A New Angle

This week Justin speaks with Dr. Reed Humphrey, who has held almost every academic position at the University of Montana. In part two of this two-part episode, Justin presses Reed on the tenuous nature of the provost position at UM. Reed talks about the pros of interdisciplinary initiatives and the importance of stability and institutional knowledge in academic leadership roles, as well as the nee...

This week Justin speaks with Dr. Reed Humphrey, who sits at the threshold of retirement after a long and winding academic career. Reed has held nearly every academic position possible at the University of Montana, and there’s not much he hasn’t seen. Reid reached out to Justin and asked if he would be interested in kicking the tires of higher education. Naturally, Justin said he’d love to. Tune in...

This week Justin talks with Paul Reichert, CEO of Prospera, a nonprofit economic development organization focused on southwest Montana. Paul explains Prospera’s role helping small businesses as a “navigator and problem solver,” discusses some of the challenges facing the nonprofit — like financing infrastructure and community development projects — and answers Justin’s magic wand question: If Paul...

In this week’s episode, Justin speaks with a former student, Eli, about his journey establishing a relationship with artificial intelligence. Eli turned to Chat GPT to help him with school, in social situations and while working on figuring out his life. He talks to Justin about how he uses Chat GPT as a sounding board and considers it something that really cares about him, while also being aware...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com Today is our 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. The duo has been putting this episode off for a long time, but now is the time to talk about AI. In this conversation, Justi...

This week is part two of our conversation with John Sommers-Flanagan, director of the Center for the Advancement of Positive Education at the University of Montana’s Phyllis J. Washington College of Education. John and Justin pick up where they left off last week talking about how lying and parenting intersect, the concept of confirmation bias and the risks of AI-generated content and building rel...

Today’s guest is John Sommers-Flanagan, director of the Center for the Advancement of Positive Education at the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education. John is transitioning to this role after a long tenure as professor of counseling at the University of Montana. John and Justin talk about good faith, the erosion of trust in institutions and confirmation bias. Within the good faith concept, th...

This week we’re speaking with Sarah Vowell, an author with Montana roots of many bestselling books. She’s a historian, actor, journalist and a regular contributor to This American Life. Sarah recently contributed an essay to Michael Lewis’s edited volume, Who Is Government? In this conversation Sarah talks about highlighting Pam Wright, an archivist at the National Archives, for Who Is Government?...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com Today is our 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. This month, Bryce and Justin talk about time. They discuss it as a scarce resource and consider how to make the most optimal...

This is the third episode in our Voices of Trade series. To mark the Montana World Trade Center ’s World Trade and Investment Day, we’ve been exploring the various opportunities and challenges facing Montana firms doing business internationally. Today, we are speaking with Chris Tilleman, founder of TeraDact , a data security company serving clients around the world. Also joining Justin is Brigitt...

We continue our conversation with renowned wildlife biologist Diane Boyd, whose memoir A Woman Among Wolves explores her decades of experience with wolves and the often fraught relationships between people and predators. Boyd reflects on her role as both scientist and advocate, navigating public conflict and the persistent challenge of irrational fear. She discusses the social and ecological dimen...

Diane Boyd is a world-renowned wildlife biologist and active participant in wolf recovery in the Northern Rockies over the last 40 years. In part 1 of this two-part episode, Boyd shares stories from her early days living as a field researcher in remote Moose City, Montana—just 400 yards from the Canadian border. She recounts tracking wolves on foot, tranquilizing them for collaring, and working at...

Dr. Rafael Chacón is a professor of art history and director of the Montana Museum of Art and Culture (MMAC). Rafael shares his journey from Cuba to Indiana, his early love of art sparked by visits to the Art Institute of Chicago, and how he found a home and career in Montana. He and Justin discuss the MMAC’s historic and global collection, its stunning new facility, and 19 Under 39 , a new bienni...

This week we bring you a special cross-over episode; a fusion of Montana Public Radio’s The Write Question and A New Angle. TWQ host Lauren Korn and Justin interview author and journalist Cassidy Randall about her gripping new book, Thirty Below - The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All Women’s Ascent of Denali . Cassidy Randall is an award-winning journalist and writer based in Missoula,...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com In this April edition of Incentives & Instincts, Justin and economist Bryce Ward tackle the complexities of trade policy. They unpack the economic benefits of cooperation, the concentrated costs of globalization, and the politics driving America’s shifting approach to tariffs. The conversation explores how uncer...

Brian Kahn was a Montana radio legend. As host of the long-running and award-winning “Home Ground Radio,” Brian interviewed hundreds of influential Montanans, asking who they are, what they think and what they are doing about it. Today we’re reairing our conversation with Brian from 2019. He talked about his approach to storytelling, activism, collaboration and problem solving. We also discussed h...

Drummer John Wicks and bassist Jesse Phillips are two Montana musicians who’ve come together to form Flüffy Bünny – a project they describe as “future punk.” Drawing from diverse musical journeys – from John’s evolution through jazz, grunge, and high-profile session work to his current role as a teacher, and Jesse’s path from rural Montana to the vibrant music scene of New Orleans – they discuss h...

In this episode of our Incentives & Instincts series, Justin and economist Bryce Ward revisit the youth sports industrial complex. They discuss how youth activities have evolved, the increasing pressure on families to overschedule their children, and the broader societal and economic forces driving these trends. The conversation explores the impact on kids' development, family life, and potential...

In this episode of our Voices of Trade miniseries, Justin and cohost Brigitta Miranda-Freer, the executive director of the Montana World Trade Center, speak with KC Tolliver, CEO of Summit Resources International. They discuss Montana’s role in global trade, Tolliver’s journey from a persistent entrepreneur to running an international apparel business, and the challenges of navigating tariffs, sup...

In part two of our conversation with University of Montana law professors Craig Cowie and Constance Van Kley, we continue the discussion about the constitutional challenges emerging in the early days of President Trump’s second term. The conversation delves into the implications of shutting down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the looming government funding deadline, and the legal comple...

University of Montana law professors Craig Cowie and Constance Van Kley join Justin to discuss the legal and constitutional implications of the early days of President Trump’s second term. They examine the administration’s mass firings, executive authority over federal agencies, and the legal challenges arising from defunding congressional appropriations. With historical context and expert analysi...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com In this installment of Incentives & Instincts , Justin and economist Bryce Ward explore the critical role trust plays in society. They discuss its origins, its importance, and why trust in institutions is on the decline. With insights from research and historical perspectives, they break down how information flo...

Youpa Stein is an activist, artist, and advocate for a plastic-free world. In this episode, Justin and Youpa discuss the widespread impacts of plastic pollution, from its presence in the human body to its role in climate change. Youpa explains why recycling alone isn’t enough, highlights policy challenges and victories, and offers some practical steps for reducing plastic use. Transcript available...

In the first episode of our new Voices of Trade miniseries, Justin speaks with Brian Cebull, CEO of GTUIT, an energy company based in Billings focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They discuss GTUIT’s innovative approach to mitigating natural gas flaring, the company’s expansion into international markets, and the challenges of conducting global business from Montana. In the lead up to th...

Slaven Lee is the executive director of the Missoula Public Library, which was the first North American library to be named Best Public Library by the International Federation of Library Associations in 2022. In this episode, she highlights the library’s innovative “All Under One Roof” model, commitment to sustainability, and role as a vital community hub. Learn more about Missoula Public Library...