Take a trip to Grand Teton National Park’s most popular trail where an adaptive athlete from Jackson is advising Grand Teton National Park on how to make it more accessible. We remember a beloved mother, photographer and Jacksonite that died in a tragic accident earlier this month. We unpack a threat to public media, including KHOL, being considered by federal lawmakers and we have a conversation with the founder of the Targhee Music camp, a bluegrass sanctuary of sorts. Jackson Unpacked airs lo...
Jun 27, 2025•29 min
This week, we have a bonus episode from “The Modern West,” a production of PRX and our friends over at Wyoming Public Media. In the podcasts 10th season, “The Gray in Between,” reporters tackle stories from a wolf incident in Sublette County last year that gained worldwide attention, to creative solutions to the affordable housing crisis, to the inevitable death of elk in the Jackson Herd, right here, in our backyard. Reported and produced by KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney, hop in a pickup as we he...
Jun 20, 2025•50 min
On this week’s episode: The print news scene in Pinedale is a one-woman show. We journey 80 miles to the Western outpost to see how a start-up radio station is trying to parch the news desert, and all the political challenges that come with the territory. In Teton County’s schools, we hear how educator Piper Worthington is trying to integrate students in their first year from another country. The Mexican-born, European-trained chef Oscar Ortega is a top-five finalist for the James Beard Award in...
Jun 13, 2025•31 min
The Jackson Hole Rodeo sits in the middle of town and sells out almost every summer night. We hear what’s on the minds of those in the stands and the chutes as its organizers consider if its popularity has a cap. Author and editor at The New Yorker, Michael Luo, joins us to talk about Wyoming’s hidden history of anti-Chinese violence and immigration. A Jackson musical about a woman’s rise to power in a frontier town returns to the stage. And Salt Lake City band Huertado shares how the Utah lands...
May 30, 2025•30 min
When people think about leaving an abusive relationship, the biggest barrier in their way is often housing. But what happens if there’s nowhere to go? We hear how an organization across the pass is dealing with a surge in need after the murder of a Victor mother. With the Trump admnistration expressing interest in converting public lands to private housing, a new study looks at the potential challenges and consequences. And Jackson native Melissa Elliott, AKA Missy Jo, is not only a music teache...
May 16, 2025•26 min
On this week’s episode: As newsrooms around the country assess the first 100 days of President Trump’s second administration, we bring you the view from Jackson Hole. In the foreground for county electeds is public land, where workers who manage the vast majority of our county have been fired, rehired and grappled with resignations. Advocates say the impacts have only just begun. In town, we hear from workers laid off prematurely from the county’s health department who helped people get vaccinat...
May 02, 2025•25 min
Looming beneath the surface on North Cache is a plume of a carcinogen called benzene from an old gas station, about to be unearthed to build a mega-hotel. Is the development leading to remediation, risk, or both? In a novel effort to protect both cattle and elk from disease, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition has started a new program to share costs with ranchers moving cattle in winter, with the majority of work now in Teton County. And Chris Archuleta, frontman and guitarist of Jackson Hole ban...
Apr 18, 2025•24 min
An inside look at one family paying down debts and saving for a home with Habitat for Humanity. We’ll hear how the fashion of Gaper Day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort helps your favorite ski bum break from the typical beanie and base layer. As federal employees grapple with layoffs, we catch up with a postal worker union representative to hear how the United States Postal Service has been living with staffing shortages for years. And as this year’s ski season comes to an end, we hear from a man...
Apr 04, 2025•24 min
In this week’s episode, U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman is touring the southern part of the state. In Afton, her defense of billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency caused an uproar. And several bills this legislative session took aim at Jackson and Teton County’s strategy for affordable and workforce housing. We talk with two local electeds to test their confidence in the program. And amid ongoing debate about the future of grizzly bears, we talk with an expert about all ...
Mar 21, 2025•28 min
On this week’s episode: ICE visited Jackson early last month. The news spread quickly across social media but even now, many still have questions. A conversation with Ira Glass, host and creator of the popular public radio program “This American Life,” ahead of a recently announced August show in Jackson. And confirmed cases of Chronic Wasting Disease south of town has one wildlife biologist with Wyoming Game and Fish concerned. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays...
Mar 11, 2025•28 min
On this week’s episode: federal workers are being laid off across the country, including in Teton County. One recently fired US Forest Service trail worker with the Jackson Ranger District, speaks up. We’ll hear more from one co-author of a book tackling the limits of growth in the West, with chapters tackling conservation and the cost of living in Jackson Hole. Also, a conversation from KHOL’s public affairs show the State of Jackson about one local printmaker's new art exhibit. Lastly, we hear...
