Currently with Christal Frost

On this week's episode of Currently, we're digging into some of the biggest stories shaping Northern Michigan right now — from construction season to energy and everything in between. Support for Currently comes from West Shore Bank, committed to the well-being of our community, along with the Fresh Coast Film Festival Traverse City, coming this spring, and Old Town Playhouse, where community come...

On this episode of The Conversation, Christal sits down with Soon Hagerty, longtime brand strategist, entrepreneur, and leader behind some of Northern Michigan's most impactful ideas. The Conversation is brought to you by TVC Cherry Capital Airport - Your Northern Michigan Connection. Soon shares her remarkable origin story — from fleeing Vietnam with her family after the fall of Saigon to buildin...

On this episode of Currently: The Conversation, Christal sits down with Josh Stoltz, Executive Director of Grow Benzie — a rural prosperity incubator and community hub serving Benzie County. Currently: The Conversation is brought to you by TVC Cherry Capital Airport, your Northern Michigan connection. Josh explains how Grow Benzie supports small nonprofits, food and farming enterprises, broadband...

On this week's episode of Currently, we're talking big moves in Traverse City's business scene — and looking ahead to spring 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.  Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) joins Christal to break down t...

In this encore presentation of The Conversation, Christal Frost sits down with Janie McNabb, CEO of Networks Northwest, for a deep dive into the systems that power Northwest Michigan's workforce. The Conversation is brought to you by TVC Cherry Capital Airport - Your Northern Michigan Connection. From the organization's 50-year history to the evolving demands of today's economy, Janie explains how...

On this week's episode of Currently, Christal and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) break down the latest updates from around Traverse City — including if State Street will stay two-way - and other key city developments. They discuss proposed data centers and what they could mean for the region's future, plus the inspiring comeback of a new restaurant rising from the ashes of a food truck fire....

On this episode of Currently: The Conversation, Christal sits down with strategic advisor and executive coach Shea Petaja to talk about clarity, reinvention, and rebuilding trust in yourself after everything unravels. The Conversation is brought to you by TVC Cherry Capital Airport — Your Northern Michigan Connection. Shea shares how a season of personal and professional collapse — followed by an...

This week on Currently, we're diving into one of Traverse City's most anticipated events of the year. Joe Beyer joins Christal and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) to unveil the full lineup for the upcoming Fresh Coast Film Festival: Traverse City, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at what audiences can expect and why this year's slate is turning heads. Support for Currently comes from West S...

In this episode of Currently: The Conversation, Christal Frost talks with Abagail McKiernan about what help really looks like when it's rooted in connection, not systems. The Conversation is brought to you by TVC Cherry Capital Airport — Your Northern Michigan Connection. As the founder of HelpLink and creator of Spark in the Dark, Abagail shares why culture has to shift before systems can work, w...

This week on Currently, we're celebrating a full year of hyper-local news with a very special birthday episode...complete with cake! 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 i...

On this episode of Currently: The Conversation, Christal talks with Lauren Tucker, Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Northwest Michigan, about housing, building, and making home projects feel less intimidating and more doable.  This episode of The Conversation is presented by our lead supporter, TVC Cherry Capital Airport - Your Northern Michigan Connection. Lauren shares her N...

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 Na...

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...

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 ho...

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...

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 Tick...

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...

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 "clubhou...

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...

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...

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, sha...

On this episode of Currently: The Conversation, Christal Frost sits down with Cecilia Chesney, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan—also known as Bigs Up North—to talk about the power of consistent, one-to-one mentorship. Cecilia shares how the organization supports hundreds of youth across our five-county region, why careful matching and long-term commitment matter, and how ha...

On this week's Currently, we're diving into a full slate of updates on many ongoing local issues. 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...

In this episode of The Conversation , Christal Frost sits down with Corey and Marney Winfield, co-founders of 217 Recovery, a Traverse City nonprofit redefining what recovery can look like. With honesty, humor, and lived experience, they share their personal journeys through addiction and the turning points that sparked their mission to build an organization rooted in compassion, dignity, and hope...

In this week's episode of Currently, host Christal Frost is joined by Northern Express editor Jillian Manning and Ticker reporter Beth Milligan to break down the top stories 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. Support also...