On this week's episode of Currently, we're covering the powerful late-season winter storm and ongoing developments in a local officer-involved shooting, along with highlighting youth voices in media.

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 comes together in downtown Traverse City.

Christal and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) to break down how the storm brought the region to a standstill and what the recovery looks like. Then, they discuss the latest verified details surrounding a high profile shooting during a domestic incident.

Later, the conversation shifts to growth and innovation, including the approval of Project Alpha and a unique look at how artificial intelligence is entering the classroom, highlighted through a special student journalism report from Northern Express.

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

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 comes together in downtown Traverse City.

Christal and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) are joined by the returning Art Bukowski (TC Business News) to explore the state of Northern Michigan's oil and gas industry — a sector that has long played a quiet but important role in the region's economy.

Plus, Beth breaks down the latest retail and restaurant news around Traverse City, as well as what residents and visitors can expect as spring construction ramps up.

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

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 building a career advising major brands and helping shape the culture behind Hagerty Insurance. Along the way, she reflects on the lessons that resilience, resourcefulness, and gratitude taught her about leadership, entrepreneurship, and building organizations that people truly trust.

The conversation explores the philosophy behind Hagerty's community-driven brand, Soon's experience launching the charitable restaurant The Good Bowl, and why she ultimately stepped away from the business to focus on something even bigger: Boundless Futures, a foundation dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs access funding, mentorship, and opportunities to grow their ideas.

Soon also offers candid insights on leadership, emotional intelligence, and why the most important person any leader manages is themselves.

It's a wide-ranging conversation about purpose, business, and the power of investing in the next generation of founders.

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

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 initiatives, and collaborative community projects — not just with ideas, but with real infrastructure like space, bookkeeping, and coordination. They also explore Josh's journey from private-sector entrepreneurship back to Northern Michigan, how global experiences shaped his systems-thinking approach, and why sustainable community impact requires more than passion — it requires capacity and collaboration.

If you've ever wondered how real change happens in small towns — and how you can be part of it — this conversation is for you.

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

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 the latest retail and restaurant news, including the reopening of the long-vacant Mister C's space in Williamsburg, a new Korean barbecue restaurant entering the mix, and other shifts shaping the local dining landscape. Next, it's all about the great outdoors, with updates on public parks and environmental efforts across the region - including Christal's favorite animal, the goat.

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

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 workforce development connects talent, business, and community — and why that connection matters more than ever. The conversation explores registered apprenticeships, the Going PRO Talent Fund, adult education, and the "big three" barriers that continue to impact employment: housing, childcare, and transportation.

They also discuss the ripple effects of workforce investment, the importance of local flexibility in rural regions, and what's at stake when funding decisions shape opportunity.

Whether you're a job seeker, employer, policymaker, or simply someone who cares about the future of Northern Michigan, this conversation offers insight into how strengthening people strengthens the entire region.

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.

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.

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

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 unexpected moment in a comedy club — shifted her perspective on pain, leadership, and identity. Together, they unpack why high-achievers cling to what isn't working, how to tell the difference between intuition and anxiety, and what people really mean when they say, "I need clarity."

If you're successful on paper but feeling stuck internally, this conversation is for you.

The Conversation is a Compass Local podcast produced by Pancake Boy Productions.