Feb 21, 2025•30 min•Ep. 132
The Wyoming Senate narrowly passed a resolution recently that would ask Congress to turn over nearly all federal land in the state. That’s 30 million acres — about half of Wyoming’s total area. We hear from Aaron Weiss, the Deputy Director at the Center for Western Priorities, a conservation advocacy group, who says the resolution was is likely to change policy. The first few weeks of Trump’s presidency have been a whirlwind. A deluge of executive orders, memos and proclamations aiming to crack ...
Feb 07, 2025•30 min•Ep. 131
Between the legislative session in Cheyenne and President Donald Trump’s first week back in the White House, immigration policies in Wyoming are on the fast track for an overhaul. When the roads are too snowy to drive on – why not plane? As in snow plane. In Tetonia, there’s a festival celebrating the invention that bridged the technological divide between the horse-drawn sleigh and snowmobile. What’s the financial value of a wolf in Wyoming? That’s the question behind a new article in the trave...
Jan 24, 2025•29 min•Ep. 130
Despite a $100 million done deal, questions linger for some, like environmentalists Susan Marsh and Jared Baecker, about how the Kelly Parcel will be managed. Park superintendent Chip Jenkins says the process of deciding exactly that begins now. And a future of the money from the sale may further oil and gas development according to Governor Mark Gordon and the State Board of Land Commissioners. The process makes some in Jackson Hole itchy. Jackson Hole Fire/EMS is trying to move on from stress ...
Jan 10, 2025•28 min•Ep. 129
On this week’s episode: KHOL’s Jenna McMurtry reports on the controversy surrounding a potential charter school south of town, in Alpine. Heather Goodrich and Jeff Daugherty agree the town needs a new school, but exactly what that school should be, not so much. Matt Erickson, the area superintendent is not sure any school can be built before the start of the next school year. KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney talks to Jackson Hole’s Vosmus and Armitage families at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort about ne...
Dec 20, 2024•30 min•Ep. 128
On this week’s episode: KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney chats with Dem. Senator Mike Gierau of Jackson about the Regulatory Reduction Task Force and four potential bills some feel target Teton County. KHOL’s Rachel Stevens talked with Baylee Drewry AKA Miss Wyoming 2024 about her platform: supporting women in sports. Wyoming Public Radio’s Hanna Merzbach tells us some employers around Jackson are turning to modular homes, built by engineers like Loren Woodin and architects like Greg Mason, to house ...
Dec 06, 2024•29 min•Ep. 127
On this week’s episode: Following the election, immigrant advocacy organizations say more deportations are looking likely and a slew of legal challenges could also get in the way. KHOL’s Jenna McMurtry talks with Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr, Lincoln County Sheriff Matt Johnson and Jackson immigration lawyer Elisabeth Trefonas about that reality. It’s been about a year since Teton County Search and Rescue was able to add a multi-million-dollar helicopter to the organization. KHOL’s Dante Filpu...
Nov 22, 2024•28 min•Ep. 126
On this week’s episode: KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney and Jenna McMurtry hit the polls to talk to voters in both Wilson and Jackson about what was on their minds as they cast their ballots. Those voters include: Marge Glick, Alex Coosaia, Anne Jones, Karyn Chin, Rachel Miller, Keith Cozzens, Milli Dawson, Margaret Gordon and Annette Robertson. KHOL’s Emily Cohen attended two election watch parties in Jackson. At the Teton County Democratic Party’s event at the Wort Hotel we hear from Maggie Hunt, ...
Nov 08, 2024•30 min•Ep. 125
On this week’s episode: Grizzly 399’s death has made national headlines and triggered memorials and gatherings from the Snake River Canyon to Grand Teton National Park. KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney reports both wildlife advocates like Kristin Combs and wildlife managers like Chris Servheen and Dan Thompson say the bear had a positive impact throughout it’s life but posed some unique management challenges. Former Jackson Hole Fire Chief Stephen Jellie resigned under much scrutiny last year with a ...
Nov 01, 2024•28 min•Ep. 124
On this week’s episode: Producer Alyson Spery brings us a special election edition, featuring conversations with candidates running for local office and the constituents they aim to represent. These conversions were recorded as part of KHOL’s local One Small Step initiative, produced in partnership with StoryCorps. One Small Step brings people with different beliefs into the recording studio to talk and discover their common ground. Featured here are: Town Councilor and mayoral candidate Jessica...
