A New Angle

Laurie Francis is Executive Director of Partnership Health Center, a critical provider of a broad array of health care services in Western Montana. Laurie’s wisdom on the social determinants of health and her conception of innovation in health care offer important clarity in an often murky space.

In this 8th edition of the S.E.A. Change series, we interview Nichole Heyer, Homeless Education Liaison for Kalispell Public Schools and the Evergreen School District. Nichole is a graduate of the University of Montana's Masters of Social Work program, and was recently honored as the Homeless Education Liaison of the Year by the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.

University of Montana alumna Lara Birkes is a sustainability rock star. She recently returned to Montana after serving in leadership roles with the World Trade Center and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Her fascinating new startup, Eqogo, is attempting to create a sustainability score for all consumer products. Lara also works with local entrepreneurs on nature based solutions to persistent environmental challenges.

Jim Sciutto is Chief National Security Correspondent and Anchor at CNN. His new book, The Shadow War, is a fascinating and terrifying account of the new ways China and Russia are waging war – from systematic election interference campaigns to kidnapper satellites straight out of a James Bond film. Jim visited UM last month and shared his thoughts on how to separate signal from noise in today’s crazy news environment.

The Innovation Factory opens on November 8, 2019. It’s a place where ideas collide and come to life. It’s a place where you can do things and make things. University of Montana art professors Elizabeth Dove and Brad Allen spent the last 18 months building “IF” and in this episode we investigate their vision to create an experiential learning hub for our entire community.

Entrepreneur, teacher and persuasion expert Micah Larsen returns to the pod for #7 in the S.E.A. Change series. Learn all about Micah’s non-linear journey to motherhood and how having a child motivated a huge shift in her business – a specific and empathetic focus on helping women entrepreneurs succeed. To learn more about Micah, check out: www.micahlarsen.com

This week’s episode brings you a deeply personal conversation with University of Montana alum Matt Gangloff, founder of Enlyten Lab. We discuss Matt’s military experience and his post-deployment battles with anxiety, depression and addiction. Many of us live with anxiety and depression every day, and this conversation shines a much needed light on that reality.

Matt Hamon is Professor of Art at the University of Montana. His photography is currently on display at the Montana Museum of Art and Culture in a striking exhibition called Ratljóst. We ask Matt about his process, his decision to shoot nudity and his conception of representing truth in photography.

Sheila Stearns is a Montana legend. Her list of important and difficult jobs in higher education is unparalleled: Montana’s longest-serving commissioner of higher education, interim chancellor of MSU-Billings, President of Wayne State College in Nebraska, provost and chancellor of UM Western, and – of course – President of the University of Montana. Now, she’s been tapped to chair Montana’s congressional redistricting commission. Is there anything Sheila can't do?

Nora Saks is creator and host of the Richest Hill podcast on Montana Public Radio. Richest Hill is a deep exploration of Butte’s history and its ongoing relationship with mining. Our conversation explores that relationship’s complexity and the challenges Nora faced in reporting the authentic story. Nora earned her masters degree in environmental science and natural resource journalism at the University of Montana in 2018.

This week is #6 in the S.E.A. Change series, an interview with Jennifer Palmieri, Communications Director for the Hillary Clinton Campaign and Communications Director for the Obama White House. Jennifer’s recent book “Dear Madam President” is a powerful account of her experience in politics and a hopeful message for anyone looking to make change in the world.

Nick Checota arrived in Montana in 2012 and in that brief time he’s transformed Missoula’s music scene. Learn about Nick’s perspective on the entertainment business, his guiding principles for creating exceptional customer experiences and his plans to expand his business to new markets.

This week we learn all about a market that very likely befuddles many of you – childcare. We speak with Erica Mackey (co-founder & CEO) and Elke Govertsen (Chief Community Officer) of MyVillage, a Bozeman based start-up determined to fix a broken system for both parents and providers.

Owen Gue is the co-founder and president of The Cycling House, a Missoula business that epitomizes two of this podcast’s core themes – creativity and hustle. Owen made his passion for cycling his life’s work and there’s much to learn from his story, including important lessons about culture and growth.

In this fifth edition of the S.E.A. Change series, we host the pod’s first mother-daughter duo – Carol and Whitney Williams. Carol’s career in public service is legendary, serving more than a decade in the Montana State legislature, including time as the Senate’s first female majority and minority leader. Whitney followed the family tradition of service, serving as a high level staffer to Hillary Clinton during the Bill Clinton administration. In the years since she founded Williamsworks, an organization that guides some of the world’s most influential and important philanthropic endeavors.