Podcast
Outlaw Beat
Hosted by Joe Borden & Michelle Veale Borden · EN
“Outlaw Beat: Stories from the West” scans the horizon for anything worth mentioning. Hosted by Joe Borden & Michelle Veale Borden
12episodes
Episodes
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Ornithologist Jeff Marks: The Guy Who Wrote the Book on Montana Birds
4d ago00:43:04Tap to summarizeMeet Jeff Marks, senior author of “Birds of Montana” - the first comprehensive state bird reference since 1921. Jeff is the executive director of the Montana Bird Advocacy, a former editor of The Auk, and has spent decades studying everything from Long-eared Owls to Bristle-thighed Curlews in the Pacific.We met Jeff in Grant, Montana to talk about the best places to birdwatch in the state, the worst bird in Montana (his answer might surprise you), how birds can literally see Earth's magnetic field, the controversial ethics of using bird call playback apps like Merlin Bird ID, and we play a rapid-fire birding etiquette game to find out what's actually frowned upon in the field.Topics covered: the most underrated birding spots in Montana, why grassland birds are in trouble, the strange science behind bird migration, magpie funerals, and what it's like being the gatekeeper of the official Montana bird records list.Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/jeffmarksSupport Jeff's nonprofit: MontanaBirdAdvocacy.orgThis episode is sponsored by Vim & Vigr, Montana-born compression socks. A portion of proceeds from their limited edition Wildlands Music sock goes to this year's festival beneficiary. Find them at VIMVIGR.com.Follow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcastOur barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcastsHelp us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts.Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/
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Building Montana with SWMBIA - Bozeman Housing, Trades Training & the Future of Work
3w ago00:38:21Tap to summarizeWe’re talking home building and AI-proof trades for Gen Z with President of Southwest Montana Building Industry Association slash owner of Rivers Landscaping Riley Rivers and Career Outreach Coordinator for Bozeman and Gallatin High Schools Karl Schwartz, architect of the new Bozeman Construction Academy.Riley breaks down the real inputs driving building costs in the Gallatin Valley: materials, labor, land, fuel, permit delays, government regulation, and the cost of holding land while projects wait for approval. Karl explains how the Construction Academy gives high school students hands-on trades experience, college credit through Gallatin College, and job-site readiness before they graduate.They also get into why construction careers are much broader than “swinging a hammer,” why AI is not about to install sprinkler lines on a Big Sky hillside, and how private industry support helped launch a public-school trades program. Then Joe makes Riley and Karl play a deeply unserious but weirdly educational price-per-square-foot guessing game featuring storage units, Bozeman homes, Costco, Yellowstone Club, coffee shacks, the Las Vegas Sphere, and the International Space Station.Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/swmbiaJoin SWMBIA: SWMBIA.orgSupport the Construction Academy: BozemanConstructionAcademy.orgAnd get your Big Sky Community Rodeo tickets here: BigSkyPBR.comFollow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcastOur barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcastsHelp us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts.Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/
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YES Compost & Big Sky Resort Tax
Jun 400:32:16Tap to summarizeBig Sky, Montana is technically unincorporated — no town council, no mayor — yet it generates $25 million a year in resort tax revenue and just became the most taxable community in the state. We sat down with Daniel Bierschwale, Executive Director of Big Sky Resort Area District (BSRAD), to break down how resort taxes work, what the new hospital district means for residents, and why Big Sky is essentially funding two teachers per school district across all 391 Montana school districts.And while we’re talking dirty details, Karl Johnson, owner of YES Compost, joins to explain what vermicomposting is. It’s hundreds of thousands of worms eating your food scraps and pooping out garden gold. We talk worm aversions (no citrus, no onions, definitely no diapers), scaling from 10 lbs of worms to a city-wide composting operation, and the one commercial client who really should have read the green bucket guidelines.This episode was made possible by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, for your enjoyment and information.Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/yesbsradLearn more about Big Sky Resort Tax: ResortTax.orgAnd sign up for YES Compost here: YesCompost.comTopics covered: Big Sky resort tax | BSRAD | Montana local government | vermicomposting | worm castings | Big Sky housing | hospital district | Gallatin Valley composting | Big Sky Chamber of CommerceFollow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcastOur barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcastsHelp us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts.Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/
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Big Sky’s Vet & New Headmaster
