Locals start live podcast featuring community leaders

The Fish Tank is a new podcast to be broadcasted live from the Montana Tap House in Whitefish every Wednesday throughout the summer.

Hosted by Ed Docter with producer and guest host Kevin McDowell, this weekly interactive talk show features local political candidates, city officials, nonprofit representatives and community leaders discussing their causes and campaigns. Listeners are encouraged to join via live chat to ask questions, share their unique viewpoints and engage podcast guests and hosts in local issues.

The hosts will invite each candidate running for city council to be the main guest every week along with two other guests from various nonprofits, community leaders or city officials.

The show will run for 10 weeks with the first week beginning Wednesday, July 12 at 7 p.m. with Whitefish Mayor John Muhlfeld, Ryan Friel from the Whitefish Review and John Middleton from the Whitefish Planning Board. Topics for this episode will range from property tax increases to the future of Whitefish, with John Mulfeld presenting a State of Whitefish Address.

Week two of “The Fish Tank” will focus on housing issues and feature Daniel Sidder of Housing Whitefish, Dwayne Hawkins of the Whitefish Housing Authority and local affordable housing developer Jerry Dunker.

Week three will focus on mental health support and initiatives in the Flathead Valley with Flathead County Sheriff’s Crisis Officer Sara Winfrey and Kate Berry of Sweetgrass Psychological Services. Additional topics and special guests to be announced.

Additionally, Micah Groschupf will handle the technical aspects and writers include, Riss Getts, Bo Downen, Ryan Hennen, Megan Powell and Geg Sandburg.

The audience will be allowed to ask candidates questions and be part of the show. Some lucky audience members will have a chance to win Tap House gift certificates and gifts from sponsors. Any questions or interest in being a participant, email The Fish Tank at thefishtankmt@gmail.com.

The Pilot will run weekly updates from the podcast as well as preview the show’s next guests.