Wanna Know Idaho

By Boise State Public Radio

What's Wanna Know Idaho about?

Wanna Know Idaho is a listener-generated podcast from Boise State Public Radio that is driven by YOU! No matter how quirky or serious your question might be, we want to know: What sparks your curiosity about the Gem State, Idaho culture or the people who call it home? Click here to join this curious collective by sharing your question.

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Wanna Know Idaho episodes:

12.18.2020
What's The Deal With Geothermal Energy In Idaho?
Idaho is rich with geothermal activity. The state boasts dozens of natural hot springs for soaking, some close to city centers and others a hike away. But when Wanna Know Idaho listener Ted Eisele moved to Idaho in 1980, it...
10.23.2020
How Did Goatheads Come To Idaho?
Back in 2016, Wanna Know Idaho listener Marshall Simmonds was out on a summer bike ride with some friends on the Boise Greenbelt. Suddenly, a bike tire popped. Then, another. Soon, Marshall and his friends found themselves walking their bikes...
09.01.2020
Did Idaho Have Any Housing Discrimination Laws During The Jim Crow Era?
Up until her retirement a few months ago, Debra Smith taught high school English in Meridian. Every year, she had her 11th graders read "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry.
04.28.2020
How Can I Help Out During Coronavirus?
Michael Kramer-Duffield had just moved to Idaho and was looking for work in the restaurant industry when COVID-19 swept through. He's out of work, but like many of us, getting antsy and knows he could be putting his free time...
03.03.2020
Has The Treasure Valley Gone To The Birds?
Walking her dogs every evening in Meridian, Wanna Know Idaho listener Morgan Keating began to wonder: what’s up with all these seagulls? And suddenly, birds of all kinds were everywhere. (Cue the cliche Hitchcock montage.)
02.13.2020
Abraham Lincoln Never Visited Idaho... So Why Are There Statues In His Honor In Boise?
Yesterday would have been Abraham Lincoln’s 211th birthday.
08.02.2019
Why Are There Counties And Cities With The Same Name But The City Is Not In The County?
When Robin Fehlau was planning her move to Boise eight years ago, something peculiar kept throwing off her housing search: homes in Boise County kept on showing up, all of which were miles and miles away from her office.
05.20.2019
What's 'Wanna Know Idaho' Been Up To?!
You may have been wondering what Wanna Know Idaho has been up to lately. Rest assured: We'll be back in June! You can always submit a new question here.
03.18.2019
'Wanna Know Idaho' Looks At Prehistoric Volcanoes
The region's volcanoes represent the northeastern portion of the Pacific's "Ring of Fire" and 12 million years ago, Idaho saw much more volcanic activity than it does today. The latest installment of Wanna Know Idaho imagines a Gem State covered...
03.01.2019
What Was The Treasure Valley Like When There Was Volcanic Activity?
On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted.
02.12.2019
Place Names And Volcanic Activity: Which Question Should We Answer Next?
Wanna Know Idaho is your crowd-sourced podcast. We're looking for your votes to determine which story we should report next. Each of these questions were submitted by curious folks in the community just like you:
02.04.2019
'Wanna Know Idaho' Finds Out Where Zoo Animal Waste Goes
Wanna Know Idaho asked Idahoans to submit questions they want answered about our state. In the latest edition, host Frankie Barnhill seeks to answer the question on everybody's mind - "what happens to the poop at Zoo Boise?" Barnhill joins...
02.04.2019
'Wanna Know Idaho' Finds Out Where Zoo Animal Waste Goes
Wanna Know Idaho asked Idahoans to submit questions they want answered about our state. In the latest edition, host Frankie Barnhill seeks to answer the question on everybody's mind - "what happens to the poop at Zoo Boise?" Barnhill joins...
02.01.2019
What Happens To All The Poop From The Animals At Zoo Boise?
When you search "zoo poo" on the internet, one of the first things that comes up is a link to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. You quickly learn that the facility sells composted animal waste to people in the...
01.14.2019
Zoo Poop, Famous Potatoes And Boise's 'Bench': Which Story Should We Report?
Update!
12.07.2018
Why Is The Demographic In The West Central Mountains Primarily 55+?
Melissa Hamilton lives in McCall, Idaho with her young family. She works at the University of Idaho extension office in Cascade, and she identifies as being a member of the West Central Mountains. When she heard Wanna Know Idaho was...
11.20.2018
'Wanna Know Idaho' Looks At Stibnite Mining Project
Boise State Public Radio's Wanna Know Idaho looks at the Midas Gold's Stibnite Mining Project and answers the question, "What impacts will this mining operation have on our greater community here?" We speak with the podcast's producer, Frankie Barnhill, about...
11.19.2018
What Are The Potential Impacts From An Open Pit Mine In Idaho's West Central Mountains?
Wanna Know Idaho traveled to Idaho's West Central Mountains to answer this question from McCall resident Fred Coriell: "What impacts will an open-pit mining operation, like the one proposed by Midas Gold, have on our region?" Cascade-based reporter Monica Gokey...
10.30.2018
Here’s What’s Up With Your Question About The Stibnite Mine In Central Idaho
UPDATE: Mining stories are complicated, and we want to take the time to tell this story right. So be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss our complete Wanna Know Idaho episode on the Stibnite Gold Project...
10.11.2018
Which West Central Mountain Story Should We Tell? Vote Now!
For this round of Wanna Know Idaho – we’re headed to the West Central Mountains. Have you ever wondered…
