What’s new in Missoula and Montana related podcasts? Here’s the latest Podcast Roundup for May, wrangled together by The Missoula Underground.
Whether you’re driving to or from work or a great outdoor adventure, or could use some stimulating content to jump-start your brain while doing your morning routine…podcasts are a great way to learn something new and cool.
For a complete listing & description of local podcasts & ways to listen to them, check out The MUG’s Podcast Guide.
A New Angle
New Podcast Series:
Fireline / Episode 1: Suppressed in Full
Episode 1 of our new podcast series Fireline is here. Today we’re joined by writers and producers Nick Mott and Victor Yvellez to get their thoughts on what Fireline is all about…
Then hear Episode 1: Suppressed in Full…
When Lily Clarke arrived at the August Complex Fire, it was a fire of sensational size. The blaze eventually burned more than 1 million acres, becoming the largest recorded wildfire in California history. Across the country in 2020, flames charred an area size nearly 5 times the size of Yellowstone National Park — the largest swathe of land burned since reliable records began. Wildfires across the country are getting bigger, hotter, and more devastating. But what’s all this fire really mean — for the west, for firefighters, and for everyday folks? And what’s it really like to fight fire on the ground?
Lily Clarke fights wildfire for the US Forest Service and received her Master of Science in Systems Ecology from the University of Montana.
John Maclean is the author of 5 books about wildfire.
Listen on Stitcher / 42 minutes
Kent Haslam on the complexity of leading Grizzly Athletics
Kent Haslam was named Director of Athletics at the University of Montana in 2012. During his tenure, he’s made major coaching decisions, dealt with controversy, added sports and managed a series of risks through the COVID-19 pandemic. In today’s conversation we talk about those challenges, his approach to leadership and what the future holds for Grizzly Athletics.
Listen on Stitcher / 38 minutes
I&I with energy economist Peter Larsen
Justin’s monthly conversations with Bryce Ward continue. This month they are joined by Peter Larsen, Staff Scientist and Deputy Leader in the Electricity Markets and Policy Department at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Peter conducts research and analysis on the economics of electricity reliability and resilience. He’s also an expert on risk to infrastructure from extreme events. He holds a Ph.D. in management science and engineering from Stanford, masters degrees from Stanford and Cornell and studied economics as an undergraduate student at the University of Montana.
Listen on Stitcher / 48 minutes
Uphill both ways with Alan Adams
We’re especially excited to welcome friend of the pod Alan Adams back to A New Angle. 2020 was a hard year for pretty much everyone. Alan decided to make 2020 especially challenging on a singular dimension – vertical feet traveled. In honor of his impending 40th birthday, Alan set out to climb 2,000,000 vertical feet on his skis and bike in a single calendar year. Not only did he do that, but along the way he upped the goal, set a world record and learned valuable lessons about life, priorities and perspective.
Listen on Stitcher / 35 minutes
The House That Rob Built with Megan Harrington & Robin Selvig
Today we present a quintessential Montana story. Robin Selvig was head coach of the University of Montana Lady Griz basketball team for nearly 40 years. In that time he amassed an incredible 865 wins and countless other accolades, but more importantly he built a community of inclusion and empowerment that positively transformed the lives of so many young women.
Listen on Stitcher / 36 minutes
Dr. Jonathon Richter on education technology
Dr. Jonathon Richter is the President and CEO of iLRN, the Immersive Learning Research Network. iLRN is an international organization of developers, educators and research professionals collaborating to develop the scientific, technical, and applied potential of immersive learning. These folks are out there operating on the frontier of how to communicate and collaborate using the best of technology.
Listen on Stitcher / 31 minutes
Mark Synnott on the Everest you don’t know
Today we’re excited to bring back to A New Angle, legendary climber and New York Times best-selling author Mark Synnott. Mark’s new book – The Third Pole – documents the amazing story of his team’s mission to solve one of the great mysteries of Mount Everest history – whether or not George Mallory and Sandy Irvine were the first people to stand on the summit. That mission is also captured in the amazing films – Lost on Everest and the shorter edit, The Ghosts Above. It’s a riveting story that confronts many of the dominant and oversimplified narratives associated with Mt Everest.
Listen on Stitcher / 46 minutes
I&I – The Housing Episode
Justin’s monthly conversations with Bryce Ward continue. In this edition, the two discuss the housing market and where it’s headed here in Montana.
