What's Your Why?

By Wyoming Humanities | ThinkWY

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Category: Society & Culture

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Episodes: 154

Description

What’s Your Why? The Authors Journey Every writer has a story—long before the first word is written. "What's Your Why?" is the podcast where authors share the journeys, inspirations, and defining moments that shaped their craft. Whether you're a book lover, an aspiring writer, or simply fascinated by the creative process, this show takes you beyond the pages and into the minds of storytellers. Join Emy diGrappa, Executive Producer, Wyoming Humanities, as we explore the passion, struggles, and triumphs that drive authors to write. Through in-depth interviews and solo reflections, we uncover the why behind the words—because behind every book, there’s a journey worth telling. Tune in and get inspired by the voices behind the stories.

Episode Date
Grizzlies, Paramedics, and the Power of Storytelling with Kevin Grange
Jun 04, 2025
Myths of the American West: A Conversation with Historian Betsy Gaines Quammen
May 28, 2025
🎙 From Frat House to Feature Film: Max Marshall’s Wild Journey Through Crime, Culture & EDM
May 21, 2025
Writing Between Worlds: Rebecca Balcárcel on Heritage, Identity, and Middle Grade Magic
May 14, 2025
Writing the West: A Literary Life with Tracy Daugherty
Apr 30, 2025
Rachel Berg Weaves Art Identity and Nature into Cultural Tapestry
Mar 06, 2025
Empower and Lead: A Woman's Journey in Entrepreneurship with Zeahlot Lopez
Dec 05, 2024
Celebrating Your Uniqueness: A Journey of Self-Discovery: Carrie Klewin Lawrence
Nov 14, 2024
Sparking Awe in the Next Generation: Catherine Barr Uses Picture Books & Storytelling to Reveal the Wonders of Nature
Oct 31, 2024
From Family Trauma to Advocacy: An Intimate Portrait of Living with Mental Illness: Meg Kissinger
Oct 10, 2024
Beyond Cowboys and Indians: Seeking Common Ground in the American Frontier with Stephen Aron
Sep 19, 2024
Indigenous Voices In American History With Shelly Lowe
Aug 22, 2024
The Evolution of Young Adult Literature and Representation with Traci Jones
Jul 18, 2024
The High Price of Free Land: Reckoning with the Impact of Homesteading
May 09, 2024
Sleepless Nights, Epic Road Trips, and the Magic of Books: A Conversation with Mason Engel
Apr 04, 2024
The Self-Determination Of Prince And His Audio Engineer: The Susan Rogers Story
Mar 07, 2024
Ruth Rathblott: Embracing My Disability And The Power Of Inclusivity
Feb 22, 2024
The Evolution of an Environmentalist: From Counterinsurgency to Anti-Poaching: Damien Mander
Feb 01, 2024
Embracing Awkward Conversations About Racism With Comedian W. Kamau Bell
Jan 18, 2024
Tanner Dunn: Overcoming Challenges and Pursuing Artistic Dreams
Dec 14, 2023
Reclaiming Sacred Spaces: The Importance of Native Identity in Yellowstone
Nov 30, 2023
The Role of Buffalo in Native American Cultural Revitalization with Jason Baldes
Nov 09, 2023
Finding Inspiration and Purpose: Bonnie Wan
Oct 19, 2023
Transformative Truths: Bob Berky's Journey to Empathy and Connection
Oct 06, 2023
The Power of Unity: Ashleigh Chapman's Call to Action Against Human Trafficking
Sep 21, 2023
Finding Inspiration and Nurturing Personal Growth: Insights from Joanna Kail
Sep 07, 2023
Celebrating Diversity: The Inspiring Story of Ivan McClellan and Black Cowboy Culture
Aug 17, 2023
Discovering Wyoming's Untamed Beauty: Chad Hanson's Awe-Inspiring Journey
Jun 28, 2023
Native Wisdom: Inspiring Empowerment and Self-Esteem in Youth w/ Alfreda Algeo
Jun 21, 2023
Alyson Spery: No One Can Tell Your Story Better Than You
Jun 07, 2023
Katherine Standefer: A Journey Facing Death, Embracing Life
May 17, 2023
The Constitution: A Historical Document With Contemporary Problems
May 03, 2023
Kealoha: National Poetry Slam Legend
Apr 12, 2023
Bonnie Wan: What Do You Really Want?
