KGPR Great Falls Public Radio

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.

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Great Falls Symphonic Choir music director Jon Harney with a preview of the upcoming concert Elements of Life on Sunday, June 7th at 3 PM at the First Congregational United Church of Christ.  For more information, go to gfsymphony.org.  

Host Matt Donnelly interviews composer, saxophonist, and clarinetist Jeff Lederer with a preview of his latest album There's a Yearnin': Music for Winds and Voice.  For more information about the artist, go to littleimusic.com  

I'm glad branding is finished for the year. So much can go wrong, but this year it went pretty well. It takes teamwork like in this photo of Erik Gustafson waiting to brand a calf while I band it. My daughter, Abby Hutton, took the photo.  - Lisa

David Saslav speaks with Sarah Nicolai from RPA and Jim Wingerter from MDT about the ongoing Central Montana Transportation Study

"What's Trending" is a look at drug and alcohol trends occurring in Great Falls and Cascade County. The May 2026 edition runs 10:00 in length.

Host Matt Donnelly interviews KGPR board president Rich Liebert talking about the 21st Annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25th at 1 PM at the Montana Veterans Memorial.    

At a public meeting three years ago, when I asked a Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality worker about the potential risk of injecting unknown contaminants into a complex aquifer, he looked at me as if he wanted to pat me on the head, hand me a sucker and tell me to go sit down in my little chair. Instead, he said I needn't worry about this until I see brown, smelly sludge bubble out of the ground. I didn't believe him. And my neighbors and I didn't go sit down. - Lisa

Lambing season is my favorite time of year and my worst nightmare. It consumes and delights me. - Lisa

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Los Angeles-based composer, singer, and arranger Laurent Ziliani talking about his latest album Anyone Can Whistle: A Sondheim Journey.  For more information about the artist, go to laurentziliani.com.    

David Saslav interviews Great Falls Community Food Bank Director Shaun Tatarka about this coming Saturday's annual Letter Carriers' "Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive" (more at http://nalc.org/community-service/food-drive ) and how the Food Banks benefits our neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity.  

The young adults who spent a week building artificial beaver dams worked hard and appreciated the beauty of the ranch. I couldn't ask for more than that. Now, if I ever have water in the creek, I'll test those dams.  -Lisa  

A lot has changed since Prairie Ponderings began with a snarky letter. I share stories of what it takes to raise cattle and sheep in an effort to help people understand the foundation of our culture, food system and environment in a rapidly changing world.  -Lisa

Host Matt Donnelly interviews three-time Grammy nominated cellist Seth Parker Woods, talking about his career, his love for the cello, and a preview of his latest album From Ordinary Things.  For more information about the artist, go to sethparkerwoods.com.    

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Great Falls Symphony music director candidate Daniel Black with a preview of the upcoming concert of Renewal, taking place at the Mansfield Theater, Saturday, May 9th at 7:30 PM.  For more information, go to gfsymphony.org.    

David Saslav interviews Thomas Trunkle and Jeannie Reeves Hansen from the Ursuline Centre, about the many ways it affects life in Great Falls.

Hosts Marty Bannon and Dave Cunningham interview Jackie Johnson, treasurer with the Fort Benton Trail Association.  

Hosts Marty Bannon and Dave Cunningham interview Jess Garbey, education coordinator at the Flathead Audubon Society.

Host Matt Donnelly interviews violinists Mary Papoulis and Nathaniel Basa, both with the Cascade Quartet, and a preview of their upcoming concert of Quartet in Bloom, taking place at the History Museum Friday, May 1st at 7 PM, and the First Congregational United Church of Christ on Sunday, May 3rd at 2 PM.  For more information, go to gfsymphony.org.    

David Saslav interviews Jolene Schalper, the 2026 Great Falls Chamber of Commerce's Athena Award Winner for notable women in business, about her award, her selection and surprise notification; about Great Falls as a city of opportunity for women entrepreneurs, her own downtown business, how to get started with networking, how to gauge our candidates for their support of Great Falls' business, and a new Giving Circle being formed by 100 women of Great Falls to make significant monetary impacts on local non-profits.

