Writing Westward is a podcast run by BYU professor Brenden W. Rensink. The podcast features authors and scholars who write about the North American West.
Rensink pitched the idea for the podcast after the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies at BYU became interested in increasing its digital presence. The podcast aired its first episode in 2018 and is available on apps like Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
The Charles Redd Center is a branch of education under the History department that specializes in promoting the study of the Intermountain West. They do this by sponsoring research, publication, teaching and other programs in many different academic disciplines.
Writing Westward creates an opportunity for those who don’t know much about history to learn in a simpler way than taking a class or reading a book.
“Sometimes it’s hard for academics to connect with the public, so the podcast is a low bar of entry,” Rensink said.
The podcast hosts guests from many different backgrounds, from historians to geologists, to tell the story of the American West.
“I’m a historian, but I don’t want it just to be 100% history. So I’ve been trying to pull from some other disciplines,” Rensink said.
Geographers, geologists, biologists, environmental activists and others have also been on the podcast.
In a recent episode, Rensink hosted author and historian Martha A. Sandweiss, the author of seven different history books.
Her episode on the Writing Westward podcast featured her book called “The Girl in the Middle: A Recovered History of the American West.” The book uncovers the story of a young girl in a photograph.
“It’s such a joy to be able to share your story with other people in a more direct way. I know people are reading my book, but I don’t get to talk to them afterwards, and I don’t get to answer their questions,” Sandweiss said. “When you get the opportunity to be on a podcast, I know that the podcast has fans and has listeners.”
Writing Westward is a one-man show. Rensink said he prepares, interviews guests and edits all the audio and does all other production needed for each episode by himself.
To prepare for an episode, he will read and annotate the intended guest’s book and formulate questions as he goes.
Rensink said he does this because he wants the listeners to understand what the book is about and what the big picture questions are.
Christopher Jones is a history professor at BYU and has regularly listened to the Writing Westward podcast for 6 years.
Jones said he started listening because he wanted to expand his knowledge in the West because he did not grow up in the area.
“I was wanting to try to better understand where I live. I thought the podcast would be an easy way to keep up with the scholarly fields of the American West.” Jones said.
Jones said he has also read books that have been featured on the podcast after listening.
Neil Mathison, another recent guest on Writing Westward, has a passion for geology that came from traveling around the Western United States with his family in his youth.
His book, Airstream Country, was featured in his episode on Writing Westward.
“I think the focus he puts on the literature of the West and the history of the West is pretty important. I think it’s very brilliant of the university to have created the opportunity.” Mathison said.
At the beginning of each episode, Rensink highlights that he just wants people to be curious.
“Be curious about the world around you. If you live in the American West, be curious about the place where you live and its history, the people who live here and its environment,” Rensink said.
You can find more information on the Writing Westward website.
