This time of year, stress can creep into our lives pretty easily.  Steve Greenman, of Mental Wellness Counseling, joins us to talk about how to slow down, enjoy the season, forge new relationships and restrengthen old ones.

Joseph Morrissey, Director of Dance for Interlochen Center for the Arts, joins us to talk about their upcoming performance of the iconic ballet “Swan Lake” (December 6 - 8).  Morrissey discusses this beautiful tale of good vs. evil, love, regret and triumph.

So happy to welcome back our favorite storyteller, Karen Stein, ahead of this Monday’s next Here:Say event — Beat the Clock, featuring tales of racing against time.

So great to have Taylor Simpson back on the Foodie Scene!  We first spoke with Taylor this summer about Good Harbor Vineyards, the winery her parents started that Taylor and her brother now manage.  However, the two siblings wanted something that was completely theirs, and so opened Aurora Cellars in Leelanau County.  We talked with Taylor about striking out on your own, working with family, and pairing the right wines with your favorite junk food. 

Brad Kik, of Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology, presenting The Long Memory Project, whose mission is to cultivate the passing down of our community’s stories.  Not just the headlines, but the small acts of courage, action, good governance and community building.

So much fun to broadcast live from the 2018 Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo!  Just as fun— all the great people I got to talk with, including:  Whitney Waara, Executive Director of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, Suzanne Allen, Director of Community Responsibility of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Tom Bensley, Ken Hogarth of Hogarth’s Pest Control Max Anderson and Jess Ashmore of Honor Bank, and WTCM Assistant Engineer Jimmy Gerds! 

So great to talk again with Chris Mohrhardt on the Foodie Scene today!  You may recall our chat with Chris at the beginning of the summer about one of his businesses: Sauce inside Incredible Mo’s.  Now, Chris returns to discuss taking over ownership of Pangea’s Pizza and Pub in Downtown Traverse City, their new renovation and what’s in the future.

What happens when a family is accused of medical child abuse? In this special report, we bring you the story of “Jim and Jackie” (their names and voices have been changed to protect their identities).  Jim and Jackie share their own heartbreaking story— one still filled with unanswered questions and controversy.  Then, Bob Wheaton, Public Information Officer for Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, discusses the recent audit of Child Protective Services, and walks us through a typical allegation from CPS, start to finish. Finally, we close with the dramatic story of how a CPS tip saved the life of a Northern Michigan child.

Spark in the Dark is a wonderful nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting those in need with those you can help; members across the Grand Traverse area simply ask for what they’re looking for on the group’s page, and able members do what they can to provide.  Today we spoke with Spark’s founder and Executive Director, Abby Byar, about their new partnership with senior living facility MediLodge of Traverse City, looking to pair elderly residents without families to those who would welcome having them in their lives.

Tom Petty may no longer be with us, but the fans are keeping his music alive — and no where is that more evident than with The Insiders, an incredible Michigan-based tribute act to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.  We spoke with frontman Max Lockwood about growing up in a Petty household, his favorite songs to perform and creating a healing experience for fans.

The Christal Frost Podcast is available on Apple Podcast, GooglePlay Music, SoundCloud and Stitcher.