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.

In this week’s episode of Currently, Christal and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) are joined by Ed Ronco from IPR News Radio to break down the stories shaping Northern Michigan right now.

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 what federal cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting could mean for local radio, how the Grand Traverse Band is turning fish waste into something useful, and the latest updates from East Bay Township. Plus, Beth shares how Grand Traverse County is putting marijuana tax dollars and opioid settlement funds to work.

It’s local news with insight and context you won’t find anywhere else!

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

This week on Currently, Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) and Christal talk about the City Commission giving the green light to funding for both the Mill District and Jubilee House projects, plus details on upcoming intersection work that could impact your commute. Over at the county level, updates include cross-deputization efforts with the Grand Traverse Band and progress on Governmental Center projects. And in retail and restaurant news—Front Street’s old Taco Bell location could soon see a pretty "sweet" transformation.

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.

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

In the wake of recent violence at the Traverse City Wal-Mart, this episode of Currently focuses on more than just the facts—we’re exploring our shared responsibility in how we talk about tragedy. Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) and Christal recap the latest developments in the case and to take a deeper look at the ethical role all of us—journalists, commentators, and even social media users—play in shaping the media landscape.

We also go behind the scenes on what it’s like to report major stories in real time, and why accurate, empathetic coverage matters more than ever.

Plus, we lighten things up with a surprising dinner date story involving a '70's star—and our very own celebrity dinner date wish list.

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.

Currently is a Compass Local Podcast produced by Pancake Boy Productions.

On this week’s episode of Currently, Christal Frost is joined by Traverse City Ticker’s Beth Milligan and 9&10 News anchor Bill Froehlich for a fast-paced roundup of top local and statewide stories.

​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.

Beth kicks things off with a look at the long-awaited future of the former Sugarloaf Resort property in Leelanau County, plus updates from Traverse City’s latest City Commission meeting—including discussions on infrastructure, housing, and more. Later, Bill brings news from Lansing, where lawmakers have once again delayed finalizing the state’s education budget. Plus, Christal and Bill reflect on a tragic small plane crash in Kent County that claimed the lives of two Northern Michigan men.

And finally, an update on the US-31 pedestrian bridge that was scheduled for demolition, but whose future is now uncertain.

Catch all that and more—including what everyone’s looking forward to this week—in the latest episode of Currently.

Currently is a Compass Local Podcast produced by Pancake Boy Productions.

This week on Currently, Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) provides updates on the Old Mission Peninsula winery lawsuit, the $17 million indoor fieldhouse proposal from TCAPS, and the settlement details surrounding former city manager Liz Vogel.

Then, journalist Art Bukowski returns to talk about two stories rooted in Traverse City’s evolving landscape — the Meijer Springbrook Acres development and the removal of a beloved cottonwood tree that’s been part of the community for generations.

Plus, Beth delivers another roundup of what’s new and notable in local retail and restaurants.

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.

Currently is a Compass Local Podcast produced by Pancake Boy Productions.