McGonigal’s Chronicles: Making Montana Connections Podcast

At 97, Arlyne Reichert may have slowed down a bit, but she shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.  In Great Falls, she’s affectionately known as “The Bridge Lady” for her efforts to help save and preserve the historic 10th Street Bridge.  But her community involvement stretches well beyond the Electric City.  She’s the oldest living delegate remaining from the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convent...

Greg Gianforte’s road to the Montana Governor’s office has been an eventful one. It included time working in software development before launching Right Now Technologies, with his wife Susan, also an engineer, in Bozeman in the mid 90’s. The company was acquired by Oracle in 2011 for $1.5 billion.  In this episode, we learn more about how he arrived in Montana, his business beliefs, and some of th...

This episode takes us from the fertile farmlands of North Central Montana to the halls of the nation’s Capitol in Washington, DC. For the better part of the last 15 years, that’s where Jon Tester has spent much of his time as a member of the U.S. Senate.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The end of February also marked the end of a career for one of Montana’s most respected and knowledgeable political reporters.  After more than 30 years of covering some of the Treasure State’s most memorable and important events, Mike Dennison announced his retirement.  During his illustrious career in both print and broadcasting, he had a front row seat to the fall of the o...

Kendra Joyce hails from a farming background in Geraldine, Montana.. A small agricultural community in Chouteau County,in the heart of Big Sky Country.  And as long as she can remember, she’s had a passion for helping people. Whether it be coaching special olympics or pursuing her dream of being an occupational therapist. She's never shied away from lending a hand.  Her Cutting Fen...

Dr. Renee Reijo Pera is just the fifth president in the nearly 70 year history of the McLaughlin Research Institute in Great Falls. She's the first female to hold the position.  Early in life, science wasn’t in the cards for Reijo Pera. What was in the cards was an excellent work ethic, instilled by her mother growing up in rural Wisconsin. A mother who worked at hard labor jobs and hop...

In its illustrious history, Montana has seen its share of disasters.  From the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire to the 1989 Helena Train Explosion. The Flood of 1964 on the Blackfeet Reservation to a 1962 plane crash that killed Montana Governor Donald Nutter, and the list goes on..  Some of the state’s most notable, and not so well-known disasters are the subject of a new book, "Montana Disas...

Today, we continue our conversation with Wilmot Collins.  In part one, we learned about the current Helena Mayor’s death-defying journey from his native Liberia on the west African coast to Montana.  How he remained overseas while his wife started her life in the US and gave birth to his baby daughter who he didn’t get a chance to meet until she was nearly two years old.&nbsp...

The weather is usually a lot warmer in Liberia than it is in Montana, but Wilmot Collins would probably gladly take the frigid temperatures of Big Sky Country over the bullets and bloodshed that prompted him to leave his homeland during that country’s civil war.  The current mayor of Helena is now in hi...

It’s been said Montana is like one big town. If that’s true, it’s safe to say it’s like a big family.  And if anyone knows about big families, it’s Mary Sheehy Moe.  She’s one of 11 children and counts her brothers and sisters among her greatest blessings. Her can do attitude and willingness to help others can probably be...

The lights are back on Broadway. And perhaps no one is happier to be basking in the glow than Helena native Kurt Crowley.  From an early age, he seemed to be destined for artistic excellence. He was playing the piano at three and instructors quickly discovered his advanced musical prowess.   When he was 13, he earned a prestigious scholarship&...

The best way to describe Bob Quinn might be agricultural pioneer.  The Big Sandy farmer has been on the leading edge of agricultural innovation.  From developing Montana’s first wind farm near Judith Gap to being the brains behind the tasty Kracklin' Kamut snacks you find in your grocery store.  Quinn has spent much of life working the same land his grandfather did starti...

Thomas Nybo’s career as a storyteller has taken him to some of the most interesting, and dangerous places in the world.  Through his stunning photographs, compelling video, and descriptive writing, the Helena native and University of Montana graduate has told amazing, inspirational and sometimes heartbreaking stories for CNN, PBS, the New York Times and more. See omnystudio.com/lis...

September 11, 2001 marked the deadliest terrorist attack in American history.  The aftermath plunged the United States into a nearly 20 year war in Afghanistan.  Among the countless Americans to join the fight was Ray McPadden.    The Texas born and raised McPadden became a four-tour combat veteran, serving a...

Pearl Jam bass player Jeff Ament is no stranger to playing in front of sold-out arenas.  But he would rather be outside.  In fact, the title of the Montana born, Big Sandy raised musician’s latest album, his fourth solo effort, is “I Should Be Outside.”  It came about when Pearl Jam’s tour dates were cancelled due to Covid. ...

Have you ever been told you look or sound like someone famous? Great Falls native Merle Travis Peterson took his likeness and affinity for legendary musician Johnny Cash to another level.  What started in Montana as the Cold Hard Cash show reached a peak in front of millions David Letterman’s late night talk show.   Cold Hard Cash has since disbanded, but Peterson is stil...

If you glance at Paul Wylie’s resume, historical writer might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But in recent years, the Livingston born son of school teachers, who grew up in White Sulphur Springs has penned some amazing books about the Treasure State’s past.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick McCarvel has always had a knack for telling stories, and that skill has enabled him to reach the pinnacle of sports journalism.  The Helena native is a digital producer and reporter for the Olympics.  This summer he’s telling inspirational and emotional stories of the athletes at the Tokyo games.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Sarah Calhoun has never shied away from hard work and her quest for comfort while doing it helped launch a Treasure State phenomenon.  Since 2006, Red Ants Pants has become a leader in top quality workwear for women.  But the Connecticut born businessperson, who ironically never took a business course, says Red Ants is about more than just the pant...

25 years ago the normally peaceful town of Lincoln, Montana was suddenly transformed from a serene mountain retreat into a bustling center of the news media universe. That’s when authorities nabbed a recluse named Ted Kaczynski from his infamous cabin. Hardly anyone in the quiet community had a clue that the Unabomber was living among them. Matt Flanders of Helena was liv...

Jamie Ford awoke from a nap in Milwaukee to find out he was New York Times best-selling author.  His acclaimed novel, "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" spent 130 weeks on the New York Times list.  In an interview with Tim McGonigal, he talks about the writing process and challenges of being an author.  And he talks about the path that led him to Great Falls, Montana and he c...

From the fertile farmland of Central Montana to the blood stained sands of the Middle East. Nada Bakos was able to live her childhood dream of working overseas thanks to a 10-year career in the CIA as an analyst and later a targeting officer.  The Denton, MT native talks about the challenges of tracking terrorists and the frustrations of trying to make a connection between Iraq and Al Qaeda.&...

During a more than 25 year career in law enforcement, John Cameron saw a lot.  Including working closely on the case of Nathaniel Bar-Jonah, the main suspect in the disappearance of a young Great Falls boy in 1996.  It was after Cameron had retired from the GFPD that his investigative nature led him to a man named Ed Edwards, a criminal mastermind who Cameron believes is responsible for...

Dava Newman has been reaching for the stars ever since she was a little girl growing up in Helena, Montana.  The Capital High graduate earned degrees from Notre Dame and M.I.T.  She's known for her work developing revolutionary space exploration suits and she served as a Deputy Administrator for NASA.  Her latest endeavor is taking over as the Director of the Prestigious M.I.T. Medi...

Welcome to McGonigal's Chronicles: Making Montana Connections.  Longtime Montana Television Network anchor and reporter Tim McGonigal shares the stories of some amazing people with ties to the TreasureState.  From tales of innovation to investigation, life inside the CIA to life as a New York Times bestselling author, Montana has had a major role in helping shape these individuals on the...