Wanna Know Idaho

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Wanna Know Idaho is a listener-generated podcast from Boise State Public Radio's newsroom that is driven by YOU! No matter how quirky or serious your question might be, we want to know: What sparks your curiosity about the Gem State, Idaho culture or the people who call it home? Join this curious co…

Boise State Public Radio


    • Dec 18, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 7m AVG DURATION
    • 25 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Wanna Know Idaho

    What's The Deal With Geothermal Energy In Idaho?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2020 9:07


    Idaho is rich with geothermal activity. The state boasts dozens of natural hot springs for soaking, some close to city centers and others a hike away. But when Wanna Know Idaho listener Ted Eisele moved to Idaho in 1980, it wasn’t the natural hot springs that caught his attention about geothermal. What really blew him away was the fact that Idaho’s state buildings — like the Capitol and the state Supreme Court — were heated using geothermal systems. Ted had a lot of questions: In this latest episode of Wanna Know Idaho we talk with John Chatburn, the administrator of Governor Little’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources and Dr. Travis McLing, a research scientist at the Idaho National Laboratory to answer Ted’s questions, and so much more. Here's what they had to say: What Gem State curiosity should we look into next? That's up to YOU. Submit what you want to know below and you could be featured in an upcoming episode.

    How Did Goatheads Come To Idaho?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2020 6:41


    Back in 2016, Wanna Know Idaho listener Marshall Simmonds was out on a summer bike ride with some friends on the Boise Greenbelt. Suddenly, a bike tire popped. Then, another. Soon, Marshall and his friends found themselves walking their bikes back home with 18 popped tires, thanks to a patch of goatheads, or puncture vine, that had made its way onto the trail.

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    Did Idaho Have Any Housing Discrimination Laws During The Jim Crow Era?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2020 8:42


    Up until her retirement a few months ago, Debra Smith taught high school English in Meridian. Every year, she had her 11th graders read "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry.

    How Can I Help Out During Coronavirus?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2020 10:34


    Michael Kramer-Duffield had just moved to Idaho and was looking for work in the restaurant industry when COVID-19 swept through. He's out of work, but like many of us, getting antsy and knows he could be putting his free time to use. "Public health officials tell us that the biggest thing we can do to help our community is to just stay at home," he said. But there had to be ways for him to help safely right now, which led him to ask Wanna Know Idaho : We called up Amy Little, CEO of the Idaho Nonprofit Center , to find out what she's been hearing from nonprofits across the state. What support do they need? And, how can prospective volunteers find an organization that fits their skills and passions best? We want you to hear what she had to say: Here's a longer list of ways to help right now: Offer to read books via video call to the kids of friends or relatives to give their parents some time off. Deliver food for Meals on Wheels . Check in with neighbors by writing notes or calling

    Has The Treasure Valley Gone To The Birds?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2020 11:49


    Walking her dogs every evening in Meridian, Wanna Know Idaho listener Morgan Keating began to wonder: what’s up with all these seagulls? And s uddenly, birds of all kinds were everywhere. ( Cue the cliche Hitchcock montage.)

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    Abraham Lincoln Never Visited Idaho... So Why Are There Statues In His Honor In Boise?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2020 8:47


    Yesterday would have been Abraham Lincoln’s 211th birthday.

    Why Are There Counties And Cities With The Same Name But The City Is Not In The County?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 8:39


    When Robin Fehlau was planning her move to Boise eight years ago, something peculiar kept throwing off her housing search: homes in Boise County kept on showing up, all of which were miles and miles away from her office.

    What's 'Wanna Know Idaho' Been Up To?!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2019 3:44


    You may have been wondering what Wanna Know Idaho has been up to lately. Rest assured: We'll be back in June! You can always submit a new question here. In the meantime, subscribe to LOCKED, a new podcast coming this summer from Boise State Public Radio and the Mountain West News Bureau. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Audio warning: The following includes graphic descriptions and a reference to self harm.

