Season 3 · Episode 120

The Front Porch: Cultivating Community, Creativity, and Connection in Laurel

Nov 17, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Cheryl and Robin of The Front Porch in Laurel. Two women who have been intentionally building a place for people to gather, create, and feel connected.

What started as a small sign-making operation in a garage has grown into a true community hub: DIY workshops, a welcoming venue for events and celebrations, and a boutique that showcases products from more than a dozen local makers and small businesses.

We talk about how they have created a place for people to come together and create a strong community. We dive into their growth, both as a company and with their physical space, and how COVID underscored the need for spaces where people can show up, be together, and cultivate community. Cheryl and Robin share how they play to each other’s strengths, one leading classes and gatherings, the other running the boutique, and how their dynamic reflects the energy of The Front Porch itself.

At its heart, this episode is about cultivating community on purpose and creating a front porch where everyone feels welcome.

Connect with The Front Porch HERE.

Season 3 · Episode 119

Cultivating Community: Insights from the MEDA Fall Conference

Nov 10, 2025

In this episode of The Vault, host Marcell Bruski takes the podcast on the road to the Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) Fall Conference. Recorded live in Polson, she sat down with economic development leaders and partners from across the state, including Christy Cummings Dawson with Montana West Economic Development, Terra Burman with Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation, Eric Seidensticker with Montana Business Assistance Connection, Wylie Phillips with Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District, Jolene Schalper with Great Falls Development Alliance, Sonya Scheetz with Langlas and Associates, Allison Corbyn with Montana Economic Developers Association, and Amanda Tonn with Cushing Terrell.

Together, these conversations highlight the collaborative work driving Montana’s economic growth—sharing insights on community development, business expansion, workforce, and housing efforts across the state. This episode captures the energy, innovation, and connection that define economic development in Montana today.

Connect with MEDA HERE.

Season 3 · Episode 118

Made in Montana: Paddy Fleming on Leadership, Legacy & Manufacturing

Nov 3, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Paddy Fleming, Director of the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC). Paddy shares his journey from growing up in small-town Montana to leading manufacturing operations across North America and Europe.

We talk about leadership, learning from others, and the experiences that shaped his career—from solving complex problems to managing teams and driving improvement. As Paddy puts it, “There’s something quite satisfying watching trucks roll out full of material that you made.”

Today, through MMEC, he’s helping Montana manufacturers strengthen their businesses, innovate, and build the next generation of industry across the state.

Learn more about MMEC HERE.

Season 3 · Episode 117

The Marketing Visionary: David Allen on NASCAR, Rodeo, and Montana’s Western Culture

Oct 27, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with David Allen, General Manager of the NILE (Northern International Livestock Exposition) and veteran marketing executive whose career has shaped some of the biggest names in western sports, rodeo, and conservation.

From his roots in Deadwood, South Dakota, to working alongside legends like Dale Earnhardt and Ty Murray, David shares stories from over 50 years in PRCA ProRodeo, Wrangler, NASCAR, PBR, and his tenure as CEO of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Now leading the NILE in Billings, he talks about the importance of preserving western heritage, strengthening agriculture, and what’s next for Montana’s western legacy.

Connect with the NILE HERE.

Season 3 · Episode 116

Raising Legends: Toby Tooke and the Legacy of the Tooke Bucking Horses

Oct 20, 2025

In this episode, host Marcell sits down with Toby Tooke—radio host, DJ, and social media manager at Tooke Bucking Horses—for a conversation close to home. Toby shares the remarkable legacy of his great-grandfather, Feek Tooke, the visionary horseman from Ekalaka, Montana, whose breeding program shaped nearly every bucking horse in modern rodeo.

From growing up on the ranch to producing a documentary honoring Feek’s story, Toby talks about family, small-town roots, hard work, and carrying forward a legacy nearly a century in the making. Together, they reflect on pride in where you come from, the lessons learned on the prairie, and the enduring spirit behind the Tooke Bloodline—because, as Toby says, “If you ain’t proud of it, why the hell are you doing it?”

Connect with Toby HERE.

