What Do You Know?

Scott and Arnie welcome the hosts of the Public Relations Society of America's (PRSA) Montana chapter who are hosting a regional conference called Ignite in Missoula on October 9th and 10th. Joining the show this week are Kelsey Lodge, President-elect of the PRSA and Conference Chair; Lauren Meckstroth, Vice President of Public Relation from The Abbi Agency (and sponsor of the event); and Haley Walter, Brand Manager with the Abbi Agency. The group talks all aspects of this year's Ignite conference including crisis communications, marketing and technology and its impact on the public relations work the PRSA is doing. The 2 day conference includes speakers from Microsoft, Univision, Big Sky Public Relations, Glacier National Park, the KOA and many more.

Scott and Arnie welcome singer/songwriter and local Missoulian Kaylen Krebsbach to the show for the first time. Kaylen is about to finish up her first work in Manchester UK for her new band Share. Kaylen started Share with renowned guitarist Nile Marr (Hans Zimmer). The duo are putting a band together in Manchester and will start touring the new work later this year and early 2024 across the pond. Its a great conversation where Kaylen talks about her roots in music here in Montana, her previous work with Wilma Lavern Miner and you will also get a premiere listen of the first single from Share which is a cover of the Psychedelic Furs' "Love My Way."

Scott and Arnie welcome back Dr Vadim Levitin, MD. Vadim emigrated to the US from Russia 43 years ago and made his home in Kansas City. Arnie and Scott talk to Vadim about his journey from Russia in the early 80s, his experience as a trained physician and the work he is doing now as the Chairman of the Kansas Health Science Center and Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Scott and Arnie welcome Tim Gordon to this week’s show. Tim Gordon is Internationally recognized as an appraisal authority. He has been evaluating or marketing important works of fine art, valuables and collections for over 25 years, having personally appraised millions of items. The guys dig deep into Gordon’s vast experience in appraising for estates including Yellowstone National Parks, Jim Morrison of the Doors, Princess Diana, famed TV host Ed Sullivan and so much more. Known from his great work on PBS’ Antiques Road Show, you won’t want to miss this great hour of conversation packed with tons of information.

Scott and Arnie welcome Devin Carpenter, Co-Director of the 2023 Missoula Pride, taking place the weekend of June 16-18th. Devin has lived here since starting college at the University of Montana in 2008, and he calls Missoula home. As a young gay man, he became involved in social change and civil disobedience, and was responsible for planning and coordinating many trainings, workshops, and demonstrations in Missoula while an undergraduate student working as a Diversity Program Coordinator at UM. He has served in a number of leadership positions with groups such as Montana Equality Now, Big Sky Pride etc. Devin is focused on creating a safe and sustainable annual program that remains largely free and open to people of all ages, and that lifts the voices of our trans and BIPOC siblings, who are among the most marginalized within our Missoula community.

Scott and Arnie welcome back founder of local Missoula active wear company Youer – Mallory Ottariano and her head of production and design – Sarah Cabral – to the program for a full hour of conversation. We talk a lot about the manufacturing and production process – and what they are doing to take that in-house here in Missoula, the advantages of controlling these processes, and how it had been a positive impact on this multi-million dollar growing business here in Missoula, MT.

Scott and Arnie welcome back Melanie Brock, CEO of Brock Development and Executive Director of the Mid-Town Association, and Heather Foster, CEO of the Missoula Family YMCA to get an update on their fundraising efforts. The group is currently working at completing a $15 million fundraiser to remodel the facilities at their Russell Street location and offer more services, including expanded childcare, to the Missoula community. The group discusses this and how the YMCA fits in as a center point for other organizations and families here in the Garden City.

Scott and Arnie welcome Ken Fichtler to the program. As the CEO and Gaize – the Montana based cannabis impairment detection technology, Fichtler offers incredible insight into this forward think AI technology, and its many applications and uses. It’s a lively and spirited conversation, as Fichtler talks about his work in business and technology, starting with his role in the Bullock administration as the Chief Business Development Officer. The MSU Graduate and Montana native has great business insight to share on this week’s program.

Arnie and Scott welcome back the Executive Director of the Missoula Marathon and Run Wild Missoula – Trisha Drobeck – to the show. This Olympic trained marathon runner, has a lot of information to share with us including the Missoula Marathon in June, 2023, new training ideas, the impact running and marathon has on the Missoula community. Drobeck offers Arnie some training advice as well, and we discuss how unique the Missoula Marathon and the running group Run Wild Missoula is to our community, and how its making a big impact on the growing tourism here in Western MT.

Scott and Arnie welcome back Dr. Robert "Tino" Sonora - the Senior Research Professor of Economics with the University of Montana. We talk all things macroeconomics, and take a look at both the Federal government and the world stage, and how Russia’s war with the Ukraine and the diplomatic uncertainty with China is affecting the US economy. We also zoom into the State of Montana, and Missoula, and see how the changing economic conditions impact us locally.