May 2800:35:59Tap to summarizeResidents of Big Sky, Montana have an increasing number of options and opportunities, and on this episode, we’ll feature a couple of great examples.Dr. Syd Desmarais of Lone Peak Veterinary Hospital and Jeremy Harder, head of school at Big Sky Community School, join us to talk about what it actually takes to serve a resort town of pet owners with active, sporty kids.We cover some serious ground here: pet acupuncture, why dental powders are a waste of money, what a brand new hybrid K-12 school actually looks like, and how it’s connected to a school in New York.This is part of a series brought to you by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, which is very cool of them.Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/vetschoolCheck out Lone Peak Veterinary Hospital: https://www.lonepeakvethospital.com/about-usAnd learn more about Big Sky Community School: BigSkyCommunitySchool.orgTopics: veterinary medicine in rural Montana | alternative education | Big Sky Community School | Lone Peak Veterinary Hospital | pet acupuncture | hybrid homeschool | Big Sky Chamber of CommerceFollow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcastOur barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcastsHelp us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts.Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/
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Big Sky PBR 2026: Elite Rodeo Food with Chefs Eduardo Garcia and Emily Hahn
May 2100:55:10Tap to summarizeBig Sky PBR, recently crowned 12-time event of the year, will ride again this July 16-18. And I hope you’re hungry, because the lineup of chefs is a murderers row: event organizer and Top Chef alum Emily Hahn, James Beard Award winner Eduardo Garcia, plus some of the most acclaimed chefs in the Mountain West and beyond: Sheldon Simeon (Top Chef, touring his second cookbook), Jamie Lynch (Top Chef), Josh Adams of Livingston’s Campione (James Beard nominee), and Jarrett Wrisley of Shan (James Beard nominee). Plus local skybox chefs Joel Gil of BRAZA and Kenan Anderson of Provecho.All in Big Sky, Montana for just three unexpectedly delicious days. On this episode, we sit down with Emily (chef-owner of Bozeman's Mountain Provisions) and Eduardo (founder of Montana Mex and host of Magnolia Network's Big Sky Kitchen) to talk about what they're cooking up – like whole bison sourced from North Bridger Bison, whole hog, whole lamb, fresh Alaskan seafood, and locally grown produce. We also get into:Emily's four years as a commercial shrimper and how she earned her 100-ton captain's license before landing in BozemanEduardo's full origin story — the electrocution, 21 surgeries, cancer diagnosis, and the hook he chose over a bionic handWhy neither of them could care less about a Michelin star — and why that's exactly the pointThe Low Cuisine game: Eduardo's tia's rural kitchen and Emily's formative years at a sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll Italian restaurant in Richmond, Virginia.This is a conversation about what food is actually for — community, land, ranchers, farmers, and the people eating it — told by two chefs who've both taken the long, hard, scenic route to get here.Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/pbrchefsGet your tickets to Big Sky PBR 2026: BigSkyPBR.comHave another helping of Emily Hahn: MountainProvisionsMT.comAnd Eduardo Garcia: ChefEduardo.comAnd book an unforgettable stay in Yellowstone National Park this summer: YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.comFollow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcastOur barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcastsHelp us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts.Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/
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Congressional Candidate Aaron Flint on Public Lands and Affordability in Montana
May 700:50:28Tap to summarizeAaron Flint is a retired Army lieutenant colonel with two Bronze Stars, a former conservative talk radio host who spent a decade taking calls from Montanans for four hours a day, and the Republican frontrunner for Montana's open House seat in the western district. And even if he’s qualified, he’s not particularly excited about going to Washington.We sat down with Flint in Bozeman to talk about why he's running anyway — and what he actually plans to do once he gets there. We covered public lands and whether he'll pick up where Ryan Zinke left off, his Trump endorsement (and what it means when the guy who gave it to you becomes less popular), housing costs, tariffs, AI data centers eating up Montana electricity, and what it was like to be one of the only white guys walking across the Howard University campus in Washington D.C.Whether you're a Flint voter, a Flint skeptic, or just someone who wants to know who could be representing western Montana in Congress, this is worth a listen.Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/aaronflintMake sure you’re registered to vote: VoteMT.gov/voter-registration/And register now for the 2nd Annual Running of the Bulls trail race in Big Sky bigskypbr.com/event/running-of-the-bulls/Follow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcastOur barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcastsHelp us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts.Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/
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Ranchers Stewardship Alliance: Protecting Land, Wildlife, and a Dying Industry
