A New Angle

Mallory Ottariano is the founder of Youer, an American-made apparel company headquartered in Missoula that offers bold, functional, and sustainable clothing for active individuals. Mallory shares her journey from experimenting with sewing and design in her Massachusetts hometown to building a thriving business in Montana. She delves into the pivotal moments that shaped her path, including leveraging Etsy to launch her brand, transitioning from solo production to owning a local factory, creating a distinct design ethos, and maintaining creativity and passion in entrepreneurship.1/23/2025 update from Mallory:Last month, we made the very difficult decision to let half our team go and downsize our in-house production. We’ve moved those units to our existing partner facility in California. We’ll still be making one product in-house but nothing like the scale we were operating at before, where we made 70% in-house in 2024. We’ve always made things in California, but now we’ll be making nearly all of it there. Thanks for the opportunity to share stories of making clothes in America.Learn more about Youer here.Transcript available here. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

Yarrow Kraner is the founder of Hatch, a global network of influencers committed to progress on pressing societal issues. Yarrow reflects on his early experiences pioneering social networking for good with initiatives that predated platforms like MySpace and Facebook, the unintended consequences of modern social media platforms, and the importance of creating spaces for genuine connection and impact. He also discusses Hatch’s gatherings, like its global summits and the Montana Festival, which bring together leaders, creators, and problem-solvers to foster transformative conversations and solutions.Learn more about Hatch at HatchExperience.org and the Montana Festival at MontanaFestival.org.Transcript available here. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

David Cohen is the CEO and co-founder of Techstars, one of the most influential startup accelerators in the world. In this live episode recorded at the Scaling Montana Summit in Bozeman, Justin sits down with David to discuss Techstar’s mission to help founders succeed and the cultural value of “give first” that defines vibrant startup ecosystems. David shares lessons from Boulder’s entrepreneurial community, the importance of investing in people over ideas, and ethical considerations in tech.Learn more about Techstars here.Transcript available here. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

J. David McSwane is an award-winning investigative journalist at ProPublica who recently published a story about Dr. Tom Weiner, a prominent oncologist at Helena’s St. Peter’s Hospital whose practices raised significant ethical, medical, and legal questions. McSwane takes us behind the scenes of his reporting process, sharing how he uncovered allegations of malpractice, including fraudulent billing, overprescription of narcotics, and unsettling end-of-life care decisions. The conversation explores the intersection of health care and greed, the power dynamics within the medical community, and the challenges of exposing complex institutional failures in a community divided between admiration for Dr. Weiner and distrust of the hospital system.Read McSwane’s story on Dr. Weiner, “Eat What You Kill,” here: https://www.propublica.org/article/thomas-weiner-montana-st-peters-hospital-oncologyTranscript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zxg23YdMoJEkzuv_bvC-ZimCJ-6Tbw0xUkFH0wP3oy0/edit?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.anewanglepodcast.comIn our December edition of Incentives & Instincts, Justin sits down with economist Bryce Ward to unpack the complex and pressing issue of trust in government. With trust levels in government at historic lows, they delve into the historical trends, causes, and consequences of this erosion in confidence. The conversation explores the influence of media, t…

Jennifer Isern, Morgan Slemberger and Karl Unterschuetz are the authors of recent reports on access to capital in Montana. In this episode, the three of them sit down with Justin to discuss the financial challenges faced by entrepreneurs, with a focus on barriers for women and Native business owners. The conversation highlights ongoing efforts to close these gaps, such as increasing awareness of funding resources, enhancing funder capacity, and exploring alternative financing solutions.Learn more about the reports published by the team here: https://www.acceleratemt.com/accessingcapitalinmontana and here: https://www.umt.edu/real-women/research/reports/access-to-capital/montana/montana-native-access-to-finance-report-final1.pdfTranscript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KaK2lCAZfDJYtUagIHLg-z0LVsuMxyNhUd1rTcme-fs/edit?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

Tracy McIntyre is the Executive Director of the Montana Cooperative Development Center. In this episode, she joins Justin to explain the unique world of cooperative businesses, or co-ops, highlighting how these community-driven organizations solve specific needs through collective ownership and democratic decision-making.Learn more about the Montana Cooperative Development Center at www.mcdc.coopTranscript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15CEjDJzRp3UBJZ02Iv6IKRC_6GuBkn8TkdEQYmQMnQQ/edit?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

Ross Peterson, Doug Shryock, and Steve Rice are the creators behind Little Dumps and Bulk Delivery Pro, two businesses that encapsulate the creativity and hustle this show has always tried to celebrate. In this episode, they recount their journey from running a landscaping operation to identifying the industry’s inefficiencies and developing a solution. The conversation explores the challenges of securing their first customers, the learning curve of selling software to a traditionally tech-resistant industry, and the excitement of solving real-world problems through innovation. They also reflect on their biggest lessons: the importance of peer-to-peer credibility, the need for adaptability, and the gratification of creating something that the community can use to build their landscaping ideas.Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Is8at3eiWsX3FOqw7_EPP3DeVqmuB7tPTSOB8Nxw2U0/edit?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.anewanglepodcast.comThis month’s installment of Incentives & Instincts, our recurring series with Bryce Ward, dives into the concept of bad apples in various social systems and their disproportionate impact on communities and institutions. Justin and Bryce discuss how a small number of bad apples can distort perceptions and influence norms, particularly in online spaces, w…

