A New Angle

This week's guest is Andrew Schulz, the community manager for C2M Beta. C2M Beta is an open innovation lab supported by Blackfoot Communications. C2M Beta offers a curriculum and a collection of resources designed to help entrepreneurs in Montana bring their ideas to life. In this episode Justin and Andrew discuss how C2M Beta came to be and the program's 12 week curriculum that helps entrepreneurs develop and refine their ideas. Justin asks Andrew about the role of technology in entrepreneurship and how equity plays out in C2M Beta's cohort selection. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jV_nw34iJKsJM2RWNTVDNv3G0VjkOY5-C4MP_DMxqK8/edit?usp=sharing

This week's episode is the November edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend Bryce Ward about some of the broader challenges facing our society. Justin and Bryce discuss the crisis in the political labor market, where fewer people seem interested in running for office, and those who are elected have less experience in government. The pair talk about why this crisis is occurring, including the role of media, money and a shrinking labor supply. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14XLNNCxeGEJNt2Q9GnppNZsNb_ePbrQRnc-U9t-99IM/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guests are Dylan Cherrulo and Wendy Owens. Dylan is an economics student at the University of Montana and a program assistant at the Blackstone Luanchpad. Wendy is the founder and CEO of Hexas Biomass, and she's also Dylan's mom. In this episode Dylan and Wendy discuss their paths into entrepreneurship and what about this choice of career path is so appealing to them both. Justin asks Wendy and Dylan about why the notion of doing good by people and the planet is important in the work that they do, and they discuss Hexas, Wendy's most recent entrepreneurial venture. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y55VLHoXJVDtdeK4UoILvJk2lqgggnsTbJha2hXfOts/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guest is Josh Olsen, co-founder and program director of the Montana Wilderness School, a Bozeman based organization that offers expeditionary wilderness courses for youth that foster personal growth and a conservation ethic. In this episode Justin asks Josh about his motivation for starting MWS and why the school focuses specifically on Montana kids. Josh talks about the power of kids from diverse backgrounds coming together on immersive backcountry experiences and the importance of trusting and communicating with each other. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wcZDXdX9c5eniagQ9jZR5qXYUMQSqDR0ee3nSmqZYFc/edit?usp=sharing

This week is the October edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend Bryce Ward about some of the broader challenges facing our society. This week, Justin and Bryce continue discussing A.I. and creativity with Justin's colleague at the College of Business, Professor Erik Guzik. Erik is an expert on creativity and entrepreneurship and recently published a study finding that generative A.I. can score in the top percentile of creative thinking. In this episode Justin asks Bryce and Erik how we as a society should manage A.I. and how happy accidents play a role in creativity. Bryce asks Justin and Erik to talk about how they are using A.I. in their roles as educators at the university. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18ecd_c_WV39tVAtyYMMjx6xNy0xfC4OWer7MbNfOaQY/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guest is Ken Stern, director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate. He's also an award winning author, scholar and attorney. Ken has argued before the Supreme Court and testified in front of Congress. Ken will be visiting the University of Montana community on November 6th as part of the President's lecture series. This conversation was recorded prior to the recent eruption and violence between Hamas and Israel. In this episode Justin asks Ken to define hate and whether anti-Semitism operates differently than other forms of hate. They briefly discuss the Israel-Palestine debate and how universities should approach exposing students to a variety of viewpoints and ideas. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Crbsdvky8dxCvXiLGOJKvwsIY06FUeIa6A1bD0nq8Vk/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guest is Shaun Radley, purveyor of all things at MTCX and master of bike race organizing in western Montana. There is something special happening right now with the sport of cycling in Montana, and Shaun is a big reason why. In this episode Justin and Shaun talk about the upcoming 2023 and 2024 Pan American Cyclocross Championships, which Missoula has been selected to host in large part due to Shaun's efforts and connections. Justin asks Shaun about the application process to host that event and why bikes and biking are so special to so many people in this part of the state. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Oag-gX2YeVWaQhmJeZFLNfkJdVDSvSetfgH1kKH_Fwo/edit?usp=sharing

