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Open Spaces: Podcast

Open Spaces: Podcast

A news and public affairs program about Wyoming and the West.

  • Today on the show, two conservative women started with similar beliefs about abortion. Then they got pregnant, and their beliefs shifted. We hear from a non-profit that tracks federal election spending. They found Wyoming’s D.C. hopefuls get almost all of their campaign funding from out of state. And we’ll join a conversation exploring some of our misguided stereotypes about rural America. Those stories and more...
  • Today on the show, a researcher and her team mapped more than 150 miles of fence near Cody. When Diana Foster Greene first started studying women who received - and were denied - abortions in the mid-2000s, there wasn’t much research on this. And, there’s a relatively small active Jewish community in the state. While one rabbi says he’s seen antisemitism rise since the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, he says he still feels welcomed here. Those stories and more.
  • Today on Open Spaces, it’s been a busy wildfire season. We’ll hear how fire departments are coping with fewer volunteers. A non-profit that fills in the gaps for the largest national forest in Wyoming, is preparing to play a bigger role going forward. Last winter, the corporation that owns the Pinedale Roundup laid off all its employees except one. Then, major news hit. And the Road to Cheyenne series is back to prepare Wyomingites for the general election. Those stories and more.
  • Today on Open Spaces, a summer camp lives out Wyoming’s vision for attracting young people to the state’s outdoor industry – even if camp chores include moving 90-pound hay bales. We hear from Cherokee painter DG House about how the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem inspires her art. Furry friends on Native American reservations are feeling the heat from climate change. And highlights of a bike race from Logan Utah, to Jackson Hole. Lo-to-Ja. Lotoja. Get it?Those stories and more.
  • Today on the show, the latest draft for how to manage millions of acres of federal lands in southwest Wyoming attempts compromise but there is still a chance for litigation. It’s been a pretty big year for wildfires in Wyoming. The state fire management officer says working with partners has been key. We hear from students at the University of Wyoming about changes happening on campus, like the possibility of carrying concealed weapons. And we check in with retiring State Senator Affie Ellis. Those stories and more.
  • Today on the show, the Primary elections are almost over. We are going to take this Open Spaces to digest and analyze what happened. We chat with representatives of three voting blocks in the Wyoming legislature. Wyoming’s current speaker of the house will be out of politics for now after two sessions in the leadership position. He lost his bid for a senate seat. This comes after a particularly divisive campaign cycle. And we turn away from politics to hear about how artificial intelligence is making its way into journalism - and a small-town newsroom in Wyoming is ground zero. Those stories and more.
  • Today on the show, a tribal bison manager in Wyoming says Yellowstone’s new plan to manage the animals is a good compromise. Three Fremont County schools are growing their libraries with new collections of Native books. These days, all eyes are on rural voters, especially since both presidential candidates picked running mates with rural roots. And, the primary is right around the corner - we look into recent complaints about tests for voting equipment. Those stories and more.
  • Today on the show, how do we balance safety with the desire to leave no trace? That’s the question that’s been consuming the rock climbing community in wilderness areas. Some Wyoming voters have received mail about the upcoming election that contains wrong or misleading information. And we check in on the southeast section of the state for the latest edition of our primary election series - The Road To Cheyenne. Those stories and more.
  • Today on the show, we sent some of our reporters to hear how Wyomingites felt about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Summer heat is impacting river ecosystems and the fishing guides that rely on them. And we continue taking a closer look at the primaries, this time Wyoming’s lone congressional Those stories and more on Open Spaces.
  • Today on the show, Gov. Mark Gordon is the latest guest on a show where the interview happens over a meal – and he finished his whole plate. A silent trend is affecting Wyoming’s economy: the steady decline of childcare providers. And some of the state’s rules could be making it worse. Spanish-speaking communities are vital in many Mountain West towns — and so is their need to access services and express themselves at public events. And our special series looking at the upcoming primary, The Road to Cheyenne. Those stories and more.
  • This week, we reach beyond our studios and bring you interviews from Wyoming PBS’ "Wyoming Chronicle." Brian Nesvik has been the Wyoming Game and Fish director since 2019. After about 30 years in the department, he’s announced his retirement. We catch up with him as he reflects on his career. And we stay in the Game and Fish department, as we learn about a success story. Undesirable fish were found in a lake in Saratoga but local and federal officials came in to save the population.
  • Today on the show, Campbell County is part of a national program aimed at strengthening and growing opportunities in local economies shaped by coal industries. The Eastern Shoshone Tribe debuted a new arbor at their annual powwow in Fort Washakie. We’re back with our primary election series - the Road To Cheyenne. We’re taking a look at state House and Senate races in the northwest part of the state and we’ll hear from some voters. And an interview with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Those stories and more.