Mar 22, 2023
Mat Hames: Life In The Lens
Mar 08, 2023
Tori Murden McClure: First Woman To Row Solo Across The Atlantic Ocean
Feb 15, 2023
Celebrating Black History Month with Gigi Jasper
Feb 02, 2023
Danielle Allen: Teaching Empowerment, Leading Change
Jan 19, 2023
Wyoming Women To Watch: Artist Bronwyn Minton
Jan 04, 2023
Wyoming Women to Watch: Artist Katy Ann Fox
Dec 14, 2022
Wyoming Women To Watch: Artist Sarah Oregon
Nov 30, 2022
Wyoming Women To Watch: Artist Jennifer Rife
Nov 16, 2022
Wyoming Women to Watch: Artist Leah Hardy
Oct 26, 2022
Juan Martinez: Spirit of Conservation Award Recipient & Founder of Fresh Tracks
Oct 12, 2022
Patricia McInroy: The Storytelling Art of FIlmmaking
Aug 31, 2022
Travis Helms: Poetry, Spirituality, & Conversation
Aug 12, 2022
Jason Baldes: Native American Ecology
Jun 15, 2022
Tyler Rogers: Author And Inspiration For The Wyo Youth
May 10, 2022
Megan Kate Nelson: Writing The West
May 05, 2022
Sarah Ortegon: Dancing for Native America
Apr 06, 2022
Gregory Hinton: A Rainbow in Wyoming
Mar 17, 2022
Willow Belden: What Was Lost "Out There" Will Be Found
Feb 23, 2022
Mark Pedri: Listening to the Wind
Feb 03, 2022
Sam Lightner: Professional Rock Climber, Author, & Historian
Jan 04, 2022
Anna Sale: Death, Sex & Money
Dec 06, 2021
Robert Martinez: Turning A Paintbrush Into a Microphone
Oct 14, 2021
Robbie Bonds: 2021 Murie Spirit of Conservation Rising Leader
Sep 30, 2021
Darla Worden: Ernest Hemingway in Wyoming
Sep 24, 2021
Senator Doug Jones: Justice Delayed, But Not Denied
Sep 01, 2021
Jerry Enzler: Author & Historian of Jim Bridger: Trailblazer of the American West
Aug 12, 2021
Tom Rea: Discovering Poetry, Printing, and History
Jul 22, 2021
Anne MacKinnon: Water & Water Law is Ultimately About People
Jul 07, 2021
Ashleigh Snoozy & Kristen Czaban: Furthering The Power Of Community
Jun 03, 2021
Kathryn Palmer & Margaret Austin: Discovering The Election Process
May 20, 2021
Dustin Bleizeffer: Choices and Challenges of Wyoming Youth
May 18, 2021
Hannah Black & Niki Kottmann: Equity for the People of Color Who Call Cheyenne Home
May 06, 2021
Baktash Ahadi: Cultural Identity and the Immigrant Experience
Apr 22, 2021
Matthew Spangler: American Playwright Exploring the Immigrant Experience
Apr 08, 2021
Interfaith Amigos: Respect from Faith to Faith
Mar 24, 2021
Fred Schmechel: Driving the Culture of Innovation and Creativity in Wyoming
Mar 17, 2021
Ryan Stolp: Mountain Life Cartoonist
Feb 17, 2021
Greg Kearney: Complexity of Political Cartoons
Feb 03, 2021
Darryl Tonemah: Health, Hope, and Inspiration For His People
Jan 27, 2021
Geoff O'Gara: Modern Day Struggles of the American West
Jan 06, 2021
Nadia Oweidat: Freedom Begins With One Idea
Dec 17, 2020
Warren Murphy: Exploring The Spirit Of Wyoming
Nov 30, 2020
The Future Of Politics With Erich Frankland: Rights Come With Responsbilities
Nov 18, 2020
Kevin Olson's Guide To Visionary Journalism
Nov 07, 2020
Caryn Flanagan: Continuing Bonds With Those We’ve Lost
Oct 08, 2020
Yonder Lies: The Last Of The Old West
Sep 18, 2020
Pandemic Stories: A Snapshot In Time
