Best Madison Public Librarys Podcasts (2025)

1
News Conference: Launch of 20 is Plenty July 21, 2025 17:23

1d ago17:23

17:23

Press conference for the official launch of 20 is Plenty which is part of the Vision Zero initiative.

1
Mountain face off: How trees choose sides 8:07

6d ago8:07

8:07

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.By Ellis Juhlin, Austin Amestoy

1
News Conference: Darbo Sculpture Unveiling July 08, 2025 20:45

14d ago20:45

20:45

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What lived in ancient Montana? 8:52

21d ago8:52

8:52

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.By Austin Amestoy, Nick Mott

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News Conference: Disability Pride Flag Raising Ceremony July 1, 2025 22:31

21d ago22:31

22:31

Alder Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford leads the Disability Pride Flag Raising Ceremony.

1
How will federal cuts affect Montana's libraries and museums? 8:54

1M ago8:54

8:54

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 listener wants to know what’s going to happen to rural…

1
News Conference: Mayor, Alders, & Community Leaders Announce New Housing Package 31:30

1M ago31:30

31:30

1
Help protect public media from congressional funding cuts 0:18

1M ago0:18

0:18

Public media faces its most urgent threat yet. Congress will soon vote on whether to eliminate $1.1 billion in already-approved funding. Visit Protect My Public Media to learn how to call your representatives and voice your support for public media.

1
News Conference: Wear Orange Weekend June 6, 2025 18:00

2M ago18:00

18:00

This news conference will be kicking off the Wear Orange Weekend events coming up the weekend of June 6-8.

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Why are there so many snakes on Montana's roads? 8:53

2M ago8:53

8:53

A state program lets Montana nonprofits design special license plates to help raise funds for their organization. There’s an option for any charismatic Montana animal, university sports team or social cause you want to support. There are also three versions of a 'Don't Tread on Me' plate. One listener wants to know why. MTPR's John Hooks has the st…

1
News Conference: City & County Juneteenth Flag Event June 3, 2025 28:32

2M ago28:32

28:32

1
News Conference: Pride Month Flag Raising June 2, 2025 16:47

2M ago16:47

16:47

1
News Conference: Bike Week June 02, 2025 14:48

2M ago14:48

14:48

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The Pig Why: How Montana pork producers bring home the bacon 8:47

2M ago8:47

8:47

This week’s topic comes from a listener who asks, ‘Why is there no hog industry in Montana?’ While Montana famously has more cows than people, as we dug into this question, we found out that pigs are a big deal in Montana.By Edward F. O'Brien, Austin Amestoy

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News Conference: Unveiling of Mural Trucks on May 20, 2025 6:04

2M ago6:04

6:04

The City of Madison is proud to unveil two collection trucks with murals on them. Inspired by a request from a local child, the city selected two murals designed by local artists that were painted on these trucks.

1
News Conference: 150th anniversary of Madison Public Library May 17, 2025 16:55

2M ago16:55

16:55

The City of Madison is celebrating the 150th anniversary event at the Central Library following a marching band parade from the capital square.

1
News Conference: 100,000 Street Tree Planting Event May 15, 2025 6:54

2M ago6:54

6:54

1
News Conference: Abundant Life Christian School Investigation Update May 8, 2025 28:01

3M ago28:01

28:01

1
News Conference: Imagination Center Groundbreaking May 8, 2025 40:32

3M ago40:32

40:32

Madison Public Library, Madison Parks, and City of Madison Engineering will be hosting the Imagination Center groundbreaking event at Reindahl Park.

1
News Conference: Small Business FAM Tour 9:40

3M ago9:40

9:40

1
News Conference: Homeownership Celebration April 30, 2025 18:21

3M ago18:21

18:21

DPCED is working with the Madison Area Community Land Trust on an event to celebrate the opening of two new affordable homes on Dunns Marsh Terrace that were made possible through a partnership with the City of Madison.

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The Big Why: Where do the buffalo roam? 8:01

3M ago8:01

8:01

In 2023 the Blackfeet Nation released bison into the Chief Mountain area along the border of Glacier National Park. The release was part of a plan to build a free roaming herd in a place bison had been absent from for more than 100 years. One listener wants to know where those bison are now.By Aaron Bolton, Austin Amestoy

1
News Conference: Kick Off to Spring Biking Season, City Celebrates New Autumn Ridge Path 9:38

3M ago9:38

9:38

The Autumn Ridge Path creates a shared-use path connection between Milwaukee St. and Commercial Ave (north of Highway 30), including a new bridge over Highway 30. The project improves safety and accessibility for non-motorized modes of transportation to cross Highway 30, better connecting neighborhoods on either side of the highway. The Autumn Ridg…

1
The Big Why: Spinning tales of mystery and murder on the Madison 8:53

3M ago8:53

8:53

In the '90s, whirling disease hit trout populations hard in Montana, at one point leading to a 95% decline in rainbow trout in the Madison River. It sparked concern among biologists, anger in tourist towns and even played a role in a murder mystery novel. It also inspired this week's question: What's happening with whirling disease and other threat…

1
News Conference: Transgender Day of Visibility Flag Raising 13:25

4M ago13:25

13:25

Transgender Day of Visibility is a day to celebrate transgender and non-binary people in our Madison community. It's also a day to raise awareness of discrimination and violence members of this community face, especially transgender people who are black, indigenous, or other people of color. As a city, we see you, and we stand with you.…