After some thoughtful listener questions, Justin reached back out to Nic de Castro, founder of LandTrust — a new venture seeking to connect landowners and recreationalists — to ask a few more questions, particularly about how LandTrust works with the state's block management program. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11FLTb07QVU7hAkqH5DCKlTdSKhGEFAbFkuZTXp8RfZg/edit Check out part one here: https://soundcloud.com/anewangle/91423-decastro-sc-final

This week's guest is Molly Kruckenberg, director of the Montana Historical Society, an organization charged with protecting and sharing Montana's past. The Historical Society is in the midst of building the Montana Heritage Center and Molly and Justin discuss the project in this episode. Molly describes the role the Historical Society plays in the state of Montana, how exhibit space in the new Heritage Center will be thoughtfully curated, and how she and her team highlight multiple perspectives to tell a story with as much accuracy as possible. Justin asks Molly about how the Historical Society is engaging with young people throughout the state. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZUP7HFnZHZ_C0r0wsOkklERt19xvB1i9TrTZOSDTyj4/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guests are Latisha Buck Elk Thunder and Dacia Red Thunder Griego, founders of Indigenous Made Missoula, a platform created to empower and propel Indigenous artists. In this episode, Justin asks about the inspiration behind Indigenous Made Missoula, the importance of representation and Indigenous spaces, as well as how non-Indigenous consumers can be more thoughtful and intentional in the way they engage with Indigenous art and artists. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13Rru-vHQCBH4xb-C1-5H3JyPvpd7vvfImBLB0o9Oxa0/edit?usp=sharing

This week is the September edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend Bryce Ward about some of the broader challenges facing our society. This week Justin and Bryce are joined by Justin's colleague at the College of Business, Professor Erik Guzik. Erik is an expert on creativity and entrepreneurship and recently published a study finding that generative A.I. can score in the top percentile of creative thinking. Erik talks about his definition of creativity and shares the method he and his fellow researchers used to conduct their study. The trio discuss what these findings mean for society and the future implications of a disruptive technology like generative A.I.. Stay tuned for part two of this conversation in next month's Incentives & Instincts episode. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ln8SkRLks1xW6pvtnsElnPRN8u7NQR7ihKZZC0ePDLI/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guest is Peter Stark, bestselling author of Astoria, Young Washington, and now the newly released Gallop Toward the Sun: Tecumseh and William Henry Harrison's Struggle for the Destiny of a Nation. Peter's new book explores a critical period of early U.S. history overlooked and not well understood. In this episode Justin asks Peter about his career transition from adventure journalism to history books, Peter describes a forgotten, yet formative part of American history, and ruminates on his approach to telling the nuanced, messy, complicated stories of our nation's history. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C5JHzl3t1PFWqitTwWdHZpUJWywSaSKO8__NSXPlULQ/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guest is Nic de Castro, founder of LandTrust, a new venture seeking to connect landowners and recreationalists. LandTrust creates new revenue streams for landowners and enables access to lands previously difficult or impossible for the public to access. In this episode, Justin and Nic discuss the pressure on private lands, particularly working lands in the American West, how LandTrust incentivizes conservation, and the challenges the company has faced as an innovative tech platform launching in the state of Montana. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o4V9hHmHfib99Rz6bjAMcznbixrncLzcWBcJOwaZUPc/edit?usp=sharing