Listen on Stitcher / 59 minutes
Chandra Brown & The Freeflow Institute
Chandra Brown is Director of the Freeflow Institute. She is a writer, a guide and an entrepreneur, and Freeflow is a venture aimed at eliminating barriers between artists and environment. To do this, Chandra and her colleagues create thoughtfully structured trips into wild spaces where emerging writers, artists and athletes can learn and grow together. This sort of community building, creative entrepreneurial venture seems quintessentially Montanan.
Listen on Stitcher / 37 minutes
CBS News’ Meg Oliver has stories to tell
Meg Oliver is a 1993 graduate of the University of Montana with a degree in journalism. She is an award-winning CBS News correspondent with more than two decades of journalism experience. Meg joined CBS News in 2006 as overnight anchor of “Up to the Minute” and correspondent for “The Early Show” and today reports for all CBS News programs and platforms. She’s covered breaking news stories around the county and world, from terrorist attacks to devastating hurricanes Meg remains actively engaged in service to UM – she is a past Dean Stone Lecturer, a member of the Journalism Dean’s Advisory Board and a supporter of women’s leadership programming at UM.
Listen on Stitcher / 37 minutes
Michael Legg on Innovating Theater
Michael Legg is in his third season as Artistic Director for the Montana Repertory Theater. Much has changed at the Rep since Michael arrived. Beyond just plays in cars and hotel rooms, Michael has brought a commitment to place-based, Montana-inspired programming. Many folks assume the business world owns the term innovation. This conversation should correct that misguided notion as what’s happening at the Montana Rep is as cutting edge as it gets.
Listen on Stitcher / 35 minutes
that seeks to showcase artists from Montana.
The Organism
The Organism is a one man band based out of Bozeman, Montana. This episode discusses some of the music industry differences featured in Montana and compares to other areas of the country.
Listen on Spotify / 65 minutes
Chauncey Allison
Chauncey Allison is a singer songwriter from Kalispell, Montana. The episode explores being a parent and a musician.
Listen on Spotify / 58 minutes
King Ropes
King Ropes is a touring rock band based out of Bozeman, Montana. The band rotates members. Featured on this episode is: Dave Hollier (singer, guitar player), Keith Martinez (drums), Jeff Jensen (guitar), Aaron Banfield (bass and synthesizer). The episode explores loss and life of a touring musician.
Listen on Spotify / 72 minutes
Ellisa Sun
Ellisa Sun is a singer songwriter from California. Her and her partner Ken recorded this episode during their cross country tour at their stop in Missoula. The episode explores touring with your partner and RV breakdowns.
Listen on Spotify / 60 minutes
The Adventure Audio Podcast with Tyler Hamilton
Selene Yeager – “Hit Play Not Pause” Host and The Fit Chick
Selene Yeager is Bicycling Magazine’s Fit Chick. Selene has had a prolific career as writer, having authored (or co-authored) dozens of books and a massive amount of articles on cycling, endurance, fitness and a number of other topics. In addition to writing, Silene is an accomplished athlete and now also the host of Hit Play Not Pause, a podcast dedicated to helping female athletes navigate menopause.
Listen on Spotify / 52 minutes
Brendan Leonard – Semi-Rad
Brendan Leonard is the creator of Semi-Rad.com, outdoor athlete and writer. Brendan is a contributing editor at Adventure Journal and a columnist at Outside Magazine. His stories have appeared in Backpacker, National Geographic Adventure, Men’s Journal, Adventure Cyclist and many other publications. Brendan joined us to talk about his writing career, cycling across the U.S., rock climbing, ultra running and his new book ‘I Hate Running And You Can Too’.
Listen on Spotify / 61 minutes
Racing Season and Summer Goals
We discuss the 2021 World Tour racing season, gravel racing/gravel bikes, summer goals and the value of getting coached. We get some pro insight from Tyler on recent and upcoming races.
Listen on Spotify / 33 minutes
Jim Capra – Cycling and Endurance Coach
We have Jim Capra, Head Coach at Tyler Hamilton Training back on the pod. In this episode we get into some of the methodology of training and advantages of working with a coach. We also discuss how to prepare for specific events…like possibly Everesting.
Listen on Spotify / 48 minutes
Jordan Peters – Cyclist
Jordan Peters is a cyclist and racer from Spokane, Washington. A former hockey player, Jordan shares with us his inspiring story in finding the bike, and going all in on his new passion. He also shares some of his season plans, including planning an Everesting attempt.
