I’m so excited to finally be able to share these conversations with the rest of our community!

In this inaugural episode, neighbors Emily Talago and Noah Ten Broek discuss their motivation for starting the podcast, focusing on fostering dialogue around community issues in Bozeman, Montana. The podcast aims to bring diverse perspectives to the forefront, challenging existing narratives and making local governance more transparent. Emily, who is running for the city commission, and Noah delve into a recent, contentious decision by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to cut down mature trees for a road widening project on North Seventh Avenue. They express their frustration with government inefficiencies and lack of genuine public engagement, emphasizing the need for better feedback loops, accountability, and community involvement in policymaking. They also touch on structural changes needed in local government, the role of the city commission, and the importance of performance metrics. The episode concludes with a discussion on the potential re-establishment of community boards to help make local policy more equitable and effective.