This week is the August edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend Bryce Ward about some of the broader challenges facing our society. This week, Bryce takes on the role of host to talk with Justin and Nick Mott about their brand new book, This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat. Justin and Nick share their earliest experiences with wildfire and how their perceptions and understanding have changed since then. Bryce asks what the co-authors want the individual reader to take away from the book and also what our broader responsibility is to engage with policy makers on the subject of wildfire. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OzrVUhEGaaeIzXgGku8kTgMEoDmNlog9LsstYfQfhBs/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guest is Colin Hickey, senior vice-president of operations at VidCon - a conference that brings together up to 75,000 online creators each year. Colin is a Montana entrepreneur and community leader and has grown the VidCon program across the globe. In this episode, Colin tells the story of how he got involved with VidCon and its rapid growth over the course of a few short years. Justin asks Colin a series of lightening round questions about streaming media, regulation in big tech, content abundance and more. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V8_fK8lOcOULnoZrOVJhmZnmWN-5v69PBn8sUsA3Yb8/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guest is Jeff Batton, a principal at HomeStake, a fund that pursues a variety of business models, all designed around connecting more local investors with more local companies. In this episode, Justin and Jeff talk about the trend towards consolidation in business and some solutions HomeStake is pursuing to avoid the problems created by continuous consolidation, how investors can rethink how they invest in order to support the biodiversity of their local business ecosystem, and how you can contribute to a healthy local economy even as an everyday consumer. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JimYxknJ-1I8NGKed-hnKmTAztcaQqjH1nKOqOYEFiw/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guest is Dr. Pardis Mahdavi, an Iranian-American professor, administrator, outgoing provost at the University of Montana, and the newly named president of the University of La Verne. Pardis is the author of multiple books and served in leadership roles in several prominent universities. In this episode Justin asks Pardis about her path into academia, what changes to the University of Montana and higher ed more broadly she would like to see and her goals for the new role as president of the University of La Verne. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WXbFyw5yg9sg_R4VSGkiiIzlUCNT2oY_xIyGWXp1t5U/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guest is Dr. Jay Erickson, a family medicine doctor in the Flathead Valley and assistant clinical dean of the University of Washington's WWAMI Program, a residency track for doctors to practice in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. In this episode Justin and Dr. Erickson discuss the challenges and opportunities in rural health care, how the WWAMI program provides access to publicly funded medical education for the residents of Montana and how to recruit more young people into the practice of rural medicine. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YgovokKr6-U5tMM3m5x_M7ofBuQZdbVrlSAE4X83z-k/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guest is journalist Sally Mauk, senior news analyst and news director emerita at Montana Public Radio. Sally has covered Montana politics and other topics for over 30 years and is the host of MTPR's Capitol Talk. In this episode Sally talks about the factors that brought her to journalism, her perspective on the 2023 Montana Legislative session and the future of political coverage in Montana. Justin asks Sally about friend and colleague Chuck Johnson, and about her current objectives now that she has semi-retired. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HRVBLQ1smR9DBJCgeXqKEyuFzJ6y_g0Uz6P_yUJOKqg/edit?usp=sharing

This week is the July edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend Bryce Ward about some of the broader challenges facing our society. This week the two discuss some of the more encouraging signals in the economy. They cover declines in violent crime, inflation and increases in labor force participation rates over the last year or so. Justin and Bryce also dig into a recent study which found people across the world tend to believe things used to be better in the past and discuss why this might be and why that idea isn't actually accurate. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KeXOkMce66kq4VSpa_fl8XQIQ8WNKWlTAjh1mV06Mdg/edit?usp=sharing

This week Justin returns to his conversation with Emmy Award winning production designer and art director John Shaffner about his career designing some of the most iconic sets in television, including Friends and Two and a Half Men. In part two of this two-part episode, they discuss the transition from network television to today's streaming services, the inner-workings of license deals and why the number of sitcoms produced each year continues to decline. Justin asks John about his connection to the University of Montana and continued dedication to the college. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lf61TK02ugiUAY1TUf0pRJHU2lwtwrLstWVJKm-Nisg/edit?usp=sharing

This week Justin talks with Emmy Award winning production designer and art director John Shaffner about his career designing some of the most iconic sets in television, including Friends and Two and a Half Men. In part one this two-part episode, they discuss Shaffner's path into production design, how screen technology has evolved to shape the industry and most importantly, how did the cast of Friends afford to live in such a big apartment in New York City? Stay tuned for part two of this conversation next week. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Um2Op_Xmgp0Jm0ZkgbMO7oLLEhHNn4WQjhCBtIZqGyg/edit?usp=sharing

