The Big Why

Montana Public Radio
  • 4.9 (15)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Answers to your questions — big or small — about anything under the Big Sky. Let's see what we can discover together!

  1. DEC 18

    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 comfort and connection among the cabbage.

    13 min

  2. DEC 4

    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 more about the history of reproductive rights in Montana. MTPR's Aaron Bolton reports on the underground networks, political violence and landmark court cases that got us to where we are today.

    13 min

  3. NOV 21

    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 of The Big Why.

    10 min

  4. OCT 23

    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.

    9 min

  5. OCT 9

    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.

    12 min

  6. SEP 24

    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 wildlife that die in wildfires.

    9 min

  7. SEP 11

    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?"

    9 min

  8. AUG 28

    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.

    9 min
See All (20)

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Answers to your questions — big or small — about anything under the Big Sky. Let's see what we can discover together!

Information

  • Creator
    Montana Public Radio
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Montana Public Radio 2025
  • Show Website
    The Big Why

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