A lot has changed since Prairie Ponderings began with a snarky letter. I share stories of what it takes to raise cattle and sheep in an effort to help people understand the foundation of our culture, food system and environment in a rapidly changing world. - Lisa

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Kaylee LaClair, Nik Asmussen, and Laureen Asa-Dorian Johnson all from the Great Falls Theatre Company talking about their upcoming production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie taking place at the University of Providence Theater on April 23rd, the 24th, and the 25th.  For more information, go to greatfallstheatre.com.

David Saslav interviews Fish Wildlife and Parks manager Clark Aasom, and Karen Thornton, Chairperson of Northern Plains Resource Council's Golden Triangle affliate, Golden Triangle Resource Council, about upcoming Earth Day activities the public can partake in.

Host Matt Donnelly interviews award winning pianist David Korevaar talking about his career, favorite composers, and a preview of his latest box set Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas.  For more information about the artist, go to davidkorevaar.com.  

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Great Falls Symphony music director candidate finalist Ian Passmore and interim music director Gordon Johnson with a preview of the upcoming concert "Echoes of Resilience" taking place at the Mansfield Theater, April 18th at 7:30 PM.  For more information, go to gfsymphony.org.

"The Easter Bunny's cottontail cousin posed for me as a distraction while the real Easter Bunny hid out at my ranch. If the gulf stream collapses, maybe I'll raise many cottontail cousins." -Lisa

"What's Trending" is a look at drug and alcohol trends occurring in Great Falls and Cascade County. The April 2026 edition runs 8:59 in length.

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Jake Blaine of the Belt Performing Arts Theater and the Great Falls band After 5 talking about future concerts in both his band and the theater itself, the Belt Valley players, and more.  For more information, go to beltperformingartscenter.com.  

"Geese are flying north, gophers are out and about, calves are cavorting -- it must be springtime at the ranch." -Lisa

Great Falls City Planning and Community Development Director Brock Cherry discusses the final phases of the nearly three-year process of updating the Great Falls City Growth Policy.

Recovery Radio is a monthly show featuring candid conversations with individuals in recovery-sharing the raw, human stories of loss, resilience, and transformation. Each episode weaves together personal narratives, expert insights, and community resources, creating a rich tapestry of hope and guidance. This issue of Recovery Radio features an interview with Rev. Dawn Skerritt of the First United Methodist Church and runs 42:20 in length.

Host Matt Donnelly interviews pianist Christopher O'Riley and cellist Matt Haimovitz with a preview of their latest album "The Bach Dialogues."  

"Spring is my favorite time of year. This year, my adopted family is visiting so it is even better.  Brooke Fitzgerald, Donovan and Julian Fasold and Zora Johr used experiential learning to develop a knack for turning wethers on their hips. Julian didn't quite have the technique down yet, but by the end of the day, he was a master." -Lisa

"Thank goodness for the joys of a long partnership with a good dog and the tears that come with giving her one more gift." -Lisa  

David Saslav interviews Stephanie Erdmann about her recent announcement that she is stepping down as Dean and CEO of Great Falls College / MSU, the accomplishments of her tenure at the College, and what's next for Stephanie Erdmann.

Host Matt Donnelly interviews composer Stephen Emmer with a preview of his latest album Asymmetrical Dot.  For more information about the artist, go to stephenemmer.com.

"The sheep shearers were in town and my sheep need to be sheared before lambing commences, yet snow and wind might freeze newly-shorn ewes. I figured I could keep most of them alive, but it wouldn't be pretty." -Lisa

Host Matt Donnelly interviews Jake Blaine, of Blaine Train realty, talking about the Belt Performing Arts Center on 58 Castner Street in Belt, Montana, with exciting new shows coming up.  For more information, go to beltperformingartscenter.com.

"I'm losing my faith and patience, but it has to rain someday. Right?" -Lisa