in the American West, but she was an Ohio native with her roots right here in the midwest. Born as Pheobe Ann Mosey, she went on to become the most prolific sharpshooter of her time. Listen as Katie tells Rachel all about Little Miss Sure Shot.

]]> https://www.cornbeltchronicles.com/citations Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-9478992 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 01:00:00 -0500 3202 midwest, history, comedy, western, american history, iowa, ohio 1 4 full true Villisca Axe Murders On this special Halloween episode, Katie tells Rachel the gruesome story of a family of eight, murdered in their beds. On June 9th, 1912, the Moore family of Villisca, Iowa was brutally killed with an axe in a crime that has never been solved.

]]> On this special Halloween episode, Katie tells Rachel the gruesome story of a family of eight, murdered in their beds. On June 9th, 1912, the Moore family of Villisca, Iowa was brutally killed with an axe in a crime that has never been solved.

]]> Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-9390413 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 01:00:00 -0500 3584 history, comedy, iowa, culture and society, midwest, true crime, murder, villisca axe murder, mystery, halloween 1 3 full true The Iowa State Fair Rachel and Katie discuss the Iowa State Fair, including their personal experiences, some unbelievable facts, and the bizarre history of the Grandstand entertainment.

]]> Rachel and Katie discuss the Iowa State Fair, including their personal experiences, some unbelievable facts, and the bizarre history of the Grandstand entertainment.

]]> Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-9368861 Fri, 15 Oct 2021 01:00:00 -0500 3183 1 2 full true Introduction / Kate Shelley Rachel tells the story of Kate Shelley, the Iowa woman who saved 200 lives, and Katie and Rachel explain how this podcast came to be.

]]> Rachel tells the story of Kate Shelley, the Iowa woman who saved 200 lives, and Katie and Rachel explain how this podcast came to be.

]]> Katie Thompson and Rachel Overla Buzzsprout-9267512 Thu, 30 Sep 2021 08:00:00 -0500 3238 history, comedy, iowa, culture and society, midwest 1 1 full true