Tallgrass: The Des Moines Festival of Ideas --2025
Schedule
Fri, 15 Aug, 2025 at 05:30 pm to Sat, 16 Aug, 2025 at 09:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
The Shop DSM - Event Center | Des Moines, IA
About this Event
We are thrilled to announce that Tallgrass: The Des Moines Festival of Ideas is back in its third year!
he only event of its kind in the entire Midwest, where you can learn from, meet, and mingle with some of the brightest, most interesting minds in Iowa and in the nation.
This year's theme: Who Can We Trust?
We're living in a time where trust is suffering in all kinds of ways. We don't trust our institutions, our government, our churches, even our neighbors. We'll explore these various facets of trust. Should we trust medical experts? The media? The government? What would it look like to rebuild and be worthy of trust? What happens when trust breaks down?
Big ideas and the life of the mind belong to everybody, not just elites in big cities, come lend your voice, and join in a celebration of great conversation, art, food, and more!
Tallgrass is presented by The Lyceum Movement, a Des Moines based nonprofit dedicated to building community, bridging divides, and elevating public conversation.

Speakers
Michael Wear, Executive Director of the Center for Christianity and Public life, former director of Faith Relations at the Obama White House
Elaine Godfrey, Staff Writer at the Atlantic
Judge John Sandy, Iowa Court of Appeals
Samuel Kimbriel, Director of the Philosophy and Society intitative at the Aspen Institute
Michael Reneau, Editor at The Dispatch
Rob Johnson, Pastor and State Rep
Dr. Evan Beacom, Clinical Professor and Hospitalist at University of Minnesota Health
Scott Samuelson, Professor of Philosophy, Iowa State
Kate Padgett Walsh, Professor of Philosophy, Iowa State
Richard Kim, Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Chicago


Agenda
🕑: 05:30 PM
Day 1, Friday August 9, doors open
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Session One
🕑: 07:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Discussion
Info: The Lyceum uniquely offers the chance, not only to listen to thinkers, but to have deep, meaningful conversations with your neighbors
🕑: 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Food trucks, beer, live music and local artists
Info: Enjoy local food trucks, peruse the work of wonderful Iowa artists, grab a beer, and listen to singer songwriter Anderson Coates
🕑: 08:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Session Two
Info: From the Survey Center on American Life
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Lessons on Trust from Ancient China
🕑: 02:15 PM - 04:30 PM
The Midwest Ideas Contest: Trust vs Suspicion
Info: Join philosopher Scott Samuelson, and the finalists for the Midwest Ideas Contest as they present their takes on the subject "What's more important, setting boundaries, or making commitments. Then, deliberate with your neighbors about who will win this year's grand prize
🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Session Three
🕑: 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Dinner, drinks, and art
🕑: 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM
Wisdom of Crowds Podcast
🕑: 08:30 PM - 09:30 PM
Music and Mingle
Where is it happening?
The Shop DSM - Event Center, 901 Cherry Street, Des Moines, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 60.54
