Featuring Appearances by
Kevin Cooney
Kevin Cooney is a chauffeur for preschoolers. He enjoys riding fat bikes in the snow, road bikes on roads and running through Glendale Cemetery. He also likes movies, red wine and Oreos (occasionally all at the same time). He looks forward to telling a story that's more than 75 seconds long. (You may also know him as a former anchor and reporter at KCCI-TV. He worked at the CBS affiliate for four decades.)
Steve Rose
Steve Rose is a professor of teacher education and the coordinator of secondary education at Simpson College, where he has worked for 20 years. Previously, he taught a variety of high school subjects and led a program for dropouts in his native state of Nebraska. His main creative outlet is poetry and he's had pieces published in a number of journals, including “The Midwestern Review†and “Dime Bag of Poetry.†He's prone to citing the great poets of his era: Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and John Prine.
Sue Burns
Sue Burns is a graduate of Iowa State University and a business analyst for DuPont Pioneer. In 30 years at Pioneer, she's worn a lot of hats: designer, instructor, computer/software support person and analyst. She enjoys travel and quality time with her husband, Al. An avid knitter, she's known to spin whatever fiber she can — including dog hair — into yarn. Their dog, Riley, loves her hand-knit sweater.
Olivia Kvitne
Olivia Kvitne is a professional dancer who has performed as a Las Vegas showgirl in the world famous Bally's "Jubilee!" as well as in the national Broadway tour of the "The Producers," among others. She is the founder and director of Yoga for First Responders and teaches yoga at the Des Moines Police Academy and to local fire departments. She loves animals, Disneyland, watching sports, superheroes, making dinner with her husband and adventures with friends.
James Stordahl
James Stordahl is a school bus driver and retired U.S. postmaster, who has written four books about raising a daughter with bipolar disorder ("Bipolar Dad," "Scatterbrain," "Bits & Pieces" and "Straggler"). He is a Vietnam-era veteran retired from the U.S. military reserves (both Army and Navy) and a recipient of the American Spirit Honor Award. He's also: a local community theatre actor who's appeared in 10 movies, a public speaker, a blogger, a husband, a father, a grandfather and a storyteller
Agenda
February 16, 2016
Love and Heartbreak: Kevin Cooney - 'How stories started an obsession with stories'
After four decades on TV, Kevin Cooney knows a thing or two about the role stories play in our lives, but he wasn’t prepared for how the stories he encountered on-set would shape him forever. Cooney spent decades as a reporter and anchor at KCCI-TV. In retirement, he is a chauffeur for preschoolers.
February 16, 2016
Love and Heartbreak: Steve Rose - 'How to slow down'
A marathon runner, avid biker and decades-long Professor, Steve Rose was not one to slow down; until someone showed him how. Rose is a poet and a professor of teacher education and the coordinator of secondary education at Simpson College.
February 16, 2016
Love and Heartbreak: Sue Burns - 'What does an orca sound like?'
After a difficult divorce, Sue Burns found self-worth at the bottom of a kayak. Burns is a business analyst for DuPont Pioneer and an avid knitter who can spin any fiber, including dog hair, into yarn.
February 16, 2016
Love and Heartbreak: Olivia Kvitne - 'Puppy love clarifies a relationship'
When Olivia Kvitne’s relationship started to deteriorate, she found comfort in an unlikely ally. And when that ally gets taken from her, she’ll stop at nothing to bring it back. Kvitne is a professional dancer and the founder of Yoga for First Responders.
February 16, 2016
Love and Heartbreak: James Stordahl - 'Why this man loves Spring Break'
As a young man, James Stordahl had a question: Where do you go to find happiness? Turns out the answer was Daytona Beach. James is a school bus driver and retired U.S. postmaster; who has written four books about raising a daughter with bipolar disorder.