UK Influencers Experience the Iowa Wave, Tenderloins, & the World’s Largest Truck Stop

A couple of very well-known influencers from across the pond made their way to Iowa last weekend! Viral travelers Josh & Jase spent a few days in Eastern Iowa to experience some food and some FOOTBALL!

Who Are Josh & Jase?

The reason I know who Josh & Jase are is because of my mom. She is absolutely obsessed with their videos, so she's been sending me update after update on their journey through Iowa.

According to Wikipedia, Joshua Cauldwell-Clarke and Jason "Jase" Riley are two friends from Nottingham, England who have become famous on social media for documenting their travels across the United States. Their interest in the U.S. was actually sparked by one very specific American food: the Twinkie.

Under the name 'Josh From England,' Josh began posting videos of himself trying American foods back in 2021. After posting about his Twinkie experience, his interest in the U.S. continued to grow, and this ultimately led to Josh traveling to America to film his adventures. When Jase began joining him, the two started posting as Josh & Jase.

Josh & Jase began their journey through the U.S. in Texas back in 2024. Since then, the duo has accumulated more than 1.7 million followers on TikTok and visited at least 20 states, including Louisiana, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, California, and Michigan. They've actually explored my home state of Michigan twice now, spending several weeks between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.  Most recently, they took a trip to the Midwest as part of their 'Big 10 Tour,' stopping in Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin and IOWA!

Where Did They Go in Iowa?

It doesn't appear that Josh & Jase spent a ton of time in the Hawkeye State, but they definitely got a classic Iowa experience in the few days they were here. Their first stop on September 10th was none other than the 'World's Largest Truck Stop' off of I-80 in Walcott! The duo seemed genuinely amazed by the size of the place, especially the fact that it has a dentist, movie theatre, a barber shop, buffet, and more!

After taking a brief pause in remembrance of September 11th, Josh & Jase posted their second Iowa update on Saturday afternoon. The caption on the video read:

"When you're Brits who've landed in Iowa during 'Hate Week."

Yep, that's right! Josh & Jase got to experience the bitter rivalry between Iowa and Iowa State football first-hand! The video featured a couple of homemade signs on houses in Iowa City, as the duo asked, "what happened to Midwest nice..."

Before getting into all the game day shenanigans in Iowa City, Josh & Jase posted a video from the University of Iowa with Head Women's Wrestling Coach Clarissa Chun as they attempted to learn American wrestling. As you can imagine, they got absolutely destroyed by Coach Chun, and the footage is hilarious!

If you're wondering what Josh & Jase ate during their time in Iowa, the answer is pretty obvious: an Iowa pork tenderloin! They stopped for a meal at an Iowa City staple, Hamburg Inn No. 2. I think their dining experience can be summed up in one perfect quote:

"Could they not find a bun big enough?"

The final video from Josh & Jase's visit to Iowa arrived late Sunday afternoon. It was actually from the stands at the Iowa/Iowa State game at Kinnick Stadium, where they got to experience the 'Iowa Wave' for the very first time. They also revealed that they got to sit down and chat with the Kid Captain Charlie on the 12th floor of the Children's Hospital! It was definitely the best ending to their first trip to Iowa.

On Jase's personal account 'Jase in America,' he had one final message for the Hawkeye State before he left. He wrote:

"What a sweet place this state is! As a Brit I’ve not heard much about Iowa. But let me tell you… it’s high on my list to come back and visit!"

Where Should Josh & Jase Go During Their Next Iowa Visit?

I sincerely hope that Josh & Jase come back to Iowa at some point during their travels so that they can get a more comprehensive Iowa experience! Looking through the social media comments on their videos, there are a TON of recommendations from Iowans on other places/foods they think the duo should check out. Here are some of the suggestions:

• Maquoketa Caves
• The Field of Dreams
• Boone Rail Explorers
• Des Moines Farmers Market
• Blue Bunny
• Loess Hills
• Casey's Breakfast Pizza (do the sausage, NOT bacon!)
• Adventureland
• Breitbach's Country Dining
• Pikes Peak State Park
• Arnold's Park
• Bridges of Madison County
• Decorah

What would you recommend for Josh & Jase if they return to Iowa? Let us know in the comments!

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