    'Wanna Know Idaho' Looks At Prehistoric Volcanoes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2019 11:14


    The region's volcanoes represent the northeastern portion of the Pacific's "Ring of Fire" and 12 million years ago, Idaho saw much more volcanic activity than it does today. The latest installment of Wanna Know Idaho imagines a Gem State covered in lava-spewing volcanoes.

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    What Was The Treasure Valley Like When There Was Volcanic Activity?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2019 10:41


    On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted. The volcano 50 miles north of Portland sent out a lateral blast first, killing David Johnston, one of the scientists who had been monitoring the mountain months leading up to the blast. There was a 5.1 earthquake and a landslide, and every tree, animal and person within miles died.

    Place Names And Volcanic Activity: Which Question Should We Answer Next?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2019 0:28


    Wanna Know Idaho is your crowd-sourced podcast. We're looking for your votes to determine which story we should report next. Each of these questions were submitted by curious folks in the community just like you: _ _ So which one will it be? Rally your friends to vote too; share this link on social media to garner as many votes as possible! Voting closes Monday, February 18. For more 'Wanna Know Idaho' content, follow host Frankie Barnhill on Twitter Copyright 2019 Boise State Public Radio

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    'Wanna Know Idaho' Finds Out Where Zoo Animal Waste Goes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2019 9:44


    Wanna Know Idaho asked Idahoans to submit questions they want answered about our state. In the latest edition, host Frankie Barnhill seeks to answer the question on everybody's mind - "what happens to the poop at Zoo Boise?" Barnhill joins Idaho Matters to flush out the answer.

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    What Happens To All The Poop From The Animals At Zoo Boise?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2019 8:35


    When you search "zoo poo" on the internet, one of the first things that comes up is a link to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. You quickly learn that the facility sells composted animal waste to people in the Pacific Northwest, and at least one person says it makes amazing garden fertilzer.

    Zoo Poop, Famous Potatoes And Boise's 'Bench': Which Story Should We Report?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2019 0:38


    Update! This voting round is closed. Here is the winning question: "I ride my bike past Zoo Boise often and I always wonder: where does all the poop from the animals go?" - Colby Spath We'll report this story and plan to publish the week of January 28. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss the episode when it goes live! We're kicking off the New Year with a new question voting round. One of these listener-generated stories will be featured on Boise State Public Radio's the Wanna Know Idaho podcast. But it's up to YOU to decide which one!

    Why Is The Demographic In The West Central Mountains Primarily 55+?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2018 13:42


    Melissa Hamilton lives in McCall, Idaho with her young family. She works at the University of Idaho extension office in Cascade, and she identifies as being a member of the West Central Mountains. When she heard Wanna Know Idaho was featuring the region on the podcast, her first thought was not a question. It was a statement she's heard repeated many times:

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    What Are The Potential Impacts From An Open Pit Mine In Idaho's West Central Mountains?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2018 14:58


    Wanna Know Idaho traveled to Idaho's West Central Mountains to answer this question from McCall resident Fred Coriell: "What impacts will an open-pit mining operation, like the one proposed by Midas Gold, have on our region?" Cascade-based reporter Monica Gokey has the story for this episode of the podcast .

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    Here’s What’s Up With Your Question About The Stibnite Mine In Central Idaho

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2018 11:38


    UPDATE: Mining stories are complicated, and we want to take the time to tell this story right. So be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss our complete Wanna Know Idaho episode on the Stibnite Gold Project coming in November. In the meantime, here's a preview.

