A New Angle

Justin’s monthly conversations with Bryce Ward continue. In this installment, Bryce and Justin discuss the latest Covid-19 developments and ponder why our country seems unable to solve problems.

Rob Saldin is Professor of Political Science at the University of Montana. His recent book, Never Trump: Revolt of the Conservative Elites, hit the market in June and is getting lots of attention - for good reason. In this conversation we trace the history of the Never Trump movement and ponder how it will all shake out as the 2020 election approaches.

Travis DeCuire is Head Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Montana. He is a phenomenal leader and inspirational member of our community. Our conversation ranges from how Travis, his staff and players are coping with coronavirus, to the challenges of being a prominent Black man in the least-Black state in the US.

This week we learn about a woman and a venture that epitomize A New Angle’s primary themes – creativity and hustle. Paige Williams is a creator, innovator and entrepreneur. Since 2013 she’s been grinding along the winding road of a start up trying to create something completely new. It started as the Audience Awards and is now AudPop…we actually discuss that re-branding decision in this conversation. Our interview covers a lot of ground - from Paige’s own documentary film making, to some big ideas about gender in entrepreneurship, to some unexpected questions for me. And Paige schools me on slam poetry as well.

Justin’s monthly conversations with Bryce Ward return. In this installment, Bryce and Justin discuss the latest Covid-19 developments in Montana before turning their attention to racism, both at the individual and systemic level.

Today’s conversation explores the importance of marketing and brand investment during the pandemic. There’s an instinct to batten down the hatches and cut everything extraneous in a crisis, to hoard cash at all costs. Historically, however, pulling back on marketing during a recession or depression is not a winning strategy. You can find the PartnersCreative slide deck here: bit.ly/2AqJ81k Sean Benton is Creative Director and Kevin Keohane is Strategy Director at PartnersCreative, a Missoula-based creative agency that punches well above its weight class, working with top flight international firms like Deloitte and Montana mainstays like Discovery Ski Area. Sean, Kevin and their colleagues are out with a compelling piece of thought leadership offering some insightful and actionable ideas on how brands can rise to this unique occasion. What they have to say has implications for all brands of all sizes as well as anyone trying to make sense of what we see in the market place.

For the last several months we’ve been working with recent University of Montana Journalism graduate, Victor Yvellez, on a podcast project that we’ll be announcing shortly. Victor has his own pod that he launched during the pandemic. It’s called Sounds of our Lives, and his latest episode, America the Broken, is amazing. Shortly after the murder of George Floyd, Victor participated in the demonstrations in his hometown of San Jose, CA, and in this episode he brings to life the intensity and consequence of those demonstrations. His reporting is courageous and important. Have a listen and check out Victor’s other stuff at Sounds of our Lives.

Today we bring you three amazing and important voices – Deena Mansour and Germaine White from the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana as well as Heidi Wallace from EmpowerMT. These three women are doing important work to promote diversity and inclusion and to build a more just society. It was an honor to speak with them and learn more about their work and experiences. This was a deeply moving conversation.

Today we bring you Tobin Miller Shearer, Professor of History and Director of the African American Studies Program at the University of Montana. We recorded this conversation in early May, before the murder of George Floyd and associated demonstrations. That conversation covers several important topics, including anti-racism, race as a biological and social construction, and the reasons why UM is the perhaps unlikely home to such a strong African American Studies program. Tobin also speaks eloquently and passionately about his journey as a white man in this space.

A special statement on pausing the podcast.

Today we bring you one of Missoula’s finest Molly Bradford. Molly seems to be everywhere. She’s involved and engaged in so many aspects of our community. Her software venture, Gatherboard, powers Missoulaevents.net and similar community calendars for a surprisingly wide variety of clients. Events are such an integral part of how communities connect and it’s nice to think a bit about events right now. Molly and I dig into the dynamics of her business and her unique view of how technology can be used to foster human connection. Molly’s work help drives the culture of this community.

A New Angle’s weekly series on all things coronavirus releases every Monday morning. Listen to economist Bryce Ward, Missoula Economic Partnership Executive Director Grant Kier, United Way of Missoula County CEO Susan Hay Patrick and UM College of Business professor Justin Angle break down the latest developments, explain what they mean for Western Montana, and inform listeners on how they can get or give help.

Malou Anderson-Ramirez and her family are doing some bold, controversial and inspiring things on their ranch in Montana’s Tom Miner Basin, using technology in ways to make their operation more sustainable and more integrated with the natural system in which they live. Malou is joined by A New Angle alumna Lara Birkes, who helps us understand what’s happening in regenerative ag through the lens of rural entrepreneurship. You might recall that Lara referenced Malou’s family ranch on several occasions during our first pod, so it was great to get these two together for a dynamic conversation.

A New Angle’s weekly series on all things coronavirus releases every Monday morning. Listen to economist Bryce Ward, Missoula Economic Partnership Executive Director Grant Kier, United Way of Missoula County CEO Susan Hay Patrick and UM College of Business professor Justin Angle break down the latest developments, explain what they mean for Western Montana, and inform listeners on how they can get or give help.

In case you forgot, we’re facing a few other big, multi-dimensional challenges that require coordination across myriad aspects of a global society. Climate change is one such challenge and when Utah State University Professor Rob Davies visited Missoula to keynote Climate Smart Missoula’s Big Climate Event, we jumped at the chance to get some time with him. Rob is not only a top flight scientist, he’s also a gifted and passionate science communicator. Climate conversations often leave us feeling helpless but Rob’s view is much more hopeful. Not because the problem is small, but rather because we have not yet even begun to take it seriously.