A New Angle

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 decisions regarding allocation. They parse …

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 Brigitta Miranda-Freer, executive director of the Montana World Trade Center.In this episode Chris discusses protecting sensitive data, explains the product offerings of TeraDact and how TeraDact won a UK contract to provide AI-based redaction services for police forces.

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 dimensions of wolf reintroduction, the limits of tolerance, and how shared goals can bridge divides between conservationists and ranchers.

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/110pcf9l_Xi85w_JQXwVHu5mioPmb5DuxIbDvf3sLn2A/edit?usp=sharing

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 the intersection of science, policy, and public perception. Boyd also discusses ethical tensions in hunting and how wolves challenge the human imagination.

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lsat9aRU-LqWt7aA9MjQzpXq9cSIQGzBPbkgyZ5qUXQ/edit?usp=sharing

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 biennial exhibition at MMAC supporting young Montana artists.

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rGPmjXFqflFrSmzgEgVc6Te4bsmv_3yXrDmZUNtYO1I/edit?usp=sharing

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, Montana. Her work has appeared in prominent outlets such as National Geographic, The New York Times and Rolling Stone.

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 uncertainty undermines prosperity and why thoug…

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 his book, “America: Rediscovering my Country,” which documents a 50-day trip across the United States aimed at exploring diversity along many dimensions. His inquisitive spirit and Montana roots taught us how community can be built and appreciated in the most, or least, diverse environments.

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 how their shared passion for unbridled creativity and breaking genre norms sparked this project to rediscover the thrill of making music without boundaries.

Listen to Flüffy Bünny here.

Transcript available here.

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 ways to rethink structured activities to create a healthier balance.

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oxNwryuu7N10T0cE_VtMj9rwpElyS-3Xg-dn8AFtfik/edit?usp=sharing