Oh we got trouble right here. Well, not trouble, but we do have trivia. Iowa Trivia, to be exact. Thirty questions about the state’s history, geography, and its place in Pop Culture.
Good luck and have fun!
When you’re done with Iowa Trivia, check out any of our other episodes this season (or any other season). We’ve got hundreds of questions ranging from Star Wars to Star Trek to Doctor Who to Nintendo. It’s all here (or it will be eventually).
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Episode Intro
Oh we got trouble right here in River City. Well, not trouble, but we do have trivia!
Hey gang, this is episode 178 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. I’m your host, Brian Rollins, and this week we’re right in the Heartland of America with Iowa Trivia.
Like we do every week, we’ve got three rounds of ten questions each. A dorky round, a geeky round, and a nerdy round. If you want a score card or to see some rules on how to play (especially if you’re playing against others) you can visit the show’s website: DorkyGeekyNerdy.com.
That covers the basics for the show, so let’s get into the trivia.
The Dorky Round
1. What musical, set in Iowa, features the quick-talking musical instrument salesman, Harold Hill?
2. What is the capital of Iowa?
3. Iowa became part of the United States in what massive land acquisition in 1803?
4. Born in Winterset, IA, what prolific film star would often be referred to as The Duke?
5. What Iowan made his film debut in Back to the Future II, but would be immortalized for his portrayal of Frodo Baggins?
6. The east and west borders of Iowa are formed by what two rivers?
7. Who hosted The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992?
8. Iowa is the leading producer of what crop?
9. Iowa has the largest number of what livestock animals in the US?
10. What state borders Iowa to the North?
The Geeky Round
1. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa. What's the second-largest?
2. The deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Vallens, and 'The Big Bopper' near Clear Lake inspired what Don McLean song?
3. What 2009 sci-fi film featured a scene in Iowa with a troubled youth and the untimely end of a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray?
4. Set in Iowa, what 1989 Kevin Costner film was adapted from the novel, Shoeless Joe?
5. What state borders Iowa to the South?
6. What actor from Iowa starred in That 70's Show and created and produced the show Punk'd?
7. Which side did Iowa support during the US Civil War?
8. What actress, from Iowa, starred as Phyllis Lindstrom in two TV series as well as Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein?
9. Born in Iowa, what Star Trek: Deep Space Nine actress married Adam Nimoy in 2018?
10. What painting by Grant Wood has been spoofed dozens of times, complete with overalls and a pitchfork?
The Nerdy Round
1. Robert James Waller wrote what 1992 novella about an Italian war bride and her affair with a photographer?
2. Set in Iowa, what 1993 film starred Johnny Depp and a young Leonardo DiCaprio?
3. What two states border Iowa to the East?
4. Iowa has produced one president. Which one?
5. Born in Denison, what actress won an academy award for From Here to Eternity and starred on her self-titled show from 1958-1966?
6. Though the fictional Captain Kirk is from Iowa, what Star Trek actor (who plays a captain) is actually from Iowa?
7. What science fiction author was the first to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel in three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017?
8. What Iowan astronaut made history by being the first female commander of the International Space Station and holds the record for most days in space of any human?
9. What is the official state nickname of Iowa?
10. Iowa 80 is the world's largest what?
Episode Conclusion
And we’re done with Iowa. Want more trivia? Here you go:
- Iowa became a state in 1846 making it the 19th state.
- In population, Iowa ranks 31st in population and 26th in size.
- Iowa is third in energy produced by wind. First, if you’re calculating it per-capita.
- If you’re a fan of the red delicious apple, you can thank growers in Peru, IA for creating it.
- There are more golf courses per capita in Iowa than any other state.
Where are my Iowans at? Send me a shout out and let me know what’s great about your state.
We’ll be back here next week with another thirty trivia questions. Speak of which, here’s a hint about next week’s show:
What state is named after the first governor of the Virginia colony?
There’s a deep dive for my history nerds. You’ll find out the answer next Wednesday. I hope to see you back here.
This has been episode 178 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. Our theme music has been by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com. I’m your host, Brian Rollins. You can find me and the audiobooks I narrate at TheVoicesInMyHead.com.
Thanks for listening.
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Hosted & Written by Brian Rollins
Music by Jason Shaw
Copyright 2019-2023 by Brian Rollins
Permission granted to redistribute audio but only if left unaltered. Permission denied for use in AI training.