This week's guests are legendary Missoula-based musicians, Jeff Ament and John Wicks, who have collaborated to form the band Deaf Charlie. Their first full length album, Catastrophic Metamorphic, recently released on June 30th. In this episode they talk with Justin about the Deaf Charlie origin story and how the two musicians have yet to play together in a studio. They cover the challenges and opportunities of fostering creativity and collaboration with the only rule is, there are no rules. Justin asks about their upcoming show at the Ohana Festival and the decision to produce the album on vinyl. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h9ZoXhanDu7m-rgl3MiF_ZqhawJgUDHifm5k_jsnNnI/edit?usp=sharing

This week A New Angle hosts four guests doing amazing work to help us understand the role of exercise in treating cancer. These folks will headline the upcoming Exercise in Lifestyle Medicine and Oncology Care Conference at the University of Montana, July 12th and 13th. In this episode, Justin speaks with one guest who was part of the largest study of weight training in breast cancer survivors and learns why the University of Montana, as an R1 research university, is a great place to study the effects of exercise on cancer. Justin speaks with a breast cancer survivor about how important exercise, specifically dragon boat rowing, was to her recovery, and asks the guests what it's been like trying to get people to embrace healthier lifestyles. Learn more about the conference here: https://silverliningmt.org/events/exercise-and-lifestyle-medicine-in-oncology-care-a-medical-and-survivorship-conference-in-western-montana/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1otoZKZ08TtV-h0rd6AOflNzYsGf5j0yV45-iDkgKUk4/edit

This week is the June edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend Bryce Ward about some of the broader challenges facing our society. This month Bryce and Justin respond to a listener inquiry about parking. As it turns out, parking policies have driven much of how American cities look and feel. In this episode they explore studies on parking and congestion, the way American cities were built to accommodate ample parking and the potentials of a technological fix for our parking woes. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lsXKhreqYO7-8oNXODdWMJxD4GAIW3nrywKGUZBoFis/edit

This week's guest is Jeffrey Funk, a blacksmith from Bigfork, Montana, who's been crafting public sculpture and architectural metalwork for over 30 years. Jeffrey is the director of the New Agrarian School, an organization that teaches blacksmithing and other traditional rural crafts. In this episode, Jeffrey talks about how being interested in everything led to his blacksmithing career and provides some history of the profession. He also brings up how he deals with certain contradictions in his work — like the fact that the backbones of blacksmithing are destructive to the Earth. Justin asks how blacksmithing fits into the context of other themes of local economy, like CSAs or farmers' markets, and how Jeffrey brings diversity into the New Agrarian School. Learn more about the New Agrarian School here: https://www.newagrarianschool.org/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lNyP7ROE_ZL_xLAtlxtFz7-UcAuZjPlVzW4lv5FP2Ck/edit

This week's guests are Sherry and Andy Chidwick, two recently retired schoolteachers from Stevensville, Montana who are about to launch their next chapter of life as overland adventures. The Chidwicks are in the final stages of selling all of their stuff and building out their adventure vehicle. In this episode, Andy explains that he and Sherry didn't want to wait for the traditional American retirement age to start traveling. The Chidwick's motto is "less stuff, more stories," and that carries them through their midlife plans. Justin asks whether they have to have a perfect marriage to make this work, and learns their rig is not hashtag van life. Follow the Chidwick's journey here: https://www.nomadicmidlife.com/blog Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H9cILlM8YgRDbHDxgrhE0Q02xTXynE2ev2oERcCZDfQ/edit

This week's guest is Curt Olds, internationally renowned singer, opera and musical theater director and entrepreneur. Curt has performed on Broadway, at the Lincoln Center and at Carnegie Hall. He is a Butte native and a graduate of the University of Montana with a degree in vocal performance, and the most recent recipient of the Odyssey of the Stars. In this episode, Curt talks about how much of a spring board Missoula was for his career, and the importance of viewing performance arts as a business, but not a democracy. Justin asks Curt about some of his work with agencies, and how changing societal standards have affected his approach to the industry. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v3g1ZowZjaoPLD4EsoID9C9xI6GtB3JpIBfXhL9XUYc/edit

