The Modern West

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Exploring the evolving identity of the American West. Produced by Wyoming Public Media and PRX, The Modern West takes you on a sound-rich journey into some of America's most iconic landscapes. Guided by host Melodie Edwards' personal connection to the region, it's an unflinching look at the American West--its problematic history, its modern-day struggles and resilience, and how its present and future are being shaped.

Wyoming Public Media


    • May 21, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 112 EPISODES

    4.6 from 267 ratings Listeners of The Modern West that love the show mention: american west, small towns, westerners, coal, rural, despair, originally, lack, great stories, modern, well produced, storytelling, research, season, living, issues, voice, interviews, needed, hearing.


    Ivy Insights

    The Modern West podcast is an absolutely captivating and immersive exploration of the American West. As someone living in the Ocean State, I am drawn to the stories, research, and presentations that Melody and her team bring to each episode. The values of diversity and innovation that are hallmarks of the western area resonate with me, and I find them equally attractive in this field of podcasts. The music, interviews, and commentaries are all top-notch, making for a truly compelling listen.

    One of the best aspects of The Modern West is its deep and stunning storytelling style. Each episode delves into a different topic or theme related to the western states, providing an educational and thought-provoking experience. I particularly enjoyed the Ghost Town(ing) season which explored the causes of rural despair. The stories shared shed light on issues such as food insecurity, hidden histories, and the value of small towns as templates of democracy. It was eye-opening to learn about these often overlooked aspects of the American West.

    Living on the East coast now, I appreciate being able to hear about life in the west through this podcast. The voice of the amazing people and their stories is both engaging and enlightening. The reporter's intelligence and intuition shine through in each episode, making it a great show for anyone missing or curious about rural life.

    While there are so many positive aspects to The Modern West podcast, it can be difficult to find any negatives. However, one potential downside is that some episodes may not resonate with listeners who are not familiar or interested in the western states or rural life in general. It may not have universal appeal due to its specific focus.

    In conclusion, The Modern West is a well-produced podcast that provides valuable insights into issues surrounding the western states. With its focus on storytelling and exploring diverse perspectives, it offers a unique perspective on life in this part of America. Whether you're a fan of history, journalism, or simply interested in learning more about the American West, this podcast is a must-listen.



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    Latest episodes from The Modern West

    Ghost Paper(ing)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 44:36


    The local newspaper, the Pinedale Roundup, didn't break the wolf torture story. Why not? Because last winter, News Media Corporation that now owns the paper laid off everyone at the paper except the editor, Cali O'Hare, to run the entire show by herself. It's part of the corporate consolidation of local news. There's now a national effort to stop these legacy papers from becoming “ghost papers." One woman's story of running a paper in the middle of breaking international news.

    Boys, Booze & Wolves

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 52:39


    It's been a year since a man brought an injured wolf into a bar in Sublette County, Wyoming. What does it tell us about how small-town life is changing? A very personal story from the perspective of someone who grew up there.

    The Pretty Good House

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 34:01


    People are solving the affordable housing shortage in the American West by building unusual homes like straw bale or modular.

    A Pluralistic Mindset (with author Samuel Western)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 28:00


    Wyoming author and economist Samuel Western is a master at tracing back the beginnings of issues in the American West. He's an economist with a deep fascination for history and culture that get at “the gray in between” in truly revelatory ways. He talks with host Melodie Edwards about his new book The Spirit of 1889.

    Gray In Between Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 5:14


    Join us for a brand new season full of nuance, where we move closer to the heart of matters and hear the voices of those who understand them the best. Catch episode one of The Gray In Between coming to you every other Wednesday starting April 9th.

    We Are Remarkable Creatures

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 22:28


    For westerners, watching the fires burn through Los Angeles in the middle of winter feels like deja vu. It was only four years ago that the Marshall Fire raged through the town of Louisville, outside Boulder, Colorado. That fire is now considered the most costly fire in Colorado history. But that deja vu is especially acute for those who survived the Marshall Fire. Like Ariel Lavery's family. An update from our 2023 season The Burn Scar.

    The Modern West presents: United By Fire Episode 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 36:41


    Wildfires are getting closer and closer to home. A new podcast by the Denver Museum of Nature and Science asks some really good questions about our relationship to fire in the American West. Like, can we learn to coexist with fire in the West?  United By Fire explores our relationship with the land amid rapidly changing wildfire behavior in a world that's burning hotter and faster than ever.

    Neighbor is a Verb

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 35:26


    Some think the cowboy has gone riding off into the sunset, never to return. But in our final episode, we hear stories of resilience and community pride. We return to Antonito, CO to hear how Aaron Abeyta started a school there to teach children that success doesn't mean fleeing your hometown. It means staying to celebrate the unique heritage of the community.

    Slow Waters Run Deep

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 29:38


    Wyoming helped develop western water law, including the very idea that public waters belong to all of us. But the state's reluctance to update its laws has left ranchers scrambling to protect their streams and wells, as drought and water hoarding make water scarcer than ever.

