Small Towns, Big Decisions: The Future of Local Control | Week of Oct. 31, 2025
Release Date: 10/31/2025
Shrimp, Sirens, and Storefronts | wsg Art Bukowski, Traverse City Ticker | Week of Jan. 30, 2026
Currently with Christal Frost
This week on Currently, Christal and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) are joined by Art Bukowski (Traverse City Ticker) for a lively look at some of the stories making waves around Northern Michigan. Support for Currently comes from West Shore Bank, committed to the well-being of our community, along with Old Town Playhouse, where community comes together in downtown Traverse City, and the National Writers Series, the premier home of passionate readers who love inspiring conversations with bestselling and award winning authors. The episode kicks off with a deep dive into locally...
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The Conversation: Building Community Through Music | Gary Gatzke, Musician & Arts Facilitator
Currently with Christal Frost
In this episode of Currently: The Conversation, Christal Frost sits down with Gary Gatzke — musician, educator, arts administrator, and one of the driving forces behind Northern Michigan’s vibrant classical music scene. This episode of The Conversation is presented by our lead supporter, TVC Cherry Capital Airport - Your Northern Michigan Connection. From his roots in Traverse City’s public school music programs to Interlochen Arts Academy and Juilliard, Gary reflects on the teachers, mentors, and moments that shaped his lifelong relationship with music. This discussion explores...
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Shelter, Shoreline & Supper | Week of January 23, 2026 | Traverse City News Roundup
Currently with Christal Frost
This week on Currently, Christal and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) take a wide-ranging look at the stories shaping life in Northern Michigan. Support for Currently comes from West Shore Bank, committed to the well-being of our community, along with Old Town Playhouse, where community comes together in downtown Traverse City. The conversation begins with an update on the city’s evolving homelessness response and what the latest plans could mean in these colder months. From there, Beth breaks down the proposed riverfront design changes downtown and why the DDA’s vision is...
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The Conversation: Community is the Point | Joseph Beyer, Fresh Coast Film Festival Traverse City
Currently with Christal Frost
In this episode of Currently: The Conversation, Christal Frost sits down with freelance writer and filmmaker Joseph Beyer to talk about storytelling, community, and the power of shared experiences. Joe reflects on his creative path—from theater and freelance work to documentary filmmaking—and how those experiences shaped his belief that gathering people together matters more than the format itself. This episode of The Conversation is presented by our lead supporter, TVC Cherry Capital Airport - Your Northern Michigan Connection. The conversation explores the role of movie theaters, film...
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The Pines Are Gone. The Problem Isn’t. | wsg Ed Ronco, IPR News | Week of January 16, 2026
Currently with Christal Frost
On this week’s episode of Currently, we take a deeper look at the local stories prompting some of the biggest conversations across Northern Michigan. Support for Currently comes from West Shore Bank, committed to the well-being of our community, along with Old Town Playhouse, where community comes together in downtown Traverse City. IPR News Director Ed Ronco joins Christal and Traverse City Ticker's Beth Milligan to talk about a homelessness story that’s resonated strongly with his listeners this week. After Traverse City cleared the Pines encampment, homelessness became less...
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The Conversation: How a Cultural Anchor Continues to Serve the Community | Chad Lindsey, City Opera House
Currently with Christal Frost
On this episode of Currently: The Conversation, Christal Frost sits down with Chad Lindsey, Executive Director of the City Opera House, to talk about stewardship, relevance, and what it really means to run a historic cultural anchor in a modern community. Support for this episode comes from TVC Cherry Capital Airport—your Northern Michigan connection. Chad shares how his background as a performer and arts administrator shaped his approach to leadership—and why the Opera House was never meant to be an elite arts space, but a place where the community gathers first. From balancing fine arts...
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Faith, Zoning, and a Town Divided in Leland | wsg Jacob Wheeler, Glen Arbor Sun | Week of Jan. 9, 2026
Currently with Christal Frost
On this week’s episode of Currently, we’re covering the local stories everyone’s talking about across Northern Michigan. Support for "Currently" comes from West Shore Bank, committed to the well-being of our community, along with Old Town Playhouse, where community comes together in downtown Traverse City. Glen Arbor Sun editor Jacob Wheeler joins us to discuss a proposed youth ministry “clubhouse” in downtown Leland that has ignited debate over zoning, parental rights, and religious freedom. Traverse City Ticker head writer Beth Milligan shares updates on Blair Township...
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2025 Year in Review | Week of January 6, 2026 | Traverse City News Roundup
Currently with Christal Frost
It’s a special year-end wrap-up on Currently. Host Christal Frost is joined by Beth Milligan and special guest Craig Manning to look back at some of the biggest local stories of 2025, from major headlines in Traverse City and Leelanau County to quick updates from the week’s news. The the group shares their favorite books, shows, podcasts, and other standout picks from the year, before reflecting on what’s ahead in 2026. Support for "Currently" comes from West Shore Bank, committed to the well-being of our community, along with Old Town Playhouse, where community comes together in...
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The Conversation: A Smarter Way to Care for Aging Parents | Nicole Farkas & Lori Wells, PACE North
Currently with Christal Frost
Caring for aging loved ones can feel overwhelming…especially when you don’t know what help exists. On this episode of The Conversation, Christal Frost sits down with Nicole Farkas and Lori Wells from PACE North to break down what PACE is, how it works, and why so many families don’t learn about it until they’re already in crisis. The discussion explores how PACE’s wraparound model supports older adults in staying at home, the challenges families face navigating senior services, and the misconceptions that keep people from seeking help sooner. With real-world examples and...
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A New Parking Deck? | Week of December 19, 2025
Currently with Christal Frost
This week on Currently, Christal Frost and Beth Milligan return for an OG episode packed with local updates as Traverse City heads into the holidays. Support for "Currently" comes from West Shore Bank, committed to the well-being of our community, along with Old Town Playhouse, where community comes together in downtown Traverse City. We break down the proposed new downtown TC parking deck, share additional city news, and check in on county updates, including budget approvals, marijuana grants, and the future of NMC’s Boardman Lake campus. Plus, we wrap things up with restaurant and...
info_outlineThis week on Currently, we’re diving into how small-town governance shapes life across Northern Michigan, and what happens when communities rethink the rules altogether.
Support for Currently comes from West Shore Bank, committed to the well-being of our community, along with Old Town Playhouse, where community comes together in downtown Traverse City. Support also comes from The Coin Slot Arcade Bar in Traverse City — a chill spot to unwind with pinball, drinks, and friends.
First-time guest Austin Rowlader, a freelance journalist contributing to Bridge Michigan, Interlochen Public Radio, and The Antrim Review, joins Christal and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) to explore a bold and controversial proposal in Banks Township in Antrim County: the potential removal of all zoning ordinances. What would that mean for residents, developers, and the future of land use in rural Michigan?
Then, the conversation widens to a broader challenge: how townships across the state are struggling to manage budgets and finances, especially in rural areas where resources and oversight can be limited. Christal, Beth, and Austin unpack the implications of these changes and what they reveal about the shifting landscape of local governance.
Plus, Beth brings her regular round-up of restaurant & retail updates and a look at upcoming road projects.
Currently is a Compass Local podcast produced by Pancake Boy Productions.