This week is the May edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend Bryce Ward about some of the broader challenges facing our society. Last month, Justin and Bryce explored why America seems to be so deadly, and this time they're talking about Bryce's “deaths of abundance” concept. To do this, the two dive into a Plato allegory and look at the problems that come with creating abundance. Justin and Bryce talk about the tools people have for regulating emotions and desires, but the lack of infrastructure to support that, and the question of how to regulate ourselves as humans so that when we do make mistakes, we don't beat ourselves up over it. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14OCHvlNBOrBtZ7SRIMsvG4cbHYGgd1wd4w9FlnQNsf0/edit

This week's guest is Cole Mannix, founder of the Old Salt Co-Op, a collection of entrepreneurs and ranchers seeking to produce nourishing food while preserving the ecological health of the Montana landscape. In this episode, Cole talks about his studies in biology and theology, and the different approach Old Salt is taking to Montana meat. Justin asks what part of the meat production system is broken, and what role the consumer plays in fixing it. Cole brings up a festival Old Salt is putting on, and listeners can learn more and get tickets at https://www.oldsaltco-op.com/pages/festival Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mIbwMwv5RM0aLcrOO5zDcO5M4U95MZjlJC9OfBEw-w0/edit

This week's guests are Celinda Lake and Ed Goeas, award winning political pollsters and strategists who came together to write A Question of Respect: Bringing Us Together in a Deeply Divided Nation. The book is an exploration of how America grew so divided and how we might come back together. In this episode, Justin asks Celinda and Ed what they think of the state of our democracy now, and why this was the right time to write their book. Celinda and Ed talk about three key parts of the book — social media, super PACs and cable news — and Justin asks both what they see as solutions in a difficult political time. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LP7U7gRdjoktrZDtUadzT35OM5Hlf6IPRqh_dYruQiw/edit

This week's guest is Ken Fichtler, founder and CEO of Gaize, a Montana based startup that recently launched a cannabis impairment detection product. Ken served as chief business development officer for four years during the Bullock administration and is a seasoned vet of the Montana entrepreneurship scene. Before they dive into Gaize, Justin asks Ken about his shift from entrepreneurship to public service and what he sees as the macro-level trends of employment. Ken talks about a question that lead him to Gaize — the fact that he wasn't aware of any system that existed to detect cannabis impairment — and how now he's created the world's largest dataset of cannabis impaired eye movement. Learn more about Gaize here: https://www.gaize.ai/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sXDdjD3MPJMronSQksCaxfhrDYLNjn3B26F6rLLvCAw/edit

This week is the April edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend Bryce Ward about some of the broader challenges facing our society. Today, the two dig into the perplexing and inconvenient reality that Americans appear to be dying much younger than our counterparts in other advanced economies. Bryce brings up one article that shows Americans are dying more frequently at younger ages. Justin asks what some of the reasons behind that phenomenon are, and the two go through several of those possibilities. Tune in next month for part two of this conversation. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14XbK4obBoy1qtTUXdvJPXl4yAojgoWXDqrlVe1_sdLc/edit

This week's guests are Nate Bellinger and Grace Gibson Snyder. Nate is an attorney with Our Children's Trust, which is suing the state of Montana on behalf of 16 youth climate activists, including Grace, a graduate of Hellgate High School in Missoula. In this episode, Grace talks about the things she noticed changing in Montana, like wildfire smoke and melting glaciers, that inspired her to get involved with the court case. Grace also brings up the mental health impacts of living in a changing climate. Nate explains the case and what the goal is, along with outlining the national implications it could have. The case goes to trial in Helena on June 12. Learn more about Our Children's Trust here: https://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15ScBsxFODxUqrhvUjW0s9x7Ni9SaGu-6cDEpr8yEo0Y/edit

