BONUS: Eerie Iowa: The Hawkeye State's Darker Side

In this bonus episode of the After Dinner Podcast, host John Keely welcomes Professor Emeritus Bruce Walters of Western Illinois University to discuss his co-authored book, 'Eerie, Iowa: The Hawkeye State's Darker Side.' The conversation delves into the philosophical nature of eeriness—defined not as observable phenomena but as a subconscious feeling of absence or disconnect—drawing on psychological and neurological insights. Walters explores how the brain's predictive mechanisms create a sense of unease when reality doesn't align with expectation, likening it to a 'glitch in The Matrix.' The episode also examines haunting historical events in Iowa, including the tragic 1955 St. Elizabeth Hospital fire in Davenport, the overlooked legacy of immigrant doctors like Dr. Charlotte Rosendorf, and the cultural persistence of local legends. The book’s unexpected popularity and the dynamic collaboration between Walters and co-author Michael McCarthy—balancing seriousness with humor—are highlighted, underscoring the power of storytelling to preserve forgotten histories and emotional truths. The discussion reflects on how communities remember, forget, and mythologize their pasts.