In this episode, I sit down with Elyssa Leininger, a Billings native and leading voice in the public art movement. Elyssa is an accomplished artist whose work spans the state and beyond, but she is best known for her public murals, artworks that have transformed spaces across Billings, from the iconic 6th Street Underpass to the Mental Health and Crisis Centers, bringing light and beauty to some of our most vulnerable neighbors.

We begin with the 6th Street Underpass, where Elyssa painted her very first mural in 2020. Contracted through the city for less than a thousand dollars, she poured over a thousand hours into her concrete canvas. The result is a tapestry of sunrise and wildlife, featuring buffalo, elk, and eagles. If you haven’t walked through or driven by, it’s worth a stop and a honk of appreciation.

It was an honor to share this conversation. I hope her story inspires you as deeply as it has inspired me. The world needs better stories, and Pay Love Forward exists to tell them.

In this first episode, Dr. Matthew Leavenworth, founder of Pay Love Forward, sits down with world-renowned concert pianist Tanner Jorden to explore his remarkable journey from Billings, Montana to the international stage.

Recently accepted into the master’s program at The Juilliard School, Tanner has already performed across the globe, from Israel to Carnegie Hall. In this conversation, we talk about his development as a musician, his spiritual connection to music, and the role that mentorship has played in shaping his growth.

Tanner also shares about his partnership with his wife, violinist Caroline Jorden, who he first met while performing with the Aspen Grove Trio. The trio’s cross-country, garage-band-style tour brings them full circle to Billings, the last stop before the next chapter of their journey in New York.

The episode closes with a profound moment: Tanner’s performance and interpretation of Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2, a piece forged in the shadows of World War II and the Holocaust. His reflections reveal how music not only moves us but also serves as witness to history’s deepest wounds.

This episode captures the heart of Pay Love Forward’s mission to build compassionate communities through mentorship and storytelling. Tanner’s story is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the transformative power of human connection.