The 2026/2027 Armchair Traveler Series talks have begun. The following are the speakers set for the series this season! The talks are brought to you thanks to support from the Great Falls Public Library Foundation.
They take place on the first Thursday of each month until June 2027 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the Cordingley Room.
September 3
Kyle Reedy – Perspective is Everything
Kyle Reedy is a dedicated backcountry adventure hunter, amateur outdoor writer, and Stoic practitioner who consistently tests his limits in the most rugged landscapes in North America.
In the summer of 2024, deep in Montana’s remote Bob Marshall Wilderness, a routine camp chore shattered Kyle’s world—literally. A freak firewood accident left him with a catastrophic eye injury, triggering a high-stakes mountain rescue and a brutal medical battle against a blinding, aggressive infection.
But this isn’t just a story about a wilderness medical emergency. It’s a story about not letting an injury define him, but rather overcoming the ultimate adversity and continuing to live life how he wants.
Join Kyle for an unforgettable, visually gripping presentation on survival, adaptation, and resilience. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to keep a positive perspective whatever challenges you face ahead.
October 1
Elizabeth Moore – Presentation on her trip to Scotland
Join us as Elizabeth Moore takes you through highlights of the most magical place on Earth – Scotland.
Moore is the retired Executive Director of the Lewis & Clark Foundation. Also a professional photographer, she and her husband David spend quite a bit of time traveling both across the US and internationally, always with a camera in tow.
November 5
November 5: Traveling in New Zealand with Emily Wolfram
For November, Emily Wolfram is delighted to share her trip to New Zealand’s South Island (Te Waipounamu). She travelled there with her husband, brother, and 72-year old mother in February 2026.
Emily is an arts and nonprofit administrator serving as the Executive Director of the Montana Performing Arts Consortium (MPAC) and as Development Officer for the Great Falls Public Library Foundation. On her days off, Emily spends as much time as possible off-trail in the backcountry. During Montana summers, her favorite places to go are the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wilderness in the Rocky Mountain Front and anywhere above timberline in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. In winter, Emily enjoys backcountry and cross country skiing and serves as a board member of the Silver Crest Trails Association. She also occasionally performs as a section cellist with the Helena and Billings Symphonies.
December 3
December 3: Liz Lauver discusses trip to Netherlands
Liz Lauver was born and raised in Great Falls, which explains why she somehow ended up collecting community projects like some people collect houseplants.
n 2024 Liz woke up one day and said, “I am going to the Netherlands by myself next summer.”
With just a couple of set in stone plans and a lot of hyping herself up she booked the trip for 2025 and afterward said, “I had the best two weeks of my life.”
She was adopted by many wonderful Dutch people (a few who have been trying to get her to come back and stay ever since she left) and got to experience the art, music, and food of a beautiful country on her own schedule.
Lis is the Events and Content Director at Great Falls Montana Tourism, where she gets to brag about her hometown professionally (which is much more socially acceptable than doing it at dinner parties).
A meal or snack based on our travels will be provided at this event. Thank you to the Great Falls Public Library Foundation for funding this program.
January 7
Jamie Ford – Presentation on his trip to China
Join bestselling author Jamie Ford for an armchair journey through Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, and Taipei. Through stories, photographs, and a few unexpected adventures, Jamie will share highlights from his recent travels across China and Taiwan, and reflect on the economic and technological gains in China. Also, if you want an insightful read, Jamie recommends BREAKNECK: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future by Dan Wang.
February 11*
(SPEAKER TBD)
March 4
Heidi Gibson and Edgar Woods discuss Jamaica
Heidi Gibson and Edgar Woods discuss their recent trips to Jamaica!
Heidi Gibson is a fifth generation Montanan who lived in Europe and is a world traveler. From racing Arabs in the Sahara to hiking the peaks of Macchu Picchu, she is always seeking more adventure. She especially loves experiential learning through oral history, hiking and sharing food with locals.
Edgar Woods is a fourth generation Georgia native, Air Force Academy graduate. He loves outdoor activities like backpacking, hunting, fishing, and horse back riding. He loves food and would try anything except raw fish.
April 1
TBD
May 6
Shannon Wilson will discuss her 2026 adventure in India.
June 3
Julie Newman
