In this episode we hear from Dr. Justin Angle, Associate Professor of Marketing and the Poe Family Distinguished Faculty Fellow, about his research regarding the impacts Native American mascots can have on society, training to be a professional triathlete, and how he found his way into academia. Check out his podcast “A New Angle,” now on Montana Public Radio, Thursdays at 7:30.

In this episode, we hear from Bertha Morton winner Madaline Cochrane about her lifelong fascination with salamanders, how they're adapting to the changing world, and how amphibians tend to be overlooked in wildlife studies.

In this episode, we hear from Bertha Morton winner Tiegan Avery (M.A., Economics)about how to help people make the best decisions for themselves, becoming her best academic self, and how vaccinations and economics are intertwined.

In this episode, we hear from Bertha Morton winner Nathan Stahley on his goal of developing healthy communities through support of youth. He hopes to use his time in the Social Work program to enhance his skills in the interests of increasing access to mental health support in rural communities.

In this episode, we’re in the flow with Dr. Mark Hebblewhite, Professor of Ungulate Habitat Ecology, who reads a passage from Percy Shelley’s “Mont Blanc” to open the show. The conversation then flows through Tolstoy's Russian landscapes, human ambivalence about wolves, the complex ecologies of the mountain west, and Mark's involvement in the Convention on Migratory Species.

In this episode, Zachary Lauffenburger (PhD, Geosciences) tells his story of growing into a deeper understanding of how the forces of the earth shaped the beauty of the Rocky Mountain west, where he grew up (Colorado) and where he studies (Montana). He details his work on simulating hydrologic processes to predict impacts of climate change on water availability for agriculture. That work allows him to bridge expertise at the University of Montana in his home department, but also computer science and mathematics.

In this episode, Connor Southard, Creative Writing (M.F.A.) recounts his childhood love of reading fiction, which was the origin of his desire to pursue writing. He reflects on the novel he wrote while completing his M.F.A., including his thoughts on the twin roles of the fiction writer as an entertainer and as a vehicle for readers to convert suffering into beauty.

In this episode, Brianna Ashley talks about her work as a master’s student in environmental studies at UM. Brianna is passionate about land stewardship, and wants to see greater BIPOC participation in outdoor recreation. She discusses the breadth of experiences she’s had in the EVST program, valuing the way her role as educator also positions her to learn from the communities she serves.

In this episode, we’re in the flow with Dr. Ke Wu, a professor in UM’s department of mathematical sciences. Ke reads “Ascending the Heron Tower” by Wang Zhihuan, which propels our conversation about her early years in China, her winding path to math education, her journey to Montana, and her work to optimize access to math for learners from diverse backgrounds.

In this episode, hear from Allison Cutuli, a master’s student in sociology at UM. Allison talks about her work as a community organizer, why she selected UM, and her thesis research, which studies mutual aid networks during the COVID-19 pandemic.