Aug 26, 2020
Mark Jenkins: When Lemons Give You Life
Aug 21, 2020
Sherry Smith: Knowing, Recording and Preserving History Directly Impacts Future Generations
Jul 30, 2020
Mountains To Manuscript: Women Who Love The West
Jul 15, 2020
Babs Case & Bill T. Jones/The Arnie Zane Company: Using Dance To Explore Social & Political Tension
Jun 26, 2020
James Arvanitakis: Undermining Class Based Ideology
Jun 18, 2020
David Rohm: Fly Like an Eagle
Jun 14, 2020
Scott Henkel & The Millennial Falcon
May 29, 2020
Justin Farrell: Researching Environment, Politics, and Human Culture
May 07, 2020
Adam Smith: Talking About His Latest Film On The Replica Of Jackson Hole In Beijing, China
Apr 26, 2020
Sam Mihara: Citizen of Heart Mountain
Apr 15, 2020
Beverly Kopf: Trust Your Instincts & The Creative Process
Apr 01, 2020
Paige Okamura: The Heart of Hawaii & DJ Mermaid
Mar 18, 2020
Milward Simpson: 5th Gen. Wyoming, Arts Advocate, & Conservationist
Mar 14, 2020
Lt. General Dirk Jameson: Climate Change! Immediate, Intensifying Threats To U.S. National Security
Mar 10, 2020
David Dodson: Co-Founder of Sanku & Project Healthy Children, Stanford Lecturer, and Former Candidate for the U.S. Senate
Feb 27, 2020
Sherri Goodman: The Urgent Need To Understand The Magnitude Of Climate Change
Feb 20, 2020
Ashleigh Chapman: Ending Exploitation, Protecting The Vulnerable
Jan 13, 2020
Dr. Reverend Debra Haffner: Religion, Sexuality and Parenting
Oct 15, 2019
The Afterlife of German Coal Mining And The Future Of Green Jobs
Sep 24, 2019
Mark Jenkins: Explorer And Writer Of The Most Dangerous And Difficult
Aug 28, 2019
Lars Hallstrom: Coal Communities and Economic Diversification
Jun 25, 2019
Marlin Spoonhunter: Tribal Pride, Empowerment And Education On The Reservation
Jun 19, 2019
Lukas Haynes: Strategies For Promoting Bipartisan Solutions To Climate Change
Jun 04, 2019
Scotty Ratliff: Serving His Native Community, The Wind River Reservation
May 28, 2019
Sierra Ferris and Jacoby Hereford: Native American Students Using their Education for the Reservation
Apr 30, 2019
Dr. Tarissa Spoonhunter: Cultural Pride and Education on the Reservation
Apr 12, 2019
Willard Gould: Returning To Our Native Tongue
Mar 21, 2019
Eastern Shoshone Tribal Leader Ivan Posey: Born To Lead On The Reservation
Mar 12, 2019
Filmmaker Jennifer Tennican: Disability, Diversity And Inclusion
Mar 05, 2019
Nona Yehia: Vertical Farming, Greenhouses and Community Impact
Feb 08, 2019
Chris Duncan: A Moral Responsibility to Amputees
Jan 24, 2019
Taylor Rees: Seeking the Deeper meaning and giving "voice" to Indigenous peoples in her Films
Jan 10, 2019
Slam Poet Kealoha: The Story Of Everything
Dec 12, 2018
Dr. Devra Davis: Wake Up! Cell Phones Are Not Toys For Young Children
Nov 13, 2018
NEH Chairman Jon Peede: I'm in the business of curiosity
Nov 01, 2018
Ali Milburn: From dumpster diver to a life mission on food waste education and distribution
Oct 26, 2018
Author Sam Western: Getting at the Core of the Human Soul
Oct 12, 2018
Jacqueline Van Meter: The Audio of Storytelling space is just Blowing up!
