Trail Listening Post

The Trail Listening Post – Trail Lunchbox: Marc Moss (June 25, 2025)

On today’s episode of The Trail Listening Post, we bring you a live in-studio conversation from the Trail Lunchbox on Trail 103.3 FM. Host Mike Smith sits down with Marc Moss, the founder and host of Tell Us Something, Missoula’s beloved live storytelling event series.

Marc shared the story behind the event's signature theme song, the art on this year’s poster, and why Tell Us Something doesn’t announce its storytellers in advance. They dug into what makes live storytelling so powerful, how it brings people together, and what it's like for someone to take the stage for the very first time.

Plus, hear stories about cops thinking Marc was a cop, the Northside KettleHouse art connection, and what it means to create space for voices across the spectrum—especially in the context of Pride Month.



 🎟️ Event Details:
 Tell Us Something: Lost & Found
📅 Monday, June 30, 2025
🕕 Doors at 6:00 PM | Stories at 7:00 PM
📍 Ogren Park / Allegiance Field
🎫 Tickets: $20 advance / $23 day-of — available at TellUsSomething.org


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🌲 The Trail Listening Post is a podcast series that archives the real-time radio moments that make Missoula, Missoula - live, local, and straight from the airwaves of Trail 103.3, a station as unique as the community we serve. 

What is Trail Listening Post?

Voted #1 Radio Station in the Missoula Valley, Trail 1033's Official Podcast makes exclusive on-air interviews, performances, new music and interesting conversations available to you on demand.
Enjoy daily uploads following community interviews on the Morning Trail show with Robert Chase, occasional live performances from both new and landmark bands and artists. Check out the Lunchbox every weekday at Noon, as Mike Smith dishes up a great block of themed music, interviews and more. New music your thing? Every Tuesday 6PM-7PM, enjoy The New Show hosted and produced by Tommy Evans.

Catch so much more interesting and timely conversation and, of course, amazing music from Robert, Mike and Tommy - LIVE- on The Trail 1033FM in Missoula and around the world at trail1033.com every day from 6AM until 9PM.

See what we're up to at trail1033.com or give us a call at 406-721-6800

Trail Podcast – Guest: Marc Moss
Air Date: June 25, 2025
Host: Mike Smith

[Opening Audio Montage – Music & Trail Branding]

Voiceover:
The Trail 103.3 is KDTR-FM Florence/Missoula — locally owned and operated by the Missoula Broadcasting Company.

“I’m a wide-to-me, 4.5, 6.7, 8.9, 7.10, 11.12.”
“Time for lunch!”
“This is a very nutritious lunch. All the food groups represented. Enjoy every sandwich.”
“Give me two, call me. I’m lunch.”
“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.”
“Now, miss you much, box. Don’t try anything funny.”

[Music Bed: Upbeat instrumental]

Mike:
Well Marc, this is kind of your theme song.

Marc Moss:
I feel real grateful to Cash For Drunkers for letting me use it.

Mike:
That just sounds like Missoula, you know what I mean?

Marc:
Yeah. I mean, the first version of it — I sat down with Nate Beal, who plays in that band. He’s a friend of mine. I said, “I’m doing a podcast” — this was back in 2011 — “for a live storytelling event. We’re going to record the stories and publish them as a podcast, and I need music. Do you have anything?”

Mike:
Yeah?

Marc:
And he said, “Well, I’ve got this rough cut of something we’re working on. You can use it.” It was this track — but not as produced as it is now. When the album Pupin Shainola came out — obviously edited for radio — I switched to the final cut.

Mike:
Thanks for pulling that in.

Marc:
Yeah, he said, “Use the record cut now,” but it was years before that version existed. If you go back through the podcast archives, you can still hear that early version. The song’s called "Buzz and Buzz and Buzz and Buzz."

Mike:
All right, Marc Moss, Tell Us Something. You’ve got an event coming up — but first, let’s talk about your T-shirt.

Marc:
Oh yeah!

Mike:
The quote on Marc’s shirt reads:

“I think the world is going to be saved by millions of small things.”
— Pete Seeger

Thanks for wearing that.

