What's Your Why?
What’s Your Why? The Authors Journey
Every writer has a story—long before the first word is written. "What's Your Why?" is the podcast where authors share the journeys, inspirations, and defining moments that shaped their craft. Whether you're a book lover, an aspiring writer, or simply fascinated by the creative process, this show takes you beyond the pages and into the minds of storytellers.
Join Emy diGrappa, Executive Producer, Wyoming Humanities, as we explore the passion, struggles, and triumphs that drive authors to write. Through in-depth interviews and solo reflections, we uncover the why behind the words—because behind every book, there’s a journey worth telling.
Tune in and get inspired by the voices behind the stories.
- Update frequency
- every 16 days
- Average duration
- 25 minutes
- Episodes
- 154
- Years Active
- 2017 - 2025
Mark Jenkins: Explorer And Writer Of The Most Dangerous And Difficult
As a foreign correspondent for the past 30 years, Mark Jenkins has explored the most remote, difficult and dangerous places on the planet. He will do whatever it takes to get the story. On assignment…
Lars Hallstrom: Coal Communities and Economic Diversification
Welcome to the Global Speaker Series. a podcast partnership between the Wyoming Humanities and the Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs (www.jhcga.org).
Lars Hallstrom is a political scientist by t…
Marlin Spoonhunter: Tribal Pride, Empowerment And Education On The Reservation
“Education will help our people; children, grandchildren for our future, even our adults,” Marlin Spoonhunter, Arapahoe Tribal Leader
He is president of the Wind River Tribal College. Realizing that…
Lukas Haynes: Strategies For Promoting Bipartisan Solutions To Climate Change
Welcome to the Global Speaker Series. a podcast partnership between the Wyoming Humanities Council and the Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs (www.jhcga.org).
Lukas Haynes is a member of the Cent…
Scotty Ratliff: Serving His Native Community, The Wind River Reservation
Scotty Ratliff is a member of the Eastern Shoshone tribe on the Wind River Reservation. Scotty grew up on his family’s horse ranch north of Pavilion, Wyoming. He served in the Wyoming State House as …
Sierra Ferris and Jacoby Hereford: Native American Students Using their Education for the Reservation
Two Native American Students from the Wind River Reservation are sharing their journey to continue their education at Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Wyoming. They are both members of the Easter…
Dr. Tarissa Spoonhunter: Cultural Pride and Education on the Reservation
Dr. Tarissa Spoonhunter, professor of American Indian Studies at Central Wyoming College, is focused on sharing Native knowledge in order to increase understanding and build relationships—something t…
Willard Gould: Returning To Our Native Tongue
Willard Gould grew up on the Wind River Reservation. He is former member of the Northern Arapahoe Business Council and a member of the Northern Arapahoe Language Commission. His work has been in subs…
Eastern Shoshone Tribal Leader Ivan Posey: Born To Lead On The Reservation
What does it mean to be a citizen of an American Indian tribe and the history behind it? What does Blood Quantum mean to tribal citizens of the Wind River Reservation?Tune in and listen to Ivan talk …
Filmmaker Jennifer Tennican: Disability, Diversity And Inclusion
"Hearts of Glass" documents the early beginnings of Vertical Harvest and its employees with disabilities. Vertical Harvest is one of the world’s only multi-story hydroponic greenhouses, provides year…
Nona Yehia: Vertical Farming, Greenhouses and Community Impact
In 2009, Nona started work on Vertical Harvest of Jackson Hole. Following her passion for local food and experiences growing up with a brother with developmental disabilities, Nona conceived of a thr…
Chris Duncan: A Moral Responsibility to Amputees
"Watching individuals, adventurous daring intrepid individuals, go through life without limb function, spoke to me of a huge moral need to restore their function." Chris Duncan Dr Chris Duncan's rese…
Taylor Rees: Seeking the Deeper meaning and giving "voice" to Indigenous peoples in her Films
Taylor Rees, is a filmmaker and photojournalist. She is driven by an insatiable curiosity to explore and tell the stories beneath the surface. Her work in environmental and humanitarian issues brings…
Slam Poet Kealoha: The Story Of Everything
Kealoha is the first Poet Laureate of Hawaii and the first poet to perform at a Hawaii governor’s inauguration. He is an internationally acclaimed poet and storyteller who has performed throughout th…
Dr. Devra Davis: Wake Up! Cell Phones Are Not Toys For Young Children
Dr. Devra Davis founded non-profit Environmental Health Trust in 2007 in Teton County, Wyoming to provide basic research and education about environmental health hazards and promote constructive poli…
NEH Chairman Jon Peede: I'm in the business of curiosity
Jon Parrish Peede, the new chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), is a native of Mississippi who moved to Washington D.C. 15 years ago when President George W. Bush appointed hi…
Ali Milburn: From dumpster diver to a life mission on food waste education and distribution
Ali Milburn moved to Jackson in 2012 and soon found herself climbing into local grocery store dumpsters looking for edible food. Day after day she returned to the dump, finding high-quality, fresh pr…
Author Sam Western: Getting at the Core of the Human Soul
" I love writing history. I love writing about places and people's narratives. I love history for getting at the core of the human soul." Samuel Western has served in the Swedish Merchant Marine, wor…
Jacqueline Van Meter: The Audio of Storytelling space is just Blowing up!
"Ultimately our goal is to give people the opportunity to really listen to one another and to honor each other by asking questions of the people in their lives." StoryCorps’ mission is to preserve an…
Dusty Nichols and Bo Elledge: Passion, Artistry and whats behind Writing a Song and hearing the Music?
Canyon Kids is the creation of Dusty Nichols and Bo Elledge. Forged on the banks of the Snake River, with an unwavering love of the American West, Canyon Kids are students of Americana, rock, and fol…