This week’s guest is Spencer Williams, founder and CEO of West Paw, a company that makes dog toys and treats. West Paw has built an entirely U.S.-based supply chain and does all of its manufacturing right here in Montana. West Paw is also the first B Corporation in Montana and is a great example of business as a force for good.

In this conversation, Spencer talks about West Paw’s inception and why he committed to manufacturing in America. He explains what being a B Corp means to West Paw, and comments on the current state of Montana’s economy, and how that can make attracting and retaining talent difficult.

This week’s guest is Richard Reeves, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and president of the American Institute for Boys and Men. In 2022, Richard published Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What To Do About It. The insights from that book have sparked an important national dialogue, and Richard came to the University of Montana in November to discuss them further.

In this conversation, Richard talks about his upbringing in the United Kingdom, and how his experiences there shaped his views around class and gender. He discusses research that demonstrates how traditional educational programs worked better for women than for men, and how much of an impact the covid-19 pandemic had on men - an impact that Richard says was largely ignored by various media.

This week’s guests are Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty, authors of Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin, and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie. Josephine and Dave trace the legacy of industrialized agriculture and showcase various models for restoration.

In this conversation, Dave and Josephine discuss the ecological value of the American prairie ecosystem, and go through some of the conflicts that arise when different groups value preserving that ecosystem or converting it to agricultural land. The two bring up American Prairie - a nonprofit focused on preserving prairie landscapes - and its efforts, and compare them to Matador Ranch, a ranch in Montana focused on using sustainable agriculture to keep ranchlands in ranch family’s hands. Dave and Josephine talk about the cultural identity and history tied to prairielands and the challenging balance of ecological and economic needs.

Find Sea of Grass here.