KBUT’s West Elk Word covers current and public affairs throughout the Gunnison Valley.
Learn more about the people, places, music and arts, recreation, mountain culture, and everything else Gunnison Valley.
West Elk Word airs Saturdays at noon. Archived episodes are available below:
West Elk Word, 7/25/20: Chris Rourke, Editor-in-Chief, Gunnison Country Times
A candid conversation with the new Editor of the Gunnison Country Times on what it’s like to cover the story of the century, a journalist’s need to develop a thick skin, solutions journalism, and more.
West Elk Word, 7/18/20: Dr. Dan “The Marmot Man” Blumstein — Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.
Dr. Blumstein shares his vast knowledge of yellow-bellied marmots, including his observations of marmot social structure, communications, and more.
West Elk Word, 7/11/20: Lauren Kugler & Maryo Ewell, Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley
Lauren Kugler is the CFGV’s new Executive Director, and Maryo Ewell is Director of Community Impact. This week, they discuss the Foundation’s role in providing COVID-19 relief to local non-profits.
West Elk Word, 7/4/20: Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy
General Manager Sonja Chavez (pictured) is joined by board members Julie Nania and JoEllen Fonken to discuss the work of the Upper Gunnison River District and this summer’s Gunnison River Festival.
West Elk Word, 6/27/20: Shelley Popke (smiling here) and Nel Burkett From the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum
Shelley Popke and Nel Burkett From the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum.
West Elk Word, 6/20/20: Erica Vernon, Executive Director, Crested Butte Music Festival
The Crested Butte Music Festival will look a little different this year, but as Erica Vernon explains, the show must go on!
West Elk Word, 6/13/20: Katie Dix, Gunnison Country Food Pantry
Executive Director Katie Dix updates us on the increase in demand at our local food pantry due to the pandemic, and on how local organizations are collaborating to get food to people in need.
West Elk Word, 6/6/20: Dr. Ian Billick, Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
Executive Director Ian Billick tells us how RMBL is adapting its operations in this summer of the pandemic. He also shares some of the most interesting and important research being conducted in Gothic.
West Elk Word, 5/30/20 – Toxic Stress and its impact on children.
The conversation features Emily Mirza from Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Project and Brad Wheaton from Gunnison County Department of Human Services.
West Elk Word, 3/28/20: Professor Lance Dalleck.
Dr. Lance Dalleck shares his research findings on High-Intensity Interval Training and its implications for improving everyone’s health.
West Elk Word, 3/7/20: Humorist and motivational speaker, Anthony Poponi
Humorist, motivational speaker, and chief happiness officer Anthony Poponi shares his insights on how to be happier at work and in life.
West Elk Word, 2/15/20: Move the Butte
KT Folz and Melissa Mason share the history of Move the Butte. Learn how this annual dance performance has become one of Crested Butte’s most iconic events.
West Elk Word, 2/8/20: Hedda Peterson, Executive Director, Metropolitan Recreation District
First, it was just TV. Today, Met Rec supports all sorts of recreational programs and amenities in Gunnison County.
West Elk Word, 2/1/20: Professor Mike King
Attorney, professor, brewer and perpetual student of life, Mike King shares his perspective on culture, the environment, social justice, and more.
West Elk Word, 1/25/19: Vita Institute for the Arts
Founders Don Seastrum and Paul Edwards share the inspiration for this unique, Gunnison-based Arts school with connections to Italy.
West Elk Word, 1/11/19: John Norton, Executive Director, Gunnison County Tourism and Prosperity Partnership
The Tourism Association has a new role and a new name. Executive Director John Norton shares how TAPP is accomplishing its mission to promote economic prosperity in Gunnison County.
West Elk Word, 1/4/20: Climate Action Conference
Gunnison County and City of Gunnison representatives John Cattles and Russ Forrest discuss the upcoming Climate Action Conference, scheduled for Friday, January, 17th.
West Elk Word, 12/7/19: Maryo Ewell, Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley
Maryo Ewell and a conversation on community, resiliency, and busting the myth of what it means to be a non-profit.