Listen on Spotify / 54 minutes
Mark Synnott – Climber and Adventurer; Author of The Impossible Climb and The Third Pole
Mark Synnott is an American climber, adventurer, best selling writer and member of The North Face Athlete Team. He is a pioneering big wall climber and one of the most prolific adventurers of his generation. Mark shares with us how he found his passion for climbing, and details his unbelievable adventure that has culminated in his new book, The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession and Death on Mount Everest.
Listen on Spotify / 124 minutes
Ronan McLaughlin – Everesting World Record Holder
Ronan McLaughlin is an Irish cyclist and the current (and former) Everesting world record holder. We had the honor of hosting Ronan on the show to learn about his background in cycling, and to dive into his unbelievable Everesting time (6 hours, 40 minutes and 54 seconds). Ronan tells us about his bike, training, nutrition and all the other strategies he put together for this attempt.
Listen on Spotify / 61 minutes
Dirk Friel – Former Pro Cyclist and Co-Founder of Training Peaks
Training Peaks Co-Founder, former pro cyclist Dirk Friel joined us on the show. Dirk tells us about his love for Ski Mountaineering (Skimo), masters racing, his pro cycling career and the story of founding Training Peaks, and the company it is today.
Listen on Spotify / 57 minutes
Jeremiah Bishop and Tyler Pearce – The Impossible Route Death Valley
Jeremiah Bishop is is a professional mountain bike racer and an 18-time member of the USA Cycling National Team. Tyler Pearce is the host of the popular YouTube channel, The Vegan Cyclist. Jeremiah and Tyler join us to talk about their new documentary film, The Impossible Route; Death Valley, which chronicles their epic 7 day journey from Yuma, Arizona to Bishop, California covering 761 brutal miles. We also get to hear about their original Impossible Route project on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, testing your limits and what makes a great partnership.
Listen on Spotify / 73 minutes
Alex Howes – Pro Cyclist and US National Road Champion
Alex Howes is an American World Tour professional cyclist and the current US National Road Champion. We chat with Alex about becoming a new dad, his impressive pro career, exploring the ‘alternative’ race calendar and how that balances with road racing commitments.
Listen on Spotify / 59 minutes
All About Everesting and Planning an Attempt
In episode 80, we do a deep dive on the Everesting Challenge with Jim Capra (head coach at Tyler Hamilton Training), and discuss Pete’s plans on an attempt. We get into the history of the challenge, choosing a hill, the balance between gradient and total distance required, training, equipment, strategy and more.
Listen on Spotify / 41 minutes
Can Do! Lessons from Savvy Montana Entrepreneurs
Re-Indiginizing Your Diet, with Mariah Gladstone
Montana isn’t all cattle herds and fields of waving grain. This sprawling state is also full of food deserts — places without many affordable, healthy food options. The lack of access to healthy food for residents of many of the state’s Indian reservations contributes to some horrible demographic statistics. The life expectancy for Native American women is 62, a full 20 years less than for non-Native women. For Montana’s Native American men, it’s 56. One 27-year-old woman of Blackfeet and Cherokee heritage is on a mission to improve Native people’s lives through healthy diet and a return of indigenous food systems.
Mariah Gladstone grew up in northwest Montana. She graduated from Columbia University with a degree in environmental engineering, and returned home, where, in 2016, she started Indigikitchen, an online cooking site dedicated to re-indigenizing our diets. Using how-to videos, and featuring foods native to the Americas, Indigikitchen gives viewers recipes, instructions, and other tools to find and prepare food with historic connection to their own communities.
Mariah has been recognized as a “Champion for Change” through the Center for Native American Youth, a “Culture of Health Leader” through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and an MIT Solve Indigenous Communities Fellow. Mariah is a Sloan Scholar currently completing her master’s degree in environmental science at SUNY-Syracuse, through the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.
Listen now on Can Do, to learn about Mariah’s journey back to Montana, her passion for native cookery, and her determination to strengthen ties to indigenous culture and community.
