Shows
Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - John Nores & Nic McKinley / Cartels in Montana (Episode 26)Montana is facing a hidden crisis — cartels are targeting small towns, tribal communities, and public lands for enormous profits from fentanyl and meth. With limited law enforcement and complex jurisdictional rules, the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels are exploiting the state’s most vulnerable areas, poisoning communities, polluting rivers, and destroying wildlife.
Joining us are retired Lt. John Nores, who uncovered a massive toxic grow linked to the Sinaloa Cartel after a deadly firefight in California, and Nic McKinley, former CIA operative and Air Force PJ, with deep insight into cartel and terrorist operations.
We b...2025-08-122h 35Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Rylee Mix / Tiny Cabin Concert Series (Episode 25)Rylee Mix is one of our favorite new break out musicians laying roots in Northwest Montana. Her soulful voice and cutting lyrics are a breath of fresh air for a generation of artists continuing to shape a new era of Americana and Country music.
2025-07-0913 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Jon Tester & Maritsa Georgiou (Episode 24)Today’s guests are former Montana senator Jon Tester and veteran Montana journalist Maritsa Georgiou. They have teamed up to launch the new political podcast “Grounded”. Each week, they break down the latest in political developments and interview a variety of politicians, journalists and other guests to bring insight into breaking news.
We discussed what’s been happening around the state since the last election cycle, some of the neverending issues affecting our country and whats new with their podcast. Check out “Grounded” on your preferred streaming platform.
2025-06-2949 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Justin Kaber / Flathead Wildland Firefighter Foundation (Episode 23)Today’s guest is Justin Kaber. Justin in the president of the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. The Wildland Firefighter Foundation’s focus is to help families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families.
We discuss the important work the foundation does as well how local firefighter stations helped battle the devastating Los Angeles fires earlier this year. The foundations Flathead chapters annual gala is on April 12, 2025 in Kalispell with some amazing big ticket auction and raffle items up for grabs.
2025-03-311h 06Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Big Sky City Lights / Tiny Cabin concert series (Episode 23)Today's guests are Big Sky City Lights. Susan O'Dea and Nic Spear started playing music together during COVID and utilized digital communications to record music from across the country to bring people together during hard times with their sweet and timeless harmonies.
They perform "When All Our Hair Turns Gray" from their new EP - A Mountain To Go along with the Hello Whitefish theme song "Hello Whitefish". Their new album is streaming now on your preferred music streaming platform.
www.bigskycitylights.com
2025-03-2031 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Nic McKinley & Zack Armstrong (Episode 22)Today’s guests are Nic McKinley and Zack Armstrong. During the 2021 American troop
withdrawal from Afghanistan, with the Taliban seizing control of the country, The White House sought the help of McKinley to spearhead the rescue and evacuation of the Afghan Youth Girls National Soccer Team, who were being hunted by the Taliban.
Nic McKinley, a former Air Force Pararescueman and CIA agent with thirty tours under his belt, along with the help of Zack Armstrong - a former Navy SEAL of 25 years,
orchestrated and executed an unbelievably harrowing rescue mission out of a nondescript of...2025-01-191h 58Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish (Live) - Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples in MTHello Whitefish and DeliverFund hosted a live event in northwest Montana featuring a panel on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People in Montana. The panel included Carissa Heavyrunner whose daughter Mika Westwolf was murdered in a hit and run. Ivan MacDonald is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who along with his sister Ivy have followed the tragic epidemic as its unfolded across Montana. Nic McKinley is a former Air Force PJ, CIA operative and the CEO of DeliverFund, a counter human trafficking intelligence and technology nonprofit.
2024-10-1447 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Lynn-Wood Fields / MT Film Industry (Episode 21)Today’s guest is Lynn Wood Fields. Lynn Wood is an award-winning filmmaker and educator who grew up here in Whitefish, Montana. She also owns the Missoula-based Media Training Center and is president of the Montana Media Coalition. She is passionate about connecting Montanans to training and job opportunities in film, TV, digital media and live entertainment so they can economically benefit from these growing industries. Check out the links for more info:
https://mediatrainingcenter.co/
https://montanamediacoalition.org/
2024-10-0144 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Ryan Busse / Candidate for Governor of MT (Episode 20)Today’s guest is Ryan Busse. Ryan is the democratic candidate for governor of Montana, going up against incumbent Greg Gianforte, in what has become a huge race.