Marc:
I mean, it’s the truth. But millions of small things are also going to eat this shirt. It’s well-loved.

Mike:
Tell Us Something is by no means a small thing.

Marc:
No — but each story that builds it up seems like a small thing. A lot of our storytellers have never been on stage before. I never announce who the storytellers are ahead of time because I believe everyone has a story to share, and I want the community to come out and support each other by listening.

Mike:
Like, “Oh, Mike Smith is telling a story? I’m going to that show!”

Marc:
Exactly. Or: “I’ve seen that person around... and they’ve got that story?! What!?”

Mike:
Each event has a theme — this one’s "Lost and Found." That’s a lot of directions to go.

Marc:
And I bet they do — and we do! We’ve got eight storytellers, each with 10 minutes to share their true story on the theme Lost and Found. No notes, no props, no calls to action — just raw storytelling. No PowerPoints!

Mike:
Let’s talk about stage fright. What happens when someone really wants to tell their story, but they’re terrified?

Marc:
It happens. One person — someone fairly well-known in town — told me, “I was trying to go under the radar, but someone found out I’m doing it.” She was terrified. I told her, “You can back out if you want.” But she said, “It’s an important story. I’m going to tell it.”

Mike:
Yes!

Marc:
Because once people know their story is worth hearing, and I give them the faith to believe in it — they’re ready.

Mike:
That’s your core belief: Everyone has a story.

Marc:
Absolutely. And having your story seen, heard, and witnessed by your community — that’s powerful.

Mike:
Let’s get into the details. When’s the next Tell Us Something event?

Marc:
It’s June 30th at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field, closing out Pride Month. We’ve got queer voices, allies, and even people flying in from the East Coast to support their friend.

Mike:
That’s awesome. Of course, there’s a catalog of past stories at tellussomething.org, but the live event — you can’t replicate that.

Marc:
Exactly. You work in radio — you know the power of the spoken word. But live, in community? It’s next level. You’re on the verge of tears, look around — people are crying. Or laughing at an “inappropriate” moment, and everyone else is laughing too. That shared space matters.

Mike:
You’ve got stories this time from a conflict negotiator working in war zones, and a police officer responding to a robbery. Real human moments.

Marc:
Right — it’s about the decisions that change lives. Heavy stuff, but important.

Mike:
As usual, you’ve got a beautiful poster. Who’s the artist?

Marc:
Ryan Hawk. Originally, Lost and Found was the planned theme for March 2020, but — well, you remember what happened.

Mike:
Yeah, we try to forget... but also remember.

Marc:
Ryan used to bartend at the Northside Kettlehouse. I was complaining one slow afternoon: “I have a show coming up and no poster artist.” She said, “I’ll do it.” And she does all the art for the International Wildlife Film Festival — amazing stuff.

Mike:
What’s it look like?

Marc:
It features a person, a monkey with a space helmet, a Sasquatch, and a cowgirl sitting around a campfire. The flames — now in Pride colors — rise toward a glowing orb. Could be a sun, could be a moon. Monochrome art, except for the flames.

Mike:
You always reach for artists and musicians — and everyone gets paid, right?

Marc:
Always. Cash for Drunkers gave us the theme song pro bono originally. When I finally had some money, I paid them anyway. I knocked on their door — they practiced in Tyler Road’s shop down the alley from where I live — and they thought I was the cops!

Mike:
Well, you do knock like a cop.

Marc:
My dad was a cop.

Mike:
Marc Moss of Tell Us Something — Lost and Found, happening Monday, June 30th, 7 PM at Ogren Park / Allegiance Field.

Would you like to go?
Text “Lost and Found” to 406-604-1033.

Marc:
You’ll get a pair of tickets to the show!

Mike:
Text “Lost and Found” to 406-604-1033 for a chance to win. And if you don’t win — buy your tickets at tellussomething.org. Tickets are $20 now, but go up on show day.

Marc:
Thanks so much.

Mike:
Thanks, Marc Moss. We’re going out of the Trail Lunchbox today with a new one from Role Model — this is “Sally (When the Wine Runs Out).”

[Music Fade-In: Role Model – “Sally (When the Wine Runs Out)”]