This week on Currently, we’re mixing things up with a brand-new feature that will have your taste buds on edge: Food Fight. In our debut match-up, we pit Bay Bread’s MKP (a loving nod to Mary’s Kitchen Port’s beloved Gobbler) against The Kitchen’s classic Turkey Sandwich. Which one takes the crown?

This episode is brought to you by lead underwriter Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings: Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City. Support also comes from West Shore Bank – committed to the well-being of the community, and The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – a chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.

​Then, journalist Beth Milligan from the Traverse City Ticker joins us to break down the future of two iconic downtown buildings, the Bijou by the Bay and the Carnegie Building, and what changes could mean for our community. Beth also updates us on the latest in restaurant and retail news, keeping you in the know on what’s opening, closing, and changing around Traverse City.

Plus, special guest Gary Gatzke—double bassist, director, and sandwich connoisseur—joins the fun as we dive into food, local culture, and what we’re looking forward to this week.

Currently is a Compass Local podcast. Produced by Pancake Boy Productions.

This week on Currently with Christal Frost, we’re digging into a tough but important issue: the troubling rise of embezzlement cases across small Northern Michigan nonprofits.

This episode is brought to you by lead underwriter Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings: Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City. Support also comes from West Shore Bank – committed to the well-being of the community, and The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – a chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.

Guest journalist Mardi Link (Bridge Michigan) joins Christal and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) to explain why these cases are so common, what it takes to investigate them, and why prevention is such a challenge for organizations running on tight budgets. From restitution questions to the hidden costs of audits and legal fees, it’s a conversation that goes beyond headlines to the real impact on communities.

Beth also brings her signature breakdowns of the latest road construction projects and another restaurant and retail roundup—from highway headaches to what’s new on the local dining and shopping scene.

It’s another episode that balances serious reporting with the news you need to know about living, working, and driving in Northern Michigan.

Currently with Christal Frost is a Compass Local podcast, produced by Pancake Boy Productions.

Stories:

Hundreds of thousands of dollars embezzled from Michigan rural nonprofits

Road Work Coming: US-31 Detour, Fourteenth Street Repairs & More

Blue Tractor, Hexenbelle Closing; More Restaurant/Retail News

On this week’s episode of Currently, Christal Frost is joined by Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) and Jacob Wheeler (Glen Arbor Sun) to break down some of the biggest stories in Northern Michigan.

This episode is brought to you by lead underwriter Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings: Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City. Support also comes from West Shore Bank – committed to the well-being of the community, and The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – a chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.

We’re talking about the future of Manitou Island Transit, what’s ahead for 14th Street construction and the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority, and why the Cedar Polka Fest remains such a beloved local tradition. Plus, Beth shares the powerful story of a Northern Michigan woman whose personal survival of stalking and assault has now been turned into a three-part docuseries premiering on Hulu.

Currently with Christal Frost is a Compass Local podcast, produced by Pancake Boy Productions.