Listen on TuneIn / 37 minutes
Telling the story of The House That Rob Built
The ninth of 11 children, Megan Harrington grew up understanding the value of competition and how to tell a great story. In the third grade, Megan wrote a poem that included the prophetic line: “When I grow up, I want to be a Lady Griz basketball player at the University of Montana.” Megan did attend the University of Montana to attain a communications degree, an MBA, and play for the Lady Griz. As a Lady Griz, Megan played for legendary head coach, Robin Selvig.
Listen on TuneIn / 33 minutes
Coaster Cycle Pedicabs and The Future of Last-Mile Delivery
Ben Morris discovered the utility of three-wheeled cargo trikes, or pedicabs, during a stint in San Diego. After finishing his business degree at Northeastern University in 2005, he secured a small loan, bought five pedicabs, and launched Coaster Cycles. Soon, Ben had expanded beyond Boston to other cities, and he’d begun to incorporate outdoor advertising into his bike fleet.
Listen on TuneIn / 37 minutes
COVID’s Impact on Business Across Continents
For more than a year, all types of territorial borders have been shut down due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. International trade and commerce have been throttled, and industry experts predict that business travel will never return to pre-pandemic levels. Global business has long been reliant on building personal relationships; relationships that now must be cultivated and maintained digitally.
Listen on TuneIn / 40 minutes
Venture Capital Investment in Montana
Over the past five years, Montana has seen exponential growth in venture capital investment. From 2015 to 2020, the state attracted over $500 million in early-stage funding. In the previous 20 years, that figure had been just $144 million.
Next Frontier Capital has played a central role in this growth. Founded in 2015 in Bozeman, Montana and focusing on the tech sector in Colorado, Utah and Montana, the fund invests in scaling companies up from concept to exit. In Montana alone, an infusion of $28.4 million from NFC has attracted an additional $174 million in outside funding.
Today on Can Do, Will Price and Michael FitzGerald join us for an update. Price, whom we last spoke with in 2019, is co-founder and general partner of Next Frontier Capital. FitzGerald, a guest in 2018, chairs the board of Submittable, a provider of submissions management software solutions. Submittable was one of the early beneficiaries of Next Frontier funding. Will and Michael help us examine the investment paradigm from both a funder and recipient perspective, and how the pandemic has influenced the process.
Listen on TuneIn / 40 minutes
Inside the Den / Griz Sports Podcast with Riley Corcoran
Season 2 / Episode 28
April 21, 2021
Listen on Apple Podcasts / 48 minutes
Season 2 / Episode 29
May 6, 2021
Listen on Apple Podcasts / 29 minutes
Season 2 / Episode 30
May 20, 2021
Listen on Apple Podcasts / 44 minutes
Enjoy!
I Speak Dead People – Podcast
Ryan & Steve
Ryan didn’t have to call him Dad, but Steve was everything he wished for in a father. When a horrific accident took Steve’s life, Ryan was forced to navigate boyhood without his stepdad; a rather lonely journey to becoming a man.
Listen on Spotify / 103 minutes
Carlos, Jess & Sara
Sara had a fire inside. She was young, beautiful, and determined to achieve her goals with her husband, Carlos. But when a cancer diagnosis shattered their dreams, her best friend, Jess, put life on hold to comfort them in Sara’s final days. Through shared grief, a new love for each other formed, and Carlos and Jess promised to never let Sara’s light fade away.
Listen on Spotify / 88 minutes
Kara & Curt
Kara was a tomboy, an aspiring helper on the farm to her dad and brothers. She idolized her dad, Curt, who taught her all about hard work and quick wit. He was a legend in his family, and after a hard fought battle with cancer, Kara’s learned to carry his legacy with ‘no bad days’, a lasting theme through the life and death of Curt Wesen.
Listen on Spotify / 91 minutes
Kyle & Ashlee
Kyle was the life of the party. Along with his entourage, he was a regular in Helena’s bar and music scene. Although he was a disciplined military officer, and an accomplished man of many titles, “bereaved father” wasn’t his priority until he found sobriety. Kyle is proof that there’s always hope, even after the worst thing that could’ve happened to him; the loss of his daughter, Ashlee.
Listen on Spotify / 96 minutes
Carole & Carole
Carole was not only named after her grandmother, she also inherited her Grandma Carole’s style, grace, and flair for people. When her grandma was killed, Carole felt alone in her grief– afraid of what others might think of her story. Now 7 years later, Carole’s not letting her grandma’s life be forgotten by her family’s tragedy.
