Sister City: Kopychyntsi, Ukraine

Two James Beard nominations in just three years. Shan has quickly become a local favorite for Bozeman residents, and we sat down with Writer, Cook, and Co-owner of that restaurant, Jarrett Wrisley, to understand his journey here and what's next. Jarrett brings with him a wealth of experience cooking across Asia and shared some of the challenges and successes he experienced in opening and operating Shan. His newest inspiration is Farro Bakery & Cafe, a new restaurant serving up baked goods and sandwiches. 

During the week of September 21, city officials had the benefit of receiving a delegation from Kopychyntsi in Ukraine. Mayor Bogdan Kelichavyi and a few members of his team came to Bozeman to make official a partnership through Cities 4 Cities, an initiative that connects Ukrainian cities with cities across the world to share learnings, build relationships, and see how we might help one another. In this episode, we hear more about the Ukrainian city and what we stand to learn from this partnership.   Check out Mayor Bodgan Kelichavyi's podcast on youtube.

Is Bozeman getting a performing arts center?! We talk about this topic and more in this episode with Norman Huynh, Music Director and Conductor for the Bozeman Symphony. The conversation covers what the Symphony is up to now and what they're looking ahead to, and how music plays a key role in enriching communities and making a place feel like home. 

What are some of the issues impacting adults with developmental disabilities living in Bozeman and the people who serve them? We sat down with Reach Inc's Executive Director, Dee Metrick, to learn more about the needs, struggles, and successes that have come along with serving this population. We heard about how big issues like medicaid cuts impact organizations like Reach and the lengthy waiting list of people in need of services. That said, the work is rewarding, and Dee encouraged all to get to know people with developmental disabilities. 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... in our part of the Gallatin Valley. Jason Sakran, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Gallatin Valley, sat down with us and chatted about the importance of stable and affordable housing and how it impacts the education system and other facets of our lives. We also talked about what has worked in other communities, and the unique constraints we deal with in Bozeman. 

In this episode, we take a peek inside the mind of MSU President Brock Tessman as Montana State University embarks on a new chapter. He shares his thoughts on the special connection we all have to Montana, how AI is impacting the university, and the relationship that MSU has with the Bozeman community.    Learn more about the MSU Strategic Plan at https://www.montana.edu/strategicplan/. 

It's more of a Shelbyville idea anyway. In this episode, we talk about the future of public transportation in Bozeman. How will we promote the humble bus now that we're a city of over 50,000 people? How much does a light rail cost? How do we reduce traffic even as we continue to grow as an economic hub for the area? We discuss these questions and more with Bozeman's Transportation & Engineering Director Nick Ross. Learn more about the Gallatin Valley MPO and its Long Range Transportation Plan: https://www.bozemanmt.gov/services/gvmpo/plans/long-range-transportation-plan

It has been a weird winter for Bozeman residents. We're used to seeing snow on the ground and freezing temperatures for months on end, and instead, we've seen mild temperatures and plants budding. Mayor Morrison sat down with NRCS Hydrologist Florence Miller to learn more about the relationship between snow and our water supply, and what our current snowpack is looking like. Here are some resources we referenced in the episode: Montana Snow Survey - check here after April 6 for the Water Supply Outlook for April Montana Water Outlook Reports Interactive Map with Snowpack Percentages Gallatin Snowpack Gallatin Water Supply Forecasts

In this episode, we explore a topic that has never really left the community conversation: housing. As we think about what it means to be "the Most Livable Place" in 2026, we're reminded of the costs that go into the high cost of housing and what the market looks like now. Hear more in this conversation with David Fine, our housing expert on staff. If you'd like to submit ideas, questions, or feedback for us to consider, email us at [email protected].

Kicking things off with a conversation between former Mayor Terry Cunningham and current Mayor Joey Morrison. The former Mayor reflects on his service and Mayor Morrison talks about his vision for Bozeman and his mayoral term. If you'd like to submit ideas, questions, or feedback for us to consider, email us at [email protected].