Chad Okrusch is, I believe, the first ButteCast guest with an Elsie Award on his résumé. He earned the Butch Starin Award for his role in the Leon Phelps Incident, which occurred on the handball courts at the Butte Elks around the year 2000.

A professor at Montana Tech, Chad is also an outstanding musician. He recorded the great album Wisdom Road in 2008. That album includes great songs like Opportunity Blues, Big Hole River, The Angel Mariah and St. Patrick’s Day At the M&M.

Those songs perfectly capture the soul of the Mining City and its surroundings. Go to Apple Music or Spotify to listen to the entire album. 

You can also catch Chad live Sunday at the Folk Festival. He will play at 5 p.m. on the Montana Traditions Stage, which will be just off the corner of Quartz and Wyoming streets.

Listen in to this fun conversation to hear how Chad writes songs and what inspires them. Listen to how Chad accidentally inspired Tim Montana to write the hit song Mostly Stoned. 

Listen to Chad talk about a book, in which he is an editor, that will be released this fall. Listen to his plans for his long-awaited sophomore album. Listen to hear how much he loves his job at Montana Tech.

Listen to see if he can still do that Ladies Man impersonation. Spoiler alert: he can.

Today’s podcast is presented by Lone Peak Physical Therapy. If you are not living your best life, call (406) 494-7050 today and start feeling better as soon as tomorrow.