PODCAST · news
The Big Why
by Montana Public Radio
Answers to your questions — big or small — about anything under the Big Sky. Let's see what we can discover together!
Episodes
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122 years later, Fort Shaw girls basketball team continues to inspire and unite
The Fort Shaw Indian School Girls Basketball Team navigated boarding school and forced assimilation while becoming a team of skilled athletes, artists and 1904 world champions. Now, more than 120 years later, the team is inspiring new generations and helping people connect with their families and...
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What was the Fort Shaw Indian Girls Basketball Team?
Just years after the game of basketball was invented, an all-girls team of Indigenous players was going full-court — in woolen dresses. The Fort Shaw Indian Girls Basketball Team blazed a trail for those who’d come after them. So — what made the team so special? MTPR’s Victoria Traxler caught…
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Why are non-native fish so beloved in Montana?
Knapweed and leafy spurge don't have many fans in these parts. Nobody makes the drive from Texas to pose with them and post the photos on Instagram. Invasive species aren't usually something to celebrate, because they can wreak havoc on native ecosystems in ways impossible to undo. But other...
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Why are mountain goat populations in Montana declining?
Mountain goat populations have been on the decline in Montana for 70 years. Researchers are working to learn more about the nimble climbers, which means going where the goats go – and that's easier said than done. But no mountain is too high, no weather too extreme to stop us from answering this...
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What's the real story behind Missoula's Slant Streets?
If you've spent much time in Missoula, you've probably gotten turned around in the "Slant Streets" at least once. If you've lived there long enough, you've probably heard sensational tales of strife and betrayal surrounding the origin of the Garden City’s most geographically confused…
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Why hasn't Montana sent a woman to Congress in 80 years? - Pt. 2
There are many reasons why no woman has been elected to federal office in Montana since Jeannette Rankin. But it largely begins with deeply rooted beliefs about where women belong and who should have power. Montana women say the challenges Rankin had to overcome are still largely present today....
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Why hasn't Montana sent a woman to Congress in 80 years? - Pt. 1
In 1916, four years before women nationwide won the right to vote, Montanans elected Jeannette Rankin to Congress. She served two nonconsecutive terms, retiring in 1943. Rankin was the first woman in the country – and the last woman in Montana – to hold congressional office. One listener wants to...
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How did Jew Mountain get its name?
Jew Mountain sits in rugged country on the BItterroot National Forest east of Painted Rocks Reservoir. One listener was curious about how the mountain got its name. The search for an answer revealed some family ties, a slice of history and a deeper story about geography, genealogy and why words...
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How is climate change affecting Montana birds?
Have you had any unexpected bird sightings this winter? Maybe you saw birds in unexpected places or times. Or maybe birds you expected never showed up. You're not alone. Bird researchers – and an observant listener – have noticed, too. That listener wants to know: What do we know about how…
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What causes washboard roads?
"Harmonic rippling pattern" might seem like a description of the soothing sounds from a white-noise generator lulling you to sleep. That's close. But in this case, the noise machine is your car and the rippling pattern is the washboard road you're bouncing over. One listener wants to know what...
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Why have school test scores stopped rising?
Pencils down! Does that phrase bring back some anxiety-inducing memories? What if, like in your bad dreams, it's an exam you haven't studied for? A listener wants to know why student test scores have stopped rising. The answer involves triangles and time. Learn more in this lesson of The Big Why....
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What’s the history of elk in the Bitterroot Valley?
Elk are a familiar sight in much of Montana now, but that hasn't always been the case. By the early 1900s, unregulated hunting had led to massive declines in wildlife nationwide. But In Yellowstone, elk populations were exploding thanks to protections in place there. The solution to restoring elk...
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Why do Montana breweries have to close at 8 p.m. and limit sales?
If you’ve been to a taproom, you know that at most breweries across the state there’s a three pint limit and they stop serving at 8 p.m. One listener wants to know why. We've got answers. Pull up a stool, crack open a local brew and settle in for a taproom tale – or some barroom banter, depending...
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Kimjang: Come for the cabbage, stay for the community
How do cabbage and spices become ingredients for community building? In Korea, the answer is kimjang, the fall tradition of making and sharing kimchi. This week on The Big Why, we visit a farm in the Bitterroot Valley where a group of Montanans came together to keep a food custom alive and find...
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What's the history of abortion access in Montana?
In Montana, abortion access has been at times illegal, legal, and stuck in limbo. Providers have weathered bombings and arson, advocates and opponents have battled it out in court, and citizens have passed a constitutional amendment affirming a woman's right to choose. One listener wants to know...
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Montana's flag breaks all the 'rules.' Is it time for a redesign?
A flag's primary purpose is to be recognized from a distance. That means few colors, no lettering and a clear distinction from other flags. Ideally, it should be simple enough for a child to draw it from memory. So, how did Montana end up with such a complicated flag? Learn more in this episode…
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Why do Montana counties have such strange shapes?
This week on The Big Why, we’re exploring Montana’s 56 counties. A listener from Billings wants to know how they got their shapes. Finding the answer led MTPR's Austin Amestoy down a rabbit hole where he found a saga of boom and bust, backroom dealing and an unlikely folk hero.
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The Little Why: Are there wild horses in Montana?
This week: A second edition of "The Little Why," where we tackle questions from our younger listeners. Saddle up, grab the reins and ride along with us as we learn about wild horses in Montana.
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What happens to wildlife during a wildfire?
The word "wildfire" often conjures dramatic images of walls of flame, charred landscapes and one particularly famous photo of elk in a river, surrounded by flames. So, how do wildlife fare during these big fires? This week on The Big Why, a listener asks, why we don't get any statistics on…
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Why don't we recycle more plastics in Montana?
This week on The Big Why: A listener is curious about recyclables that don’t get recycled in Montana. Namely, why is plastic recycling so limited? "We're all encouraged to recycle. But when it comes right down to it, what happens to the things we actually recycle?"
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How did Montana get its strange shape?
Montana’s frontier days were stuffed with gold, greed and political corruption — and all three played a part in drawing the state’s western boundary with Idaho. A listener wants to know how that squiggly line came to be. Find out now on The Big Why.
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What's the story with the big pile of 'dirt' outside of Shepherd?
Today's question is about a huge pile of what turns out is not exactly dirt. It's actually a new specialty landfill at the center of a years long controversy over what we do with some of the stuff we throw away and who bears the environmental cost. Learn more now on The Big Why.
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Mountain face off: How trees choose sides
Have you ever looked at a mountain and wondered why there were trees on one side but none on the other? Or noticed different species growing on opposite sides? Well, you barked up the right tree. Find out how trees choose sides in the mountain face off, right here on The Big Why.
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What lived in ancient Montana?
People have lived in Big Sky Country for a little more than 10,000 years. But living things creeped and crawled and swam around here for hundreds of millions of years before then. A Big Why listener wanted to know when life showed up in the place we now call Montana.
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How will federal cuts affect Montana's libraries and museums?
Libraries do more than just lend books. They offer community events, classes, access to computers — and they help preserve cultural knowledge. But, public funding is being slashed, delayed or taken back as the Trump Administration works to cut government programs. After recent federal cuts, one...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Answers to your questions — big or small — about anything under the Big Sky. Let's see what we can discover together!
HOSTED BY
Montana Public Radio
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Big Why have?
The Big Why currently has 25 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Big Why about?
Answers to your questions — big or small — about anything under the Big Sky. Let's see what we can discover together!
How often does The Big Why release new episodes?
The Big Why has 25 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Big Why?
You can listen to The Big Why on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Big Why?
The Big Why is created and hosted by Montana Public Radio.
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