City of Ames’ Podcasts

Employee benefits can sometimes feel complicated or easy to overlook, but they play an important role in overall well being. In this episode of Live Well. Be Well., hosts Kacie Schumann and Bailey Dingfield are joined by Krista Hammer, HR Officer for the City of Ames, to talk about understanding and making the most of employee benefits.

 

Episode Highlights

Krista’s Path into Human Resources
Krista shares how she began her career in HR and what led her to work with employee benefits at the City of Ames.

Managing Benefits for City Employees
A look at how benefits programs are managed and how HR supports employees in understanding their options.

Navigating Your Benefits
Tips for employees on how to better understand and use the benefits available to them.

Lesser Known Benefits
A discussion about benefits that employees sometimes overlook but could be taking advantage of.

Common Misconceptions
The hosts talk about misunderstandings people often have about employee benefits and how to approach them with better information.

Benefits and Well Being
How employee benefits contribute to overall health, stability, and well being for employees and their families.

Have a question, topic idea, or someone you would like to hear on the podcast?
Send suggestions to [email protected].

April is Fair Housing Month, and this episode of Ames in Focus explores what that means for the Ames community. Host Bill Gebhart is joined by Vanessa Baker-Latimer, Housing Coordinator for the City of Ames, along with Beth Skluzacek from the Iowa Board of Realtors. Together, they discuss why fair housing still matters, how to recognize housing discrimination, and the role local partnerships play in creating more equitable opportunities for residents.

They also highlight how Ames is bringing awareness to the community this month, including a City Council proclamation on Tuesday, April 14, a social media trivia campaign with prizes, and an upcoming panel discussion on April 22 at 9 a.m. at the Iowa Board of Realtors education center. The panel will bring together experts to share insights, answer questions, and connect residents with resources.

For more information on Fair Housing Month and upcoming events, visit CityofAmes.org.

In this episode of From Agenda to Action, host Bill Gebhart sits down with Mayor John Haila to preview key items scheduled for discussion at the upcoming Ames City Council meeting.

The Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 14, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Ames City Hall Council Chambers, located at 515 Clark Ave.

A meeting of the Ames Conference Board will be held earlier that evening at 5:30 p.m. in the same location.

This agenda includes a number of items for Council consideration, and while this episode does not cover every topic, it highlights several discussions that may be of particular interest to residents and the community.

This podcast is designed to help listeners better understand what is on the agenda, what decisions Council will be asked to consider, and how those discussions may impact Ames.

In this episode, we discuss:

Key highlights from the April 14 City Council agenda

Proclamations

The Planning department's workplan presentaion

Temporary changes to the nuisance and towing ordinances

Regular Ames City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, and all meetings are open to the public.

Have a question or topic you would like covered?

Are there agenda items or City Council topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode? Send us an email at www.CityofAmes.org/CityCouncil

Important note

City Council agendas may change up to 24 hours before the meeting time. This podcast reflects the agenda as it exists at the time of recording.

From Agenda to Action is part of the City of Ames Podcasts network, offering residents a clear and approachable way to stay informed about local government and community decisions.

In this episode of Ames in Focus, host Bill Gebhart sits down with Jehan Faisal, Volunteer Coordinator at the Ames Public Library, and dedicated library volunteer Dana Eaton. Together, they explore how volunteers help bring the library to life, from organizing book sales to supporting daily operations and community programs.

Jehan shares how she found her way into library work and what it takes to coordinate a diverse and passionate volunteer base. Dana offers a firsthand perspective on what it’s like to give back through service, along with a few memorable moments from her time at the library.

Whether you're a lifelong reader or just looking for a way to get involved in the community, this conversation highlights the meaningful impact of volunteering and why the library remains such a vital part of Ames.

✨ Episode Highlights

How Jehan Faisal became Volunteer Coordinator at the Ames Public Library

The wide range of volunteer opportunities available, from shelving to events

Who volunteers at the library and why it’s open to everyone

Dana Eaton’s personal experience and favorite moments as a volunteer

The real impact volunteers have on staff, patrons, and the broader community

Behind the scenes of the upcoming Library Book Sale

How to get started as a volunteer, including training and onboarding

Quick rapid fire book and library favorites from both guests

📖 Get Involved
Interested in volunteering or checking out the upcoming book sale?
Visit AmesPublicLibrary.org to learn more about opportunities, events, and ways to support your local library.

Volunteering at the library isn’t just about books. It’s about building connections, supporting learning, and strengthening the community one story at a time.

Coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and chocolate all contain caffeine, but how much do we really know about it? In this episode of Live Well. Be Well., hosts Kacie Schumann and Bailey Dingfield explore the ins and outs of caffeine.

The bottom line: enjoy your caffeine fix (because Kacie and Bailey definitely will), but stay informed about how it affects your body.

Episode Highlights

What Is Caffeine?
A look at caffeine as a natural stimulant produced by plants that affects the brain, nervous system, muscles, and heart.

Where Caffeine Comes From
Plants such as coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao, and others naturally produce caffeine. The episode explores how these sources end up in everyday foods and drinks.

How Much Caffeine Is in Common Foods and Drinks
A comparison of caffeine levels in coffee, soda, energy drinks, tea, and chocolate, and why the amounts can vary.

The Benefits and Downsides
The hosts discuss both the potential positives of caffeine, such as alertness and focus, and the possible negative side effects including sleep disruption, anxiety, and overconsumption.

Research on Caffeine and Health
Kacie and Bailey explore recent studies that examine how caffeine interacts with the body and what research suggests about long term health outcomes.

How to Check Your Caffeine Intake
Listeners can look up caffeine content in common foods and drinks through resources available at CSPI.

Resources

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772417424000104

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2844764

https://www.delish.com/food-news/a70300713/caffeinated-coffee-tea-lower-dementia-risk-study/

https://CSPI.org

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10459237/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-side-effects

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-979/caffeine

Have a question, topic idea, or someone you would like to hear on the podcast?
Send suggestions to [email protected]