Mike Smith talks with Mike Emmons, Artistic Director of the Montana Film Festival, about the festival’s 12th annual lineup and the films coming to Missoula. From a 50th-anniversary 35mm screening of The Missouri Breaks to Marc Maron’s dark comedy In Memoriam, the conversation explores standout features, Montana-made films, and the “Micro-Budget Missoula” short-film block showcasing local creativity. Mike Emmons also highlights The Chronovisor, Drinking and Driving, and Baby Love, along with visiting filmmakers, opening-night festivities, and the festival’s special community atmosphere at the Roxy Theater. Explore the lineup and plan your festival weekend at MontanaFilmFestival.org.

Mike Smith welcomes Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament and Montana congressional candidate Sam Forstag to The Trail 103.3 for a wide-ranging conversation about the issues facing Montana’s working families and the future of the state’s public lands. Forstag discusses his campaign’s focus on making housing, healthcare, and childcare more affordable, protecting Social Security and retirement security, and rebuilding the Forest Service after significant staffing cuts. He also shares his opposition to unchecked corporate money in politics, his support for campaign finance reform and Montana ballot initiatives, and his call for Congress to reassert its constitutional role in decisions about war. Drawing on his experience as a smokejumper and his work with the Forest Service, Forstag makes the case for investing in public lands, wildfire prevention, and the people who manage them. Ament adds his perspective on Montana’s agricultural communities, the challenges facing family farms, and the importance of elected officials listening to the people they represent. Together, Ament and Forstag discuss what’s at stake for Montana’s future and why listening to working people matters.

On this episode, Mike Smith talks with Chris Hightower of Missoula Aging Services about Medicare Open Enrollment, running October 15 through December 7. Chris explains why it’s important to review Medicare coverage each year, how prescription drug plans and provider networks can change, and what to consider when comparing Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. He also discusses the work of Missoula Aging Services, including Meals on Wheels and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which connects people with free, unbiased Medicare counseling. If you have questions about your coverage or need help navigating your options, learn more at MissoulaAgingServices.org