Montana State University’s Leadership Institute has launched a student-run podcast series with a pilot episode featuring the former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson.

The podcast series, known as the “Leadership Institute Podcast at Montana State University” — or “L.I.P. at MSU” — will feature leadership inspiration and insights from experts locally and around the globe. Vanessa Zamora, a student associate with the Leadership Institute, called the L.I.P at MSU “a show with front-row access to the brightest minds on campus and around the world.” Zamora, a junior majoring in business management and psychology, anticipates that students will release a new episode of the series once each semester as material allows.

In the episode, listeners can hear Robinson discuss leadership and climate justice with MSU President Waded Cruzado during a visit Robinson made to MSU in April. The episode is narrated by second-year student Lauren Bigler. The podcast is available for free on Spotify and at https://thelipatmontanastateuniversity.buzzsprout.com/.

Carmen McSpadden, director of the MSU Leadership Institute, said developing the podcast series is a great learning opportunity for students.

"Our students grow by creating and doing,” McSpadden said. “In addition to exposure to great minds, students' skills develop through the act of podcast making and by asking great questions to the leaders they interview."

For more information, call the MSU Leadership Institute at 406-994-7275 or visit montana.edu/leadership or facebook.com/MSULeadershipInstitute.