Listen on Spotify / 52 minutes
Emma & Joni & Hannah
Emma and her sister, Hannah, were latchkey kids of Montana’s mountainous countryside. When their mother died, Hannah stepped up to provide warmth and security for her young, grieving sister. But when a car accident claimed Hannah’s life shortly thereafter, Emma was forced to navigate the world independently; without her mom and sister’s strong maternal guidance.
Listen on Spotify / 95 minutes
Jamie and Travis Present
Umphrey’s Leftover McWeen
Jamie and Travis sit down to discuss multiple topics and have multiple takes on each topic. Like usual.
Listen on Stitcher / 120 minutes
Live from the Divide Podcast
Adam Carroll on Songwriting
Host Jason Wickens sits down with Texas troubadour Adam Carroll to discuss the craft of songwriting. They discuss how the discovery of John Prine’s music led Adam through a life’s mission of story telling through song.
Listen on Apple Podcasts / 36 minutes
Talbott Brothers on Songwriting
Host Jason Wickens sits down with Nick and Tyler Talbott of the Talbott Brothers. They discuss what it was like growing up in rural Nebraska and the ups and downs of writing and performing music with your brother.
Listen on Apple Podcasts / 42 minutes
Charley Crockett on Songwriting 2.0
Host Jason Wickens sits down with troubadour and American music traditionalist Charley Crockett. They discuss how he got into busking in Europe and a health scare that landed him in open heart surgery.
Listen on Apple Podcasts / 42 minutes
Zane Williams on Songwriting
Host Jason Wickens sits down with Texas singer/songwriter Zane Williams. They discuss his passion for authentic country music and how Bruce Springsteen inspired him to take his music more seriously.
Listen on Apple Podcasts / 36 minutes
No politics, just truth. Podcast everywhere.
Montana Voice Podcast
Absurd and Vast. Chapter One.
Absurd and Vast is a story about a diamond mine in the arctic, a world-wide cartel, greed, revenge and peace. The words were hand written in reporter notebooks, and those notebooks have been sitting quietly for years. This is Chapter One.
Listen on Apple Podcasts / 12 minutes
Two Bandits
If you want to understand people, look at ants with sugar. Everything is connected. Two Bandits is part of the story, Absurd and Vast.
Listen on Apple Podcasts / 21 minutes
Outside by Design
How Outdoor Brands Can Utilize Instagram Reels (minisode)
Is your brand missing out on the power of Instagram reels? Let’s fix that!
Iris brings her social media insights to the podcasts to discuss why reels are so beneficial to your brand and four types of reels your outdoor brand can utilize to reach outdoor-minded users. We can’t wait to see what you post!
Listen on Spotify / 8 minutes
Pro Skier Elyse Saugstad on Letting the Skiing Speak for Itself
“The most exciting thing in skiing is women.”
We’re HONORED to have legendary professional skier Elyse Saugstad on the podcast this week to talk about her career, how she finds creativity in skiing, how the treatment of women in the ski industry has evolved, and what the future of skiing holds.
Listen on Spotify / 38 minutes
5 Signs of an Extraordinary Creative Director (minisode)
“Your creative agency shouldn’t be in the friend-making business.”
Lisa’s on the show to chat about five traits to look for in a creative director! She shares what creative direction is, some red flags to look out for, and how you can find a creative director or agency.
Listen on Spotify / 16 minutes
10 Creative Ways to Engage Your Athlete Team (minisode)
We’re back with another minisode! This week, Iris discusses her top 10 ideas for leveraging your brand’s athlete or ambassador team. If you are looking to utilize your athletes or hoping to kick off your company’s ambassador crew, this is a great, quick listen for you!
Listen on Spotify / 7 minutes
What the Influx of New Outdoor Participants During COVID Means for Marketing (minisode)
COVID-19 had an interesting impact on outdoor recreation: it led many people to take up outdoor activities for the first time. Outdoor Industry Association released the 2021 Special Report: The New Outdoor Participant diving into the data about these first-time outdoorists. Iris chats about these findings and what they mean for industry marketers for the coming years. If you’re curious about engaging these brand new outdoor customers and turning them into lifelong adventurers, listen in!
Listen on Spotify / 9 minutes
Wild Rye Marketing Manager Kami-York Feirn on Being an Authentic Brand
“I think in order to be authentic, you have to be willing to talk about some of those tougher topics like crashing and failing and trips not going as planned.”
