Podcast
The ButteCast with Bill Foley
Hosted by Bill Foley · EN
Let's get to know some of the characters who make Butte, Montana the "Richest Hill on Earth."
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No. 357: Alani Bankhead
6d ago01:11:44Tap to summarizeEarlier this month, Alani Bankhead basically came out of nowhere to win the Democratic nomination in Montana’s U.S. Senate race.Bankhead is a self-described military brat who lived all over the country before settling down in Montana. She says Montana is the first place she chose to live.Now, she is in a four-way race to replace outgoing Sen. Steve Daines. She will run against Republican nominee Kurt Alme, Libertarian candidate Kyle Austin and independent Seth Bodnar in the November election.Bankhead got in the race because she feels like it is her duty to fight for the people of Montana. That comes after serving more than 21 years in the Air Force, where she wore many hats. That includes hunting terrorists with special operations, chasing spies internationally, and serving as a senior bodyguard for one of the top Pentagon leaders.Since Bankhead is such an unknown, rumors spread that she was running a campaign to help Bodner, who has support from former Democratic Montana senators. Some speculated openly that she was going to drop out of the race when her campaign announced a major event Monday at University of Montana Oval.Instead, Bankhead came out swinging at Bodnar, pointing out his many allegations of sexual discrimination as the president of the University of Montana.To paraphrase Dr. Evil, she had me at hello.That night, I sent her a Facebook message to share my story of Bodnar. I told her how he and his staff refused to protect my daughter, her roommates and other female students at the University of Montana from a female sexual predator and stalker. He could not be bothered to even answer a phone call or email. Jon Krakauer might have to write a sequel.That conversation led to Bankhead agreeing to be a guest on the ButteCast, and we met up for a great conversation over Zoom on Thursday morning.Listen in as Bankhead shares some of her experiences from the military and why she chose to live in Montana. Listen as she talks about the sense of duty that got her in this race.Listen in to hear that she has a history of standing up to bullies and defending people who cannot defend themselves.Listen in to hear a great American underdog story.Today's podcast is brought to you by Thriftway Super Stops. Join the Thriftway Loyalty Club today and save big. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.This episode is also available on YouTube.
Transcribe →No. 356: Westside Shriners
6d ago01:55:26Tap to summarizeThe 79th Montana East-West Shrine Game will be played Saturday at Naranche Stadium in Butte.Captains for the Westside were voted on by the players and named Wednesday night. Those captains are Hagen Paddock of East Helena, Evan Pyron of Missoula Hellgate, Henry Griffin of Frenchtown and Asher Knopik of Kalispell Glacier.Knopik and Paddock are the offensive captains. Knopik will play running back for the Westside, but he will be a linebacker at Montana Tech. Paddock will play receiver for the West and Carroll College.Pyron and Griffin are the defensive captains. Both will play defensive line for the West. Pyron will play the same position at the University of Montana, while Griffin will compete in track & field at Montana State.I met with the four captains after their selection in the Team Room of the Metals Sports Bar & Grill. I talked with Knopik and Paddock before talking with Pyron and Griffin.Then, we caught up with all six coaches on the Westside staff. First up were head coach Tyler Murray and J.D. Ferris of East Helena. Then Dan Lacey of Anaconda and Connor Sullivan of Three Forks joined in before Jim Hogan of Helena Capital and Seth Mason of Frenchtown.We caught up with Shriners Wynn Randal and Joe Sidor before closing the show with West team coordinator Jeff Hartwick.Make sure to check out the parade, which starts Saturday at 10 a.m. in Uptown Butte. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. If you can’t make it to Naranche, you can watch on the local CBS stations.Make sure to call in the telethon for a donation, too.Today’s podcast is presented by the Kvichak Fish Co. Think of it as salmon and halibut gone Girl Scout cookie. Place your order today.Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →No. 355: Noah Thatcher
1w ago01:28:20Tap to summarizeNoah Thatcher was named head coach of the Butte High boys’ basketball program last month, and he is already off and running.Butte High wrapped up its summer tournament schedule over the weekend. The new coach has a camp set up for late next month.Thatcher grew up in Butte before moving to Great Falls when he was about 8 years old. He moved back to the Mining City as a senior in high school, and he played point guard for the Bulldogs during the 2000-01 season.Butte High dropped a 55-53 decision in double overtime in the Class AA playoffs that year, falling just short of the Class AA State tournament. Capital’s Scott Wonderlich scored off a Kyle Samson pass with 1.4 seconds left in double overtime for the win.Thatcher, who played a redshirt year under Rick Dessing at Montana Tech, takes over for Matt Luedtke, who stepped down after a successful seven-year run with the Bulldogs. He takes over a program that advanced to the Class AA State tournament five times in those seven years.Thatcher held several assistant coaching positions in recent years. He served as Butte High’s freshman coach for a couple of seasons under Luedtke.He is also filling the shoes of his father, John, who coached the Bulldogs from the 2000-01 season through the 2009-10 campaign. John will be part of the coaching staff this upcoming season.Earlier today, I met with Noah inside the vault at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill for a fun conversation. Listen as he talks about that playoff game in 2001 and the amount of college athletes who participated from both sides.Listen in as he talks about growing up a Thatcher and his move to Butte High for his senior season. Listen as he talks about his coaching staff and how he is excited to see what the Bulldogs can do in 2026-27.Listen in to hear that the Bulldogs are in good hands.Today’s episode of the ButteCast is presented by the Jewelry Design Center. Let Brian Toone and Co. be your jewelers for life. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →Tap ’er Light Sen. Sheehy
1w ago00:13:00Tap to summarizeWhen Tim Sheehy called my dad and his fellow protesters “un-American” and “communists,” he was being a coward. His words were also as ironic as they come.That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at ButteCast.com.Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com.