1
The state lottery was meant to help fund schools. Does it? 8:07

4M ago8:07

8:07

When voters authorized the Montana Lottery in 1986, the promise was that lottery revenues would be used for education funding. Now, with schools facing budget woes and lawmakers debating funding bills, one listener wants to know if this gamble is paying off.By John Hooks, Austin Amestoy

1
What is 'conifer expansion' and how does it affect the water supply? 8:37

4M ago8:37

8:37

More than half a million acres in southwest Montana have been impacted by conifer expansion. It used to be that fires would come through these landscapes and burn back the trees, but that natural cycle isn’t happening anymore. Now, more trees are encroaching into traditional sagebrush habitat, and that has impacts on our water supply.…

1
Why does the state have a Spanish name? Why so many Rock Creeks? 'And-aconda?' Racetrack? 8:51

5M ago8:51

8:51

Why does the state have a Spanish name? Why so many Rock Creeks? What's the deal with 'And-aconda'? Racetrack? This week, a sequel to an episode we ran all about Montana’s place names and their numerous and sometimes humorous origins.By Austin Amestoy, Nick Mott

1
How does winter snowpack affect summer wildfires? 8:54

5M ago8:54

8:54

As summer heats up in Montana, so does wildfire season. This raises the question, does winter snowpack really correlate to the severity of the wildfire season? And what does a 'normal' fire season mean?By Austin Amestoy, Victoria Traxler

1
Join us for our 60th anniversary party on Feb. 7th! 0:20

6M ago0:20

0:20

Come celebrate MTPR’s 60th anniversary with a birthday bash on Feb. 7th at the Union Club in Missoula! It’s a night of music, cake, and mingling with MTPR staff and fellow public radio fans.

1
Agriculture is a 'graying' industry. Are Montana youths prepared to take over? 8:52

6M ago8:52

8:52

Farming and ranching combined generate billions of dollars in revenue and employ tens of thousands of Montanans. They’re also on the cusp of a generational sea change. One listener wants to know how young people are being encouraged and prepared for life as a farmer or rancher.By Austin Amestoy, Edward F. O'Brien

1
What would a federal abortion ban mean for Montana's new constitutional protections? 8:23

6M ago8:23

8:23

Montana voters approved a constitutional amendment in November to protect access to abortion. What would federal anti-abortion laws mean for Montana's new amendment?By Austin Amestoy, Shaylee Ragar

1
News Conference: State of Public Safety January 14, 2025 37:56

6M ago37:56

37:56

1
Snow is melting earlier. What does that mean for our groundwater supply? 8:13

7M ago8:13

8:13

You probably know snowpack affects the amount of water in our rivers. But snowmelt also recharges underground water systems and flows back into the rivers and streams, keeping them running even after the snow melts. What happens to groundwater supplies when the snowmelt comes earlier in the year?By Aaron Bolton, John Hooks

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News Conference: MPD Update on School Shooting December 17, 2024 1:00 PM 41:44

7M ago41:44

41:44

1
News Conference: MPD Update on School Shooting December 16, 2024 8:30PM 33:33

7M ago33:33

33:33

1
News Conference: MPD Update: on School Shooting December 16, 2024 5:30PM 27:05

7M ago27:05

27:05

1
News Conference: MPD Update on School Shooting December 16, 2024 2:30PM 30:23

7M ago30:23

30:23

1
What do we know about Montana's earliest residents? 8:54

8M ago8:54

8:54

An archeological find in the Shields Valley in 1968 revealed some surprising new information about the earliest inhabitants the state, and provides a window into the shifting ethics of modern archeology. Our story starts in the Ice Age, when people took to the mountains of Montana to hunt camels, cheetahs and mammoths.…

1
What happens when rail lines are abandoned? 8:37

8M ago8:37

8:37

Railroads helped build the state we know today. Now, rail travel has all but disappeared in Montana, and many unused lines are going dormant or being abandoned. What happens to them next?By Austin Amestoy, Nick Mott

1
News Conference: World Day of Remembrance November 15, 2024 29:29

8M ago29:29

29:29

1
News Conference: Office of The Independent Monitor on Opening Investigative Process November 11, 2024 27:59

8M ago27:59

27:59

1
Talking Tech - October 2024 47:26

9M ago47:26

47:26

Join Guiding Ohio Online Learning Coach Charley and Emerging Services and Technologies Librarian Shawn talk about current news of the tech world.

1
Election Updates from City and County Clerks, November 5, 2024, 5:15pm 18:04

9M ago18:04

18:04

1
Election Updates from City and County Clerks, November 5, 2024, 12:30pm 11:57

9M ago11:57

11:57

1
What happens to abandoned oil & gas wells in Montana? 7:49

9M ago7:49

7:49

An oil company comes in, drills a hole and a well is born. But what if the well stops producing or the company in charge goes bankrupt, leaving behind holes that can be thousands of feet deep, spout toxic gasses and muck things up on the surface? These so-called 'orphan wells' are all over Montana.By Nick Mott, Ellis Juhlin

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How's life as an urban deer? 8:34

10M ago8:34

8:34

"How's life? Are you liking life okay? Are you aware that you're living a really unusual life for a deer? I just got really curious because you can’t ask a deer how it’s feeling. So I thought I’d ask you guys and see if you had some insights."By Austin Amestoy, Edward F. O'Brien