Apr 3000:34:34Tap to summarizeOn this episode, we head deep into Montana ranch country with the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance to figure out how an industry built on horses and grit is now running on GPS collars, data uploads, and conservation science. It’s part cowboy, part tech startup—and somehow still hanging on.We get into the real pressures threatening ranching today: skyrocketing land prices, outside development, environmental shifts, and the uncomfortable reality that most ranchers are pushing 60. What happens when the people feeding the country start aging out?At the same time, ranchers are doing something you probably didn’t expect—they’re quietly some of the biggest players in wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and land management in the American West.And we also touch on the day-to-day realities of ranch life – pulling calves, dealing with predators, and occasionally even bringing animals back to life.Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/ranchersLearn more about and join the RSA: RanchStewards.orgAnd Give Big April 30-May 1: GiveBigGV.orgFollow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcastOur barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcastsHelp us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts.Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/
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2026 Wildfire Season Preview: What Montanans Need to Know
Apr 2300:47:48Tap to summarizeAfter the winter that wasn’t, we’re all wondering how extreme wildfire season will be this summer. On this episode, Outlaw Beat is joined by a fire behavior analyst who is qualified to give us answers to all our burning questions.Jon Trapp is the Division Chief of Wildland Fire at Big Sky Fire Department and he is fresh off a regional planning meeting for western wildfires, so it’s a great time to find out what he knows so we’re all prepared for what’s in store.Jon talks about the various conditions and weather patterns that are lining up against us, wildfire tendencies you should definitely be aware of, plus the technological advances that are giving firefighters an edge they’ve never had before.And we don’t let Jon leave without having him answer fireman questions poorly written by children.Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/fireBrush up on the Wildfire Action Guide here: https://bigskyfire.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2022HE-Big-Sky-Evacuation-Guide-R3-SINGLES.pdfAnd Give Big April 30-May 1: GiveBigGV.orgFollow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcastOur barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcastsHelp us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts.Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/
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The Great Salt Lake Is Dying - Here's How to Save It
Apr 1600:29:52Tap to summarizeThe Rocky Mountain area isn’t known for its lakes, but there’s one we’re all pretty proud of. It’s everyone’s favorite terminal saline lake: Utah’s Great Salt Lake that, sadly, is getting less and less great every year.To find out why it’s shrinking, why that matters, and what we can do to turn things around, Outlaw Beat talks to lake expert Eric Edwards, senior fellow at PERC (the Property and Environment Research Center) and associate professor of agricultural and resource economics at UC Davis.Eric dispels some major myths about the state of the lake, like how much climate change is to blame and the practicality of some of the “magic bullet” solutions that are floating around out there.This episode matters if you care about the wildlife, clean skies, and winter sports that make Utah a special place to visit or live.Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/GreatSaltLakeRead more about PERC’s work with the Great Salt Lake: https://perc.org/2025/04/11/optimism-for-the-great-salt-lake-starts-with-water-leasing/And attend the Lone Peak Film Festival in Big Sky Sept. 17-20! LonePeakFilmFestival.comFollow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcastOur barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcastsHelp us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts.Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/
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Cody Dieruf Foundation - Supporting Montana’s Cystic Fibrosis Community
Apr 900:25:00Tap to summarizeMay is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, so it’s time to become aware of cystic fibrosis (and what it is) with Bozeman’s Cody Dieruf Foundation, named in honor of a 23 year old woman who passed away due to CF in 2005.Outlaw Beat gets a crash course in CF thanks to Foundation Board President Janel Shamblin and Executive Director Pam Western. And with Give Big Gallatin Valley 2026 coming up in a couple weeks, there’s never been a better time to show your support.Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/codyGive Big: https://www.givebiggv.org/organizations/cody-dieruf-benefit-foundationLearn more about the organization (and those MT license plates!) here: BreathinIsBelievin.orgAnd grab a sloshie at Big Sky’s Cowboy Coffee: CowboyCoffee.com/Big-SkyFollow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcastOur barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcastsHelp us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts.Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/
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