Ryan grew up on a cattle ranch and wheat farm and spent 25 years working as a salesman for the firearm company Kimber, right here in Kalispell. He left his position as vice president of sales in 2020 and published a memoir, “Gunfight,” which criticized what he saw as radicalization within the firearms industry.
Ryan has served as a volunteer board member and board chair for both Backcountry Hunters & Anglers a...2024-09-1349 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Alan Davis / Whitefish Community Foundation (Episode 19)Alan Davis is the president of
the Whitefish Community Foundation which just
kicked off its seventh annual Great Fish Challenge -
a multi-week fundraising campaign that inspires
community-wide giving and builds awareness about
the critical work of Flathead Valley nonprofits.
The Whitefish Community Foundation awards a
percentage match on the first $25,000 raised by
each nonprofit and last year they helped raise over
six million dollars for 77 Flathead Valley Nonprofits
in just 5 weeks.
2024-08-131h 01Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Melissa Arnot Reid / Mt Everest (Episode 18)Happy birthday Hello Whitefish! We are officially 1-years-old! Today’s guest is an old high school friend of mine named Melissa Arnot-Reid. She is a mountain guide, athlete, professional speaker and has submitted Mt Everest six times! If that wasn’t enough, the last time she did it was without
supplemental oxygen, making her the first American woman in history to successfully do so.
2024-06-151h 06Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Dennis Taylor / Montana Multi-City ManagerDennis Taylor is a former US Marine and Vietnam veteran who spent 45 years of his life serving communities across Montana. His impressive resume includes positions as city manager in Bozeman, Helena and Whitefish, and as the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Missoula.
This insightful conversation didn’t just help me better understand the property tax problem, but made me appreciate how diverse the communities across Montana really are.
2024-05-1752 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Jamie Goguen / Philanthropist (Episode 16)Today’s guest is Jamie Goguen. She is a local business owner and philanthropist. She and her husband Michael support a variety of ventures and nonprofits around the Valley.
We dive deep in this conversation: from helping the homeless, to affordable housing to psychedelics, to her new fabulous restaurant in the heart of downtown.
2024-04-151h 31Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Marianne Smith/Code Girls United (Episode 15)Marianne Smith is the CEO of the nonprofit Code Girls United which brings the language of computer coding, business development and the power of problem solving to girls in rural and tribal communities throughout Montana via free after school programs. Code Girls United is remarkable success story that is setting up future generations of young Montana women for success. To learn more visit https://codegirlsunited.org
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Music by Big Sky City Lights
...2024-03-1556 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Cris Neckar / Two Bear Capital (Episode 14)Cris Neckar is a hacker, cyber security expert, venture partner at Two Bear Capital and dear friend of Hello Whitefish. We discuss the future of education, job markets and how all of this will affect rural communities. We also dive into philosophical thought experiments around AI, extraterrestrials and just what it is that makes the Flathead so special.
2024-02-0754 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Jeff Hyer /Ecotourism & Conservation (Episode 13)From the controversial topics of wolf management to saving Africa's last Northern White Rhinos to the American Prairie - our friend Jeff Hyer is our eco tour guide through these important topics and more in this episode focused on conservation, eco tourism and understanding the facts around the delicate ecosystems of Montana.
2023-12-211h 06Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Senator Jon Tester (Episode 12)Today’s guest is Senator Jon Tester - a 3rd generation Montana farmer, former school teacher and the only Democrat who holds statewide office in Montana.
He is the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. He also serves on the Senate Banking Committee, the Senate Commerce Committee, and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Jon and his wife Sharla still farm the same land that was homesteaded by Jon’s grandparents in 1912.