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    Which West Central Mountain Story Should We Tell? Vote Now!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2018 0:30


    For this round of Wanna Know Idaho – we’re headed to the West Central Mountains. Have you ever wondered… How Cascade Reservoir became Lake Cascade? Or why the average age of people in the region seems to be higher than in other parts of the state? Or maybe you’re wondering about the potential impacts of an open pit mine that's been proposed by the Midas Gold Corp.? Which one of these listener questions should Wanna Know Idaho tackle next? The deadline to have your say is Tuesday, Oct. 16 at midnight. Cast your vote here: _ _

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    Why Are Gas Prices So Expensive In Idaho?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2018 7:50


    Depending on where you live in Idaho, you might find that prices at your local gas station are 30-40 cents higher per gallon than in neighboring Wyoming and Montana. So...what’s up with that? On this episode on Wanna Know Idaho , we’ll take a look behind the pump, to try and figure out some of the market forces at work in the Gem State. (Hint: think distance from oil fields and refineries, Idaho's explosive growth , extreme weather events, state taxes and geopolitics. Yep, it's complicated.) First, let’s drive southwest from Boise to meet this episode’s winning question asker. "As I travel through different states, everytime I came into Idaho I noticed that the gas prices and diesel prices went up," question asker John Lawson says. "Except on the western side of the state; but on the eastern side of the state they went up drastically from Montana or Wyoming into Idaho." "So, I wondered why." John bought his Chevy truck when the price of diesel was less than $3 per gallon. Now he pays

    What Story Should We Tell In September? Voting Round Ends Thursday Night!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2018 1:06


    Update -- This voting round has closed. The winning question : "What about the prices we pay at the pump: Why does it seem like the price of gas is higher in the Gem State than in surrounding states?" Be sure to subscribe to the podcast here! We've narrowed down some great listener questions for the upcoming September episode, and now we need you to vote. Here's the thing: so far, this voting round is the closest we've ever seen in the history of Wanna Know Idaho! Have you ever wondered… How the Treasure and Magic Valleys got their names? Or, how rural internet connectivity is working in Idaho? What about the prices we pay at the pump: Why does it seem like the price of gas is higher in the Gem State than in surrounding states? Time is running out to get in your vote...and this election is neck and neck! Which one of these listener questions should Wanna Know Idaho tackle next? The deadline to vote for the September podcast topic is midnight Thursday, Sept. 13th! Vote here. For more

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    What's In The Fire Retardant That's Dropped On Idaho Wildfires?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2018 9:44


    August in Idaho means the last month of summer vacation, county fairs, camping and … oh yeah, wildfires. Here's just a few of the wildfire stories Boise State Public Radio covered this month.

    Introducing The Second Season Of The 'Wanna Know Idaho' Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2018 2:17


    OK, so you know that typically, the decisions about what stories you hear on your podcast feed or on the radio are made by...someone else. Typically: reporters, editors and hosts. But what if instead – YOU got to decide what stories get told? And what if you got to help report the story you’re curious about – and learn a little about how journalism is made while you’re at it? Welcome to Wanna Know Idaho, a podcast from Boise State Public Radio. It's hosted by Frankie Barnhill , with lots of help from the Boise State Public Radio news team . But it’s driven by YOU. Every episode of Wanna Know Idaho starts with a question. YOUR question, in fact. Asking questions is infectious. And we want as many people as possible to join this curious collective. So could you do us a favor? Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes , NPR One or wherever you get your podcasts. And tell your friends about it; we’ll have new episodes every month. P.S. Thanks to Boise music project ‘Up is the Down is The’ for the

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    Has The 2017 Flooding Damage To The Boise Greenbelt Been Repaired?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2018 12:51


    In 2017, Boise's Greenbelt sustained massive damage as a result of a wet winter and subsequent flooding. So as spring settles in this time around, it's no wonder folks are recalling the events of last year.

    How Did Idaho Get That Name?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2018 2:21


    Idaho: a lot of us live here, but how many of us know the origin of the word itself?

    How Do The Bands For Boise's Treefort Music Fest Get Picked?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2018 1:42


    Treefort Music Fest is taking over downtown Boise. More than 400 bands are scheduled to play over the five day festival. For this installment of Wanna Know Idaho, we take a look at how the selection process works.

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