Join the Newton Public Library for a captivating presentation by Iowa-based storyteller, musician, and photographer Jason Walsmith. For more than 30 years, Jason has traveled across North America—touring with his rock band The Nadas, performing solo from Seattle to the Florida Keys, and photographing people and places for brands and publications around the world. His life on the road has evolved into a journey of adventure, experiences, and the stories that bring them all together.

At this Speakers Bureau event, Jason will present “The Good Stuff,” an engaging look at how one part of Iowa navigated the Great Depression and Prohibition by producing a legendary bootleg whiskey known locally as “the good stuff.” Drawing from dozens of interviews and rich family histories, he explores the legacy of Templeton Rye, sharing the stories—and the songs—they inspired.