    The Wide Open: Five Billboards Outside Livingston, Montana

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 44:54


    The Endangered Species Act helped bring the Yellowstone-area grizzly population back from the brink of extinction. It also sparked controversy over a question that looms over more species than just grizzly bears: How do we balance the needs of endangered wildlife with the needs of humans?

    A Promise Never To Plow

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 33:59


    A few years ago, the May family set off on a trailblazing path to protect their land, and the carbon it stores, by selling carbon credits on the global market.  By promising to never plow the land, the Mays store carbon and protect native wildlife. But with diminishing margins and the looming threat of fire, the road hasn't been easy.

    Only One Bite

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 34:22


    The Rardins are father and son cowboys watching climate change threaten their way of life. They've given up on the old idea of “get big or get out” and joined the regenerative ranching movement. Inspired by how bison improve the land, they raise cattle to protect grasses and reduce emissions. But for many, it's still a financial risk.

    The Ranch Kid

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 25:52


    Ranchers are having a really hard time these days. They've got more drought, more conflict, expensive land, high rates of suicide, just to name a few. But this fall the University of Wyoming launched a new agricultural leadership degree. The goal is to re-envision the rancher of the future. This summer, a Wyoming kid named Ethan Mills became the first registered student in the program. We tag along as he attends a ranch camp.

    Big is Fragile

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 34:03


    We follow the cow's journey from the mountain pasture to the feedlot and eventually the slaughterhouse. Along the way, we hear from animal welfare advocate Temple Grandin and cattle handlers who all want a fairer, more humane market – and one not so monopolized by large corporations.

    Nothing Heals

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 34:58


    We head to Wyoming's Red Desert - and hear the history of the 19th century range wars. They led to laws requiring grazing fees and regular land health check-ups. But over a century later, some say these regulations haven't done enough to protect our wild spaces. Not to mention our climate.

    Cows = Civilization

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 40:26


    The history of how we brought the pastoral cow to live on the arid lands of the west is a violent one. Jim Elliot grew up in the shadow of that history and his stories are quintessential cowboy, full of guns, death and hard winters. But even Jim recognized the tragedy of the attempted annihilation of Indigenous culture and bison to make way for cows. But now, there's growing hope among tribes as bison make a comeback.

    Se Benefician De Ella

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 34:40


    The Abeyta family has been driving sheep down from the mountains of southern Colorado for generations. But it hasn't been easy to keep that tradition alive – they've had to fight for it. Through their eyes, we trace back the beginnings of the cowboy to the Mexican vaquero and find out how those adventurous roots are still very much alive in the American southwest.

    Bonus 2 of The Great Individualist Reboot

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 28:07


    It's bonus episode 2 of the Great Individualist, listen now!#ModernWest #WyomingPublicMedia

    The Rancher of the Future: Bonus 1 of The Great Individualist Reboot

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 18:22


    We're back with a new season of Modern West. Listen to the first episode now!

    Great Individualist Reboot Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 3:20


    It's a new season of the Great Individualist - new episode premieres on August 21st.

    The Suffragist In The Basement

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 53:40


    Wyoming is known as the “equality state” because it was the first in the nation to pass women's suffrage. And for decades it's proudly recognized that history with a statue of  Esther Hobart Morris, Wyoming's first Justice of the Peace and a vocal participant in the women's suffrage movement. But that statue is no longer standing in front of the Wyoming state capitol.

    One Size Does Not Fit All - Part Six of High Altitude Tales

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 30:32


    One Size Does Not Fit All - Part Six of High Altitude Tales

    The Tamers and the Tamed - Part Five of High Altitude Tales

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 39:47


    Recidivism rates in the U.S. are some of the highest in the world, and in Wyoming, 33 percent of inmates are back in prison within the first year. But studies show that animal therapy can help reduce that by teaching things like responsibility, nonviolence and empathy. Most programs pair inmates with dogs. But Wyoming has a special program – one of only five in the country – that teaches inmates how to tame wild horses.

    Chasing the Dragon - Part Four of High Altitude Tales

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 42:59


    In the resort town of Jackson Hole, WY, the housing shortage is so bad that people are finding crazy workarounds for how to live there. Like this guy, living in his van. "It's cold when you come back. And then the issue is, like, all your water freezes and all your stuff is frozen. And trying to dry ski stuff or anything like that it's a pain - but once the heaters are goin it gets crankin' in here!"

    Wolves #2101 and #2301: Part Three of High Altitude Tales

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 40:33


    The story of two wolves in Colorado's North Park, a father and a son, and how the community is – or is not – coming to terms with their presence. "Wolves represent a lot of what farming and ranching is about, which is like, you have no control ultimately." Wolves #2101 and #2301: episode 3 of our series High Altitude Tales.

    The Sixth Boom - Part Two of High Altitude Tales

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 37:37


    Take a bike ride into a tiny forgotten historic mining town that sits at the intersection of two beloved through trails. For hardcore bikers and hikers, this town is an oasis. And for a community used to cycles of boom and bust, there's hope this boom could last.