We covered a broad range of topics including affordable housing, climate change, MMIW, vetera...2023-11-1636 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Scot Chisholm / Classy & Haskill Creek Farms (Episode 11)Scot Chisholm is a founder and entrepreneur, having planted the roots for Classy, Haskill Creek Farm and Save Farmland, among other ventures. Haskill Creek Farm's open, community-oriented lawn hosting food and drink, live music and games is the perfect vantage point to enjoy the views of the northern Flathead Valley. And with plans to expand into downtown, Scot and his wife will be opening a flagship store next to Markus Foods.
We talk about starting a business on the cuff of COVID, Haskill Creek Farm's approach to natural therapeutics, why we need to "Save Farmland", Nonprofits, and, ev...2023-10-141h 04Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Madyson Rigg / Miss Montana USA (Episode 10)Madyson Rigg won the title of Miss Montana USA in March of 2023 and will be competing for the coveted Miss USA on September 29th. If she wins, she will not only become the first Montanan to win the title, she will then go on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. But beyond the crown, she is an extremely authentic and gracious Montanan who wants to see everyone succeed. She has worked with Leadership Flathead, Logan Health and, currently, the Glacier Institute, and has a bright future ahead.
2023-09-141h 21Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Julie Tickle / Dream Adaptive (Episode 9)Julie Tickle is the Executive Director of Dream Adaptive. DREAM Adaptive’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of individuals with disabilities by providing year-round outdoor adaptive recreational opportunities. Julie’s passion and enthusiasm for making sure these individuals have access to the outdoors is truly inspiring and heartwarming.
2023-08-3158 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Patrick Yawakie and Erica Shelby (Episode 8)In today's episode, we check in with our neighbors from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) to talk culture, the impact of climate change on our water systems and the heartbreaking crisis of murdered and missing indigenous women (MMIW).
2023-08-1851 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Daniel Sidder (Episode 7)With interest rates still sky high and the housing market in Whitefish, Montana continuing to favor the heavily resourced, local nonprofit Housing Whitefish is looking to bring solutions to the table. Lead by newcomer Daniel Sidder, he brings a quiver of experience and expertise, offering a possible light at the end of the tunnel...a light that will take the will of the community to flame.
2023-08-0359 minHello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Gracie Hickman and Morgan Berry-Schafer (Episode 6)Honestly exploring the depths of the minds of the next generation, this episode delves into the complexities of our youth, offering candid discussions about what Morgan and Gracie feel are the most pressing issues facing their generation today - from the education system to politics to mental health...these two offer insights we should all be paying attention to.
2023-07-241h 23
Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Nic McKinley (Episode 5)Nic McKinley is an ex-CIA operative and Air Force PJ. He is currently the CEO of Deliverfund - a counter human trafficking intelligence nonprofit based in Whitefish, Montana. In 2021, he helped orchestrate the escape of the Afghan Youth Girls National Soccer Team from the Taliban during the American withdrawal.
2023-07-111h 08
Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Ken Browning (Episode 4)Ken Browning is a wildland firefighter and a squad boss on a helicopter rappel crew. We discuss adventure, friendship and all things fighting forest fires. If you are interested in a career as a wildland firefighter feel free to reach out to Ken, he is excited to connect with you: browning.ak@gmail.com
2023-07-111h 23
Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - Earl Reynolds (Episode 3)Earl Reynolds is an innovative chef known for his experimental ingredients, beautiful plating techniques and was a recent James Beard Award nominee. We discuss the good and the bad of growing up in a ski town, the best way to cook a morel mushroom, mortality and fatherhood. Earl Reynolds cooking can be found this summer (2023) at Dancing Spirit Ranch. Visit www.dancingspiritranch.com for event dates and tickets.
2023-07-1152 min
Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - David Blair (Episode 2)David Blair is film director and screen writer with multiple movies under his belt. His forthcoming novel "Firebug" releases May 26th and is available on Amazon. In this episode we discuss everything from DIY independent filmmaking to how anti-drag legislation could affect the performing arts in Whitefish, Montana.
2023-07-1141 min
Hello WhitefishHello Whitefish - John Muhlfeld (Episode 1)John Muhlfeld - The mayor of Whitefish, Montana sits down for an in-depth conversation about all the hot topics surrounding Whitefish. From affordable housing to civic duty to the "ding dong" ordinance.
2023-05-1959 min