The Kaimin Cast

In 2025, fitness looks different. Influenced by social media trends and celebrities, people across the country are finding new ways to get their sweat on. Oula, as in Missoula, is a dance fitness class founded in 2010 to be a body-positive, inclusive space. It has expanded nationally, but found a strong fan base in its home community and at the University of Montana.  Episode by Bayliss Flynn / Mo...

Over the last year, former government officials have been rebranding UFOs as UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) in an attempt to legitimize conversations surrounding them. This might be working, considering Congress held an official hearing on Nov. 13 to further uncover what, if any, government organizations know of UAPs. Of course, talks of UAPs come with the discussion of alien life. And for t...

This week’s Kaimin Cast brings you a trio of intriguing and intimate medical stories from the School of Journalism at the University of Montana. We’ll talk about a more comfortable IUD insertion experience at UM, how a student learned about hosting a funeral at home and drugs being developed at the University to stop opioid overdoses and cancer.  Episode by Bayliss Flynn / Christina Rodriguez / Lo...

Remnants of the last Ice Age are barely holding out in Montana's lakes and rivers. Arctic grayling fish are now confined to just Montana in the continental United States after going extinct in Michigan. Conservationists are trying to compromise on the best way to protect the fish, land and ranchers of the Big Hole. Episode by Chandler Lieb / Montana Kaimin Full transcripts of this episode and all...

As a crucial election nears, University of Montana students still have time to register to vote in person. College students who move from home, to the dorms, to an apartment or house have a unique challenge in updating their voter registration or utilizing an absentee ballot.  Episode by Bayliss Flynn / Montana Kaimin Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.mont...

Deep in the mountains south of Missoula at the Blue Mountain Observatory, astronomers from the University of Montana are exploring space in our solar system and beyond. For one of these observers, finding their place atop Blue Mountain took a lifetime of experiences.  Episode by Chandler Lieb / Montana Kaimin Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.montanakaimin...

Men’s club soccer is back at the University of Montana after decades of attempts at restarting. Players from the last established team from the 1980s are helping athletes 40 years younger to get the new team kicking.  Episode by Bayliss Flynn / Montana Kaimin Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.montanakaimin.com/the_kaimin_cast/ Questions? Comments? Email us...

When you think of someone that plays the video game League of Legends, you're probably not envisioning a leader in the U.S. military. However, at the University of Montana, it's becoming the norm. Episode by Chandler Lieb / Montana Kaimin Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.montanakaimin.com/the_kaimin_cast/ Questions? Comments? Email us at editor@montanakai...

The Food Zoo is history and the new Lodge Dining Center delights in its decor and food offerings. But ballooning budgets, staff shortages and high expectations could prove difficult in satisfying students hungry for change. Episode by Bayliss Flynn / Montana Kaimin Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.montanakaimin.com/the_kaimin_cast/ Questions? Comments? Em...

Former followers of a fundamentalist Mormon sect still practicing polygamy in Pinesdale, Montana, provide an insider perspective. With a population of 900, Pinesdale has just a few last names. Montanans will give you a knowing look when you mention the town just 45 miles from the University of Montana. Episode by Bayliss Flynn / Montana Kaimin Full transcripts of this episode and all others are av...

The Entertainment Management club at the University of Montana has seen some massive growth in its two years of existence. But for a while, the club had to operate without a staff adviser, without leadership. Listen to club president Marley Miller talk about taking the reins and leading the club as a student. Episode by Clayton Murphy / Montana Kaimin Full transcripts of this episode and all other...

Montana Griz Football star Junior Bergen talks about what name, image and likeness deals mean to him and similar busy athletes, as University of Montana administrators adjust to the ever changing world of college sports endorsements. Episode by Bayliss Flynn / Montana Kaimin Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.montanakaimin.com/the_kaimin_cast/ Questions? Co...

The University of Montana has been fighting a battle with between 100 and 300 pigeons for the last year. The birds have made a home alongside students and staff in Elliott Village Apartments. The next chapter of UM’s pigeon problems is taking place right on my porch— and UM is losing.  Episode by Elinor Smith / Montana Kaimin   Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online a...

