KGPR Great Falls Public Radio

David Saslav interviews Andres Haladay of Upper Seven Law, the legal firm bringing a class action suit around the legality of several of Montana's "immigration hold" detentions instigated by ICE and Customers and Border Patrol.

Host Matt Donnelly interviews folk singers Christy Martin and Aodh Og O'Tuama, both of the Celtic group Four Shillings Short talking about their career, formation of the group, their farewell tour, and a concert on Tuesday, September 15th, taking place at the Great Falls Public Library.  For more information about the group, go to 4shillingsshort.com. 

I loved seeing this part of Montana that I had never explored before.  This ranch headquarters, nestled along a creek 50 miles from the nearest post office, is home to people who clearly thrive here and live by their own personal code of ethics. -Lisa Schmidt

I suspect I am not the target demographic for the tech industry, but I climbed up on my roof with Gorilla tape and left behind my internet homestead. - Lisa Schmidt

David Saslav interviews Chief Medical Officer for United Health Care of Montana about the importance of preparedness for wildfire season in terms of our respiratory health

David Saslav interviews Makenna Sellers, the Executive Director of the Montana Renewable Energy Association, about the upcoming Clean Energy Fair being held on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls, all morning on August 29, 2026, as well as MREA's efforts in communities and the Montana Legislature to strengthen Montana's energy resilience, and accelerate our momentum towards cleaner energy generation, as well as distributed storage and transmission of the energy generated.

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Emmy-winning composer Jeff Beal, violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins, and six-time Grammy winning conductor Leonard Slatkin with a preview of Jeff's latest work Body in Motion.  For more information about the album, go to jeffbeal.com.

Good morning, We rode in search of awe and we found it, despite a wreck or two. Riding a good horse to the awe of endless craggy vistas is worth the risk of wrecks nobody can anticipate. - Lisa Schmidt

"What's Trending" is a look at drug and alcohol trends occurring in Great Falls and Cascade County. The August 2026 edition runs 8:00 in length.

Organizers of a benefit for 16-year-old Mason spread the word on social media. It worked. People packed the house and dug deep into their pockets to pay a few of his expenses while he battles cancer. - Lisa

My sheep are working hard to stay ahead of the grasshoppers by grazing my alfalfa now instead of late this fall. Hopefully, my grazing experiment won't backfire on me. - Lisa

I'm far from the best parent in the world, but even I know an adult shouldn't back out of a deal with a kid. At least now an old range ewe will teach a fancy show sheep how to live her best life after the county fair taught some hard lessons to both kids and adults. - Lisa   

My plan to use free and inexperienced labor could have been a wreck, but it turned out just fine. Amy Baek and I worked the sheep chute while five other intelligent, inexperienced and lucky guests encouraged, cajoled, shoved and wrestled sheep to them. - Lisa

David Saslav interviews incoming Dean and CEO of Great Falls College - MSU, Dr. Leanne Frost - on her very first day on the job.

Host Matt Donnelly interviews singer, songwriter, and actress Alicia Witt (Dune, The Walking Dead, Twin Peaks) talking about her acting career, her music, working with and being inspired by David Lynch, and her latest work of Between Heaven and Earth.  For more information about Alicia, go to aliciawittmusic.com.    

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Montana-based musician Ty Walker talking about the upcoming inaugural MooshFest, a new two-day gathering featuring a music festival, art, and more taking place August 14-15 at Boulder, MT.  For more information, go to mooshfest.com.  

Host Matt Donnelly interviews New Zealand-born and Australia-based musician and comedian Richard Lindesay talking about his career, comedy, and his single "Recorder in the Corner," which became a viral sensation.  For more information about the artist, go to richardlindesay.com.  

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Kevin Asselin, executive artistic director of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks with a preview of the upcoming shows Much Ado About Nothing and The Merchant of Venice, all taking place Friday, August 7th and 8th, both at 7 PM at the University of Providence campus.  For more information, go to shakespeareintheparks.org.  

Hosts Marty Bannon and Dave Cunningham interview John Juras, president of the Great Falls Bicycle Club.    

Hosts Marty Bannon and Dave Cunningham interview Anthony Davalos of the Great Falls chapter of Team Red, White, and Blue.

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Brussels-based singer-songwriter Bai Kamara, Jr. talking about his career, the songwriting process, and a preview of his latest single My Woman She Long Gone.  For more information about the artist, go to baikamara.com.    

David Saslav interviews Kim Skornogoski, Marketing Director at United Way of Cascade County, and youth leader Amara Ochsner from Great Falls High School, about Great Falls' upcoming Stuff the Bus and Back2School Blast (and Havre's Stuff the Bus and Back2School Bash) in August, as well as the LIFT program encouraging students to learn how to be aware and bolster their peers' mental health.  

Host Matt Donnelly interviews violinist of the Catalyst Quartet Abi Fayette talking about her quartet plus a preview of their latest album Uncovered, Vol. 4 featuring the string quartets of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.  For more information, go to catalystquartet.com.  

Host Matt Donnelly interviews soprano Nanette McGuinness and a preview of her latest album El Tiempo Latine, featuring the Ensemble for These Times.  For more information, go to e4tt.org.  

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Darren Johnson of Owlbear Gaming Club talking about Owlbear, what does the club offer, and game nights.  For more information, go to owlbeargamingclub.org or check out their Facebook page.

Hosts Marty Bannon and Dave Cunningham interview Sarah Buley, board member with the Montana Island Range Chapter.  

"What's Trending" is a look at drug and alcohol trends occurring in Great Falls and Cascade County. The July 2026 edition runs 10:24 in length.