    Courage is a Muscle - Part One of High Altitude Tales

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 31:31


    Exactly 100 years to the day after a woman named Eleanor Davis became the first recorded woman to ever climb the Grand Teton – a nearly 14,000 foot-tall mountain that's the namesake for Grand Teton National Park – an all-female group of climbers is summiting the peak to celebrate her legacy. Hannah Habermann tagged along for the adventure.

    High Altitude Tales Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2024 3:48


    Miss us? We're back for Season 8 of The Modern West - High Altitude Tales. High Altitude Tales drops on April 3rd on all of your favorite streaming platforms.

    Urban Wildfires - a Burn Scar Bonus

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024 38:29


    “In Paradise, what the fire didn't take was the sense of community that exists there. Our mission was, ‘look how far we've come, and it's a vision to the future.”

    Our Imperfect Human Selves

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 48:31


    Ariel makes the trip out to see the new construction of her family home. But it's nothing like the one that burned down in the Marshall Fire. Her feeling of solastalgia is long gone.

    A Desirable Neighborhood

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 44:23


    Ariel's family and neighbors are starting to rebuild after the Marshall Fire destroyed their homes. But now new green building codes are making it super expensive. Ariel's brother is dubious.

    The Burn Scar: Bonus Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2023 15:49


    Listen to a behind-the-scenes conversation with The Burn Scar's producer Ariel Lavery and The Modern West host Melodie Edwards. Ariel says the idea for the series came to her in the shower. “I just needed to record this. I just needed to somehow remember the feelings of visiting the site, being there.”

    Our Safe Place

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 44:28


    Ariel's neighbors all want to know what caused the Marshall Fire. Then a new forensic report comes out, confirming climate change isn't at the door…it just burned the door down. #OurSafePlace Part III of #TheBurnScar

    Solastalgia

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 43:54


    Ariel returns to see the burn scar that was once her childhood home. She feels strangely…homesick. “Imagining one's home place meet its end – envisioning just what this neighborhood looked like engulfed in flames – I wonder if this is all part of the feeling of solastalgia.”

    The Winter Fire: Burn Scar Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 24:54


    It's the most expensive fire in Colorado History. Listen now.

    Burn Scar Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 3:40


    The Marshall Fire was the most expensive fire in Colorado history. The Burn Scar is a tender yet carefully investigated podcast of one family, one fire and the hard choices people are making in the wake of increasing natural disasters. Hear the trailer now.

    Bison Stories: A Conversation With Ken Burns - Part 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2023 27:23


    Filmmaker Ken Burns just released a new series called American Buffalo and The Modern West sat down to talk to him about it. He says it's a very new direction for him. “This is a project we've been thinking about for more than 30 years – a biography of an animal.”

    Bison Stories: Bringing Home the Buffalo - Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 49:31


    We're re-sharing all of our bison episodes in preparation for the release of the new Ken Burns film, The American Buffalo! In Part III, we journey to the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana to learn why tribes there are rescuing wild Yellowstone bison… and we experience a bison release ceremony.

    Bison Stories: Bringing Home the Buffalo - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 39:06


    Did you know documentarian Ken Burns is coming out with a film on the American buffalo? I'm going to share my interview with him in a few weeks. Meanwhile, we're re-releasing all of our bison episodes! In Part II: why American settlers chose to wipe out the bison and replace them with cattle.

    Bison Stories: Bringing Home the Buffalo - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 29:14


    Bringing Home the Buffalo…part one of our mini series Bison Stories. Find it under podcasts at wyomingpublicmedia.org.

    Bonus: On Land Podcast from Western Landowners Alliance

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2023 45:44


    You might remember this daunting statistic from our season on ranching: the American West is facing its biggest drought in 1200 years. This special episode from the On Land podcast is all about solutions to that water crisis. Geologist Caroline Nash joins for a conversation about building resilience in times of uncertainty, how restoring beavers to our Western landscapes could help with watershed restoration, and the ways landowners across the West are experimenting with innovative land management practices.

    Bonus Episode 3: A Conversation with Lakota Historian Jeff Means

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 20:13


    As you might have noticed from previous episodes, Jeff is a committed skeptic. But still, I decide to start by asking Jeff, does he believe healing this history is even possible?

    Existence As Protest: Mending the Hoop Part 8

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 55:13


    I wanted to be part of contributing to identify healing interventions for our community. And also sharing with people that knowledge, like, it's not all your fault.

    Land Back: Mending the Hoop Part 7

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 53:21


    It's popular these days to read a land acknowledgement at public events, but Indigenous leaders and thinkers say that should only be the beginning — “a commitment that should be followed by action.” Like, returning the land itself.

    Bonus Episode 2: A Conversation with Lakota Historian Jeff Means

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2023 25:16


    #MMIW: Mending the Hoop Part 6

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 42:44


    Native American women are the most stalked, raped, murdered and exploited of any other race in this country.

    Rematriation: Mending the Hoop Part 5

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 50:18


    That's the identity for our tribe is our buffalo. So they are our relatives. I always cry when they come. It's always really emotional when they come home. Because I believe that's going to heal our people.

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