Sep 19, 2018
Dusty Nichols and Bo Elledge: Passion, Artistry and whats behind Writing a Song and hearing the Music?
Sep 05, 2018
Tracy K. Smith: US Poet Laureate and A Woman with a Mission
Aug 19, 2018
Ryan Burke: Addictions Counselor and Endurance Athlete spreading Motivation
Jul 27, 2018
Chas Marsh: A Wyoming Entrepreneur spreading Creativity and Passion
Jul 10, 2018
Tori Sanders: Winning, Losing and the Power of Playing Games
Jun 06, 2018
Asha Rangappa: Former FBI Counter Intelligence Agent talks Facebook's Role in Preserving Democracy
May 18, 2018
Author Nanci Turner Steveson: Keeping Your Dreams Alive and Staying Focused
May 03, 2018
Sally N. MacNichol Ph.D: Spreading Awareness of Violence and how Teen Dating Violence is on the Rise!
Apr 24, 2018
Author Todd Parr: Spreading Messages of Tolerance and Embracing Differences
Apr 12, 2018
Tara Clancy: Author and Comedian on Telling worthwhile Stories
Mar 27, 2018
Tim Sandlin: A candid Conversation with Author, Humorist and ScreenWriter
Mar 19, 2018
Alia Ali: Peace… this is what it's all about, isn't it? Or is it war? Or is it power?
Mar 05, 2018
Michael Sonnenfeldt: Grit And Focus Trump Intelligence
Feb 24, 2018
Paul-Gordon Chandler: The Art of Building Bridges Between The East and The West
Feb 15, 2018
Keely Herron: The Cult of Happiness and how Hard is it to be REAL?
Feb 10, 2018
Peter Aguero: Storyteller and Educator who Believes that Everyone has a Story to tell
Jan 24, 2018
Artistic Director David Dorfman: My Motto is to Invite and Indict!
Jan 04, 2018
U.S Ambassador Cameron Munter: The Art of Diplomacy
Dec 18, 2017
Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn: YES, Kindness Does Exist, Cultures can Change and You can Help!
Dec 04, 2017
Juan Felipe Herrera: How his Poetry forces us to Confront Society and its Paradoxes
Nov 21, 2017
Bestselling Author Alexandra Fuller: Passion, Purpose and The Way Forward
Nov 06, 2017
Damien Mander: From Special Operations Sniper To Wildlife Conservationist
Oct 25, 2017
Anna Tsouhlarakis: Native American Artist Challenging and Stretching the Boundaries
Oct 16, 2017
Dr. Jeff Lockwood: On censorship and the Free Expression of ideas in America
Oct 02, 2017
Kitty Pilgrim: Former CNN Anchor turned Novelist
Sep 26, 2017
Author John Hausdoerffer: What is the Future of Wilderness?
Sep 18, 2017
Justice Marilyn Kite: The first Woman to serve on Wyoming's Supreme Court
Sep 11, 2017
Diana Mao: Imagine a World without Slavery where every Woman can know her full Potential
Aug 31, 2017
Nina McConigley: Award-winning Author reflects on growing up in Wyoming
Aug 25, 2017
W. Kamau Bell: On Being a socio-political Comedian and Dad
Aug 14, 2017
Mike Sullivan: Former Wyoming Governor who Embodies the Spirit of the West
Aug 07, 2017
Zenka: Augmented Reality Artist Challenging us to Embrace Change and New Technology
Jul 18, 2017
Author Craig Johnson: Stepping out of his Comfort Zone to Create, Write and Explore the West
Jul 18, 2017
Alan Simpson: Wyoming Senator and Icon passionate about Politics, Civility and family
Jul 18, 2017
Welcome to What's Your Why?
Jul 18, 2017