Some places are worth protecting. My mountain sanctuary is one of them. We pulled a lot of weeds last weekend and we have a lot more to pull. I took my easy-going pack horse into the Bob Marshall Wilderness on a mission to eliminate noxious weeds and protect the diverse landscape. - Lisa

Host Matt Donnelly interview classical harpist Yolanda Kondonassis talking about her career, harp playing, plus a preview of her latest album Terra Infirma featuring music by Reena Esmail. For more information about the artist, go to yolandaharp.com.    

I hope you will think about joining me at the From the Ground Up Kitchen Open House on Thursday, July 9, at 2 p.m. for a peek at how the retort process works and the food it creates.  -Lisa

"What's Trending" is a look at drug and alcohol trends occurring in Great Falls and Cascade County. The June 2026 edition runs 9:26 in length.

My friend, Andy Watson, drew a cartoon and said I could use it for my column this week. I think it captures the opportunity we have for unity as we celebrate our nation's 250th birthday.  - Lisa

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Amber Henning Griffith of the Great Falls Theatre Company talking about the upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz, with show times on July 9th through the 11th, the 16th and the 17th all at 7 PM, plus a matinee on July 18th at 2 PM, all taking place at the Great Falls High School Davidson Auditorium.  For more information, go to greatfallstheatre.com.  

Host Matt Donnelly interviews composer and pianist Suzanna Lam talking about her career, her music, with a preview of her latest album Sunday, a classical crossover blending classical with ambient features quoting Handel's Passacaglia.  For more information about the artist, go to dreammusicproductions.com. 

Hosts Marty Bannon and Dave Cunningham interview Tom Lang, director of the Montana Trails Coalition.  

Hosts Marty Bannon and Dave Cunningham interview Steve Dee of the Montana Dinosaur Center of Bynum, MT.  

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Bulgarian Canadian jazz vocalist Gergana Velinova talking about her career and her latest album Free--A Soulful Journey.  For more information about the artist, go to gerganavelinova.com.    

The various shades of sage, western wheatgrass and all of the other green prairie plants rejuvenate the land and my heart. June is my favorite month of the year. - Lisa

Host Matt Donnelly interviews composer Robert Honstein, talking about his music and a preview of his latest album Horizon Line.  For more information about the artist, go to roberthonstein.com.  

Host Matt Donnelly interviews local bandleader John Gemberling talking about the Great Falls Municipal Band, its history, ways to get involved, and their upcoming summer concerts.   

Retort mechanic Channing Thomas is used to climbing into tight spaces to adjust robotics. Once, he searched for a ship that rested 10,000 feet below Antarctic ice. Last week, he ventured even farther into the wilderness when he came to Conrad, Montana. This was a big step in getting my ready-to-eat meals into production. It was fun to learn from people with different perspectives, too. -Lisa  

Some people say this rain came too late for the grass and crops to grow. At my ranch, all of the plants have already shot up as if they have their hands raised to the heavens in praise. It's like being in church around here. I think those people who think it is too late are wrong.    Earlier this spring, crews built artificial beaver dams in my long-dry creek bed. After four days of soaking rain, the dams passed their first test. Designed to slow, but not stop running water, they worked. I might have splashed in the pools the dams made for more than a few minutes.  - Lisa  

My manufacturing kitchen is getting closer to operational with every passing moment. So are the last-minute crises. Fortunately, I get to spend time reuniting lost lambs with their mamas and restoring my own sanity.  -Lisa

Host Matt Donnelly interviews classical guitarist Brendan Evans, talking about his musical influences, his career, and a preview of his latest album Tiento.  For more information about the artist, go to brendan-evans.com.    

Host Matt Donnelly interviews composer Daniel Temkin talking about his music and a preview of his latest album Maksimal.  For more information about Daniel, check out danieltemkincomposer.com.    

Host Matt Donnelly interviews vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Eki Shola talking about a love for jazz, her career, and a preview of her latest album Dare to Love Free.  For more information about the artist, go to ekishola.com.

This episode covers the 21st annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Montana Veterans Memorial in Great Falls, honoring nearly 8,700 veterans and marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. Community leaders, military speakers, the Sound of the Falls Chorus, and the Great Falls Municipal Band offered reflections, prayers, and musical tributes. The program highlights the memorial’s ongoing updates, personal stories etched on tiles and benches, and calls for listeners to remember the fallen, share their stories, and carry forward the legacy of service and sacrifice. This program runs 47:13 in length.

Host David Saslav welcomes Varian Lewis and Emmett Whall, co-leaders of Strong Towns Great Falls, to discuss the national Strong Towns principles and how they apply locally. They cover the suburban experiment, zoning reforms, infill and "The Missing Middle" housing, walkability, and reducing car dependence to improve affordability and community life. The guests explain practical, bottom-up strategies for incremental growth, invite listeners to public meetings (every other Monday at 6PM at The Station, next on June 1st), and share how residents can get involved to help make Great Falls more livable and financially resilient.

Host David Saslav interviews Sarah Nicolai of Robert Petschian Associates and Jim Wingener of the Montana Department of Transportation about the Central Montana Transportation Study. The study examines existing conditions across nine counties, with a focus on Great Falls and Lewistown, and evaluates how urban growth and military changes (including the Sentinel mission) will affect roads, bridges, and multi-modal connections. The episode covers proposed study activities, public open houses (in-person and virtual), opportunities for public comment via interactive maps, potential improvement types, funding pathways, partner agencies, and the project timeline for draft reports and final recommendations.

Host Dave Cunningham interviews AmeriCorp trail specialist Cecilia Gomez.