Trail Listening Post

Originally aired live at 9:13 AM on July 2, 2025

At exactly 9:13 AM on July 2, 2005, Trail 103.3 signed on the air for the very first time. Twenty years later—down to the minute—we cracked the mic together once again to mark that moment. This short, unscripted conversation between Robert Chase, Mike Smith, and Tommy Evans isn’t just a celebration of our radio station’s anniversary, It’s a reflection on what Trail 103.3 has become, home for eclectic music, Missoula voices, and authentic community connection.

Listen in as we go live on-air and share memories of the early days, laugh about Robert's 3:30 AM breakfast routine, recall how we each found our way to the station, and take a moment to thank everyone who’s been part of the journey.. on the mic, behind the scenes, and most importantly, listening.

Recorded live at what we thought was the exact moment Trail 103.3 first signed on—20 years to the minute @ 9:13 am...

A sincere thank you to all the listeners who took the time to send in notes and stories about what the Trail has meant to them over the years—especially to Dave Cowan, the visionary programmer, engineer, GM, and on-air voice who built the Trail from an idea into a station. Dave reached out shortly after this segment aired to let us know we got just one little detail wrong: the Trail actually signed on at 9:13 PM, not AM. Oops!

Fun fact: The very first song ever played on Trail 103.3 was Mind Games by John Lennon.

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Join us at Caras Park on Thursday, July 24, when we celebrate The Trail’s 20th Birthday with live music by the Josh Farmer Band as part of Downtown Tonight — food trucks, art vendors, local connection, and more. 

And don’t forget our 20‑for‑20 Giveaway: 20 pairs of tickets to 20 local events spanning August 2025–August 2026. Pop into any of our registration boxes—locations include the Trailhead, Loose Caboose, Great Harvest, Kettlehouse Taproom, Roxy, Caras Nursery, and more—or sign up online. Drawing happens live on July 24 at the Caras Park anniversary event.

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🌲 The Trail Listening Post is a podcast series that archives the real-time radio moments that make Missoula, Missoula - live, local, and straight from the airwaves of Trail 103.3, a station as unique as the community we serve. 

🎙️ Trail Live Session: Why We Went West (June 26, 2025)

 Live from the Trail Lunchbox | Trail 103.3 – Missoula, MT

We welcomed the trio version of Why We Went West—Maria Zepeda, Lucas Yatch, and Gabrielle Tusberg—for a beautiful in-studio performance and conversation ahead of their debut at the Zootown Music Festival.

🎶 They perform two original songs live:
 • Water
• Dreamboat

Trail Guide, Mike Smith, chats with the group about:
 • Their evolution from trio to 12-piece for Zootown Fest
 • The importance of collaboration and community in Missoula’s music scene
 • Upcoming performances at Sacred Ally, Freecycles, and of course, Zootown Festival (July 5)

Maria shares her reflections on building a musical family, fostering local talent, and preparing for a major hometown performance. It’s a conversation rooted in gratitude, growth, and the power of showing up for each other.

Catch them live:
📍 Sacred Ally – Friday
📍 FreeCycles – Saturday
📍 Zootown Music Festival – July 5
🎟️ zootownfestival.com

Listen to The Trail 1033 for live, local Missoula music on air and around the globe at Trail1033.com, TuneIn and the Trail 1033 app.

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🌲 The Trail Listening Post is a podcast series that archives the real-time radio moments that make Missoula, Missoula - live, local, and straight from the airwaves of Trail 103.3, a station as unique as the community we serve. 

The Trail Listening Post – Trail Lunchbox: Marc Moss (June 25, 2025)

On today’s episode of The Trail Listening Post, we bring you a live in-studio conversation from the Trail Lunchbox on Trail 103.3 FM. Host Mike Smith sits down with Marc Moss, the founder and host of Tell Us Something, Missoula’s beloved live storytelling event series.

Marc shared the story behind the event's signature theme song, the art on this year’s poster, and why Tell Us Something doesn’t announce its storytellers in advance. They dug into what makes live storytelling so powerful, how it brings people together, and what it's like for someone to take the stage for the very first time.

Plus, hear stories about cops thinking Marc was a cop, the Northside KettleHouse art connection, and what it means to create space for voices across the spectrum—especially in the context of Pride Month.

 🎟️ Event Details:
 Tell Us Something: Lost & Found
📅 Monday, June 30, 2025
🕕 Doors at 6:00 PM | Stories at 7:00 PM
📍 Ogren Park / Allegiance Field
🎫 Tickets: $20 advance / $23 day-of — available at TellUsSomething.org

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🌲 The Trail Listening Post is a podcast series that archives the real-time radio moments that make Missoula, Missoula - live, local, and straight from the airwaves of Trail 103.3, a station as unique as the community we serve. 

