Podcasts by Out West (Presented by the Western Governors’ Association)

The Heat Beneath Our Feet: Exploring the Potential of Geothermal Energy with Colorado Governor Jared Polis from 2023-10-04T11:11

The potential of geothermal energy in the West is vast and offers significant advantages in the effort to expand renewable energy resources. Advances in technology and increased interest in deve...

Out West (#38): Meet the Winners of the 2023 Celebrate the West high school art competition from 2023-08-08T16:18:52

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Out West (#36): Meet the winners of the 2022 Celebrate the West regional art competition from 2023-01-09T09:18:16

Each year the Western Governors’ Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Western Governors' Association, hosts a competition that challenges high school students to create a piece of artwork th...

Out West (#35): The Well of the Future: Repurposing Oil and Gas Wells for Geothermal Energy Production from 2022-12-01T09:32:15

In the latest episode of WGA’s Out West podcast, The Well of the Future: Repurposing Oil and Gas Wells for Geothermal Energy Production, WGA Policy Adv...

Out West (#34): The Next Generation of Western Leaders from 2022-09-15T13:20:06

The Next Generation of Western Leaders, the latest episode of WGA’s Out West podcast, highlights the inaugural class of delegates from the 2022 West...

Out West (#33): Supporting Coal Communities from 2022-06-23T10:18:23

The new episode of WGA’s Out West podcast, 'Supporting Coal Communities,' explores the economic trends impacting Utah’s coal communities in the face of changing energy markets and state efforts ...

Out West (#32) Agricultural Workforce in the West from 2022-05-17T09:41:38

The new episode of WGA’s Out West podcast, Agricultural Workforce in the West, explores the challenges that communities face as more agricultural workers retire, the barriers that young people f...

Out West (#31): Post-Fire Restoration Challenges from 2022-04-21T09:12:45

'Post-Fire Restoration Challenges' explores the challenges that wildfire-affected communities face and the available resources to help them recover. 

Listen in as WGA Director of Federa...

Out West (#30): Fixing America’s Forest from 2022-03-14T11:19:50

The new episode of WGA’s Out West podcast, Fixing America’s Forests, delves into recent forest management projects that successfully protected western communities by slowing potentially catastro...

Out West (#29): Supporting Cross-Boundary Conservation from 2022-02-14T08:46:56

The latest episode of WGA’s ‘Out West’ podcast, Supporting Cross-Boundary Conservation, explores the importance of cross-boundary management for healthy and productive working lands, and how pro...

Out West (#28): On the Mind: Youth Behavioral Health Care Access from 2022-01-20T16:21:58

This episode of ‘Out West’ delves into the region’s behavioral health care challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic – including obstacles to accessing care and significant ...

Out West (#27) Strengthening the State-Federal Relationship from 2021-12-21T09:57:15

The new episode of WGA’s Out West podcast, Federalism, the Genius of American Democracy, explores the work that Western states and organizations are undertaking to strengthen and rebalance the s...

Out West (#26) Moss Balls and Emergency Invasive Species Responses from 2021-11-22T11:27:40

The new episode of WGA’s Out West podcast, Moss Balls and Emergency Invasive Species Responses, explores the collaborative efforts of western states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to add...

Out West (#25): Diversifying the Cybersecurity Workforce from 2021-10-19T11:19:19

In honor of Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week and National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the new episode of WGA’s Out West podcast, Diversifying the Cybersecurity Workforce, explores ...

Out West (#24): The Western Governors’ Association 2021 Annual Report from 2021-09-14T10:33:57

The Western Governors’ Association recently released its 2021 Annual Report, which highlights the Western Governors’ past year’s policy work and paths to continue that work. The conversation in ...

Out West (#23): Meet the winners of the 2021 Celebrate the West regional art competition from 2021-08-25T12:01:57

The Western Governors’ Foundation recently announced the winners in the sixth annual Celebrate the West regional art competition, which challenged high school students to create two-dimensional ...

Out West (#22): Electric Vehicles Roadmap Initiative Special Report with Oregon Governor Kate Brown from 2021-07-21T12:55:18

The Chair's Initiative of Oregon Governor Kate Brown sought to achieve an expanded regional agreement on electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the West to bolster current economies and...

“Out West (#21): Electric Vehicles and Economic Development Opportunities from 2021-06-22T10:49:12

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more common, but a lack of charging infrastructure – especially in rural areas – continues to be a barrier to adoption. This Out West episode highlights how ...

Out West (#20): Invasive Species Data Collection and Coordination from 2021-06-07T16:12:39

Invasive species are a complex and costly issue throughout the West. To properly address the issue, it’s imperative that the various states, agencies and stakeholders working on it have access t...

Out West (#19): Electric Vehicle Research and Innovation from 2021-05-10T17:04:09

Electric vehicle (EV) technology is advancing rapidly. Innovations in battery technology, infrastructure modeling analysis, and fleet charging and fueling systems are enabling more diverse and l...

