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Bear With Us Podcast
Join hosts Sara and Julea as they explore the people, places, and stories that make Montana’s Hi-Line unforgettable. Bear With Us is a podcast from Bear Paw Development that highlights the charm, culture, and community spirit across five counties and two tribal nations in North Central Montana.
From hometown heroes and local legends to quirky events and hidden gems, each episode offers a fresh perspective on life along the Hi-Line. Whether you’re a longtime local or just curious about this vast and beautiful region, you’re invited to laugh, learn, and discover what makes this place more than just a dot on the map.
And don’t worry—there are zero bears. Probably.
Bear With Us Podcast
Scripts, Stages, and City Lights | An Interview with Jay Pyette
From growing up in Chinook on Montana’s Hi-Line to founding Montana Actors Theater, teaching high school theater, raising a family, and now preparing to take his original play The Harvest all the way to New York City — Jay Pyette has lived and breathed theater for decades.
In this episode of Bear With Us, hosts Julea and Sara sit down with Jay to talk about:
- His small-town roots and how the Hi-Line shaped his work ethic
- The early days of starting Montana Actors Theater with little more than optimism and borrowed lumber
- His years teaching and building a thriving high school theater program
- How MAT grew into a cornerstone of community life in Havre
- The journey of The Harvest from local production to off-Broadway in New York
Along the way, Jay shares stories of risk-taking, resilience, and why theater matters so much to rural communities.