Tallgrass: The Des Moines Festival of Ideas --2025

We are thrilled to announce that Tallgrass: The Des Moines Festival of Ideas is back in its third year!

he only event of its kind in the entire Midwest, where you can learn from, meet, and mingle with some of the brightest, most interesting minds in Iowa and in the nation.

This year's theme: Who Can We Trust?

We're living in a time where trust is suffering in all kinds of ways. We don't trust our institutions, our government, our churches, even our neighbors. We'll explore these various facets of trust. Should we trust medical experts? The media? The government? What would it look like to rebuild and be worthy of trust? What happens when trust breaks down?

Big ideas and the life of the mind belong to everybody, not just elites in big cities, come lend your voice, and join in a celebration of great conversation, art, food, and more!

Tallgrass is presented by The Lyceum Movement, a Des Moines based nonprofit dedicated to building community, bridging divides, and elevating public conversation.

Michael Wear, Executive Director of the Center for Christianity and Public life, former director of Faith Relations at the Obama White House

Elaine Godfrey, Staff Writer at the Atlantic

Judge John Sandy, Iowa Court of Appeals

Samuel Kimbriel, Director of the Philosophy and Society intitative at the Aspen Institute

Michael Reneau, Editor at The Dispatch

Rob Johnson, Pastor and State Rep

Dr. Evan Beacom, Clinical Professor and Hospitalist at University of Minnesota Health

Scott Samuelson, Professor of Philosophy, Iowa State

Kate Padgett Walsh, Professor of Philosophy, Iowa State

Richard Kim, Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Chicago

Info: The Lyceum uniquely offers the chance, not only to listen to thinkers, but to have deep, meaningful conversations with your neighbors

Info: Enjoy local food trucks, peruse the work of wonderful Iowa artists, grab a beer, and listen to singer songwriter Anderson Coates

Info: From the Survey Center on American Life

Info: Join philosopher Scott Samuelson, and the finalists for the Midwest Ideas Contest as they present their takes on the subject "What's more important, setting boundaries, or making commitments. Then, deliberate with your neighbors about who will win this year's grand prize

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Shop DSM - Event Center, 901 Cherry Street, Des Moines, United States