Rebekah Smith talks about the Wyoming Women's Foundation mission, why economic self-sufficiency is important for women, and why there aren't many prominent female hunters. "A lot of people have a personal experience with someone that inspires them to want to help make change in the state for women." - Rebekah Smith Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/first-but-last/rebekah-smith
May 27, 2021•33 min•Ep. 58
Jessica Bolerjack discusses why it's such an exciting time to be a woman in rodeo and what it's like being a female in the oil and gas industry. "I've always worked in fields that were predominantly male-dominated and you have to know your stuff and you have to stand up for yourself." - Jessica Bolerjack. Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/first-but-last/jessica-bolerjack
Mar 11, 2021•27 min•Ep. 57
Dr. Cecelia Aragon talks about founding her own bilingual theater company, which topics are covered in her theater diversity course, and the challenges faced by many first-generation American students who were born in Mexico. "Wyoming has really missed an opportunity to really engage with the growing Latino population in the state." - Dr. Cecelia Aragon Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at https://thinkwy.org/first-but-last/cecelia-aragon...
Jan 28, 2021•42 min•Ep. 56
Lynnette Grey Bull discusses why she moved to a reservation in Wyoming, what inspired her to run for public office, and her work curbing the human trafficking of native women in the United States. "Humility should be the center of leadership." - Lynnette Grey Bull Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/55
Jan 14, 2021•35 min•Ep. 55
State senator Tara Nethercott discusses the ways that COVID-19 has affected Wyoming, why she decided to pursue law, and the values of her fellow Wyomingites. "Rural America needs to recognize what rural America is." - Tara Nethercott Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/54
Dec 18, 2020•26 min•Ep. 54
Carla Mowell discusses the experience of growing up between two cultures, challenges for Spanish-speaking children in the U.S., and why she ultimately became an educator. "Colorful characters are kind of our specialty." - Carla Mowell Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/53
Dec 14, 2020•27 min•Ep. 53
Mary Burman discusses why she works in preventative health, how to remove gender bias from healthcare, and the value of individual and societal policy intervention. "Our healthcare is way more costly, it is profoundly inequitably distributed, and we have poorer outcomes than any other developed country in the world." - Mary Burman Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/52
Nov 12, 2020•34 min•Ep. 52
Susan Simpson discusses the role of libraries in a healthy democracy, how politics is like sausage making, and why women don't run for office, they have to be asked. "There is so much to learn running for office, and so to do that and to have a job and to have a family is really challenging." - Susan Simpson Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/51
Nov 04, 2020•29 min•Ep. 51
Michelle Sullivan discusses latchkey kids, who inspires her, and how to promote women in Wyoming. “Solutions are always better with a broader set of perspectives at the table.” - Michelle Sullivan Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/50
Oct 22, 2020•29 min•Ep. 50
Anne Mason discusses the value of the arts, the theater scene in Wyoming, and how theater supports the #MeToo movement. "Theater is a driving tool for society and has the ability to build community." - Anne Mason Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/49
Oct 08, 2020•31 min•Ep. 49
Dr. Sandy Caldwell discusses the value of rural-based community college, what it's like to grow up on a reservation, and how education is linked to income. "It's very important that we broaden what we mean by the definition of going to college." - Dr. Sandy Caldwell Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/48
Sep 24, 2020•28 min•Ep. 48
Nicole Hauser discusses the Cathedral Home for Children, why she wanted to be a social worker, and how to talk about sex with your children. "I swear we learn more from the kids than we can ever impart on them." - Nicole Hauser Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/47
Sep 17, 2020•31 min•Ep. 47
Katie Hogarty discusses her passion for policy work, how foster care differs from adoption, and what it's like to grow up dyslexic. "I have this whole beautiful community of people that have helped me end up where I am." - Katie Hogarty Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/46
Sep 10, 2020•24 min•Ep. 46
Cynthia Chace Gray explains how she ended up in Wyoming, the photographers that inspire her, and how to accommodate women in the state legislature. "Wyoming to me is the place where I feel most connected to the Divine that is out there." - Cynthia Chace Gray Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/45
Sep 03, 2020•27 min•Ep. 45
Listen in to hear Marcia Hensley discuss her favorite characters in her book, why there aren't any failure stories of female pioneers, and why it was difficult for her to get her book published. “You admire that kind of adventuresome spirit and I think it takes that kind of adventuresome spirit -- no matter what walk of life you're in -- to have a fulfilling life.” - Marcia Hensley Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/44...