10.03.2018
Why Are Gas Prices So Expensive In Idaho?
Depending on where you live in Idaho, you might find that prices at your local gas station are 30-40 cents higher per gallon than in neighboring Wyoming and Montana. So...what’s up with that?
10.03.2018
'Wanna Know Idaho' Looks At Gem State Gas Prices
Boise State Public Radio's Wanna Know Idaho answers the questions you have about our state. Host Frankie Barnhill joins Idaho Matters to explain Idaho's high gas prices.
09.12.2018
What Story Should We Tell In September? Voting Round Ends Thursday Night!
Update -- This voting round has closed. The winning question: "What about the prices we pay at the pump: Why does it seem like the price of gas is higher in the Gem State than in surrounding states?" Be sure...
09.10.2018
Frankie Barnhill Previews Second Season Of 'Wanna Know Idaho'
Wanna Know Idaho begins its second season, answering the un-Google-able questions you have about the Gem State. What's that red stuff planes drop on wildfires? Why are there so many Abe Lincoln statues in Boise? What would happen if the...
08.31.2018
What's In The Fire Retardant That's Dropped On Idaho Wildfires?
August in Idaho means the last month of summer vacation, county fairs, camping and … oh yeah, wildfires. Here's just a few of the wildfire stories Boise State Public Radio covered this month.
08.24.2018
Introducing The Second Season Of The 'Wanna Know Idaho' Podcast
OK, so you know that typically, the decisions about what stories you hear on your podcast feed or on the radio are made by...someone else. Typically: reporters, editors and hosts. But what if instead – YOU got to decide what...
05.02.2018
Has The 2017 Flooding Damage To The Boise Greenbelt Been Repaired?
In 2017, Boise's Greenbelt sustained massive damage as a result of a wet winter and subsequent flooding. So as spring settles in this time around, it's no wonder folks are recalling the events of last year.
05.02.2018
How Did Idaho Get That Name?
Idaho: a lot of us live here, but how many of us know the origin of the word itself?
03.21.2018
How Do The Bands For Boise's Treefort Music Fest Get Picked?
Treefort Music Fest is taking over downtown Boise. More than 400 bands are scheduled to play over the five day festival. For this installment of Wanna Know Idaho, we take a look at how the selection process works.
02.20.2018
How Did The Bonneville Flood Help Shape The Snake River Canyon?
The Snake River Canyon is an iconic landscape -- especially for people who live in central Idaho. And one of our listeners from Twin Falls was curious to know more about how it was formed.
02.12.2018
What's Up With The Abe Lincoln Statues In Downtown Boise?
Monday, February 12 would have been President Abraham Lincoln’s 209th birthday, which is a big deal for people like Dave Leroy. Leroy is Idaho’s unofficial Lincoln scholar, and has amassed quite a collection of artifacts connected to our 16th President...
01.02.2018
How Did Idaho's Capital Move From Lewiston To Boise?
Once you’re old enough to read, it’s hard not to notice the sign: “Welcome to Historic Lewiston, Idaho – Idaho’s First Territorial Capital.”
12.20.2017
What Are Some Of The Social Do's and Don'ts Of The Holiday Season?
The holiday season is replete with parties, get togethers and acts of generosity, but navigating it all can be difficult. For this seasonal installment of Wanna Know Idaho, we asked listeners about holiday etiquette.
11.20.2017
What's The Deal With The Public Art On Traffic Boxes Around Boise?
Artist Pat Kilby is an oil painter. “And I like to work in bright colors and kind of quirky perspective, little bit cartoonish I guess some people say,” says Kilby. And he often would drive home on Fifth Street in...
11.09.2017
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Bringing The F-35 To Boise?
Marilyn Frazier pours freshly steeped tea at her kitchen table. Amid the cookies and bright tangerines she’s laid out, the retiree has a notebook full of concerns about a new military plane that could soon be based in Boise.
08.31.2017
Guns Galore: 20 Firearms Found At Boise Airport So Far This Year
With four more months to go until the end of the year, the number of firearms found by TSA officials at the Boise Airport this year has already eclipsed the number found in all of 2016.
08.10.2017
What Do You Want To Know About The Solar Eclipse In Idaho? Your Questions Answered.
In the latest installment of Wanna Know Idaho, we asked what you've been wondering about the August 21 solar eclipse in Idaho. We got a lot of great questions, and because this is a once-in-a-lifetime event, Samantha Wright decided to...
08.04.2017
Why Doesn't The Treasure Valley Have A North/South Freeway?
We’ve been asking you for questions and you’ve been sending them our way. In the latest installment of our news experiment, we meet Jordan Harris. He works for one of the big hospitals in Boise managing a team of couriers....
08.04.2017
Why Doesn't The Treasure Valley Have A North/South Freeway?
We’ve been asking you for questions and you’ve been sending them our way. In the latest installment of our news experiment, we meet Jordan Harris. He works for one of the big hospitals in Boise managing a team of couriers....
07.19.2017
Who's Making Sure Idaho's Public Swimming Areas Are Clean?
Summer means barbecues, baseball and of course, bathing suits. When temperatures push a hundred degrees, there’s no better way to cool off than by jumping in a pool or pond. But this season, some of the ponds around Boise have...
06.08.2017
What Will It Take For Train Travel To Return To Southern Idaho?
The Boise Depot is one of those places Boiseans take visitors to show off their town. The early 20th Century Spanish architecture stands out and is a great backdrop for weddings and parties. But the one thing you haven’t found...

