Outlaw Beat

Joe Borden & Michelle Veale Borden
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Comedy
  • Updated Weekly

“Outlaw Beat: Stories from the West” scans the horizon for anything worth mentioning. Hosted by Joe Borden & Michelle Veale Borden

  1. 18h ago

    The Guitar Fighting to Save a Forest - Rick Bass on the Yaak Valley’s Last Hope

    Rick Bass — petroleum geologist turned Montana Project director — explains how a 315-year-old spruce, felled during a Forest Service clearcut in Montana's Yaak Valley, became the Black Ram Guitar.  Jeff Bridges heard it once and commissioned six more. Now it's touring with a busload of MFA students trying to get the Black Ram region of the Yaak designated as America's first Climate Refuge. We talk old-growth forests, grizzly habitat, the politics behind a proposed 800-acre clearcut, and whether a guitar can actually stop a chainsaw. Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/rickbass Buy a ticket to the Black Ram Guitar Festival this October 2 in Bozeman, MT at The Ellen Theatre: BlackRamGuitarFest.org Follow the students’ progress on their journey: GreenCurtainRoadShow.org Check out this story about Rick and the Yaak in Mountain Outlaw: https://www.mtoutlaw.com/songs-from-a-climate-refuge/ And head to the Big Sky Events Arena for the free Wildlands Family Jam Saturday Aug. 1, from 10am to 12pm!  Follow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcast Our barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcasts Help us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts. Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/

    The Guitar Fighting to Save a Forest - Rick Bass on the Yaak Valley’s Last Hope

  2. Jul 16

    Meteorologist Mike Heard - What’s in his Forecast after 38 Years in Local News

    For 38 years, Mike Heard was the most trusted voice in southwest Montana weather — chief meteorologist for KBZK and KXLF, the forecast an entire region planned its week around. In June 2026, his position was eliminated in a statewide downsizing. He didn't see it coming: "0% chance," in his words. Mike joins Outlaw Beat to talk about growing up in Butte, getting hired with zero TV experience, and why forecasting Bozeman is so hard (southwest Montana is a radar desert). We cover the super El Niño threatening this ski season, why there's been no snow on Christmas in Bozeman, what a microburst actually is, and Mike’s brutally honest forecast for the future of local television. Plus, he plays along in "Cloudy with a Chance of BS," where he rates your favorite weather folklore — and a science teacher finally stumps him. Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/mikeheard Follow Mike's new venture, Heard's First Forecast, for hyper-local southwest Montana weather here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590004850751 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/15587640/join And treat your feet to handcrafted, made-in-Texas leather boots at downtown Bozeman’s Lucchese. lucchese.com  Follow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcast Our barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcasts Help us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts. Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/

    Meteorologist Mike Heard - What’s in his Forecast after 38 Years in Local News

  3. Jul 9

    Epilepsy Foundation & Making Montana Schools Seizure Safe

    What does a seizure actually look like? What do you do when one happens in front of you? And why is Montana one of the states still without a law requiring teachers to know the answer to that question? On this episode of Outlaw Beat, we sit down with Jessica Veach — Regional Executive Director of the Epilepsy Foundation covering Montana, Nevada, and Utah — and Dr. Karla Mora Rodriguez, neurologist with Billings Clinic, to talk about one of the most common neurological conditions most people know almost nothing about. Nearly 11,000 Montanans are living with epilepsy. 1 in 10 people will have a seizure in their lifetime. And a free, one-hour, on-demand training exists that could prepare every teacher and school employee to respond — but Montana has yet to make it law. Big Sky PBR is going purple in support of epilepsy awareness Thursday July 16. If this episode moves you, contact your Montana state legislator and ask them to support the Seizure Safe Schools bill when it hits the floor in February. Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/epilepsyfoundation Learn more and support the Epilepsy Foundation: Epilepsy.com Resources: 📞 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-332-1000 📲 @epilepsymontana 🏥 Billings Clinic Neurosciences: 406-238-2410 Tags/Keywords: epilepsy Montana, seizure first aid, Seizure Safe Schools, Epilepsy Foundation Montana, Big Sky PBR, what to do during a seizure, ketogenic diet epilepsy, SUDEP, Billings Clinic neurology, Montana health, epilepsy awareness, purple day epilepsy And plan your next trip to the Crown Jewel of the National Park System with Explore Yellowstone! ExploreYellowstone.com Follow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcast Our barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcasts Help us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts. Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/

