About Out West (Presented by the Western Governors’ Association)
Welcome to Out West, the official podcast of the Western Governors’ Association. Tune in each month to hear experts debate the most important issues facing the region.
Beyond Drought: The Promise of Desalination and Water Reuse
A new frontier of water management is opening up across the West.
As our lakes, aquifers, and rivers face unpredictable drought conditions from year to year, western communities are exploring new ways to strengthen and diversify their water supplies.
Desalination and water reuse have emerged as one promising tool to turn previously unusable water resources into vast amounts of new supply.
In this episode, WGA’s Elias Jaynes speaks with Dr. Peter Fiske, Jeremy Crutchfield, Dave Pederson, Tim Quinn, Tanya Trujillo, Jonas Armstrong, and Scott Reinert about the promise of seawater desalination, inland brackish water desalination, water reuse, and emerging technologies for water treatment.
Altogether, these strategies are designed to ease the pressure on the West’s freshwater resources and bring in new supplies to benefit the entire region.
7 Aug 2026
Lahaina’s Next Chapter: Three Years of Recovery, Resilience and Rebuilding with Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green
Three years ago, on August 8, 2023, the world watched in horror as a catastrophic wildfire swept across Maui, destroying the historic town of Lahaina.
Yet amid the devastation, the strength of the Maui community—and the outpouring of support from around the world—demonstrated the extraordinary power of resilience, compassion, and cooperation.
Led by Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, Lahaina’s recovery has been nothing short of remarkable. Working alongside federal agencies and community partners, they cleared wildfire debris, secured more than 600 homes for survivors, helped negotiate a landmark settlement, and began the difficult work of rebuilding the town.
Today, homes are being rebuilt, businesses are reopening, and a community that feared it had lost everything is beginning to flourish once again. The recovery has also created opportunities to rebuild Lahaina in ways that are safer, more resilient, and more reflective of Hawaiian culture.
To reflect on that journey – and share lessons that could help other communities recover from future disasters – WGA’s Communications Director, Jack Spina, spoke with Lahaina resident Kaliko Storer; Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen; Maui County Deputy Managing Director Erin Wade; and Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green.
Their stories reveal not only what Lahaina has endured, but what is possible when a community comes together to reclaim its future.
27 Mar 2026
The fast-approaching future of quantum computing with Colorado Governor Jared Polis
For years, quantum computing has sounded like something straight out of science fiction. Now, it’s getting real. The industry is rapidly advancing, major breakthroughs are coming into view, and quantum could soon begin reshaping everyday life—just as artificial intelligence has in recent years.
In this episode, WGA Communications Specialist Eli Jaynes speaks with Colorado Governor Jared Polis, University of New Mexico Professor Ivan Deutsch, and Atom Computing’s Chief Product Officer, Justin Ging, about the state of the industry and where it’s headed next.
He also speaks with Professor Heather Lewandowski from the University of Colorado and Gwen Leifer from Lockheed Martin about efforts to develop a quantum workforce capable of taking this industry to the next level.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.3 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 35 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
58
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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