Out West (Presented by the Western Governors’ Association)

Western Governors’ Association
  • 4.3 (4)
  • Politics

Welcome to Out West, the official podcast of the Western Governors’ Association. Tune in each month to hear experts debate the most important issues facing the region.

  1. Aug 7

    Lahaina’s Next Chapter: Three Years of Recovery, Resilience and Rebuilding with Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green

    Three years ago, on August 8, 2023, the world watched in horror as a catastrophic wildfire swept across Maui, destroying the historic town of Lahaina. Yet amid the devastation, the strength of the Maui community—and the outpouring of support from around the world—demonstrated the extraordinary power of resilience, compassion, and cooperation. Led by Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, Lahaina’s recovery has been nothing short of remarkable. Working alongside federal agencies and community partners, they cleared wildfire debris, secured more than 600 homes for survivors, helped negotiate a landmark settlement, and began the difficult work of rebuilding the town. Today, homes are being rebuilt, businesses are reopening, and a community that feared it had lost everything is beginning to flourish once again. The recovery has also created opportunities to rebuild Lahaina in ways that are safer, more resilient, and more reflective of Hawaiian culture. To reflect on that journey – and share lessons that could help other communities recover from future disasters – WGA’s Communications Director, Jack Spina, spoke with Lahaina resident Kaliko Storer; Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen; Maui County Deputy Managing Director Erin Wade; and Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green. Their stories reveal not only what Lahaina has endured, but what is possible when a community comes together to reclaim its future.

  2. Mar 27

    The fast-approaching future of quantum computing with Colorado Governor Jared Polis

    For years, quantum computing has sounded like something straight out of science fiction. Now, it’s getting real. The industry is rapidly advancing, major breakthroughs are coming into view, and quantum could soon begin reshaping everyday life—just as artificial intelligence has in recent years. In this episode, WGA Communications Specialist Eli Jaynes speaks with Colorado Governor Jared Polis, University of New Mexico Professor Ivan Deutsch, and Atom Computing’s Chief Product Officer, Justin Ging, about the state of the industry and where it’s headed next.  He also speaks with Professor Heather Lewandowski from the University of Colorado and Gwen Leifer from Lockheed Martin about efforts to develop a quantum workforce capable of taking this industry to the next level.

  3. 10/16/2025

    Cleaning Up Abandoned Hardrock Mines with Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper

    Somewhere between 140,000 and 390,000 abandoned hardrock mines are scattered throughout the West. Many have sat idle for decades, posing serious safety risks and polluting Western waterways. Last year, Congress took action on this issue by passing the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act. The law launches a pilot program that allows for the cleanup of 15 mine sites without fear of liability — a landmark step to accelerate reclamation across the region. Western Governors have advocated for this legislation for decades, and WGA celebrated the bill's passage.  Tune in to hear from Colorado Senator and former Governor John Hickenlooper as well as experts and organizations involved in cleaning up abandoned mines. They share why this legislation matters, how the pilot program will work, and what kinds of projects could finally move forward under its protections. In addition to Senator Hickenlooper, you'll hear from David Hockey, the Acting Director of EPA’s Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains; Chris Wood, CEO of Trout Unlimited; and Rob Ghiglieri, Administrator of the Nevada Division of Minerals.

  4. 10/02/2025

    Energy Superabundance: Unlocking Prosperity in the West with Utah Governor Spencer Cox

    In June, Utah Governor Spencer Cox became Chair of the Western Governors’ Association. His Chair Initiative, Energy Superabundance: Unlocking Prosperity in the West, will explore how states can expand energy production, transmission, and storage to meet rising demand and achieve true energy abundance across the region. In this episode of Out West, WGA Executive Director Jack Waldorf sits down with Governor Cox to talk about the inspiration and vision behind his new initiative. You’ll also hear from WGA Policy Advisor Abby Pelsmaeker, who spoke with Emy Lesofski, Director of the Utah Office of Energy Development, to learn more about Utah’s approach to energy innovation—and how it can help seize the opportunities shaping our nation’s energy future. Finally, you’ll hear from John Wagner, the Laboratory Director at the Idaho National Laboratory, who spoke at the first Energy Superabundance workshop about the unique factors driving today’s nuclear resurgence—one he says is unlike anything he’s seen in his 30-year career.      Finally, WGA would like to thank our initiative partners: Advanced Energy United; American Clean Power; Amazon Web Services; ClearPath; Deloitte; Idaho National Laboratory; Iron Workers International; JP Morgan Chase; National Hydropower Association; NextEra Energy; Nuclear Energy Institute; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Southwest Power Pool, and Williams Companies.

  5. 03/28/2025

    Leave it to Beaver: How Nature’s Engineers Help Mitigate Disasters

    In this episode, hear about how healthy beaver populations in western states can help restore wetland ecosystems, prevent catastrophic wildfire, promote biodiversity, retain water on the landscape, and prevent flooding. WGA policy advisors Jonah Seifer and Zach Nowak speak with beaver experts from around the region about how these aquatic rodents can help us restore balance to the West’s water systems.

  6. 01/17/2025

    Exploring Community Navigator Programs with USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Meryl Harrell

    In this episode of Out West, WGA senior policy advisor Jonah Seifer speaks with Meryl Harrell, the Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They discuss the department’s newly formed community navigators program and how it can help disseminate funds more equitably and efficiently.

  7. 01/16/2025

    Decarbonizing the West with Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon

    Last year, as the Chair of WGA, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon launched the Decarbonizing the West initiative. It examined how methods of decarbonization can position Western states at the forefront of innovation and reduce the effects of carbon emissions on the environment. The initiative explored a wide range of engineered decarbonization and natural sequestration strategies – everything from direct air capture and carbon credit markets to climate-smart agriculture and biofuel – all of which present enormous opportunities for western states. In this episode of Out West, WGA policy advisor Abby Pelsmaeker speaks with some of the country's leading decarbonization experts about how these strategies have evolved in recent years and their prospects for the future.  To learn more about these decarbonization strategies, including federal policy recommendations for advancing the industry, check out the Decarbonizing the West initiative report on WGA’s website.

  8. 11/27/2024

    Fighting Invasive Mussels in Western States with Idaho Governor Brad Little

    In this episode of Out West, hear about the threat posed by invasive zebra and quagga mussels to western waterways, and understand the ongoing work to contain and eliminate this threat.  We dive into recent detections of invasive mussels in the Snake River in Idaho and a stretch of the Colorado River in Colorado. Those detections sparked rapid and thorough responses to contain, monitor, and even eradicate these mussels. Over the course of the episode, WGA Policy Advisor Zach Nowak sits down with the experts and managers that are working to manage those detections and keep western lakes and rivers free of invasive mussels.  You'll hear from Idaho Governor Brad Little, Idaho State Department of Agriculture Director Chanel Tewalt, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Invasive Species Program Manager Robert Walters, National Invasive Species Council Executive Director Stas Burgiel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Barak Shemai, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Theresa Thom.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Out West, the official podcast of the Western Governors’ Association. Tune in each month to hear experts debate the most important issues facing the region.

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