A winter in the wilderness would change everything for award-winning author and University of Montana graduate Pete Fromm. Taking a chance to set out alone in the woods helped him find himself and his future.  Episode by Bayliss Flynn / Montana Kaimin Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.montanakaimin.com/the_kaimin_cast/ Questions? Comments? Email us at edit...

When Superior, Montana lost its biggest employer, the lumber mill, the county’s hospital became its last big establishment. Now two lifelong best friends and Superior residents are stepping up for their small town. Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.montanakaimin.com/the_kaimin_cast/ Episode by Clayton Murphy / Montana Kaimin clay.murphy@umconnect.umt.edu  ...

DeAnna Bublitz learned to hunt about a decade ago after moving to Montana from Minnesota. Over these 10 years, she’s felt that the sport is not as accessible or welcoming to women, queer folks, or new adult hunters as it is to men and people who grew up in the sport. Now, through her collective DEER Camp, she’s on a mission to mentor underrepresented hunters when they may have no one else to turn...

In 2011, Syria was absorbed by civil war. Rozan Shbib and her family fled to Egypt, where she was finally able to follow her childhood dream and study to become a lawyer. But once again, the family had to move. Now in Missoula, Shbib has to give up on her dream. But there’s still some hope.   Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.montanakaimin.com/the_kaimin_c...

Since she was a kid, contra dancing is something that has helped Laura Cova find her people. Now, she’s stepping up as a new dance caller, a challenge she’s adding to her already busy life as a UM grad student studying speech pathology – and as a mom.

Every day at noon, music from the University of Montana’s bell tower fills campus. But it’s not Quasimodo up there – it’s 72-year-old Barbara Ballas, UM’s very own carillonneur.   Episode by Clayton Murphy / Montana Kaimin clay.murphy@umconnect.umt.edu   Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.montanakaimin.com/the_kaimin_cast/ Questions? Comments? Email us at e...

The University of Montana Herbarium is a library of over 140,000 dried plant specimen from as early as the 1800s. Giovanna Bishop is the library's curator, but she's worried about a lack of use and interest in her field.   Episode by Lotus Porte-Moyel / Montana Kaimin   Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.montanakaimin.com/the_kaimin_cast/ Questions? Comment...

Surrounded by natural beauty, Western Montana and the University of Montana are epicenters of outdoor recreation. But UM sophomore Sadie Arnold has noticed some less-than-positive attitudes surrounding the outdoor sports community.    Full transcripts of this episode and all others are available online at www.montanakaimin.com/the_kaimin_cast/ Questions? Comments? Email us at editor@montanakaimin....

Held vs. Montana was the United States' first constitutional climate change lawsuit to go to trial. University of Montana student Olivia Vesovich was one of 16 youth plaintiffs who helped win the case. This episode, Vesovich shares her story about testifying for one of the country's landmark climate action cases.   By Lotus Porte-Moyel / Montana Kaimin lp195334@umconnect.umt.edu   Full transcripts...

University of Montana Senior Scott O’Donnell makes realistic wooden swords in his family’s garage for fun. From historic to high-fantasy, he’s made almost every type of sword you can think of. O’Donnell is pursuing a broad-field social studies degree, and although he says his course work doesn’t leave him much time for extracurriculars outside of class, some of his favorite lessons have still take...

In the field of forestry, experience is everything. For some at the University of Montana, the summer is the perfect time to gain some of that critical experience in order to land a job after college. Although fighting fires is dangerous work, some do it during the hot summer months not only to bolster their resumes but to keep the state they call home safe from fires. Listen to the final episode...

On Friday, April 21, students running for ASUM elections sat down for candidate debates hosted by the Montana Kaimin. Some of the teams running for president and vice president had some big ideas. But, really, how much power does the student government of the University of Montana have? In this week's episode by audio editor Alyssa Tompkins, listen to ASUM executive candidates talk about their pol...