    Epilepsy Foundation & Making Montana Schools Seizure Safe

  4. Jul 2

    Ornithologist Jeff Marks: The Guy Who Wrote the Book on Montana Birds

    Meet Jeff Marks, senior author of “Birds of Montana” - the first comprehensive state bird reference since 1921. Jeff is the executive director of the Montana Bird Advocacy, a former editor of The Auk, and has spent decades studying everything from Long-eared Owls to Bristle-thighed Curlews in the Pacific. We met Jeff in Grant, Montana to talk about the best places to birdwatch in the state, the worst bird in Montana (his answer might surprise you), how birds can literally see Earth's magnetic field, the controversial ethics of using bird call playback apps like Merlin Bird ID, and we play a rapid-fire birding etiquette game to find out what's actually frowned upon in the field. Topics covered: the most underrated birding spots in Montana, why grassland birds are in trouble, the strange science behind bird migration, magpie funerals, and what it's like being the gatekeeper of the official Montana bird records list. Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/jeffmarks Support Jeff's nonprofit: MontanaBirdAdvocacy.org This episode is sponsored by Vim & Vigr, Montana-born compression socks. A portion of proceeds from their limited edition Wildlands Music sock goes to this year's festival beneficiary. Find them at VIMVIGR.com. Follow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcast Our barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcasts Help us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts. Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/

    Ornithologist Jeff Marks: The Guy Who Wrote the Book on Montana Birds

  5. Jun 11

    Building Montana with SWMBIA - Bozeman Housing, Trades Training & the Future of Work

    We’re talking home building and AI-proof trades for Gen Z with President of Southwest Montana Building Industry Association slash owner of Rivers Landscaping Riley Rivers and Career Outreach Coordinator for Bozeman and Gallatin High Schools Karl Schwartz, architect of the new Bozeman Construction Academy. Riley breaks down the real inputs driving building costs in the Gallatin Valley: materials, labor, land, fuel, permit delays, government regulation, and the cost of holding land while projects wait for approval. Karl explains how the Construction Academy gives high school students hands-on trades experience, college credit through Gallatin College, and job-site readiness before they graduate. They also get into why construction careers are much broader than “swinging a hammer,” why AI is not about to install sprinkler lines on a Big Sky hillside, and how private industry support helped launch a public-school trades program. Then Joe makes Riley and Karl play a deeply unserious but weirdly educational price-per-square-foot guessing game featuring storage units, Bozeman homes, Costco, Yellowstone Club, coffee shacks, the Las Vegas Sphere, and the International Space Station. Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/swmbia Join SWMBIA: SWMBIA.org Support the Construction Academy: BozemanConstructionAcademy.org And get your Big Sky Community Rodeo tickets here: BigSkyPBR.com Follow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcast Our barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcasts Help us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts. Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/

    Building Montana with SWMBIA - Bozeman Housing, Trades Training & the Future of Work

  6. Jun 4

    YES Compost & Big Sky Resort Tax

    Big Sky, Montana is technically unincorporated — no town council, no mayor — yet it generates $25 million a year in resort tax revenue and just became the most taxable community in the state. We sat down with Daniel Bierschwale, Executive Director of Big Sky Resort Area District (BSRAD), to break down how resort taxes work, what the new hospital district means for residents, and why Big Sky is essentially funding two teachers per school district across all 391 Montana school districts. And while we’re talking dirty details, Karl Johnson, owner of YES Compost, joins to explain what vermicomposting is. It’s hundreds of thousands of worms eating your food scraps and pooping out garden gold. We talk worm aversions (no citrus, no onions, definitely no diapers), scaling from 10 lbs of worms to a city-wide composting operation, and the one commercial client who really should have read the green bucket guidelines. This episode was made possible by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, for your enjoyment and information. Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/yesbsrad Learn more about Big Sky Resort Tax: ResortTax.org And sign up for YES Compost here: YesCompost.com Topics covered: Big Sky resort tax | BSRAD | Montana local government | vermicomposting | worm castings | Big Sky housing | hospital district | Gallatin Valley composting | Big Sky Chamber of Commerce Follow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcast Our barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcasts Help us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts. Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/

