Trail Listening Post

Parker Peddicord is joined live in-studio by Missoula-based filmmaker Jordan Hoffmaster , director and producer of Something to Hold , ahead of the film’s World Premiere at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival . Now in its 23rd year, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (BSDFF) is the largest nonfiction film festival in the American West and is presented by the Big Sky Film Institute, bringing f...

Mike Smith sits down live in-studio with documentary directors Emily Schuman and Dave Schuman ahead of the World Premiere screening of The Baker’s Hotline at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula. Now in its 23rd year, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (BSDFF) is the largest nonfiction film festival in the American West and is presented by the Big Sky Film Institute, bringing filmm...

Tommy Evans is joined live in-studio by filmmaker Elijah Sullivan and composer Desan Sullivan ahead of the Montana Premiere screening of The Hole Story at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula. Now in its 23rd year, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (BSDFF) is the largest nonfiction film festival in the American West and is presented by the Big Sky Film Institute. The festival brin...

Mike Smith sits is joined live in-studio by Bill Payne (Little Feat co-founder, keyboardist, singer/songwriter) and documentary director Jesse Lauter ahead of the World Premiere screening of Little Feat: The Documentary at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula. Now in its 23rd year , the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (BSDFF) is the largest nonfiction film festival the American west...

Filmmaker John Wilson (creator of HBO’s How To with John Wilson ) joins Tommy Evans on Trail 103.3’s Trail Lunchbox for a conversation that starts with a snowstorm detour in Deer Lodge and ends at the literal foundation of New York City. Wilson’s new feature The History of Concrete follows his attempt to make a documentary about the world’s most overlooked material—until the film industry reality...

Director Johanna Gustin joins Mike Smith (with BSDFF’s Nick Davis ) to talk about her world-premiere short I Think About Birds —a sharply funny, uneasy journey through the algorithmic rabbit hole of online dating coaches, contrasted with surprisingly romantic bird behavior and the real emotional risks of intimacy. The conversation touches on “desktop documentary” filmmaking, pulling hours of mater...

Trail 103.3 is proud to once again be a media partner of the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula — and this week we’re welcoming filmmakers, directors, and special guests into the Trail studio for quick conversations about the films lighting up the festival. In this episode, Mike Smith sits down with Peter Nauffts (archival producer) to talk about Sun Ra: Do the Impossible — the American...

From the 23rd annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, we sit down with director Caron Creighton and former Wood Street resident John Janosko to talk about Wood Street —a 2026, 100-minute documentary following two unhoused men turned organizers, John and LaMonté , as they build community power in West Oakland in the face of displacement, addiction, and a failing social system.  We tal...

From the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, Montana , we sit down in the Trail 103.3 studios with filmmaker Pete Sillen , who brings two rare music documentaries to Big Sky: Speed Racer: Welcome to the World of Vic Chesnutt and Benjamin Smoke (co-directed with Jem Cohen ). Pete shares how he first discovered the power of Vic Chesnutt’s songwriting in Athens, Georgia, how a chance conne...

From the 23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, Montana , we sit down in the Trail 103.3 studios with filmmaker and subject Sam Soliman  to talk about his short documentary Almost American — a deeply personal story that also reflects the larger national conversation around immigration, DACA, and belonging in the United States . Sam shares how a leadership grant in Lancaster, Pe...

Erika Fredrickson, co-founder of The Pulp stops by the Trail studio with an exciting announcement.   The Pulp is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization serving Missoula and western Montana. Launched September 2023 by Erika Fredrickson and Matthew Frank, former reporters and editors at the defunct but beloved Missoula Independent, in response to the deepening local journalism crisis i...

It’s fair week in Missoula, which means live music, local food, late sunsets… and of course, Trail Live Sessions from the Trail studio! For this episode, we welcomed River City Rhythm Band —a longtime local favorite with deep roots and some serious chemistry. I’ve known a lot of bands who say they’re collaborative, but these three— Alyssa McQuain, Ty Armourding, and Dan DeLong —really mean it. Fro...

This episode of the Trail Lunchbox welcomes two guests doing critical work to help our community stay healthy and prepared during wildfire season in western Montana. We’re talking all things Wildfire Smoke Ready Week —what it is, why it matters, and how you can take simple, affordable steps to protect yourself, your family, and even your pets when the smoke rolls in. Joining us in the studio: 🔹 A...

