Program Archive

Glenn Brackett - program 31

 Glenn Brackett of Butte Montana helped bring Winston Rods to the pinnacle of fly rod making, then started Sweetgrass Rods in Twin Bridges. Visitors from around the world arrive un-announced at his door, hands joined in prayerful respect, to speak with the Master Rod Builder. I spoke with Glenn in his workshop, and had to turn [...]

Al Wiseman - program 30

Montanan Al Wiseman, 74, has lived for most of his life in Choteau on the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains. A Métis and a member of the Little Shell Band of Chippewas, Wiseman is the foremost local historian of the Old North Trail and archivist of Michif fiddle tunes. Listen: Al Wiseman[Audio clip: view full [...]

Karen Kitchel - Program 29

Karen Kitchel is that rare bird, a full time artist.   Join us for an audio version of a painter’s odyssey. “Kitchel proposes a new way of seeing both the land and landscape painting.  She strives to document reality as she finds it, to combine overlooked elements of mundane, non-spectacular surroundings with the grandiosity and romantic allure [...]

Brett Earl/Earl Fisher Biofuels – Program 28

“Grown locally, manufactured locally, consumed locally” is the slogan of the Earl Fisher Biofuel company, the first and only biofuel plant in Montana. Logan Fisher and Brett Earl are fourth generation farmers on Montana’s High Line. They convert locally grown crops into clean burning biofuels for industry, ag, home and garden use. Philip spoke with [...]

Mel Lehman - program 27

Mel Lehman, Director the the Wind Montana Project in Great Falls, says it’s time to go beyond traditional Democratic and Republican politics, which he considers excess baggage, and seriously address world energy questions brought on by the end of the cheap oil era. He says,”We need to have a conversation about Sustainable Energy….that is, renewable energy, plus [...]

Greg Johnson - program 25

Director, teacher and actor Greg Johnson has led the Montana Repertory Theatre as artistic director since 1990.  Based at the University of Montana in Missoula, this national touring company has a reputation for consistently excellent productions.   Greg and Phil met in Missoula to talk about the state of theatre in the Rocky Mountain west. Listen now: Greg [...]

Deirdre McNamer - program 24

When Philip was reading Dee McNamer’s fourth novel “Red Rover”, he would glance up every so often and say something like “This is an incredible story”.  ”Her writing is like poetry…”.   When I replied, or attempted to have the briefest conversation, he’d look at me as though I was REALLY interrupting him – couldn’t I see he was very engrossed [...]

Michael Millard - program 23

Michael Millard has been crafting guitars for over 4o years.   He has also made an annual trek to Montana for decades, bringing generations of his beloved golden retrievers to recharge, hunt and keep his connection to the high plains.  He and Phil visited during his last Montana sojourn, about guitar making, music, fishing, and their common love [...]

Henry Real Bird - program 22

Cowboy poet, Crow Indian, Montana’s Poet Laureate – in 2010, Henry Real Bird rode 415 miles on horseback through western North Dakota and northern Montana, handing out books of poetry and connecting with people along the way. Listen now: Henry Real Bird [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download: Henry Real Bird photo courtesy of Western [...]

Jack Gladstone - program 21

Jack Gladstone is a Native “PoetSinger” and lecturer from the Blackfeet Indian Nation of Montana. Regarded as a cultural bridge builder, he delivers programs nationally on American Indian myth, legend and history.  He talked with Phil in the Sweetgrass Music studio “The Bin” at the completion of his most recent release Native Anthropology. For more information about Jack, [...]

Eric Funk - program 20

Eric Funk is an American contemporary classical composer and conductor residing in Bozeman, Montana, where he teaches music courses at Montana State University.  From 1994-2002, Eric was conductor of the Helena Symphony Orchestra in Helena, Montana. From 1994-1999, he was also the conductor of the Gallatin Chamber Orchestra in Bozeman, Montana.  Eric also serves as [...]

Mokey McNeilly - program 19

Michael “Mokey” McNeilly spent 17 years as a professional actor in Hollywood appearing in over 40 productions, with the Mark Taper Forum, the John Ford Theatre, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Theatre Exchange. He has appeared in movies, television, commercials and was a Mighty Carson Art Player with Johnny Carson. His company Mimeprov has [...]

Bob Quinn - program 17

Bob Quinn grows high quality organic grains in Big Sandy, Montana.  For over 20 years he has utilized environmentally sound practices to produce Kamut brand Khorasan wheat, buckwheat, lentils, hard red winter and spring wheat, hull-less and feed barley, oleic sunflower & safflower, black Indian corn, peas, alfalfa, clover, dry land vegetables – winter squash, potatoes, onions [...]