🎙️ Today on The Trail Lunchbox: A Live Session with James McMurtry & BettySoo
 
 📍 Recorded live in the Trail Studio • Airing June 24, 2025

On today’s Trail Lunchbox, we welcomed a true American songwriting legend back to Trail 103.3 — James McMurtry — this time with his longtime friend and musical collaborator BettySoo riding shotgun. Just hours before their show at the Zootown Arts Community Center, they stopped by for a stripped-down, heartfelt live session.

James brought his signature storytelling and dry wit, performing “The Color of Night” and “South Texas Lawman” from his latest record Black Dog and the Wandering Boy. BettySoo joined in on a gorgeous duet version of “Gulf Road,” reimagined for her upcoming album. 

Listen as the two chat about about touring in drag to protest anti-drag laws, swapping instruments, and what it means to write songs that speak from another person’s perspective even when it’s uncomfortable. 

🎶 Catch them live tonight at the ZACC in downtown Missoula — doors at 7 PM, show at 8. A few tickets were still left at the time of recording, but they won’t last --> Zootownarts.org

🎫 Then tomorrow, they hit The ELM in Bozeman, so tell your friends over the hill.

This is what the Trail Lunchbox is all about — real music, real conversation, and real connections. Huge thanks to James and BettySoo for stopping by.

🌲 Trail Live Sessions are part of the Trail Listening Post — where stories and songs meet.

Montana author Philip Burgess joins host Mike Smith in the Trail 103.3 studio alongside longtime friend and creative collaborator Ednor Therriault. Together, they talk about Burgess’s powerful new memoir, The Bunch Quitter — a sweeping, poetic account of a life spent drifting through America during the ’60s and ’70s in pursuit of ultimate freedom. From the windswept badlands of eastern Montana to sleeping under stars on the Gulf Coast, Burgess reflects on memory, pain, growth, and the cost of independence. Hear stories behind the book, the role of personal truth in writing, and what it means to be a true bunch quitter.

Recorded ahead of the book release party at Shakespeare & Co. in Missoula.

🎧 Featuring: music by Bob Wire

In addition to The Bunch Quitter, Philip Burgess has written three books of poetry, Henry’s Cows: Poetry by Philip J. Burgess; Penny Postcards and Prairie Flowers; and Badlands Child. In 2005, Burgess was nominated for the position of Montana’s first poet laureate. He was born in Eastern Montana and served as an officer in Vietnam, and then, after he returned to the US, he took to the road. He made his home in Western Montana, where he dedicates his life to serving as a veteran’s spokesman and therapist, and to being a poet and a storyteller as he continues to reckon with the road, memory, and meaning.

The Trail Lunchbox: New Zealand Day – A Celebration of Sister Cities, Rugby & Community

Today's Trail Lunchbox features a live in-studio conversation with Maddy Gilbert from Arts Missoula and Jake Kreilick of Missoula Youth Rugby, hosted by Mike Smith.

Listen as they talk about Missoula’s 42-year sister city connection with Palmerston North, New Zealand — from university exchange roots to modern-day cultural partnerships. The episode dives into the details of this year’s New Zealand Day celebration happening Saturday, June 14th at Fort Missoula Regional Park:

Event Highlights Include:

• 12:30–2:00 PM: Dedication of a new carved Sister City bench at the Bitterroot Shelter (south end near the tennis courts), honoring the long-standing civic friendship between Missoula and Palmerston North.
• 10:00 AM–12:00 PM: Free touch rugby clinic for kids (no contact!) hosted by the Missoula Maggots.
• 2:00–5:00 PM: Community touch rugby games on the multi-use fields — all are welcome to jump in.
• New Zealand-style ice cream from local favorite Chur Ice Cream (yes, it’s as good as it sounds).
• Croquet on the lawn, a classic Kiwi pastime.
• 5:00 PM: Free community cookout at the Missoula Maggots Clubhouse (3500 South Ave W).

Plus, hear about the meaningful connections between the Māori and Salish-Kootenai communities, the upcoming student exchange with St. Peter’s College in Palmerston North, and why keeping international friendships alive matters more than ever.

It’s local. It’s global. It’s all Trail.

 🎧 Listen now — and then join the celebration.
 Full details at ArtsMissoula.org

Trisha joins Tommy on the Trail Lunchbox for a conversation about Marshall Madness, set to take place on  Sunday, June 1 from 11am–3pm — an epic outdoor bash with group runs, hikes, and rides, brand-new trails, food trucks, Big Sky beer, and hourly raffle prizes! From bike jousting and a dunk tank to a live set by DJ Ivanoff and a bike skills clinic, this is the ultimate summer kickoff you don’t want to miss — and yes, there’s even free town shuttles and loaner bikes!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10:30 AM - SHUTTLES BEGIN (1205 E Broadway St, Missoula, MT 59802)

11:00 AM - DJ Ivanoff Kicks things off

11:30 AM - FOOD TRUCKS BEGIN SERVICE

11:30 PM - FIRST RIDE, RUN & HIKE BEGINS (and every half hour thereafter)

12:00 PM - RAFFLE #1

12:30 PM - FIRST 'CASH DASH' SCRAMBLE (Your chance to win $100 cash!)

