This is the third and final episode in a three-part series, on organizations, services and products that have aided Missoula in becoming a more diverse community. In this episode, Udo is joined in the studio by Latisha Buck Elk Thunder and Dacia Griego, Co-Founders of Indigenous Made Missoula (IMM). They visit with Udo about turning their dream into reality in 2022, when they founded IMM, in response to a lack of resources and economic opportunities for Indigenous artists in Missoula. Indigenous art is an untapped viable industry and that this deficit creates a barrier to economic success for ..read more

Join Udo and his guest, Christian Moya, a Peruvian music and culture educator for the last podcast of this year. Moya has lived for many years in New York City, surrounded by a large Latino population. When he moved to Missoula with his wife, he was not sure he would find the same sense of community. But he was pleasantly surprised that, while Missoula's Latino community is fairly small, it is thriving. To Moya, building community, listening to music, dancing, speaking Spanish, while playing percussion instruments, is not only important, but it also creates community. Learn more about Peru, an ..read more

This is the first episode in a three-part series, on organizations, services and products that have aided Missoula in becoming a more diverse community. Udo talks to several leaders in our community that have done exactly that. In this first episode of 2023, his guest is Eamon Fahey, Deputy Director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Missoula branch. He talks with Udo about the 90-year history of the IRC, the over 40 IRC program locations around the world and the 28 US cities that are involved in refugee resettlement, the IRC programming, services and how the community can get engaged ..read more

For the November podcast episode of International Voices, Udo is joined by Major General (ret.) Donald Loranger, who was appointed in 2012 to the National Security Education Board by President Obama. The board oversees the National Security Education Program, which increases the United States’ capacity to deal effectively with foreign cultures and languages. Major General Loranger served in the United States Air Force from 1966 until 1996 as an operational pilot and specialist in US national security policy. He started his career graduating from the University of Montana as an Air Force Reserv ..read more

Udo talks to Julia Tai, the Music Director of the Missoula Symphony Orchestra & Chorale. Maestro Tai is also the Music Director of Philharmonia Northwest, and the Co-Artistic Director of the Seattle Modern Orchestra. Her career has led to acclaimed performances and rehearsals with the American Youth Symphony, Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic (Czech Republic), Boise Philharmonic, Brandenburger Symphoniker (Germany), Estonian National Youth Symphony (Estonia), to name but a few.  Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Julia Tai began her violin studies at age four and pian ..read more

This is the 2nd part of a multi-part series, focusing on “Managing Cultural Adjustment and Culture Shock”. Last month Udo was fortunate to talk to Shiena Greata Medrano, a student at the University of Montana, but born and raised in the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, which is also where she started her education. Shiena first settled in Philipsburg, Montana, a city of under a thousand individuals, before moving to Missoula, to attend UM. This November episode is dedicated to all the brave students in high schools around the world who started their education in one co ..read more

With the start of every fall, students are returning to the University of Montana, in Missoula. Among them are international students from around the world, either returning to campus, or as new students starting their undergraduate or graduate studies at UM. Join Udo as he is talking to Andrei Dinu, a graduate student from Romania, Lina Spaes an undergraduate student from France and the 2023-2024 President of the International Student Association (ISA) at UM, Shinichi Taniwaki, an undergraduate student from Japan and Ikuko Valgenti “Koko”, the International Student Advisor at the Global Engag ..read more

In August 2022 beloved Missoula major John Engen passed away at the age of 57. This August episode is dedicated to Mayor Engen, who was known for his wit, his kindness, thoughtfulness and his vision for the future of a progressive Missoula. This podcast is a re-broadcast of the original podcast from March 2020, in which Udo and John talked about the importance of cultural programming in the Garden City. Engen, the 50th mayor elected in Missoula and the longest-serving mayor, led a tenure of growth, a push for equality, municipal independence, greater housing opportunities and efforts to reform ..read more

Tune in this episode and learn more about the 40th anniversary of the sister city connection between Missoula and Palmerston North, New Zealand through Gabrielle Nguyen, the International Relations Manager and Kate Harridge, the Education Advisor, in Palmerston North. Find out how “education” and “international relations” are connected, how students in both locations can benefit from that bond, and how our two communities can learn from each other locally. Learn about the beginning of the twinned city relationship, the benefits that four-decade long tie has positively impacted education, busin ..read more

During their visit in June, Udo invited five members of the delegation from Missoula’s sister city Palmerston North (Palmy), New Zealand, to The Trail studio, to talk about how sister cities do not only benefit their city governments, but bring many advantages to the academic, economic, and tourism sectors as well. The Palmy delegation visit to Missoula commemorates the 40th anniversary celebration. Mayor Grant Smith, Mr. Jerry Shearman, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Economic Development Agency, Mr. Roly Fitzgerald, Māori Ward Councilor and Rangitāne representative, Mrs. Gabrielle Log ..read more