A new podcast series out of Iowa features conversations with farmers, artists, researchers, and activists who are using arts and storytelling to talk about climate and agriculture in Iowa. 

“The Art of Climate Dialogue” podcast series is hosted by community-engaged artist Vivian M. Cook. 

Originally from Prescott, Arizona, Cook traded the arid cacti-filled landscapes of Arizona for the cornfields and humid summers of Iowa to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts and French from Iowa State University. She then immersed herself in the interdisciplinary Community Development and Sustainable Agriculture graduate programs at Iowa State University, graduating in the spring 2023 semester. She began working with The EcoTheatre Lab, a collective transforming environmental and social justice issues into captivating performances and arts events. Cook was particularly interested in addressing challenging climate conditions through artistic means.