This week's guest is Wendy Weaver, executive director of Montana Freshwater Partners, an organization dedicated to restoring, enhancing and preserving Montana's freshwater ecosystems. This team of five women based in Livingston includes a broad array of skills and capabilities, all focused on protecting Montana's aquatic resources. In this episode, Justin asks Wendy what the current state of play is with Montana's freshwater, and Wendy gives an example of one of Montana Freshwater Partners' success stories. Justin considers the perspective of the river and how it benefits from conservation, and Wendy discusses the impact of tourism on Montana's natural resources. Learn more about Montana Freshwater Partners here: https://freshwaterpartners.org/who-we-are/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wzxfggpQDPv5sc5JVEvJsTECH7-LTfjMycZKvctNlr8/edit

This week's guest is Rowena He, associate professor of history at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and currently a fellow at the National Humanities Center. She's an expert on contemporary Chinese history and the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Professor He's writing and commentary appear regularly in the popular press, and she will be joining the University of Montana community on April 13 as part of the President's lecture series. In this episode, Professor He talks about how the Tiananmen Square massacre changed her life, and the lives of many in her generation. Justin asks about the risks Professor He has had to take, and she talks about the trend of radicalization across the world. Get tickets to the lecture series here: https://www.umt.edu/president/events/lectures/2022-2023/rowena-he.php Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VSRjFztCoDxgN9Ga6cCIRiqf_nMQngsOyNlukKvDfoc/edit

It is pledge week here at Montana Public Radio. So, this week's episode is a special edition of Incentives & Instincts with economist and friend Bryce Ward. Bryce and Justin talk about why our trust in media is so low when the quality and performance of media has arguably been improving. Justin asks Bryce how our trust in media has declined, and Bryce uses diet as an analogy for abundance of information and what that can do to our tastes. Bryce talks about how people are shopping more for information that engages them, not informs them, and Justin asks what we can do to improve the media environment. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C19sORPrDxHev9f20J_VaFTxqnGzpOSbfkcYbEa4NBA/edit

This week's guest is Michelle Uberuaga, executive director of the Park County Environmental Council. PCEC does important work to protect the land, water, wildlife and people throughout the northern gateway to Yellowstone National Park. In this episode, Justin asks Michelle about the community PCEC represents and what the values of the community are that need to be represented. Michelle talks about the Yellowstone River floods and how PCEC was an organizing force in the community during that event and gives listeners an idea on how they can get involved in some of the issues that PCEC advocates for. Learn more about PCEC here: https://www.pcecmt.org/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tF8z3Hhej1n9lZRNWBmXvxsje2tn7R4s_RpZdMagmSc/edit

This week we bring you a special cross-over episode with MTPR's The Write Question, hosted by Lauren Korn. Lauren and Justin interview University of Montana philosophy professor, Christopher Preston, about his wonderful new book, Tenacious Beast: Wildlife Recoveries That Change How We Think About Animals. In this episode, Christopher explains how Europeans are learning to live with wolves — in fact, the European Union requires every country to find a place for wolves on the landscape. He mentions that the purpose of his book is to remind people that when an animal returns to the landscape, people get a second chance to learn about it, and explains his decision to try to use his book to reach a broader audience. Learn more about Christopher's book here: https://christopherjpreston.com/hope-in-a-wildlife-apocalypse-book/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GQXk7y6qWdvv7H2u96nx8wzBIcJowJUbLugX-Ks1qgI/edit

This week we bring you an encore episode of our conversation with the Dean of Montana political journalism, Chuck Johnson. Johnson passed away unexpectedly on March 4. During his 45 year career, Johnson covered 22 legislative sessions, eight governors, nine U.S. senators, and 12 U.S. representatives. He will be missed dearly by the state as a whole. Tributes to Chuck: 1.https://montanafreepress.org/2023/03/06/chuck-johnson-dean-of-montana-political-journalists-dies/ 2.https://helenair.com/news/local/montana-has-lost-a-legend-chuck-johnson-longtime-mo[…]rnalist-dies/article_254ba310-e03c-5e9b-9f78-de50624abc53.html 3.https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2023-03-06/chuck-johnson-dean-of-montana-journalism-dies Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MYKJvi5rTSTxIMULmU2o82TFSJbzNMvOyTapmnISFcs/edit

