Penny Ronning, the co-founder of the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, joins Justin to explore the pervasive but often unseen world of human trafficking in Montana and beyond. She explains how traffickers target vulnerable individuals across industries—from construction to nail salons—and the red flags for spotting exploitation. Ronning also delves into the grooming tactics used on children online and the distinction between consensual sex work and coercive trafficking.

This conversation contains sensitive themes regarding sex trafficking, mental illness and suicide. If you or a loved one is considering suicide, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Stay tuned for part two of our conversation with Penny Ronning next week.

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DjEkoMiBPL0n2eDpKfKV2AnQ5RNnfpzDOqZVABN3Q-Y/edit?usp=sharing

In this month’s installment of Incentives & Instincts, our recurring series with economist Bryce Ward, Justin and Bryce delve into the shifting cultural and social dynamics within the sports industry. They focus on factors like the local connection to sports, the “Moneyball” effect, and the rise of sports gambling, discussing whether these elements are …

It’s pledge week at Montana Public Radio, and in place of our regular programming, we bring you the recording of a live conversation Justin did with two wonderful MTPR colleagues: Lauren Korn of The Write Question and Sarah Aronson, host of Grounding. We share our experiences and approaches to covering climate change on our various programs.

If you’re interested in supporting Montana Public Radio, please visit MTPR.org

This week Justin speaks with Pathlabs Chief Executive Officer, Will Lapointe, a former student of his at the University of Montana College of Business. Pathlabs is a Montana-made digital media execution partner. What does that mean? Well, have a listen. Pathlabs was just acquired by MIQ in one of the largest corporate acquisitions in Montana history.

University of Montana law professor Craig Cowie returns this week to discuss the shifting the balance of power between regulatory agencies and the judiciary. Cowie explains how recent Supreme Court decisions, such as Loper Bright, are slowing down regulatory processes, creating uncertainty for businesses and agencies alike. He argues that while deregulation is often seen as freeing up the market, judicial involvement can make things more complex, as businesses are unsure about their compliance. Although this creates opportunities for litigation, it raises concerns about the long-term impact on society and the economy. The courts, however, don’t always address these broader trade-offs in their rulings.

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12N-gBGtRGC8nPktk0CINyaM8nowNxq2naC0lmabt44w/edit?usp=sharing

Craig Cowie joins Justin in this week’s episode to discuss the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity and its implications for prosecuting a president for criminal acts. The discussion centers around the tension between protecting a president from legal interference and ensuring accountability for illegal actions, like bribery and even assassination. Cowie critiques the Court’s vague framework, which leaves key questions unanswered about how these issues will be prosecuted in the future. The conversation highlights concerns about a shift of power from Congress and the executive to the judiciary, allowing the courts to play a larger role in determining the criminal culpability of a sitting president. Cowie warns that this ruling could effectively shield a president from prosecution, relying only on impeachment or elections as remedies.

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10pHvxFvbIxAxowREg19P92xee5ITth4u-xTBrKOcXcU/edit?usp=sharing

In this month’s installment of Incentives & Instincts, our recurring series with economist Bryce Ward, Justin and Bryce question the effectiveness of our current election system in helping us to choose the candidates whose policies will best reflect our perception of problems and priorities. Bryce introduces the concept of deliberative polling as a pote…

Scaling Montana works to accelerate Montana’s technology innovation community, and we are joined in this episode by Jenni Graff, the executive director, and Philip Brittan, who chairs the board. They discuss Montana’s emerging tech and entrepreneurial landscape and the upcoming Scaling Montana summit, which will be held on October 23rd and 24th in Bozeman. The conversation touches on the unique challenges of scaling businesses in Montana’s rural setting, the rise of various tech clusters across the state, and the value of networking and knowledge sharing in fostering innovation.

Learn more about Scaling Montana here: https://scalingmt.org/

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mP_HSz-gQHJFzJT1IE3W98le4dRB-w86AcGh6hiUagA/edit?usp=sharing