Artwork for podcast Downtown Dish
#17: Building a Creative Community with Leslie Nolte of Nolte Academy, ICON Conservatory
Episode 18 • 17th November 2025 • Downtown Dish • Upload Media Group, LLC
00:00:00 01:04:43

Share Episode

Shownotes

In this episode of Downtown Dish, hosts Anna Moyers Stone and Charlie Nusser chat about Iowa City’s pre-holiday events—like the Kids Market, Hunt for the Elves, and Small Business Saturday—before welcoming Leslie Nolte, founder of Nolte Academy, the Iowa Conservatory (ICON), and the James Theater. Leslie shares her journey as a dancer, entrepreneur, and arts advocate, discussing ICON’s impact as Iowa’s only accredited visual and performing arts high school, her experiences running downtown businesses, and the vibrant arts community she’s helped build. The conversation is full of local stories, laughter, and inspiration for supporting creativity in Iowa City.

About Downtown Dish: The hit Iowa City radio show is now a hit Iowa City podcast! Join Anna and Charlie every month as they dish on everything about downtown Iowa City, including interviews with area movers and shakers, news headlines, and even some spicy gossip!

This show is presented in partnership between the Downtown Iowa City District and the Corridor Business Journal, and is produced and distributed by Upload Media Group.

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube

More Episodes
18. #17: Building a Creative Community with Leslie Nolte of Nolte Academy, ICON Conservatory
01:04:43
17. #16: Live from Lasansky Corp Gallery with Diego Lasansky
00:31:28
16. #15: From Thrift to Trend with Kate Dreyer and Jessica Meyer of The Shop
01:08:54
15. #14: The Coolest Guy Charlie Knows with Josh Immerfall, Donnelly's Pub and Many More
00:58:17
14. #13: Talking Health and Landscaping with Jennifer Miller, University of Iowa Healthcare Medical Center Downtown
00:55:33
13. #12: The Ambassadors of Iowa City with Keyon Shelby, Downtown Iowa City Ambassador Program
00:50:50
12. #11: Engaging Young People and Going Really Fast with Tony Branch
01:04:28
11. #10: Business Lessons and Spelling Lessons with Niki Neems, Owner of r.s.v.p.
00:48:32
10. #9: The Business of Donuts with Andrea Farley of Dunkin'
00:46:43
9. #8: Fries and Bennys with David Stein and Aaron Jennings, Co-Owners of Micky's Irish Pub
00:51:40
8. #7: Dishing on the Downtown District with Betsy Potter
01:03:51
7. Special: Dishing on the Dish ft. The Original Downtown Dish Crew
00:49:26
6. #6: The "Nerdiest" Municipality Podcast with Geoff Fruin, City Manager of Iowa City
00:59:13
5. #5: Books, Movies, and Book Movies with John Kenyon and Andrew Sherburne
00:52:07
4. #4: A Connected Campus with Dr. Barbara Wilson, President of the University of Iowa
00:29:10
3. #3: Coaching Culture with Jan Jensen, University of Iowa Women's Basketball Coach
00:36:35
2. #2: Patio Season + Interview with Riene and Sam of The Webster
00:46:30
1. #1: Summer Events + A Conversation with Nancy Bird of Greater Iowa City, inc.
00:49:07
trailer Trailer: Downtown Dish
00:02:19