Transcribe →No. 354: The Mother Lode Theatre
2w ago01:29:57Tap to summarizeToday we get a behind-the-scenes look at the Mother Lode Theatre with Matt Boyle, Darrion McCracken and Layne McKay.Listen in as they talk about some of the big shows and events the Mother Lode has hosted and the work that goes into them. Listen as they talk about some of the fun events that are coming up this summer and fall.Go to buttearts.org to check out the lineup and to get your tickets. Make sure you go to that site so you do not get scammed by secondary market swindlers.Listen in to hear about LeRoy, the friendly ghost of the Mother Lode. Listen in to learn that the “green room” isn’t even green.Today's podcast is brought to you by Casagranda's Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →No. 353: Mike Heard
2w ago01:26:48Tap to summarizeMike Heard is like family to so many in Southwestern Montana. That even goes for the people who never met him.For the better part of four decades, Mike has come into our living rooms to broadcast the weather on the KXLF and KBZK newscasts. He is good at what he does, and he is so very likable on camera.Last week, however, Mike made his last appearance on KXLF and KBZK. In a statewide downsizing, Mike saw his position eliminated, and he was callously let go after 38 years with the Montana News Network.The man who gave so much loyalty to the company was shown none in return. He wasn’t even really given a chance to say goodbye. Now, at the age of 58, Mike is looking for a new job. That is a strange feeling for a guy who has pretty much worked his entire life. It started when he worked to help pay his way through Butte Central, where he graduated in 1986.The road of many jobs eventually took Mike to KXLF, where he worked as a cameraman starting in 1988. He took the job to help pay his way at Montana Tech.Eventually, he turned that role into an on-camera position, and he started broadcasting the weather at KXLF in 1990. Other than a little more than a year working at KPAX in Missoula, Mike had been on our Butte airwaves ever since. He also earned a degree as a broadcast meteorologist and became the chief meteorologist for KXLF and KBZK.This morning, I drove to Elk Park to sit down with Mike for a great conversation. Listen in as Mike talks about his humble roots that showed him the value of an honest day’s work. Listen as he talks about how he got into working in television and how that career evolved into something he just seemed to be born to do.Listen to Mike’s passion for the weather and serving all the communities of Southwestern Montana. Listen as he says what he couldn’t say during his last days at KXLF and KBZK.Today's podcast is brought to you by Thriftway Super Stops. Join the Thriftway Loyalty Club today and save big. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →Tap ’er Light: Our CBS affiliate made a big mistake
2w ago00:11:42Tap to summarizeKBZK/KXLF made a huge mistake when it laid off beloved meteorologist Mike Heard. Someday soon, they will see how big.That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at ButteCast.com.Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com.
Transcribe →Episode No. 352: Joe Gibson
2w ago01:07:44Tap to summarizeBig Joe Gibson is a fixture at Special Olympics events in Butte and around the state. Name the sport, and Joe competes in it. He swims, snowboards and plays basketball. He also competes in track & field.That is where Joe will be on display with some of the finest Special Olympians the United States has to offer next week. Joe will compete in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games June 20-26 in Minneapolis.Joe will compete in three events — the 50-meter dash, 100-meter dash and the turbo javelin — at the state-of-the-art Track and Field Stadium on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus.Joe, a 2006 Butte High graduate, is eyeing a meet record in the turbo javelin since he knows has already thrown better than what is on the book for the USA Games.Earlier today, I met with Joe at the Knights of Columbus Hall for a fun conversation. Listen in as he talks about his 20-plus years competing in the Special Olympics. Listen to why he says the Special Olympics and those Olympians are so special.Listen in as he talks about the trip and how he is going to catch a Twins-Dodgers game after he competes.Today’s podcast is presented by the Kvichak Fish Co. Think of it as salmon and halibut gone Girl Scout cookie. Place your order today.Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →No. 351: Brittani Ferris
3w ago01:23:22Tap to summarizeBrittani Ferris is a Butte girl who wears many hats.One of those hats is that of a clown, as she calls herself. Britt is a standup comedian who has been picking up steam with her hilarious act. She has been invited to perform at a show in New York City in the fall.Britt is also a promoter who brings comedy acts to Butte and around the state. She recently brought highly-renowned comic Jamie Campbell to the Mining City for a fun show.Next Friday, June 12, Britt will be part of an all-ladies show at the Covellite Theatre. She will perform along with Aubrey Juden, Amanda Taylor, Abi Gontarek and Rylie Gonzalez. The doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8. Tickets are just $20 in advance. Click here to get yours.Last year’s show was incredible, and Britt promises that this year will be even better.Earlier today, I met with Britt inside the vault at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill for a fun conversation.Listen in as she talks about telling jokes on stage and all the work she does to promote shows. Listen in as she talks about why you do not want to miss the “Girls will be Girls” show next Friday at the Covellite.Today’s episode of the ButteCast is presented by the Jewelry Design Center. Let Brian Toone and Co. be your jewelers for life. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →Tap 'er Light: Perspective is easy now that it is over
3w ago00:12:30Tap to summarizeWhen it comes to high school sports, camaraderie outweighs wins, losses and playing time. That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at ButteCast.com.Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com.
Transcribe →