In part two of our conversation with Penny Ronning, the co-founder of the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, she speaks with Justin on the realities of child trafficking and online exploitation in the U.S. Ronning describes the signs of trafficking that ordinary people can observe and offers advice on reporting suspected trafficking. She shares the history of her task force and details her path from a CASA advocate to becoming a key player in the fight against human trafficking in Montana, highlighting efforts to address the issue through policy, training, and legislation.Learn more about the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force here: www.yhttf.orgTranscript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wsaUAH-ps4dXociZ1reosFcWV0TAGWRXs6rAh51OvwE/edit?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

Penny Ronning, the co-founder of the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, joins Justin to explore the pervasive but often unseen world of human trafficking in Montana and beyond. She explains how traffickers target vulnerable individuals across industries—from construction to nail salons—and the red flags for spotting exploitation. Ronning also delves into the grooming tactics used on children online and the distinction between consensual sex work and coercive trafficking.This conversation contains sensitive themes regarding sex trafficking, mental illness and suicide. If you or a loved one is considering suicide, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.Stay tuned for part two of our conversation with Penny Ronning next week.Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DjEkoMiBPL0n2eDpKfKV2AnQ5RNnfpzDOqZVABN3Q-Y/edit?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.anewanglepodcast.comIn this month’s installment of Incentives & Instincts, our recurring series with economist Bryce Ward, Justin and Bryce delve into the shifting cultural and social dynamics within the sports industry. They focus on factors like the local connection to sports, the “Moneyball” effect, and the rise of sports gambling, discussing whether these elements are …

It’s pledge week at Montana Public Radio, and in place of our regular programming, we bring you the recording of a live conversation Justin did with two wonderful MTPR colleagues: Lauren Korn of The Write Question and Sarah Aronson, host of Grounding. We share our experiences and approaches to covering climate change on our various programs. If you’re interested in supporting Montana Public Radio, please visit MTPR.org This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

This week Justin speaks with Pathlabs Chief Executive Officer, Will Lapointe, a former student of his at the University of Montana College of Business. Pathlabs is a Montana-made digital media execution partner. What does that mean? Well, have a listen. Pathlabs was just acquired by MIQ in one of the largest corporate acquisitions in Montana history. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

University of Montana law professor Craig Cowie returns this week to discuss the shifting the balance of power between regulatory agencies and the judiciary. Cowie explains how recent Supreme Court decisions, such as Loper Bright, are slowing down regulatory processes, creating uncertainty for businesses and agencies alike. He argues that while deregulation is often seen as freeing up the market, judicial involvement can make things more complex, as businesses are unsure about their compliance. Although this creates opportunities for litigation, it raises concerns about the long-term impact on society and the economy. The courts, however, don’t always address these broader trade-offs in their rulings.Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12N-gBGtRGC8nPktk0CINyaM8nowNxq2naC0lmabt44w/edit?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

Craig Cowie joins Justin in this week’s episode to discuss the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity and its implications for prosecuting a president for criminal acts. The discussion centers around the tension between protecting a president from legal interference and ensuring accountability for illegal actions, like bribery and even assassination. Cowie critiques the Court’s vague framework, which leaves key questions unanswered about how these issues will be prosecuted in the future. The conversation highlights concerns about a shift of power from Congress and the executive to the judiciary, allowing the courts to play a larger role in determining the criminal culpability of a sitting president. Cowie warns that this ruling could effectively shield a president from prosecution, relying only on impeachment or elections as remedies.Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10pHvxFvbIxAxowREg19P92xee5ITth4u-xTBrKOcXcU/edit?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.anewanglepodcast.comIn this month’s installment of Incentives & Instincts, our recurring series with economist Bryce Ward, Justin and Bryce question the effectiveness of our current election system in helping us to choose the candidates whose policies will best reflect our perception of problems and priorities. Bryce introduces the concept of deliberative polling as a pote…

Scaling Montana works to accelerate Montana’s technology innovation community, and we are joined in this episode by Jenni Graff, the executive director, and Philip Brittan, who chairs the board. They discuss Montana’s emerging tech and entrepreneurial landscape and the upcoming Scaling Montana summit, which will be held on October 23rd and 24th in Bozeman. The conversation touches on the unique challenges of scaling businesses in Montana’s rural setting, the rise of various tech clusters across the state, and the value of networking and knowledge sharing in fostering innovation.Learn more about Scaling Montana here: https://scalingmt.org/Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mP_HSz-gQHJFzJT1IE3W98le4dRB-w86AcGh6hiUagA/edit?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

Mark Kreider is a recent Ph.D. graduate in forestry from the University of Montana whose research focuses on wildfire suppression and its unintended consequences on forest ecosystems. In this episode, he explains the concept of “suppression bias,” where the easier-to-control fires are successfully suppressed, leaving the more severe and dangerous wildfires to dominate. Mark discusses how this bias, along with climate change and fuel accumulation, contributes to the growing severity of wildfires in the western U.S. In addition to his academic work, Mark is a talented science communicator who uses music, film, and photography to engage broader audiences, and he shares insights into how art and science can intersect to inspire deeper conversations about environmental issues.Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vqrYQycF1QrE3nbc94kJk8C6Jf_a2yX1RcPVWriuN3s/edit?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe

Zach Green is the president of BeAlive Studios in Bozeman, Montana, and the co-founder of Rivers are Life. He began his career on CBS’s Survivor and oversaw production of the hugely successful survival series Alone. In this episode, Zach shares his experiences navigating the entertainment industry, emphasizing the importance of persistence, risk-taking, and passion-driven work. He also discusses the importance of storytelling in conservation and how multimedia can inspire outdoor adventure and environmental stewardship, highlighting his projects’ focus on brand-funded content and partnerships with organizations to protect and preserve global river systems.Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QhJODqZD4Kb3pOYnY53ML8rAhn28KzcidY66dMzpJV0/edit?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.anewanglepodcast.com/subscribe