Advertise on podcast: McGonigal’s Chronicles: Making Montana Connections Podcast

Tim Moylan grew up in a loving home in Nebraska. The pain of losing his parents helped fuel his alcohol addiction. It's a pain he carried with him throughout much of his life. The disease nearly killed him...twice. Now, happily married and living in Shelby with his wife and their two children, he has written a book recounting his struggles, in the hopes of helping others know there's a way out when it comes to addiction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gene Thayer's  story is one of rags to riches. Born in 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, he grew up in a coal miner’s shack east of Belt, in French Coulee. No running water with the only heat coming from a cookstove, trying to survive Montana winters. He's come a long way and estimates in his life he's helped raise $75 million for worthy Montana causes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For well over a hundred years, the Great Falls Rotary Club has operated Camp Rotary, nestled in the heart of the Little Belt Mountains between Monarch and Neihart.  And every June for the past 32 years, Camp Rotary has been the home to Camp Francis. It's a children’s bereavement camp that has had a positive impact on thousands of children struggling with grief.  For most of that time, Kathy Van Tighem has been involved, primarily as Camp Director. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hasan Davis describes himself as an author, trainer, performer, youth advocate, lawyer, and hope dealer. Among his most recent projects is appearing in and producing the documentary film “Big Medicine York Outdoors", which helps tell the story of one of the most important figures in the Lewis and Clark Expedition.The film has been shown at various spots along the trail of the Corps of Discovery and is expected to soon be available to view on the National Park Service website. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been numerous aspiring music artists who played Montana early in their careers before reaching superstardom.Some names that come to mind include Lainey Wilson, Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift.Avery Anna is hoping to join that group of elite company. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Great Falls native is making her mark in the sales world. Leslie Venetz graduated from C.M. Russell High School and the University of Montana. She now runs the Sales-Led GTM Agency from Chicago. Venetz credits her high school debate experience for teaching her listening and questioning skills. She's just released her first book called "Profit Generating Pipeline." The book focuses on earning trust and driving revenue. Venetz still returns to Montana regularly, especially during state fair time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For more than four decades, a day at the office for Mike Hoggan meant spending time in the great outdoors. He spent ten years in a sheep wagon in the remote mountains of Nevada before moving to Montana where, as a government hunter and and trapper for USDA Wildlife Services, he worked along the Rocky Mountain Front dealing with wolves, mountain lions, and grizzlies.He’s now sharing his experiences in a book called "Between Predator and Prey: 42 Years a Government Hunter." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nnamdi Kanaga always hoped his dream of making films would bring him to America. He just didn't know that journey would lead him to Big Sky Country. But even after enduring his share of Bozeman winters, he wouldn't have it any other way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leading a successful city symphony is about more than just showing up and rehearsing and taking the stage on concert nights. It takes dedication and commitment to music, community, education and more. And it's something Grant Harville has done while leading the Great Falls Symphony for the past eight years.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the men and women who have served our country, there are countless service organizations that help them adjust back to civilian life.  But there’s one based in Sanders County that’s different from the rest.  Tom Schueman joined the Marine Corps after the events of September 11, 2001. His service took him to some of the deadliest combat zones of the War in Afghanistan. In 2021, he founded a retreat in the mountains of western Montana named Patrol Base Abbate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The name Juliette Angelo might not be as well known as people like Drew Barrymore or Macaulay Culkin, but she can definitely relate to them. Like them, she was a childhood actor, known for prominent roles on shows like NCIS, Shameless, and Malibu Country. And like the aforementioned Barrymore and Culkin, she went through a tumultuous time trying to balance a childhood and life in the entertainment spotlight. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just south of Neihart Montana on US Highway 89, you’ll find Montana’s oldest ski area. Showdown Montana has been a haven for downhill ski enthusiasts for nearly 90 years. And for a majority of that time there’s been a common denominator in keeping the lifts moving and the slopes in shape, George Willet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carol Bradley first came to Montana in 1994 to cover the US Senate race between Jack Mudd and Senator Conrad Burns.After crisscrossing the state with both candidates, she fell in love with Big Sky Country. Her award winning journalistic skills and a passion for animals has helped pave the way for the writing of books focusing on animal rights. including her latest endeavor, “Twisting in Air: The Sensational Rise of a Hollywood Falling Horse.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If Montana had a Mount Rushmore dedicated to the broadcasting industry, there’s an excellent chance Dan Snyder would be on it.  He worked as an announcer, program director, and salesman for stations across Montana before eventually building and operating stations.  His daughter, Jacque Snyder Walawander, has complied her father's amazing stories and recollections in a new book entitled, "Stationed in Montana: The Memoir of Great Falls Broadcast Pioneer Dan Snyder.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dawn Sexton is one of the estimated one million Americans living with multiple sclerosis. But that's not stopping the one of the state of Montana's foremost MS awareness advocates from working full-time and enjoying the many outdoor amenities the Treasure State has to offer. Dawn currently serves as the clinical education director at Touro College of Osteopathic medicine.  It was nearly a decade ago that she began to feel the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.  She’s become a fierce fighter for awareness, meeting with congressional leaders and other experts on Capitol Hill fighting for funding and additional research opportunities.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.