Who’s Who in Whitefish: Local podcast focuses on community programs and politics

Some might say that Ed Docter, the owner of the Montana Tap House, Tamarack Ski Shop and Dire Need Cannabis, has the gift of gab. He also has a strong social network in Whitefish and cares deeply about the community.

Docter is also a fan of talk shows and has recently created a live podcast called The Fish Tank.

Along with producer and guest host, Kevin McDowell, Docter hosts the show each Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the Tap House beer garden. The format finds Docter talking with local leaders about issues that affect the residents of this fast-growing mountain town.

“We’re going to invite all the candidates – we’re doing the city council debate here. We’re going to handle the local politics here, at the bar,” he said. “I know almost everybody in town… and we can make politics fun.”

He said he decided to create the show after speaking with others in the community who have concerns about the near future of Whitefish. Questionable candidates who ran in the last election cycle and rumors about more of the same fueled the decision, too.

“Everybody’s so skeptical, that’s why this show is happening,” Docter said. “Let’s stop pointing fingers – let’s stop assuming things that we just don’t know to be true.”

His main goal with the podcast is to get the community involved. Prior to each show, topics are chosen and questions are prepared for a conversation that lasts about 40 minutes.

“I want to see community involvement,” he said. “I don’t like going to a city council meeting and seeing four people. That’s brutal. Nobody gives a [expletive]. But if we do this [podcast], maybe they will.”

The topic of the third episode, on July 26, is mental health support and initiatives in the Flathead Valley. Guests are Flathead County’s mental health coordinator Sarah Winfrey, Kate Berry from Sweetgrass Psychological Services and Jenny Cloutier from the Nate Chute Foundation.

Each of the following seven episodes will include one candidate running for the Whitefish City Council.

“In my opinion, this is a great way to get people to know the candidates,” Docter said. “So, for seven weeks, we have seven candidates. Every candidate running gets their own show with two guests from local nonprofits or community leaders.”

As an example of the issues that will be discussed, he referred to the proposed resort tax reallocation that voters will likely see on the ballot this November. The plan directs 10% of resort tax funding to community housing projects and programs.

“How are we going to pass this 10% for housing if they don’t know?” he asked. “So we talk about it every week. It’s a topic that every candidate is going to get a question about.

“We’re the only town you can look up in the west not doing anything about housing…” he added. “But if we get this 10% of the sales tax, we’ll be one of the best ones – we’ll be on top.”

The first episode of the podcast featured Whitefish Mayor John Muhlfeld, Ryan Friel from the Whitefish Review and John Middleton from the Whitefish Planning Board. They discussed local issues before Muhlfeld gave the State of Whitefish address from the stage.

Housing was the topic for the second episode and guests from Housing Whitefish and Whitefish Housing Authority were on hand.

“I’ve been here 24 years,” Docter said during the show. “I know a lot of people and a lot of them have moved and it does break my heart… and I’d love to see us all work together to get a solution and have them come back.”

At the end of the housing podcast, Docter donated to the nonprofits and wrote checks on the spot, literally putting his money where his mouth is.

The Fish Tank is scheduled to begin its second season in December and it will be moved inside, possibly in the Tamarack Ski Shop. Docter said those episodes will focus on local celebrities.

“I think the winter episodes will be a little different, just who’s who in Whitefish,” he said.

Docter is dedicated to his mission of clarifying what’s happening in politics and making the issues more understandable. He is considering helping Kalispell start a similar podcast to foster more community involvement there.

For a man of many words, Docter summed up the reason for the Fish Tank podcast succinctly.

“I want the community to understand the community. That’s it,” he said.

The podcast is available on Facebook, YouTube and Spotify. Listeners are encouraged to join via live chat to ask questions and share viewpoints about local issues.

For more information, email The Fish Tank at thefishtankmt@gmail.com.