Out West (#18): Get to Know the Western Governors’ Foundation: Governors Dennis Daugaard, Steve Bullock, David Ige from 2021-04-13T10:01:33

The Western Governors' Foundation leverages the collective influence of former and current Western Governors to promote the welfare of the West. In this episode of Out West, WGA Executive Direct...

Out West (#17): Electric Vehicles Roadmap Initiative, EVs in Rural Areas from 2021-03-17T08:59:35

Electric Vehicles in Rural Areas is the first episode in a series for the Electric Vehicles Roadmap Initiative of Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, which is focused on enhanced planning, siting and coordi...

Out West (#16): Invasive Species Data: Conservation Districts from 2021-02-16T07:59:38

Invasive Species Data: Conservation Districts highlights the importance of invasive species data for conservation districts. The episode of Out West is the first in a series for WGA's Invasive S...

Out West (#15): An Inclusive Economic Recovery for All Americans from 2021-01-26T10:55:01

COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted people with disabilities and changed the work landscape in ways that present challenges and opportunities for disability employment. WGA Policy Associate...

Out West (#14): Technology for an Inclusive Workforce from 2020-12-29T09:59:58

Technologies with universal design and assistive technologies have increased opportunities for workers with disabilities and revolutionized everything from office to factory work. To learn more ...

Out West (#13): Reintroducing Natural Fire in Western Landscapes from 2020-12-01T10:53:58

Bill Whitacre, WGA Senior Policy Advisor, leads a conversation about the ways that fire can be used to restore western lands, as well as barriers to its expanded use. He speaks with Ron Goode, T...

Out West (#12): Bridging the Disability Employment Gap from 2020-11-10T11:36:06

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, WGA Policy Associate Lauren Cloward spoke with Bobby Silverstein, Legislative Counsel to the State Exchange o...

Out West (#11): Firefighting in the Era of COVID from 2020-09-29T12:06:10

WGA Senior Policy Advisor Bill Whitacre – himself a former wildland firefighter – and Aaron Thompson, State Fire Management Officer for the Bureau of Land Management in Montana and the Dakotas, ...

Out West (#10): Exploring the 2020 Annual Report from 2020-09-09T11:42:57

This episode recaps the impactful, collaborative policy work of Western Governors over the past year and helps set the agenda for the year ahead. Join WGA Executive Director Jim Ogsbury in a con...

Out West (#9): Reimagining the Rural West Special Report from 2020-08-18T14:21:34

In this episode, WGA Executive Director Jim Ogsbury speaks with Policy Advisor Lauren DeNinno, who has led WGA’s work on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative, to address the origins of Gov....

Out West (#8): The Buzz About Murder Hornets – Separating Fact from Fiction from 2020-07-21T11:31:18

This episode highlights efforts by Washington state officials to control a dangerous new invasive species threatening the West, the Asian Giant Hornet, also known as the ‘Murder Hornet.’

...

Out West (#7): The Next Generation of Rural with Megan Laudenshlager, Ben Thomas, and Kevin Leier from 2020-06-23T12:43:20

Part 7 of a series on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative discusses how rural youth can help shape their communities for decades to come. Join WGA Policy Advisor Laura Cutlip as she highli...

Out West (#6): Healthcare Innovations in the West with Jorge Guzman, Andrew Black, and Krista Stadler from 2020-06-02T13:41:54

Part 6 of a series on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative explores how rural communities across the region are working to bolster healthcare access and overcome barriers to providing care....

Out West (#5): Diversifying the Rural Economy with David Martin, Kate La Tour, and Shelly Fausett from 2020-05-12T13:35:30

Part 5 of a series on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative explores how a variety of different business structures can provide stability to their respective communities. Join WGA Policy Adv...

Out West (#4): Growing Through Rural Partnerships with Megan Laudenschlager, Juta Guertsen and Andrew Black from 2020-04-14T09:00:25

Part 4 of a series on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative highlights how forming partnerships is vital in promoting economic development across the West. Join WGA Policy Advisor Laura Cutl...

Out West (#3): A Sense of Place with Daved Lundeen, Kim Konikow and Melvin Juanico from 2020-03-24T11:25:39

Part 3 of a series on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative explores the use of “placemaking” by rural community leaders to capitalize on local assets and create environments where people wa...

Out West (#2): Reimagining the Rural Narrative with Benjamin Winchester and Jennifer Groth from 2020-02-25T10:54:12

Out West's sophomore episode continues our series about Reimagining the Rural West, the Chairman’s Initiative of North Dakota Governor and WGA Chair Doug Burgum, which highlights challenges and ...

Out West (#1): Reimagining the Rural West with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum from 2020-01-31T11:14:11

This episode of Out West kicks off a series about the Western Governors’ Reimagining the Rural West Initiative, the Chairman’s Initiative of North Dakota Governor and WGA Chair Doug Burgum. Each...