This week's guests are Alex Few and Jared Beaver, the creators and hosts of Working Wild University, a new podcast about the interaction of science and culture playing out on working lands across the American West. In this conversation, Justin wonders why starting Working Wild U with wolves in Season One was so compelling and asks both Alex and Jared how they describe the problem surrounding wolves in the West. Alex defines what conflict means in a Working Wild U context, and Alex and Jared talk about what surprised them most working on the podcast. Jared hints that a Season Two may be on the way. Checking Working Wild U out here: https://workingwild.us/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p4uPfQKcdUD6ADE5wx9Trm5o2u24QBHzqWW_Z_lfZJc/edit

This week is the February edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend Bryce Ward about some of the broader issues facing our society. Justin and Bryce talk about changes in Montana's demographics and culture and the effects on the Montana economy and community cohesion, and to best do that, are joined by executive director of the Missoula Economic Partnership, Grant Kier. Bryce talks about the decline of volunteerism and Grant talks about his work bringing communities together. Both chat about the different ways we can reach out to new faces in Montana and talk to them about what it's like living here, and Justin asks for advice from Grant and Bryce on where people should start when wanting to get involved in their communities. Learn more about the Missoula Economic Partnership here: https://www.missoulapartnership.com/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qgAmE45586xfA1kVjN1hNOajJiRMsvwr6ztuaz-Jqfc/edit

This week's guest is Mariah Gladstone. Mariah grew up in northwest Montana and is Blackfeet and Cherokee. In 2016, she launched in IndigiKitchen, an online platform dedicated to re-indigenizing diets and food systems. IndigiKitchen reaches a wide audience with a food based message of education, empowerment and activism. In this episode, Justin asks Mariah what her relationship with food was growing up. Mariah talks about how in New York City, she couldn't find bison meat and gives a brief history of Indigenous food systems. Justin asks Mariah how she got her website off the ground, and wonders how she shares her knowledge around the country. Learn more about IndigiKitchen here: https://www.indigikitchen.com/about/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12punskp_6xy8n8SQjyMT1czWFprWzlDhRagEoTbRN48/edit

This week is a conversation Justin moderated for City Club, featuring Bryce Ward and the director of UM's Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Pat Barkey. City Club aims to bring Montanans together to inform and inspire citizens on issues facing the community. In this episode, Justin asks Pat how Montana's economy has changed over the past decade and if this is a good time to be an entrepreneur. A question and answer segment is provided at the end of the episode, too, where City Club attendees ask interesting questions to the panel. City Club holds forums on the second Monday of every month. Learn more at https://cityclubmissoula.com/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17WQCuc0kiv742Lc5fyO3xvkl65uSG-1ANQGJwSFGgXI/edit

This week's guest is Marcel Huijser. Marcel is a road ecologist with the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University. He studies the interaction between wildlife and transportation infrastructure, something anyone who's spent time on Montana's roads has likely thought about. In this conversation, Justin asks Marcel about the impacts of transportation on wild ecosystems and how big a problem some of those impacts actually are. Justin ponders what the best places are to put traffic mitigation implements, and Marcel gives some examples of great works of mitigation. Check out some of Marcel's wildlife photography here: https://www.marcelhuijserphotography.com/ Transcription here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cok6cI-Em3b42zHqMdAfopiv3Pfb0BjQftlh1JdQpCk/edit

This week is the January edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend Bryce Ward about some of the broader issues facing our society. Today, Justin and Bryce look back on the predictions they made for last year and make a few for 2023. In this episode, Justin and Bryce recap on their predictions about Covid, remote work, the economy, college athletics and politics. Bryce says he feels optimistic about where the economy is right now, and gives his prediction for what the economy might be like this year, and what might be in store for Montana. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-YsO9_0UKQsAmm2OXBktgOG0_Ow3QY1shH-J6ze-RiU/edit