    YES Compost & Big Sky Resort Tax

  7. May 28

    Big Sky’s Vet & New Headmaster

    Residents of Big Sky, Montana have an increasing number of options and opportunities, and on this episode, we’ll feature a couple of great examples. Dr. Syd Desmarais of Lone Peak Veterinary Hospital and Jeremy Harder, head of school at Big Sky Community School, join us to talk about what it actually takes to serve a resort town of pet owners with active, sporty kids. We cover some serious ground here: pet acupuncture, why dental powders are a waste of money, what a brand new hybrid K-12 school actually looks like, and how it’s connected to a school in New York. This is part of a series brought to you by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, which is very cool of them. Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/vetschool Check out Lone Peak Veterinary Hospital: https://www.lonepeakvethospital.com/about-us And learn more about Big Sky Community School: BigSkyCommunitySchool.org Topics: veterinary medicine in rural Montana | alternative education | Big Sky Community School | Lone Peak Veterinary Hospital | pet acupuncture | hybrid homeschool | Big Sky Chamber of Commerce Follow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcast Our barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcasts Help us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts. Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/

    Big Sky’s Vet & New Headmaster

  8. May 21

    Big Sky PBR 2026: Elite Rodeo Food with Chefs Eduardo Garcia and Emily Hahn

    Big Sky PBR, recently crowned 12-time event of the year, will ride again this July 16-18. And I hope you’re hungry, because the lineup of chefs is a murderers row: event organizer and Top Chef alum Emily Hahn, James Beard Award winner Eduardo Garcia, plus some of the most acclaimed chefs in the Mountain West and beyond: Sheldon Simeon (Top Chef, touring his second cookbook), Jamie Lynch (Top Chef), Josh Adams of Livingston’s Campione (James Beard nominee), and Jarrett Wrisley of Shan (James Beard nominee). Plus local skybox chefs Joel Gil of BRAZA and Kenan Anderson of Provecho. All in Big Sky, Montana for just three unexpectedly delicious days. On this episode, we sit down with Emily (chef-owner of Bozeman's Mountain Provisions) and  Eduardo (founder of Montana Mex and host of Magnolia Network's Big Sky Kitchen) to talk about what they're cooking up – like whole bison sourced from North Bridger Bison, whole hog, whole lamb, fresh Alaskan seafood, and locally grown produce.  We also get into: Emily's four years as a commercial shrimper and how she earned her 100-ton captain's license before landing in BozemanEduardo's full origin story — the electrocution, 21 surgeries, cancer diagnosis, and the hook he chose over a bionic handWhy neither of them could care less about a Michelin star — and why that's exactly the pointThe Low Cuisine game: Eduardo's tia's rural kitchen and Emily's formative years at a sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll Italian restaurant in Richmond, Virginia. This is a conversation about what food is actually for — community, land, ranchers, farmers, and the people eating it — told by two chefs who've both taken the long, hard, scenic route to get here. Watch the full interview: ExploreBigSky.com/episodes/pbrchefs Get your tickets to Big Sky PBR 2026: BigSkyPBR.com Have another helping of Emily Hahn: MountainProvisionsMT.com And Eduardo Garcia: ChefEduardo.com And book an unforgettable stay in Yellowstone National Park this summer: YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com Follow us on instagram: @outlawbeatpodcast Our barn at EBS: https://www.explorebigsky.com/outlaw-podcasts Help us corral more listeners like yourself by subscribing and then reviewing us wherever you get your podcasts. Still need more links? Okay here's one more. https://www.hoarymarmot.net/

    Big Sky PBR 2026: Elite Rodeo Food with Chefs Eduardo Garcia and Emily Hahn
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5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

“Outlaw Beat: Stories from the West” scans the horizon for anything worth mentioning. Hosted by Joe Borden & Michelle Veale Borden

Information

  • Creator
    Joe Borden & Michelle Veale Borden
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    195
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Outlaw Beat
  • Show Website
    Outlaw Beat

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