This week on the podcast: Kami York-Feirn, Marketing Manager at Wild Rye and former Social Media Manager at Osprey. Kami joins us to talk about finding a brand voice, talking about tough topics as a brand, and being relatable to both beginners and seasoned athletes. How can a brand stand up for what it believes in? And do you have to sacrifice personal values for the interest of a brand? Listen in to find out!
Listen on Spotify / 43 minutes
What Apple’s Ad Tracking Changes Mean for Outdoor Industry Advertisers (minisode)
We’re back with a minisode! Iris takes a dive into the controversial iOS 14.5 update and what it means for advertisers in the outdoor industry. If you start to see changes in your social media ad campaigns, this is why! Tune in to find out what’s happening, what the impacts will be, and what you can do about it.
Listen on Spotify / 8 minutes
Tell Us Something Podcast
Come As You Are
Our first storyteller is Kellie Grandone, whose creative father fashions some homemade skis as a Christmas gift when times were tough at the Grandone household. Kellie Grandone was born and raised in Polson, Montana, and now calls Great Falls home. She is a mother to 4 wonderful, creative children, and has been married to her husband Ryan for 21 years. Kellie teaches 7th-grade art in the Great Falls Public Schools and has been teaching art for the last 10 years. In her spare time, Kellie loves to read, draw, paint, travel, and spend time with her family enjoying Montana’s outdoors.
Our next storyteller is Jen Certa, who, after years of hating the tattoo on her foot, endeavors to have it covered up with a more meaningful piece of artwork. Sensitive listeners, please be aware that Jen’s story acknowledges sexual trauma. Jen Certa is originally from New York but accidentally began a love affair with Montana in 2009. She is grateful to have called Missoula home now for the past decade. Jen earned her MSW from the University of Montana in 2016, and currently works as a school-based therapist at Hellgate Elementary School. When not at work, Jen can most often be found hiking with her dogs, listening to podcasts, and running late for something.
Travis Doria shares his story of three different relationships that left him feeling betrayed, which, with the benefit of time, he was able to forgive and see the humanity in each of these folks who meant a great deal to him at one time. Sensitive listeners be aware that Travis’s story mentions drug use and suicide. Travis Doria has signed an autograph, cried in public, crowd surfed, defecated in his pants while running in Pattee Canyon, lost a hot dog eating contest, and held a human brain. He currently lives in Missoula with his beautiful wife and daughter.
Willi Prince is the band director at Corvallis School District. She takes her students on a trip to Silverwood amusement park in Idaho, a place with over 70 rides, slides, shows and attractions, the perfect place for a student to get lost. Willi Prince is the band director at Corvallis School District in the heart of the Bitterroot Valley. She and her husband play saxophone duets in their spare time when not playing with their 5-year-old daughter, fishing or enjoying the outdoors.
Reese Jacobson saves the day by donning a uniform when her little brother’s little league team will have to forfeit the big playoff game because they don’t have enough players. Reese Jacobson teaches 5th grade at Target Range in Missoula. She spends her non-working hours with her husband, their two boys, and their dog. She loves playing in the water, hiking in the mountains, and catching fish.
Listen on Stitcher / 66 minutes
Interview with Anna Haslund
This week on the podcast, we check in with Anna Haslund, the first Deaf storyteller to have shared a story on the Tell Us Something stage. We talk about her story and what it was like to share a story on the Tell Us Something stage. We also talk about her excitement to compete in the Miss America Pageant representing her state as Miss Montana. During our conversation, Anna also shares some of the unique challenges Deaf people face during the pandemic. After the interview, stick around for the story that Anna calls “Joe + Balthazar”. Anna’s story takes us on a wild horse ride in which she performs a daring horse rescue on a forest service road in Montana.
Listen on Stitcher / 22 minutes
The Trail Less Traveled
River Conservation & Cleanup featuring The Clark Fork River
Since 1985, the Clark Fork Coalition has worked to restore and protect the Clark Fork River basin, a 22,000 square mile area draining western Montana and northern Idaho. The Coalition’s work is science-based and results oriented, and the organization strives to connect communities to the recovery of the Clark Fork River and its tributaries. Get involved as a volunteer with the Coalition at clarkfork.org.
Is superfund cleanup of mining wastes in the Clark Fork making a difference? Yes! At least it is in terms of total amounts of copper and arsenic. And that’s especially good news because both are toxic: copper is extremely bad for fish, and arsenic is poisonous for people.
