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)”]