Advertise on podcast: Wyoming My 307

Too often, the coal industry is boiled down to an argument of good or bad, for or against. I interviewed Dr. Holly Krutka of the University of Wyoming, who gave us a much more nuanced look at this critically important Wyoming industry. I was also lucky to find some really great oral histories at the Wyoming State Archives. We get to hear from two old timers who were born in coal camps, and I even shared a personal perspective of coal mining in my own family. Our dot on the map is Donkey Town - well, that’s what it was originally called but you’ll have to listen to the podcast for the full story. Lastly, I also had a chance to delve into our state bird, Sturnella Neglecta, commonly known as the Western Meadowlark.   See the shownotes for more details.

Every time I go into a Wyoming bar, I’m pretty sure I’ll come out with a funny story. Did you hear the one about the coyote and badger that walked into a bar? No? I guess you’ll have to listen to the episode. Today features Julianne Couch, author of Jukeboxes and Jackalopes. We giggled a lot and got surprisingly philosophical - I promise we weren’t drinking! She guides us through a lot of Wyoming bars, mostly small town ones and we discussed what makes Wyoming bar culture unique. Hartville is the Dot on the Map - it’s Wyoming’s oldest continuously populated settler town, which features the oldest bar in Wyoming, the historic Miner’s and Stockmen’s Saloon.   Check out the shownotes for more details!

Happy Holidays! To quote Owen Wister in A Journey in Search of Christmas, I have left this reboot episode "until the lastest day"! I hope I caught you while you’re still in the Christmas spirit, and that 2024 brings you health, happiness and peace. In this second special Christmas episode of Wyoming My 307, the German influence of Christmas in Wyoming features strongly. From the first “decorated Christmas in Wyoming” (Wyoming Historical Society) through the early settler period, WWII, and more, Wyoming Christmas has reflected the people and historical events at that time. Check out the shownotes for more details.

Wyoming’s treasures include turtles who can breathe underwater, a small town that moved across the river, and history makers such as Grant Ujifusa. He went from being a star on the high school football team to editor of a prestigious political best-seller in our nation’s capital. Grant convinced President Reagan to issue redress and an apology to Japanese Americans for their incarceration in WWII.  Grant’s accomplishments have resulted in recognition not only in the Worland Warrior Hall of Fame, but in receiving the Order of the Rising Sun award from the Emperor of Japan! This episode shares one complex story of growing up Japanese in Wyoming, and the personal impact of that experience.   See the shownotes for links and more details!

We think of architecture as grand buildings found in big cities, but it actually covers all the built environment, and includes everything from finely crafted houses, to prisons, or one room log cabins. On this episode I interview Eileen Starr who wrote THE book: Architecture in the Cowboy State. The dot on the map is a Wyoming architectural gem; a town of less than 500 folks featuring stunning Spanish style buildings and homes. The Wyoming wildlife segment features our own natural architect, a rarely seen, tiny rodent.   See the shownotes for links and more details!

Happy Holidays!  I’ve been collecting stories and anecdotes about Christmas in Wyoming - these stories highlight the uniqueness of celebrating the holidays during our harsh winters. From Portugee Phillips’ Christmas Eve ride to secure reinforcements for Fort Fetterman, to ordinary citizens and their determination to celebrate despite winter’s hardships, Christmas in Wyoming is not for the faint of heart!   See the shownotes for links and more details!    

Go to any Wyomingite’s home, especially if they have been here for generations, and you will find references to American Indian culture, or even native artifacts. On this episode I interviewed Jordan Dresser, Chairman of the Northern Arapaho Business Council on the Wind River Indian Reservation. He helped me understand what the repatriation of native artifacts means. His hometown of Ethete is our dot on the map, and you’ll be blown away by the Wyoming Wildlife segment.  See the shownotes for links and more details!

Starting in 2018, Wyoming’s legislature passed a host of laws favorable to the blockchain industry, becoming the lead state in the field. This effort was shepherded by Wall Street veteran, Wyoming native and UW graduate Caitlin Long, who I interviewed on this episode. Prepare to learn about blockchain, beefchain, crypto-currency, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations and how all of this relates to Wyoming. Plus you’ll learn about a cryptic snake native to our state, and our Dot on the Map which has about 5000 citizens, none of which actually live there.  See the shownotes for all the links and details!

When it comes to outdoor recreation, Wyoming has an embarrassment of riches! Whether you’re a resident or visitor, it’s impossible to get to all of it. In this episode I explored Hikes by Highways with Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Pathfinder Bruce Scigliano. We explored two routes to Yellowstone, and hikes right off the highways that would take us there. Bruce brings us hikes along the route from the Black Hills to Yellowstone. I brought us up from Colorado to Yellowstone. We picked hikes that were as close as possible to the highway so you can stop and stretch your legs along that classic road-trip to Wyoming’s wonder - Yellowstone National Park! This episode’s Wyoming Wildlilfe is guaranteed to be seen along both of those routes. See the shownotes for all the links and details!

Wyoming has surprising connections to America’s history of flight - including heroic early mail flights, and the founding of America’s air stewards. This episode features an interview of Mike Kassel, co-author of Wyoming Airmail Pioneers, and Wyoming's Friendly Skies. A tiny Wyoming town, whose streets are former runways is explored, and we also learn about one of Wyoming’s biggest, and most distinctive sounding birds.  See the shownotes for links and reference information presented in this episode.

Over 55% of Wyoming is public land, with 31 million acres open to hunting. Enter the Game Warden. One third of their job is enforcement of hunting, fishing, trapping and boating laws. This episode features an interview of Bill Robertson about his experience as a game warden, then delves into Otto Wyoming. Plus, Mountain Goats!  See the shownotes for links and reference information presented in this episode.

Wyoming is a geologist's paradise, but you don’t have to be one to enjoy the geologic wonders that Wyoming offers. Just driving through the state gives us spectacular views of badlands, layered rock formations, faults and canyons. In this episode, geologist and Wyoming native Erik Kvale imagines a Jurassic era road trip through the Bighorn Basin. We also learn about the history and geologic importance of Medicine Bow WY, and are introduced to the Black Footed Ferrets once thought to be extinct, who are now being repopulated in the nearby Shirley Basin.  See the shownotes for links and reference information presented in this episode.