Connect with the Tooke Bucking Horses HERE.

Season 3 · Episode 115

Government Contracting Made Simple: How Montana APEX Accelerator Can Help Your Business

Oct 13, 2025

In this episode we sit down with Montana APEX Accelerator team to learn how their program helps Montana businesses successfully navigate government contracting. We cover how to find opportunities, understand requirements, and pursue contracts with federal, state, and local agencies.

Whether you’re selling directly to the government or subcontracting to prime contractors, the Montana APEX team provides personal, timely advice and practical tools to help your business grow. We discuss eligibility, the types of guidance available, and how their experience across public and private sectors gives businesses a leg up in the complex world of government contracting.

Tune in to learn how Montana APEX Accelerator can help you access new markets and maximize your business potential.

Connect with MT APEX HERE.

Season 3 · Episode 114

Bridging the Care Gap: Avanlee Christine on Building Avanlee Care

Oct 6, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Avanlee Christine, CEO and Founder of Avanlee Care, a female-founded healthcare tech company born in Montana and built to bridge the gap between health plans and caregiving families.

Avanlee shares her journey from working in healthcare startups to taking the leap into entrepreneurship—navigating fundraising, product development, and the realities of building a tech company from the ground up. From finding the right co-founder and early investors, to balancing Montana roots with New York venture capital, she dives into the hustle, passion, and resilience it takes to bring a solution like Avanlee Care to life.

We talk about the challenges facing caregivers across the country, the importance of role models and belief along the way, and how Avanlee Care today bridges the gap between health plans and caregiving families—redefining what it means to innovate for caregivers in Montana and beyond.

Learn more about Avanlee Care HERE.

Season 3 · Episode 113

Storytelling, Strategy, and PR with Blythe Beaubien

Sep 29, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Blythe Beaubien, Captain and Founder of Bigger Fish PR. Known for amplifying her clients’ stories, Blythe shares her own—from growing up in an entrepreneurial family in Chicago and California, to a triple major at Lehigh University, and her early start in sports PR with the Philadelphia 76ers. She reflects on lessons learned in long hours, tough transitions, and even a layoff that pushed her to start her own firm.

Blythe talks about the power of hospitality in PR, building authentic relationships, and the importance of timing and consistency when it comes to opportunities. Today, through Bigger Fish, she helps clients like Lazy K Bar Whiskey, The Armory, and Dave’s Hot Chicken bring their stories to life across Montana and beyond. At the heart of it all, she believes Montana’s greatest story is its people—and that lasting brand impact comes from experiences that feel real, connected, and unforgettable.

Connect with Blythe HERE.

Season 3 · Episode 111

Amplifying Montana’s Voice: Aaron Flint on Media and Service

Sep 15, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Flint, host of Montana Talks and one of the most recognized voices in Montana media. Aaron shares his Montana roots — from stuffing newspapers at his grandparents’ shop in Glasgow to leading a statewide radio talk show. He reflects on the lessons of growing up in small-town Montana, his years studying in Washington, D.C., and his decades of military service following 9/11, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond.

We dive into his journey through politics, broadcasting, and leadership, his perspective on Montana as a media hub, and why giving rural Montanans a voice matters now more than ever.

Connect with Aaron HERE.

Season 3 · Episode 110

More Than Marketing: The Storytelling Philosophy of LUNE with Wade Haesemeyer & Sam Steingraber

Sep 8, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Wade Haesemeyer and Sam Steingraber, the co-founders of LUNE Marketing Studio, to talk about entrepreneurship, storytelling, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Their journey began with music and mentorship, grew through trust and shared vision, and has now evolved into a business built on telling brands’ stories through the power of video.

We dive into the importance of failure as a driver of growth, the role of mentors and loved ones as guides in life and business, and how LUNE’s two core pillars—a compelling message and proper placement—help businesses connect with their audiences in meaningful ways.

This conversation is inspiring, fun, and packed with insights on entrepreneurship, resilience, and why storytelling is at the heart of every successful brand.

Connect with LUNE.

Connect with WADE & SAM.