1:00 PM - RAFFLE #2

12:30 PM - SECOND 'CASH DASH' SCRAMBLE (Your chance to win $100 cash!)

2:00 PM - RAFFLE #3

2:30 PM - LAST RIDE, RUN & HIKE

3:00 PM - LAST SHUTTLE BACK TO TOWN

https://www.thewestsidetheater.com/abundance

SHOW DATES|TIMES

• May 16 @ 7:30pm

• May 17 @ 2pm

• May 17 @ 7:30pm

Location: Montana Theater
University of Montana Campus, PARTV building

location note:
Due to the overwhelming enthusiasm about abunDANCE from both cast and audience, we moved the show to the Montana Theater!

We’re excited to be able to offer more seats, easier parking, and more cast and audience accessibility by being on campus for this year’s community production!

about the show

Westside Theater’s newest community production

Last year, there was 40 Over 40.
This year, we have abunDANCE!

Produced by Westside Theater and Bare Bait Dance, abunDANCE highlights local choreographers and dancers, ages 12 - 72.

From novices to professional movers,  abunDANCE brings together the celebration of art, dance and the enthusiasm of our Western Montana community.

The performance showcases choreography by some of Missoula’s favorite creative voices… and 75+ Missoula dancers with a rich variety of experiences and backgrounds will grace the abunDANCE stage.
You won’t want to miss this incredible community evening of dance.

abun-dance choreographers

Kate Jordan Augusto
Kelly Bouma
Liana Dillon
Joy French
Jennifer Kerber
Elle Lundgren
Amy Ragsdale
Katie Thompson
Alissa Tucker
Nicole Wolcott
and Heidi Eggert’s New Visions Dance

abun-dance performers

Maya Anderson
Devinne Archuletta
Tara Beckman Ballis
Tracy Boehm Barrett
Kelly Bouma
Molly Bradford
Katy Brown
Sara Close
Betsy Craske
Amanda Cravens
Liz Davies
Beverly Dupree
Stacey Duncan
Kelsey Elkins
Nina Erving
Carol Evans
Neave Fleming
Wendy Forber-Pratt
Laurel Franchell
Katie Gehn Simpson
Dori Gilels
Elke Govertsen
Kate Harrison
Heather Harp
Buck Henderson
McKenzie Javorka
Erin Kautz
Christopher Keogh
Kathryn Marie Kelly
Alyssa Kennamer
Gillian Kessler

Keely Larson
Elle Lundgren
Carolyn J. Lewis
Kylie Lopuch
Elle Lundgren
Ravi Marsolek
Erynn McNeill
Ashley Melwani
Lori Mitchell
Katrina Morgan
Melissa Moss-Larson
Josie O'Meara
Ann Peacock
Nicole Post
Antara Quinones
Sarah Reynolds
Carrie Richer
Linds Sanders
Cassie Sapp
Annica Scheerens
Michelle Scruggs
Emma Selfors
Kathleen Shannon
Ashley Sherburne
Sage Sutcliffe
Tracy Topp
Melissa Turk
Blair Ware
Emily Weiler
Anya Wells
Nicole Wolcott
Jenny Zilliox

and Heidi Eggert’s New Visions Dance & friends

Ria Overholt, Community Services Director for Missoula Aging Services stops by the Trail1033 studio to chat with Mike smith about March for Meals and the current state of funding for the meals on wheels program. 

March for Meals is an annual month-long fundraising campaign to raise money for Meals on Wheels in Missoula county. Missoula Aging Services (MAS) promotes the independence, dignity and health of older adults and those who care for them. Last year, more than 123,000 meals were delivered to older Missoulians through Meals on Wheels. Now is the time for Trail1033 listeners to join forces with MAS to celebrate more than 50 years of success and to protect this critical program that continues to enable independence, and improve health by combating food insecurity, malnutrition, and social isolation. 

The annual March for Meals commemorates the historic day in March 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 and established a national nutrition program for Americans 60 years and older. 

 Visit missoulaagingservices.org to donate and learn more about volunteering, or to get help for yourself or a loved one or neighbor. 

Mike interviews Alix Blair about her film Helen and the Bear.

At 70, Helen often acts like an uninhibited teenager, sneaking cigarettes and exploring the bounds
of her sexual identity. But at home, she cares for her 96-year-old husband Pete, a once-prominent
Republican politician who now depends on her absolutely. Captured in intimate verite by director
Alix Blair, HELEN AND THE BEAR is a lyrical portrait of the beautiful and complex relationship
between Helen and Pete as they enter the final chapter of their marriage. Helen’s inner journey is
brought to life through decades of journal entries and archival footage that reveal a struggle
between her love for Pete and a desire for freedom. As Pete’s health worsens and Helen
anticipates life without “Bear,” she wrestles with what’s been lost and won through life by his side.

Website: https://helenandthebear.us/