The Modern West

The Modern West Exploring the evolving identity of the American West. Produced by Wyoming Public Media and PRX.

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.

01/08/2026

This is an episode for anyone who has ever relied on couch surfing to get you through (that'd be me). Samantha Marks got fired from the Forest Service and that meant no federal housing. But luckily, she had plenty of friends. One real solution to the affordable housing crisis is a good old fashioned house raising.

12/11/2025

This episode is kind of the crux of this whole season. Really all the hard questions about whether you can actually scale up housing options like tiny houses to solve the housing crisis. Spoiler alert: not so well.

11/13/2025

Podcast Episode · The Modern West · S11 E2 · 28m

11/13/2025

Podcast Episode · The Modern West · S11 E2 · 28m

11/13/2025

Podcast Episode · The Modern West · S11 E2 · 28m

In episode #1 of Cheap Dirt, I share my story of living off grid in a glorified tent in northern Arizona. And discuss w...
10/29/2025

In episode #1 of Cheap Dirt, I share my story of living off grid in a glorified tent in northern Arizona. And discuss why it's not fair to rely on westerners to go off grid as an answer to our housing shortage. 8 of the top 10 states with the worst shortages are in the American West. This season I travel around the west talking to people finding weird housing solutions like mine. Take a listen!



Podcast Episode · The Modern West · S11 E1 · 35m

The Gray In Between is taking a quick break this week to share another podcast with you. It’s all about why teachers are...
07/02/2025

The Gray In Between is taking a quick break this week to share another podcast with you. It’s all about why teachers are leaving the profession and produced by our former sound designer, Charles Fournier. I’m also the editor on this project! Highly recommend.

The Modern West presents Those Who Can't Teach Anymore Season 2

This time, an episode from another podcast we care a lot about. It’s called Those Who Can’t Teach Anymore, produced by Charles Fournier, the former sound designer of the Modern West.

https://ow.ly/mGhK50WjPv6

Our latest episode takes a ride deep into the National Elk Refuge to find out about how chronic wasting disease is bangi...
06/23/2025

Our latest episode takes a ride deep into the National Elk Refuge to find out about how chronic wasting disease is banging at the door here. Take a listen and let us know what you think.

Coming out Tuesday – Wasting Away – Episode 6 of The Modern West

Hop in a pickup as we head out into the National Elk Refuge outside Jackson, WY to hear all about the debate over whether to wean elk off winter feeding before chronic wasting disease strikes.

https://www.themodernwest.org/

05/30/2025

My episode about Pinedale Roundup editor Cali O'Hare and how she manages when her entire staff is laid off by her corporate publisher. And what happens when major global news breaks on her watch. Take a listen and let me know what you think!

Woohoo!
05/14/2025

Woohoo!

Wyoming Public Media has been awarded three prestigious Regional Edward R. awards. Congratulations to Caitlin Tan and Melodie Edwards!

🏆Excellence in Sound - Beavers do it best. Humans recreate the animal’s engineering to restore a waterway in Sweetwater County
🏆Hard News - Anthrax. Cattle. Ranchers. Government mistrust. The fallout of Elk Mountain’s rare disease outbreak
🏆News Documentary - Wolves #2101 and #2301: Part Three of High Altitude Tales

Check out our Linktree to see the winning stories and podcast: https://ow.ly/2ZYM50VSURS

“To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful.” - Edward Murrow

05/07/2025

A brave and amazing new episode by WPR's own Caitlin Tan. Take a listen.

Need some road tripping storytelling as you cross the American West? You’re welcome.
04/29/2025

Need some road tripping storytelling as you cross the American West? You’re welcome.

Listen to Podcasts from the West!
Reporting on Ecosystems, Nature, Economy and Indigenous issues: WyomingPublicMedia.org click on Podcasts.
Photo by Howie Garber

Address

1000 E University Avenue Dept 3984
Laramie, WY
82071

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Modern West posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Modern West:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

The Modern West Podcast

Winner of a 2020 Edward R. Murrow award for Best Documentary, The Modern West story takes listeners on a sound-rich journey into some of America’s most iconic landscapes to discover the people and places shaping the American West’s present and future.

Writer Wallace Stegner called the West “the native home of hope” because it’s here we’re striving to create a society to match our scenery. In the shadows of that scenery, our cities grow, our small towns shrink, our ranches are consolidated, our National Parks overflow.

Yet, as Westerners, we continue to feel deeply connected to our mountains, prairies, forests, and deserts. It’s what we came for (or our great-great grandparents came for) and it’s why we don’t plan to leave, no matter the boom or bust.

Guided by host Melodie Edwards’ personal connection to the region, The Modern West seeks out the people who still believe that the West is the native home of hope.