Hello Whitefish

Hello Whitefish - Justin Kaber / Flathead Wildland Firefighter Foundation (Episode 23)

Today’s guest is Justin Kaber.  Justin in the president of the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. The Wildland Firefighter Foundation’s focus is to help families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families.  
We discuss the important work the foundation does as well how local firefighter stations helped battle the devastating Los Angeles fires earlier this year. The foundations Flathead chapters annual gala is on April 12, 2025 in Kalispell with some amazing big ticket auction and raffle items up for grabs.

Hello Whitefish - Big Sky City Lights / Tiny Cabin concert series (Episode 23)

Today's guests are Big Sky City Lights.  Susan O'Dea and Nic Spear started playing music together during COVID and utilized digital communications to record music from across the country to bring people together during hard times with their sweet and timeless harmonies.  
They perform "When All Our Hair Turns Gray" from their new EP - A Mountain To Go along with the Hello Whitefish theme song "Hello Whitefish".  Their new album is streaming now on your preferred music streaming platform.
www.bigskycitylights.com

Hello Whitefish - Nic McKinley & Zack Armstrong (Episode 22)

Today’s guests are Nic McKinley and Zack Armstrong. During the 2021 American troopwithdrawal from Afghanistan, with the Taliban seizing control of the country, The White House sought the help of McKinley to spearhead the rescue and evacuation of the Afghan Youth Girls National Soccer Team, who were being hunted by the Taliban.
Nic McKinley, a former Air Force Pararescueman and CIA agent with thirty tours under his belt, along with the help of Zack Armstrong - a former Navy SEAL of 25 years,orchestrated and executed an unbelievably harrowing rescue mission out of a nondescript office space in...you guessed it, Whitefish, Montana.
This is the first time the two have recounted their side of this incredible story publicly. You will definitely want to saddle up for this one.
To learn more about Nic McKinley:
https://www.nicmckinley.com/
To learn more about Zack Armstrong:
https://zach5326.com/home-1

Hello Whitefish (Live) - Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples in MT

Hello Whitefish and DeliverFund hosted a live event in northwest Montana featuring a panel on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People in Montana.  The panel included Carissa Heavyrunner whose daughter Mika Westwolf was murdered in a hit and run.  Ivan MacDonald is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who along with his sister Ivy have followed the tragic epidemic as its unfolded across Montana.  Nic McKinley is a former Air Force PJ, CIA operative and the CEO of DeliverFund, a counter human trafficking intelligence and technology nonprofit. 

Hello Whitefish - Lynn-Wood Fields / MT Film Industry (Episode 21)

Today’s guest is Lynn Wood Fields. Lynn Wood is an award-winning filmmaker and educator who grew up here in Whitefish, Montana. She also owns the Missoula-based Media Training Center and is president of the Montana Media Coalition. She is passionate about connecting Montanans to training and job opportunities in film, TV, digital media and live entertainment so they can economically benefit from these growing industries.  Check out the links for more info:
https://mediatrainingcenter.co/
https://montanamediacoalition.org/

Hello Whitefish - Ryan Busse / Candidate for Governor of MT (Episode 20)

Today’s guest is Ryan Busse.  Ryan is the democratic candidate for governor of Montana, going up against incumbent Greg Gianforte, in what has become a huge race.  
Ryan grew up on a cattle ranch and wheat farm and spent 25 years working as a salesman for the firearm company Kimber, right here in Kalispell. He left his position as vice president of sales in 2020 and published a memoir, “Gunfight,” which criticized what he saw as radicalization within the firearms industry.
Ryan has served as a volunteer board member and board chair for both Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and Montana Conservation Voters. 
He is campaigning on a pro-Montana constitution platform, which includes making property taxes more equitable, conservation and access to public lands, stabilize school funding and protect reproductive rights and abortion access.  

Hello Whitefish - Alan Davis / Whitefish Community Foundation (Episode 19)

Alan Davis is the president ofthe Whitefish Community Foundation which justkicked off its seventh annual Great Fish Challenge -a multi-week fundraising campaign that inspirescommunity-wide giving and builds awareness aboutthe critical work of Flathead Valley nonprofits.
The Whitefish Community Foundation awards apercentage match on the first $25,000 raised byeach nonprofit and last year they helped raise oversix million dollars for 77 Flathead Valley Nonprofitsin just 5 weeks.

Hello Whitefish - Melissa Arnot Reid / Mt Everest (Episode 18)

Happy birthday Hello Whitefish!  We are officially 1-years-old! Today’s guest is an old high school friend of mine named Melissa Arnot-Reid. She is a mountain guide, athlete, professional speaker and has submitted Mt Everest six times! If that wasn’t enough, the last time she did it was withoutsupplemental oxygen, making her the first American woman in history to successfully do so.

Hello Whitefish - Dennis Taylor / Montana Multi-City Manager

Dennis Taylor is a former US Marine and Vietnam veteran who spent 45 years of his life serving communities across Montana.  His impressive resume includes positions as city manager in Bozeman, Helena and Whitefish, and as the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Missoula.  
This insightful conversation didn’t just help me better understand the property tax problem, but made me appreciate how diverse the communities across Montana really are.

Hello Whitefish - Jamie Goguen / Philanthropist (Episode 16)

Today’s guest is Jamie Goguen.  She is a local business owner and philanthropist.  She and her husband Michael support a variety of ventures and nonprofits around the Valley. 
We dive deep in this conversation: from helping the homeless, to affordable housing to psychedelics, to her new fabulous restaurant in the heart of downtown.