Cory Cachola is a 1992 Butte High graduate who is doing some great things out in Portland, Oregon.

I would tell you what he is doing, but I am not entirely sure. I just know much of his work involves the dreaded artificial intelligence, and those letters “AI” scare the bejesus out of all of us.

Cory and I were journalism students together at the University of Montana in the 1990s. I can honestly tell you that he is the most talented writer I have ever worked with. In 1996, we worked together as interns at The Montana Standard, where we got a real introduction to the ways of the newspapers.

He has been in Portland now for nearly a quarter of a century, but he is still very much a Butte guy. He went to Emerson Elementary, where he earned the nickname “Chewy” while playing “Kick The Ball.”

At the Kennedy and Blaine schools, we played “Kickball.”

Cory’s mother, Georgene, was my teacher at Butte High. She was the advisor for The Mountaineer, Butte High’s school newspaper. You might remember Cory’s sister, Lurene Kelley. She started her television journalism career at KXLF.

Earlier today, I met with Cory over Zoom for a fun conversation. Listen in as we talk about the origin on his nickname and how those Emerson kids were just a little different.

Listen in as we reminisce about our days at J School and the Standard. Listen in as Cory explains that AI is not necessarily a bad thing.

Listen as we ask ourselves the very important question, “What would Neil Buckley do?”

Today's episode is also available on YouTube.