Kate Hunt - program 16

Sculptor Kate Hunt visited Phil in our Chester studio to talk about small town sensibility, and the realities of sending her work out into the world. see Kate’s work at www.katehunt.com Listen now: [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download Kate Hunt ________________________________

From Yale to the Prairie - Tales of Dr. Buker program 15

  Dr. Buker came to Chester in the 50s and established a rural hospital that today boasts 25 beds, emergency services and a clinic.  In these parts he is legend.  What brought him to a small town in Montana?  For that matter, why did he pursue a career in medicine?   Philip talks with Doc about his life before arriving in Montana, and [...]

Steve Aaberg -- program 14

Over the course of his career, archeologist Steve Aaberg has crafted an interesting specialty, paleoethnobotany: the study of plant use in pre-contact cultures.   On a recent fishing trip he and Phil talked about music, archeology, their home town Chester, and Steve’s profound respect for the Plains cultures.   He reminds us that in order to preserve the future [...]

Sharon Dynak --program 13

As president of the Ucross Foundation, Sharon Dynak wears many hats;  advisor, juggler, economist, politician, soother of  egos.  Wrangling creative people can be challenging, but Sharon has a way of making the artists feel at home, supported and appreciated for what they do.   Philip talked with Sharon at the new composer’s cabin at Ucross, about the transition [...]

Philip Aaberg: Music & the River - program 12

photo courtesy of Jill Brody Philip Aaberg is known for creating music that evokes a feeling of Montana’s rivers, sky, mountains and plains.  Explore the idea of nature as inspiration in music – complete with some examples from the keyboard. Listen: [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download: Philip Aaberg ________________________________

Jack Mahood: A Short Story - program 11

Jack Mahood was a classic.  He played his horn at The Ozark Club in Great  Falls, Montana, caring about the music and not about race.  He loved jazz, he loved art, and most of all he loved his wife Dora. Philip had the privilege of getting to know Jack and hearing his stories about “back in [...]

David Lake - program 10

“Lake|Flato’s architecture can serve as a lesson for us all: how a building stands to the sun, how it welcomes the cooling breeze, how it partners with plant materials. Nothing sensational or exotic, no visual fireworks of fashion, just architecture that intrigues the mind, delights the soul, and refreshes the eye with its elegant detail [...]

David Romtvedt --program 9

Poet, musician, professor, a true Renaissance man.  David Romtvedt is all of these things, with a generous spirit and zest for life that shines through, even on the radio. Listen: [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download: David Romtvedt ________________________________

Gary Thieltges --program 8

After decades behind a movie camera, Gary Thieltges founded Doggicam.  He creates innovative camera mounting and moving systems, enabling cinematographers to create on film the shots they imagine. In 2005 he was awarded a Technical Achievement Oscar for invention of the Sparrowcam. Gary visited his hometown Chester, Montana and spoke with Phil at the Sweetgrass [...]

Margaret Saunders Ott --program 7

I’ve always wished that everyone could have a lesson with my teacher, Margaret Saunders Ott. Her students left her home with a powerful sense that somehow, in that 45 minutes, the world had become a better place. Margie May, as all her friends call her…Mrs. Ott as all her students call her…has been very active [...]

David Duncan --- programs 5 & 6

David James Duncan is a father, a fly fisher, a practitioner of what he calls “direct, small-scale compassion/activism,” and the author of the novels The River Why and The Brothers K, the story collection River Teeth, and the nonfiction collection My Story as Told by Water.  David lives with his family in Montana, where he [...]

Adrian Arleo - program 4

For nearly two decades figurative artist Adrian Arleo has created haunting ceramic sculptures combining human and animal imagery suggesting mythologies of transformation. Some of her work alludes to deep relationships between the human and animal worlds; other pieces reveal something hidden about the main subject, such as the person’s character or soul.  Phil speaks with Adrian at her studio [...]

Mark Gordon -- program 3

Rancher Mark Gordon takes stewardship of the land very seriously. Integrating time honored ranching practices and modern innovative techniques, he is ensuring a legacy that will last generations. “I am tired of the old saw that we can have either a good economy or a good environment. We have to work towards both and I have. [...]

Paul Zarzyski --programs 1 & 2

We’re proud to introduce the very first Of The West episodes, featuring poet and ex-bareback bronc rider Paul Zarzyski. Paul Zarzyski received the 2005 Montana Governor’s Award for the Arts and has been a featured performer at the Elko Cowboy poetry gathering for 20 years. His book, Wolf Tracks on the Welcome Mat, won the [...]