Jul 20, 2020•20 min•Ep. 44
Melissa Turley discusses the benefits of mentoring younger women, why fewer women are in local government in Wyoming, and how to make state legislature more representative of residents. "Had I not already been in office, it would've been really difficult for me to take on a campaign with a young son." - Melissa Turley Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/43
Jun 11, 2020•21 min•Ep. 43
Listen in to Joanna Kail discuss why public media is important, what the Wyoming PBS Foundation does, and what keeps women out of politics. “Wyoming has just such an incredible pride and camaraderie and support for one another.” - Joanna Kail Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/42
Jun 04, 2020•21 min•Ep. 42
Sue Sommers explains why she calls herself a contemporary artist, how to define book art, and ways to support women in politics in Wyoming. "When women are doing well, a society does well." - Sue Sommers Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/41
Apr 28, 2020•21 min•Ep. 41
Listen in to learn why Kayne Pyatt's role model is her mother, how things have changed for women over the years, and how to educate young women about suffrage and women's rights. "I get frustrated with the lack of knowledge that most young women have about where we -- me and my foremothers -- came through to get them what they have today." - Kayne Pyatt Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at thinkwy.org/first-but-last/kayne-pyatt/...
Apr 03, 2020•24 min•Ep. 40
Britney Wallesch discusses the arguments for and against no-kill shelters, how the state can protect animal rights, and why there are so few women in the Wyoming Legislature. “It is important when you're doing advocacy work to go to the place where policy is made and speak on behalf of the constituents that you represent." - Britney Wallesch Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/39
Mar 25, 2020•26 min•Ep. 39
Heather Fleming explains why she started WY Lit, the consequences of illiteracy, and how to apply evidence-based reading instruction in the classroom. "I didn't want to see other children struggle the way mine had." - Heather Fleming. Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/38
Feb 19, 2020•23 min•Ep. 38
Arielle Zibrak explains how homosexuality written about in the 19th and 20th centuries and the biggest limitation of freedom for women in the United States. "Literature has, for a long time, been a place where women can exert an influence on society where they haven't been able to do so through explicitly political channels." - Arielle Zibrak. Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/37
Feb 14, 2020•30 min•Ep. 37
Listen to today's episode to learn how Jennie Gordon reaches her audience, how it feels to be a public figure, and why child hunger is so important to her. "Wyoming can do so many things that other big states with a lot of bureaucracy can't do." - Jennie Gordon. Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/36 .
Feb 05, 2020•17 min•Ep. 36
In this episode, Robin talks about the impact that working in local government has had on her life, her advice for young women who want to go into politics, and why the people in the Workforce Services Office are the best thing about the job. "Ït's incredible where women are going in Wyoming." - Robin Sessions Cooley Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/35 .
Jan 07, 2020•21 min•Ep. 35
Mary Guthrie talks about her motivation to go back to school at 36, the people who mentored her, and the delights and challenges of writing a screenplay. "It doesn't hurt for the state to be much smaller because it does give people opportunities that otherwise you might not have." - Mary Guthrie Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/34 .
Dec 13, 2019•22 min•Ep. 34
Historian Renee Laegried explains why Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote and how gender equality in Wyoming has evolved since then. "Unless people start supporting women, it's going to be hard for them to be more engaged." - Renee Laegried Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/33
Dec 11, 2019•18 min•Ep. 33
Jen Simon tells us about her journey to Wyoming, what led her to fight for women’s rights, and her thoughts on gender discrimination in the Equality State. “The Wyoming Women’s Community Action Network really exists to try and make sure that we continue to move the needle, continue to move forward, and get people in the Equality State to understand the real benefits that women bring.” - Jen Simon Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/32...
Nov 20, 2019•14 min•Ep. 32
Dr. Gigi Jasper discusses her experience with discrimination as an African American woman living and teaching in rural Wyoming. "I am the exception because I have had hundreds of students who now know me and not just what they think they know when they see me for the first time." - Gigi Jasper Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/30
Nov 15, 2019•23 min•Ep. 31
Educator Caroline Mills talks about the time she met Fidel Castro and how she imparts her wisdom to the young people on the Wind River Reservation. “I think it’s important to be available, be accessible, and talk to anybody, and encourage them– because young people need to shoot for the stars and follow their dreams.” – Caroline Mills on mentorship. Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/30
Oct 24, 2019•28 min•Ep. 30
Hear about Nish Goicolea's triligual childhood home, her thoughts on the #metoo movement, and her vision for education in Wyoming. “Maybe I didn't have exactly the same opportunities as some of the men in my life, but because of education, I had even more.” – Nish Goicolea. Learn more about this episode of First, but Last at www.thinkwy.org/29
Oct 18, 2019•19 min•Ep. 29