What's Wanna Know Idaho about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Wanna Know Idaho episodes:

What's The Deal With Geothermal Energy In Idaho?

How Did Goatheads Come To Idaho?

Did Idaho Have Any Housing Discrimination Laws During The Jim Crow Era?

How Can I Help Out During Coronavirus?

Has The Treasure Valley Gone To The Birds?

Abraham Lincoln Never Visited Idaho... So Why Are There Statues In His Honor In Boise?

Why Are There Counties And Cities With The Same Name But The City Is Not In The County?

What's 'Wanna Know Idaho' Been Up To?!

'Wanna Know Idaho' Looks At Prehistoric Volcanoes

What Was The Treasure Valley Like When There Was Volcanic Activity?

Place Names And Volcanic Activity: Which Question Should We Answer Next?

'Wanna Know Idaho' Finds Out Where Zoo Animal Waste Goes

'Wanna Know Idaho' Finds Out Where Zoo Animal Waste Goes

What Happens To All The Poop From The Animals At Zoo Boise?

Zoo Poop, Famous Potatoes And Boise's 'Bench': Which Story Should We Report?

Why Is The Demographic In The West Central Mountains Primarily 55+?

'Wanna Know Idaho' Looks At Stibnite Mining Project

What Are The Potential Impacts From An Open Pit Mine In Idaho's West Central Mountains?

Here’s What’s Up With Your Question About The Stibnite Mine In Central Idaho

Which West Central Mountain Story Should We Tell? Vote Now!

Why Are Gas Prices So Expensive In Idaho?

'Wanna Know Idaho' Looks At Gem State Gas Prices

What Story Should We Tell In September? Voting Round Ends Thursday Night!

Frankie Barnhill Previews Second Season Of 'Wanna Know Idaho'

What's In The Fire Retardant That's Dropped On Idaho Wildfires?

Introducing The Second Season Of The 'Wanna Know Idaho' Podcast

Has The 2017 Flooding Damage To The Boise Greenbelt Been Repaired?

How Did Idaho Get That Name?

How Do The Bands For Boise's Treefort Music Fest Get Picked?

How Did The Bonneville Flood Help Shape The Snake River Canyon?

What's Up With The Abe Lincoln Statues In Downtown Boise?

How Did Idaho's Capital Move From Lewiston To Boise?

What Are Some Of The Social Do's and Don'ts Of The Holiday Season?

What's The Deal With The Public Art On Traffic Boxes Around Boise?

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Bringing The F-35 To Boise?

Guns Galore: 20 Firearms Found At Boise Airport So Far This Year

What Do You Want To Know About The Solar Eclipse In Idaho? Your Questions Answered.

Why Doesn't The Treasure Valley Have A North/South Freeway?

Why Doesn't The Treasure Valley Have A North/South Freeway?

Who's Making Sure Idaho's Public Swimming Areas Are Clean?

What Will It Take For Train Travel To Return To Southern Idaho?