It took decades of hard work by advocates for the river to make cleanup happen. Today we’re seeing tangible benefits from that unwavering commitment to a clean and healthy Clark Fork.
What is Superfund?
Thousands of contaminated sites exist nationally due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. These sites include manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mining sites.
In the late 1970s, toxic waste dumps received national attention when the public learned about the risks to human health and the environment posed by contaminated sites.
In response, Congress established the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) in 1980.
CERCLA is informally called Superfund. It allows EPA to clean up contaminated sites. It also forces the parties responsible for the contamination to either perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanup work.
When there is no viable responsible party, Superfund gives EPA the funds and authority to clean up contaminated sites.
Listen on Spotify / 43 minutes
Exploring the Universe and Dark Skies National Parks
Dr. Tyler Eugene Nordgren is an artist, author, astronomer, dark skies ambassador and professor of physics at the University of Redlands.
Nordgren earned a B.A. in physics from Reed College and an M.S. and Ph.D. in astronomy from Cornell University.
Before joining the University of Redlands in 2001, Nordgren was an astronomer at the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station and Lowell Observatory.
In 2004, with six other astronomers and artists, Nordgren helped develop MarsDials, functioning sundials that NASA’s Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity rovers carried with them to Mars
Nordgren also designed the giant sundial that resides on the wall of Appleton Hall at the University of Redlands and is accurate within 10 minutes.
For the past five years, Nordgren has been traveling around the U.S. to educate the public about what eclipses are and how the opportunity to see the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 should not be missed. More of Nordgren’s research on eclipses can be found in his most recent book Sun Moon Earth: The History of Solar Eclipses from Omens of Doom to Einstein and Exoplanets.
Nordgren has been a member of the National Park Service Night Sky Team since 2007, working with the U.S. National Park Service to protect the night skies and promote astronomy education in U.S. national parks.
Nordgren has helped document the parks’ night skies with photography that has been on display in galleries from New York City to Flagstaff, Arizona, and is on display in a number of national parks. The Acadia Night Sky Festival has featured many of his photographs. Nordgren has also developed a poster campaign in conjunction with the National Park Service to “See the Milky Way” in America’s parks where “Half the Park is After Dark.”
His 2010 book Stars Above, Earth Below: A Guide to Astronomy in the National Parks was published as a way to spread the message of the importance of protecting the night sky. Nordgren was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Dark-Sky Association in 2011. He is also a member of the American Astronomical Society.
Listen on Spotify / 52 minutes
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks looks into wildlife management & Chronic Wasting Disease with Mike Thompson
Mike Thompson is the region two wildlife manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Mike has had a 40-year commitment to managing and conserving the wildlife resources of Montana. Mike’s incredible work ethic, communication skills and unfailing ability to guide discussions and decisions concerning controversial wildlife issues and land acquisitions, is a true gift.
Mike continues to bridge the gap among the biological, social and political sciences to represent the agency in a way that earns public trust and support. Mike’s career with FWP began in 1980. His early work included fencing on the Mt. Haggin Wildlife Management Area and working the paddlefish run at Intake along the Yellowstone River. In 1981, Mike completed his Master’s Degree at Montana State University by studying mountain goats along the Rocky Mountain Front. FWP hired Mike as a field assistant on the Elkhorn Mountains Elk Ecology project, to help develop an elk management plan for the area. Mike became a full-time FWP wildlife biologist in 1987, working in the Blackfoot watershed.
Mike has been a principal force behind the conservation of more than 220,000+ acres of wildlife habitat in Western Montana. Mike has an uncanny ability of representing biological data and information in a way that anyone can relate to and understand. He does this through casual conversation, presentations, interviews, and now social media. Mr. Thompson, alias Mike Twain, authored more than 662 “Game Range Ramblings,” a column published weekly in the Seeley-Swan Pathfinder newspaper. The column had a 15-year run, became a readers’ favorite, and built and maintained a constituency for FWP in the Blackfoot and Swan Valleys.
Mike’s list of co-authored publications and research papers is as long as his daily trip from his office to the front office candy box Mike Thompson has provided Montana’s residents and its natural resources with highly creditable service.
Listen on Spotify / 52 minutes
For a complete listing & description of local podcasts & ways to listen to them, check out The MUG’s Podcast Guide.
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