Radio Stories

The Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade with Matt Kenney

It's a four day event held each year somewhere in Iowa.  This is the Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade hosted by News/Talk 1540 KXEL and somebody has to run it. Meet Matt Kenney a Multi-Media Sales Rep and the Tractorcade Event Manager for NRG Media. Here we talk about what goes into creating something that has become huge over the 26 years it's been around. Also the two reasons we're here talking to tractor lovers about the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association. Good stuff all around.  Meet Matt:
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines and Matt Kenney

Welcome to the Monday Edition of the Business News Headlines for this the 9th day of June, we're glad you're here.  Coming up today some sad news from the world of music. In other news, Warner Brothers and Discovery are splitting into two companies.  In other news, Apple held a developers conference and is trying to up its game.  Some sobering news out of Canada came out today and we’ll share. We’ve got the Wall Street Report and canned food is about to get more expensive. For the conversation, we’re on assignment and coming to you today from Fairfield, Iowa. Why? Because of the four day event held each year somewhere in the state.  This is the Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade hosted by News/Talk 1540 KXEL and somebody has to run it. Meet Matt Kenney a Multi-Media Sales Rep and the Tractorcade Event Manager for NRG Media. Here we talk about what goes into creating something that has become huge over the 26 years it's been around. Also the two reasons we're here talking to tractor lovers about the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association. Good stuff all around.  Meet Matt:
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Spoken Word and A TracrorCade with Jeff Stein

For years "experts" have said, "Radio? It's dead!"  They said it at the dawn of television. They said it at the birth of cable TV. They said it when streaming services came about and they said it when podcasts became popular. But know what...radio is still very much alive. In fact the "spoken word" is more popular today than it was ten years ago. Here you'll meet Jeff Stein the Program Director and News Director for News/Talk 1540 KXEL a 50,000 powerhouse based in Waterloo, Iowa with details. And as a bonus he'll talk about the Great Eastern Iowa TractorCade that kicks off on Sunday the 8th in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.  Meet Jeff:
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines and More with Jeff Stein 4 June 2025

I'm back after being out for a couple of days as we celebrated the holiday of Shavuot. The giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai some 3,300 years ago.  It was a nice pause to reflect on all that means for, frankly, all of us. Welcome to the Business News Headlines and a conversation later with Jeff Stein from News/Talk 1540 KXEL about a host of things  We kick things off today with a shocking report by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office about the Trump Bill currently resting in the U.S. Senate. Then more news from the CBO about the impact the Trump Tariffs will have on you and your family. Speaking of tariffs there is now a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum. But, there is a but. Interested in inflation data? Less is coming from the Department of Labor. Payroll processer ADP offered some surprising news about job creation last month. We've got the Wall Street Report and Big Lots is back!  For the conversation Jeff Stein is in to talk about the death of radio that has been predicted for decades.  But, it is stronger than ever. We'll also discuss the Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade that kicks off this Sunday.  So much going on...let's go!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

Out to Lunch with Mike Pace

Mike Pace is no ordinary Iowan and here we go Out to Lunch with Mike to prove that point. You see, Mike has been in broadcasting longer than most. He is a writer, producer, television host as well as doing a stint in wholesale and retail. And just recently has released a movie called Outro.  Mike also, with a long time friend Steve Mathews, opened up a first class recording studio, Radio Garage.  In this conversation we also talk about his family and an upcoming milestone birthday. So much to talk about. Known across Iowa and beyond an inside look at Mike Pace. 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

Out to Lunch with Jeff Stein and Ken Chester

Join us for the latest Out to Lunch segment this time with Jeff Stein the News and Program Director for News/Talk 1540 KXEL and Ken Chester from the nationally syndicated program Tech Mobility.  To be sure I've known these two guys for some time and whenever we get together it's a hoot. However, usually it's just the three of us.  Now you get to join in our conversation over lunch at Gilroy's Kitchen + Pub + Patio in West Des Moines. (You've got to check their new website!)  We kick things off with "Quick Bites". Three questions every guest gets:  Book, Movie and Career other than the current job. Then it's conversation over lunch. Enjoy and thanks for coming by! 
Out to Lunch is part of the award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 30 May 2024

We're a bit late in getting this out "on the bird" because we spent the greater part of the day in Humeston, Iowa a community of roughly 460 people.  We took the show on the road for another "Out to Lunch" segment and had a great time listening to stories from our guests Jill, Don and Dan (photo). We learned much about the history of the community as well as their business climate and a community owned grocery store The Front Street Market, the Grassroots Cafe and Snyder's a store like no other I've ever been in and today was their 75th Anniversary!  We can't wait to share that segment with you later next week. We'll get to the news in a moment but if you want to reach out to us on Social Media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
The GDP numbers explained;
The Dow has lost about 1,000 points in 3 days...why?
Some positive FAA and Boeing news today;
Fast food pricing and wow...has it gone up;
The Wall Street Report;
Retail news from Best Buy and Kohl's.
Thanks for being here!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 2 May 2024

Welcome to Thursday and the Business News Headlines for this the 2nd day of May. One other thing before we get into the newscast: Some time ago I sat down with author, community connector and podcaster Ben McDougal. You may know him from 1,000 Cups Des Moines. Anyway here is that conversation we had about the beginnings of Insight on Business and some fun conversation about what it takes to be creative every day the title is Consistency Counts. Meanwhile, you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
Jobless Claims and the U.S. Job Market;
Black taxpayers get audited more often and why;
Microsoft and Malaysia made the news;
Peloton is axing 400 workers and its CEO;
Mortgage rates climbed yet again;
The Wall Street Report;
A zinger! Google paid Apple big money for...
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 26 April 2024

It's the "Late Edition" of the Business News Headlines. Why "late"? It was a zoo here at "Radio Ranch" as we were playing "catch-up" on a host of things that had to be done before we even started writing the news of the day. In addition I did an interview with our friend Jeff Stein from News Talk 1540 KXEL about the impact the war in Gaza is having on local Jewish Congregations in Iowa. If you want to listen to that piece you can hear it here. Also, you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
Inflation is "stuck" and what that means;
The Feds are taking a second look at Tesla Auto-Pilot and why;
Ford has pumped the breaks on EV's and making good with hybrids;
Some SWEET Trader Joe's news for you;
The Wall Street Report;
And, women's sports is having a moment.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 9 February 2024

The end of yet another busy week. We've been out doing interviews much of the week and we'll be bringing those stories to you real soon. The top line today is about eating out and the 180 McDonald's is doing due to consumer push back on prices. That's coming at you first. And if you want to reach us on social media and if you're on Threads you can find us @Insight_On_Business. And you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today: 
What's with the $3 hashbrown? McDonald's does a 180;
New inflation data to share with you and it's good;
The missing 200 foot radio tower in Alabama...
And YOU can help them get back on the air!
$5 billion for R&D of U.S. computer chips made the news;
The Wall Street Report;
Don't want to wait? Pay for priority but, there is a but.
A reminder that we're back on Sunday, Noon Central and only on News/Talk 1540 KXEL and yes we do stream. 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.