Oct 25, 2024•32 min•Ep. 123
On this week’s episode: KHOL’s Emily Cohen takes us overseas, to Kazakhstan where Jacksonites Scott Zimmerman and Hayden Hilke with a group of others from across the West compete in the World Nomad Games. Wyoming Public Radio’s Caitlin Tan reports the U.S. Forest Service is facing budget cuts, meaning Scott Kosiba and the local nonprofit he leads, Friends of the Bridger-Teton, will continue to be leaned on for funding and support. They contract people like Rhett Jones for essential services. Pub...
Oct 18, 2024•28 min•Ep. 122
KHOL reporter Jenna McMurtry tells us Teton County is proposing changes to its Fire Protection Plan, that among other things, expands the boundary of what’s considered wildland urban interface. Robb Sgroi of the Teton County Conservation District, Todd Fitzgerald of a local tree service business and Jackson Fire Marshall Raymond Lane provide insight into why and how residents can make their homes more fire resistant. And in partnership with Storycorps — KHOL is hosting a series of conversations ...
Oct 04, 2024•28 min•Ep. 121
On this week’s episode: Host and KHOL Senior Reporter Dante Filpula Ankney heads to Teton Village to talk to Jacksonites Gabe McNees, Ryan Stanley, Anna Catino and Erme Catino after they finish Lotoja. The over 200 mile bike race ends here in the Tetons and is only possible due to work from organizers like David Bern. KHOL reporter Jenna McMurtry talks with professional skier and ultrarunner Drew Petersen about his new film “Feel it All,” which tackles mental health in mountain towns. Wyoming Pu...
Sep 20, 2024•29 min•Ep. 120
On this week’s episode: Host and KHOL Senior Reporter Dante Filpula Ankney introduces us to the station’s revival of One Small Step. In partnership with Storycorps, we’re hosting a series of conversations between candidates running for local office and a constituent they aim to represent —- that hold differing beliefs — finding coming ground. Tune into the first of the series between Wilson resident Kat Clauson and Republican candidate for county commissioner Melchor Moore, produced by Alyson Sp...
Sep 06, 2024•28 min•Ep. 119
On this week’s episode: Trumpet Swans — the large, straight necked black billed bird was once thought to be extinct but its recovery has had strong ties to a Jackson-based nonprofit. We’ll hear more from a music therapist about their work in the community, a discussion about a tax on empty homes that’s been considered in mountain towns across the rocky mountain west including Jackson and we hear from Teton County voters about what brought them out to the polls for the primary election. Jackson U...
Aug 23, 2024•29 min•Ep. 118
On this week’s episode: Former President Donald Trump is coming to town for a costly private fundraiser, a Jacksonite is training to become the first Winter Olympian from his country, the science of wildfire smoke in the Rocky Mountain West and we’ll take a trip to a jagged rock face in Grand Teton National Park. How do we balance safety with the desire to leave no trace? Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 1...
Aug 09, 2024•30 min•Ep. 117
On this week’s episode: the town’s budget deficit and a new agreement between the town and county to split the costs of joint services. Also, we head to the Snake River where recent heat spells are impacting the river ecosystem. Lastly, we chat with the owner of a local outdoor gear repair business working to make ends meet and we introduce our new reporter, Jenna McMurtry. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at...
Jul 26, 2024•25 min•Ep. 116
On this week’s episode we take a trip out towards the park to get a tour of the Kelly Parcel. Its sale is inching closer but the fight to bring it over the finish line is far from over. Also, we hear from Jackson Police Department’s mounted patrol atop their steeds and the Grand Teton Music Festival's expansion of programming. Lastly, we had a conversation with the “Jackson Boys” from their time on a national reality television show competition. They talk the heights of their early success and t...
Jul 12, 2024•26 min•Ep. 115
On this week’s episode: the latest on the Teton Pass highway reopening via a detour as a complete rebuild looms and a conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Pete Buttigieg. Also, a trip to Wyoming’s first reproductive freedom summit, as some grapple with the uncertain future of abortion in the state – in part due to challenges from right here in Teton County. And to round out today’s episode, a radio diary on a local lawyer who despite her success, deals with the all too familiar problem of T...
Jun 28, 2024•28 min•Ep. 114
On this week’s episode: All of our stories are focusing on the recent landslide closing the Teton Pass highway — and its impact on our community. Idaho commuters doubling their commute time. Businesses with how the pass is impacting them - if at all. And a WYDOT geologist to answer the question: how did this happen? Tune in! Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsr...
Jun 14, 2024•22 min•Ep. 113