West Elk Word, 11/30/19: Luke Danielson
Mines always close. What happens when they close without adequate preparation? Luke Danielson from Sustainable Development Strategies Group explains.
West Elk Word, 11/9/19: Tim Baker, GM for Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Tim is here to discuss the Epic Promise Foundation, the non-profit arm of Vail Resorts.
West Elk Word, 10/26/19: Cheat Grass with Sam Leibl
Journalist and Masters of Environmental Management student Sam Leibl gives us the latest on this invasive annual grass and its potential impact on the Gunnison Valley.
West Elk Word, 10/12/19: Western’s Theatre Program & the Rocky Horror Show
Stephen Cole Hughes and Stephen J. Burge share insights on acting, theatre arts as a discipline of university study, and as a profession. They also give us a sneak peak at Western’s upcoming production of the Rocky Horror Show.
West Elk Word, 10/5/19: Gunnison County Libraries
Drew Brookhart gives us the rundown on the services provided by our local public libraries, and gives us information regarding the upcoming ballot initiative in support of library operations.
West Elk Word, 0/28/19: Dr. Bobby Braun
Dr. Bobby Braun directs the Engineering program at CU Boulder. He’s here to explain CU’s new partnership with Western Colorado University, which allows engineering and computer science students to attend Western, yet graduate with a degree from CU.
West Elk Word, 9/21/19: Sandy Snell-Dobert, National Park Service
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation area are managed together in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation. Learn how that’s done and what’s new with Gunnison’s backyard public lands.
West Elk Word, 9/14/19: Childcare Shortage
There’s a shortage of childcare providers in Gunnison County. But that shortage also presents an opportunity for parents to become entrepreneurs.
West Elk Word, 9/7/19: Crested Butte Snowsports Foundation
Zach Vaughter shares the mission of the CB Snowsports Foundation. Learn how the CBSF enables kids of all economic means to enjoy snowsports in the Gunnison Valley.
West Elk Word, 8/31/19: Western-Chamber Alliance
Celeste Helminski and Craig Beebe discuss the relationship between Western Colorado University and the Gunnison Chamber of Commerce. It’s a connection that benefits both students and local businesses.
West Elk Word, 8/24/19: Habitat for Humanity
Julie Robinson and Cillian Barrett tell us the story of the Gunnison Valley’s latest Habitat for Humanity build: Habitat’s first ever strawbale home.
West Elk Word, 8/17/19: Jennifer Kermode, Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority
GVRHA Executive Director Jennifer Kermode discusses the challenges presented by our current workforce housing shortage.
West Elk Word, 8/10/19: Delaney Keating, Executive Director, Startup Colorado
Startup Colorado once served the Front Range. Today, it’s focus is on rural Colorado.
West Elk Word, 8/3/19: Tyson Hausdoerffer, Western’s Graduate Writing program
Dr. Hausdoerffer shares all that’s new with the Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University.
West Elk Word, 7/27/19: Gunnison Chamber of Commerce
Representatives from the Gunnison Chamber of Commerce are here to share how they support local area businesses and the community.
West Elk Word, 7/20/19: Author Roger Kahn
Roger Kahn is here to chat about his new book, “How Crested Butte Became a Tourist Town: Drugs, Sex, Sports, Arts, and Social Conflict.” It’s an eye-opening exposé that tells the story of Crested Butte’s wild past.
West Elk Word, 7/13/19: Rob Santilli, CEO for Gunnison Valley Health
Rob discusses several new services from GVH, along with the goal to provide a continuum of care for patients. It’s a more holistic approach to healthcare.
West Elk Word 7/6/19: Charlotte Cahill on Dandelions and Bees
Are non-native dandelions nutritious for native bees? Charlotte Cahill, a student researcher at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory aims to find out.
West Elk Word 6/29/19: Gunnison Mayor, Jim Gelwicks
Mr. Gelwicks stopped by to discuss Gunnison city projects slated for this summer. He also shared his recent experience at a conference in Mexico for mayors from throughout North America.
West Elk Word 6/22/19: Ian Billick, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
Ian Billick shares the history of RMBL. Learn about past and current research at the lab and what scientists are learning from
it, it’s implications regarding climate change and our Earth’s ecological future.