This week's guest is Adam Peterman. This year, Adam put together one of the finest seasons the trail running world has ever seen, including a win in his debut 100 miler, the hallowed Western States. In November, Adam won the World Mountain and Trail running championship. At only 27 years old, his future looks bright. In this episode Justin asks Adam about his formative years as a runner, what made him take a crack at 100 miles and what his thought process is like through a 100 mile day. Adam brings up the benefit of having some blind faith in yourself and what it feels like to have running as his job. Justin asks Adam about a day in his life, and Adam gives some projections on the next steps in his running career. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jNpw2kfNrFjLRgmUP8hgnPvKtoL5h4NGPeZr9ThEBIY/edit

This week's guest is Dr. Lerone Martin, associate professor of religious studies and director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. Dr. Martin will be visiting the University of Montana on January 26th as part of the President's Lecture Series. And since this event is a key part of the university's Martin Luther King Day celebrations, Justin is also joined by the University of Montana's director of African-American studies and history professor, Dr. Tobin Miller Shearer. Justin asks Dr. Martin why we're still studying Martin Luther King Jr., and Dr. Martin brings up some downsides of the MLK Day holiday. Justin wonders how King's legacy informs our culture today, and Dr. Martin advocates for thinking of King as a conversation partner. Dr. Martin's talk will be on January 26 at 7:30 p.m. For more information and to register, visit umt.edu/president Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1avPz4mkXXd-m6wbPfpYMmr4m73c5Rwt4qzDX076mkOc/edit

This week's guests are Kris Boyd and Shawna Kelsey, the founders of Pink Bench Distilling in Troy, Montana. This story is one of community investment, engagement and revitalization. Justin asks Kris and Shawna how they came together around grizzly bears and apples, what is actually needed to make booze and what apple brandy even is. Kris offers that the forest nearby has between 35-40 botanicals that can be used in distilling spirits, and both women share that their goal is to make Pink Bench a family-friendly place, offering mocktails as well. At the end, Justin asks what insight Kris and Shawna would give to people getting into business with friends. Visit Pink Bench's Crowdfund link here: https://crowdfundmontana.com/campaigns/41t8oubg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinkbenchdistilling/?show_switched_toast=0&show_invite_to_fo[…]w_community_rollback=0&show_follower_visibility_disclosure=0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinkbenchdistilling/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ed4610c7-9e[…]f4a-9604d4ad45bf&ig_mid=4461D382-9C7D-4C14-BACD-13E3D9D81E52 Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vUPZOIlxahZygn6JGoUnZhP8ZBphvIkCA3BlEHWEijQ/edit

This week's guest is Michael Dubin, founder and former CEO of Dollar Shave Club, a business that revolutionized direct to consumer marketing and created ripple effects throughout the global economy. Michael tells Justin the key insight that led to the creation of Dollar Shave Club and gives insight into what it was like being CEO. Justin asks about Michael's priorities for making an impact outside of work. One of those priorities fits into Montana pretty well — a nonprofit to raise awareness about fuel mitigation and forest management. Michael talks about what he sees as the unique parts of entrepreneurialism in Montana and shares his advice regarding the business world today. Check out Michael's wildfire nonprofit here: https://safewoods.com/ Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X0OfDLMdcj5YnaWL-z_XsE-4H2t4KxVr3tdQM0rRVUQ/edit

This week is the December edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend, Bryce Ward, about some of the broader challenges facing our society. To close out the year, Justin and Bryce talk about some of the good things that have happened this year. Making it on that list include a relatively seamless midterm election season, a decline in the poverty rate, a stock correction, Medicaid expansion and a less extreme wildfire season. Justin and Bryce acknowledge that often in I&I they press pause on technological advancement, but note the bonuses of having more resources available more widely to solve problems. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fbwe0B_JFJ2GwRn7AD2zCM1t867eljtJ3xd3YeTXoFA/edit