Southeast Iowa Union: Southeast Iowa Today with John Bain receives Advocacy Award

Former Wayland resident expresses gratitude for the recognition of doing what he loves

By AnnaMarie Kruse - Oct. 2, 2024

CEDAR RAPIDS — Many Southeast Iowans are likely to recognize the name of one podcaster recognized at the first Iowa Podcast Awards last month: John Bain.

While Bain lived in Wayland for approximately eight years until moving to Eldridge in 2023, he says many people don’t even realize he has moved as he spends much of his time in the area creating content for his podcast, Southeast Iowa Today with John Bain. The work that he has done with the podcast received recognition from more than just his former neighbors, though, as he was honored with the Advocacy Award at the Iowa Podcast Award Sept. 18 in Cedar Rapids.

John Bain snaps a selfie with his Advocacy Award from the first ever Iowa Podcast Awards in Cedar Rapids. (Photo Submitted)

The award, presented by Upload Media Group, is designed to recognize “those who are doing something special within the medium of podcasting here in Iowa,” and “going above and beyond to advocate for the accessibility and growth of digital content creation in the state of Iowa,” according to the award website.

Bain said he was completely surprised to receive this award, especially because he was only aware of receiving nominations in five individual episode categories. He had no idea he was up for the Advocacy Award.

“In fact, when it was announced and I went up on stage, I went past the presenter and behind him to Logan Schultz, who was kind of in the back of the stage and I asked if it was really for me,” Bain said.

With Schultz’s prompting, Bain made his way to the front of the stage and accepted his award with much gratitude. Bain says he appreciates this award as it makes him feel that his podcast is really good and others recognize that enough to not only nominate him, but the judges recognize that enough to name him the recipient of this award.

“There are few people who are more deserving of the Advocacy Award than John Bain,” Upload Media Group Founder and CEO Logan Adam Schultz said. “Southeast Iowa Today with John Bain actually led the field with five nominations this year at the Iowa Podcast Awards. He has no doubt advocated for podcasting as a medium in our State, you got it, you deserved it buddy.”

Bain describes his podcast as a magazine in a different medium that primarily focuses on spotlighting stories in Southeast Iowa Communities. Since beginning the podcast in June 2023, Bain has created episodes interviewing candidates for Mayor of Washington, covering wind turbine discussions, bringing attention to the Winfield Food Pantry and Historical Society and Museum, and promoting small businesses.

John Bain shares about his passion for cars from Luray, Virginia, at the Cooter's Place 25th Anniversary. (Photo Submitted)

The success of Bain’s podcast is due in part to over 30 years of experience in television and radio broadcasting. Bain actually came out of retirement in 2022 per the request of KCII Radio, and after his short time filling in at the station, he realized just how much he enjoyed interviewing people.

“I went out and I got myself some sponsors locally who believed in what I was doing and wanted to do, and from then on I haven’t looked back,” Bain said.

The more Bain puts into his podcast, the more he finds he wants to put into it, saying he just wishes he could figure out how to be in two places at once, “but if I did that, then I would want to figure out how to be in three places.”

“I really enjoy it. I enjoy the people,” Bain said. “So, put a few extra miles on the car to get to some stories and extra time, but it's, it's well worth it. I hope that's what comes through to the audience.”

In fact, Bain thinks enjoying what you’re doing might actually be one of the key components to producing a successful podcast.

“If you're doing it because you think you're going to get rich and famous, you're doing it for the wrong reasons, because that doesn't happen for most of us,” Bain said as a word of advice to those who might be considering a podcast career. “The number one the thing is, if you've got a passion about something, you are the only one in the world that can share the passion the way that you share it. Don't be somebody else. Be yourself, and you'll be amazed at how much more receptive people are when you are real and you're yourself.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com