West Elk Word 6/15/19: Heather Bishoff
Artist and KBUT DJ Heather Bishoff shares her perspective on the starving artist, creative inspiration, and her latest project, an interactive installation called, “See Trees.”
West Elk Word, June 8, 2019: CB Mountain Heritage Museum
Shelley Popke and Nel Burkett from the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum return, along with Jessica Reske and Beth Heller from Collections Assessment for Preservation. We’ll learn more about the museum’s efforts to care for its artifacts.
West Elk Word, May 25, 2019: CPW Wildlife Manager Brandon Diamond
Brandon Diamond discusses Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s efforts with wildlife management and conservation. Learn how the agency works to manage wildlife of all sorts, most notably big game. They also work to preserve threatened and endangered species and keeps waterways stocked with fish.
West Elk Word, May 3 2019: Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association
Dave Ochs and Laura Pickett Daniels share the latest from the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, the oldest such organization in the country.
West Elk Word April 27: Historian Dr. Duane Vandenbusche
Dr. Duane Vandenbusche’s latest book, co-authored with Grant Houston, is a collection of photos from Lake City’s early days as a mining mecca. Dr. Vandenbusche, noted local historian and storyteller, shares colorful tales from that time in his own unique, indominable way.
West Elk Word April 20: Colorado Parks and Wildlife- Seth Firestone and Daniel Brauch
Daniel Brauch and Seth Firestone are here from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Join the conversation about fishing, our local fishery and fish hatchery management, species conservation, habitat restoration, and more.
West Elk Word April 13: Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District
George Sibley and Frank Kugel from the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District share insight into the true meaning of drought. Learn what the River District is doing to plan for the future of our local watershed in light of the projected increase in our population by 2050 and the inevitable impact of climate change on both water quantity and quality in the Upper Gunnison River basin.
West Elk Word April 6: Gunnison Underdog Rescue
Gunnison Underdog Rescue is the only foster-based animal rescue oranization in the Gunnison Valley. GUR’s founder, Debra Callihan, tells us how the foster system works and how GUR collaborates with other local rescue organizations with the goal to save as many pets as possible and find them forever homes. Learn about animal welfare laws and policy in Colorado, how the internet contributes to rescue efforts and more.
West Elk Word March 9: Drew Brookhart, Gunnison County Libraries
Drew Brookhart is the Executive Director for Gunnison County Libraries. Learn why libraries still matter, how they serve our community and about plans for Gunnison County Libraries to grow.
West Elk Word March 2: Brian Calvert, High Country News, Part 2
Learn more about High Country News, how they manage to cover the entirety of the American West with in-depth, long-form storytelling, and why it matters. This is part 2 of a 2-part conversation with Brian Calvert, Editor-in-Chief for High Country News.
West Elk Word Feb 23: Brian Calvert of High Country News, Part 1
This is part 1 of a 2 part conversation with Brian Calvert, Editor-in-Chief for High Country News. Brian shares why, in a time when newsrooms are shrinking, High Country News remains strong and growing.
West Elk Word Feb 9: Brooke McMillan, CB Center for the Arts
Brooke McMillan recently recently took on the Literary Arts program at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. She’s already grown it impressively, and is here to share upcoming workshops related to all things literary – storytelling, fiction, non-fiction, nature writing, poetry, and the upcoming Murder in the Mountains Mystery/Noir festival.
West Elk Word Feb 2: Documentary Filmmaker Jack Lucido
Professor and award-winning documentary filmmaker Jack Lucido is here to share his creative process, the stories behind his recent work, and the positive impact that can come from socially-conscious filmmaking.
West Elk Word Jan 19: Sustainable Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Committee
Scott Borden, John Messner, John Norton and Frank Kugel are all members of a larger committee known as STOR – Gunnison County’s Sustainable Tourism and Recreation Committee. They share the committee’s mission, discoveries, and discuss local efforts to protect Gunnison County’s natural resources and ensuring a quality experience for visitors while recognizing the impacts of the tremendous growth in visitors we’re experiencing in our community.
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