Smart Talk Media LLC, a premier producer of women’s live programming in North America, is bringing the Smart Talk Connected Conversations to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines for the event’s sixth consecutive year.

The lineup for the 2009 series was announced today; it will kick off on Jan. 15 with Joy Behar, co-host of ABC’s “The View.”

Tennis champion Billie Jean King, Emmy Award-nominated Victoria Rowell, actor Diane Keaton and Liz Gilbert, author of “Eat, Love, Pray,” will also be featured during the ’09 series, which runs through May 20.

The Des Moines stop is being presented by Hy-Vee Inc. with additional support from Principal Financial Group Inc., The Iowa Clinic, Bankers Trust Co. and West Glen Town Center. Media and marketing partners include dsm magazine – published by Business Publications LLC, which also publishes the Business Record, KCCI television, KLTI Lite 104.1 radio and Meredith Corp.’s More magazine.

The 2009 Smart Talk tour will also include stops in Cincinnati; Wilmington, Del.; New Brunswick, N.J.; Milwaukee; and Minneapolis.

Tickets will be available for purchase by the general public beginning Nov. 7. For more information, visit www.smarttalkwomen.com.