On today's Trail Lunchbox , Tommy welcomed two beloved Missoulians deeply connected to the International Choral Festival: Saxon Holbrook , president of the festival and longtime choral singer, and Jürgen Knöller , brewmaster at Bayern Brewing and early festival supporter. They swap stories about the very first festival in 1987, flipping burgers for Carson, seeing Frank Zappa in Germany, and what m...

Originally aired live at 9:13 AM on July 2, 2025 At exactly 9:13 AM on July 2, 2005, Trail 103.3 signed on the air for the very first time. Twenty years later—down to the minute—we cracked the mic together once again to mark that moment. This short, unscripted conversation between Robert Chase, Mike Smith, and Tommy Evans isn’t just a celebration of our radio station’s anniversary, It’s a reflecti...

🎙️ Trail Live Session: Why We Went West (June 26, 2025)   Live from the Trail Lunchbox | Trail 103.3 – Missoula, MT We welcomed the trio version of Why We Went West —Maria Zepeda, Lucas Yatch, and Gabrielle Tusberg—for a beautiful in-studio performance and conversation ahead of their debut at the Zootown Music Festival. 🎶 They perform two original songs live:  • Water • Dreamboat Trail Guide, Mik...

The Trail Listening Post – Trail Lunchbox: Marc Moss (June 25, 2025) On today’s episode of The Trail Listening Post , we bring you a live in-studio conversation from the Trail Lunchbox on Trail 103.3 FM. Host Mike Smith sits down with Marc Moss, the founder and host of Tell Us Something , Missoula’s beloved live storytelling event series. Marc shared the story behind the event's signature theme so...

🎙️ Today on The Trail Lunchbox: A Live Session with James McMurtry & BettySoo    📍 Recorded live in the Trail Studio • Airing June 24, 2025 On today’s Trail Lunchbox, we welcomed a true American songwriting legend back to Trail 103.3 — James McMurtry — this time with his longtime friend and musical collaborator BettySoo riding shotgun. Just hours before their show at the Zootown Arts Communit...

Montana author Philip Burgess joins host Mike Smith in the Trail 103.3 studio alongside longtime friend and creative collaborator Ednor Therriault. Together, they talk about Burgess’s powerful new memoir, The Bunch Quitter — a sweeping, poetic account of a life spent drifting through America during the ’60s and ’70s in pursuit of ultimate freedom. From the windswept badlands of eastern Montana to...

The Trail Lunchbox: New Zealand Day – A Celebration of Sister Cities, Rugby & Community Today's Trail Lunchbox features a live in-studio conversation with Maddy Gilbert from Arts Missoula and Jake Kreilick of Missoula Youth Rugby, hosted by Mike Smith. Listen as they talk about Missoula’s 42-year sister city connection with Palmerston North, New Zealand — from university exchange roots to mode...

Trisha joins Tommy on the Trail Lunchbox for a conversation about Marshall Madness, set to take place on  Sunday, June 1 from 11am–3pm — an epic outdoor bash with group runs, hikes, and rides , brand-new trails , food trucks , Big Sky beer , and hourly raffle prizes ! From bike jousting and a dunk tank to a live set by DJ Ivanoff and a bike skills clinic , this is the ultimate summer kickoff you d...

https://www.thewestsidetheater.com/abundance SHOW DATES|TIMES May 16 @ 7:30pm May 17 @ 2pm May 17 @ 7:30pm Location: Montana Theater University of Montana Campus, PARTV building location note: Due to the overwhelming enthusiasm about abunDANCE from both cast and audience, we moved the show to the Montana Theater! We’re excited to be able to offer more seats, easier parking, and more cast and audie...

Ria Overholt, Community Services Director for Missoula Aging Services stops by the Trail1033 studio to chat with Mike smith about March for Meals and the current state of funding for the meals on wheels program.  March for Meals is an annual month-long fundraising campaign to raise money for Meals on Wheels in Missoula county. Missoula Aging Services (MAS) promotes the independence, dignity and he...

Mike interviews Alix Blair about her film Helen and the Bear. At 70, Helen often acts like an uninhibited teenager, sneaking cigarettes and exploring the bounds of her sexual identity. But at home, she cares for her 96-year-old husband Pete, a once-prominent Republican politician who now depends on her absolutely. Captured in intimate verite by director Alix Blair, HELEN AND THE BEAR is a lyrical...

Jeff Ament joins Mike Smith to discuss "Our Village", the Missoula Community Pre-Show, and Festivities. Over 30 local nonprofits are participating in the festival, each bringing an interactive, family-friendly activity or sharing a visual display. Activities range from face painting, art projects, and lawn games, to instrument building, bicycle repair demonstrations, photo booths, and various amaz...