The Ranch Podcast

Peggy Hoy is a member of the Idaho Education Association and came in to speak about the May Matters campaign that many people are promoting. The bulk of elections in the state of Idaho are determined in the May primary because you have a high probability of winning the November general election if you’re the selected Republican candidate. That selection process is the May primary. However, the pri...

Lynn Calvin works with the Snake River Stampede Rodeo and came in to talk about the longest running rodeo in all of Idaho. The event kicks off next week, June 17th to the 21st, and holds a host of amazing and entertaining spectacles. It has a wide offering of classic rodeo and family friendly options and more than anything offers a chance to support and transmit some of the things that made Idaho...

Pat Kelly is the Executive Director of Your Health Idaho, an organization designed to connect Idaho citizens, private insurance, and federal tax credits for insurance coverage. The reconciliation process for the Big Beautiful Bill stands to make changes that will complicate the enrollment process as well as increase cost for Idahoans. Pat did a masterful job of explaining a complex system. Enjoy!...

Monica Church is an Idaho educator, legislative representative, and huge advocate for the middle and low classes of Idaho. Idaho is surrounded by states, particularly coastal states, that have developed a level of income and wealth inequality that is profound and incredibly discouraging for the average American citizen. We spoke extensively about what could be done to combat such disparities in Id...

Jeff Spurklock is a Boise State University Professor of Integrated Media. He has worked in several different media industries and came in to speak about the media landscape. We have never had so many different communication options, and in a world where emerging media and “new” media are starting to stand shoulder to shoulder with legacy media, understanding how integration and full utilization of...

McKay Cunningham is the Director of Graduate Initiatives and Graduate Professor at the College of Idaho, and he was also a law professor for over a decade prior to his current position. He came in to speak about the potential of the United States in a constitutional crisis with the current administration. Birthright citizenship as well as rejection of court orders has caused some people to conside...

Dr. Sally Brown is an assistant professor and literacy expert in Idaho. She works with educators and school systems to improve literacy education. Idaho has one of the highest incarceration rates in the country, and many argue that a huge driving factor is early childhood literacy. If students can’t read by the end of grade three, their probability of becoming incarcerated grows exponentially. Dr....

Dr. Andrew Finstuen is an American Historian, Dean of the BSU Honors College, and Director of the Center for Advancing American Values at BSU. We spoke at length about the current iterations and limitations on our freedom of expression, one of the most fundamental American values that we all enjoy. In a time when almost all of us depend on private companies to allow us platforms to express ourselv...

Dr. Perry Brown is a physician in Idaho and works hard to recruit and train more doctors in this state. There has been much discussion about what is required to increase physician access, be it medical schools, clinical rotations, residencies, political change, better public education, etc. Dr. Brown came in and thoughtfully picked apart the different factors and laid out what we can actually do t...

Mark Niemeyer is the Boise Fire Dept. Chief and came in to speak about river safety, preparation, and recreation. The Boise River is a gem of the Treasure Valley but can also be extremely dangerous. There is a ton of preparation that goes into making it safer every year, but there are several things that recreationists should take into consideration when enjoying this incredible attraction. Enjoy!...

Ryan Bedke is a fifth generation cattle rancher that has moved into direct consumer production with Hat Brand Beef. I recently connected with him and purchased a half beef, and man, let me tell you. This is the best protein I have ever had. I invited him in to talk about how he raises and handles his animals, and what goes into producing this incredible product locally. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is...

Megan Schomer is the founder of Rays for Rare, an organization that helps families with exceptionally medically fragile children. People in these tough positions need more than just a word of encouragement. They need help shoveling off the driveway, help with childcare, help with marital strife and pain. Rays for Rare helps people get through these life things so they can focus on the life in fron...

Dr. Emily Wakild is a professor and historian and came in to talk about the names that we attribute to Idaho, including “home.” Idaho’s history and past peoples have marked this region of the country, and understanding the origins of some of those names and people was fantastic. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiase...

Norm Semanko is the former president of the Idaho Water Users Association and currently travels the country working on water issues. He has an incredible background regarding the relationship between Idaho, native tribes, and the federal government, and he came in to explain some of the more complex, lengthy agreements and issues currently affecting our agriculture producers and water users. Enjoy...

Brad LaPlante is a union representative for the National Forest Service employees in Idaho. The forest service has experienced a significant reduction in support from the federal government, and Brad very kindly came in to talk about what is happening with the workers and service that we all rely on to keep our forests healthy and safe. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Found...

Chairman Mason is the Chairman for the Shoshone Paiute Tribe that occupies the Duck Valley reservation in Idaho and Nevada. It is the only tribe in the state of Idaho that does not have a gaming operation, and as such it has very, very few resources to draw from to provide opportunity for its tribal members. Chairman Mason came in to speak on some of the challenges and issues the tribe is facing,...

Jim Walker is a current Trustee of the Greater Boise Auditorium District and is running for re-election on May 20th. The Auditorium District is charged with using funds drawn from places like our hospitality industry and investing them into the community to improve the quality and value of our surrounding areas. Recent projects include the Boise Center and Idaho Central Aquatic Center. Enjoy! The...

Danielle Trujillo is the Executive Director of the Andrus Center for Public Policy and came in to speak about this iconic Idaho figure and his three primary pillars of consideration. There are a few figures from recent history that have truly shaped the Idaho that we all love and enjoy today, and I’m thankful that Danielle is willing to come in and start educating me about Cecil Andrus. Enjoy! The...

Rachel Moorhouse is running for the Ada County Library District on May 20th and came in to speak about why she is running. She is a multigenerational Idahoan and has raised several children here and hopes to help maintain the communities high quality of life. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused med...

Luci Willits is on the Boise City Council and was the only opposing vote in the recent decision to make the LGBTQ flag into an official city flag. She made this decision for a number of reasons, and I’m very thankful that she was willing to come in and chat about her thought process. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to un...

Suzette Moore is running for the Ada County Library District on May 20th and came in to speak about why she is running. Book moderation, library funding, and library relevance were topics we covered. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media.  www.theRanchPodcast.org The Ranch Podcast is the premie...

Dustin Miller is the Director of the Idaho Dept. of Lands and came in to speak about the upcoming fire season, the partnerships that we rely on to fight them, and federal policy that he feels will help Idaho fight fires and manage lands and industry. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media.  www....

Luke Malek is an attorney with Smith + Malek and has worked alongside the medical field in and out Idaho for years. He is intimately aware of the issues Idaho is facing with attracting doctors, many of which are centered around the needs of all families and not medicine, like housing affordability, public safety, and public schools. Idaho has very few medical education and residency options, so we...

Mike Hon is running to be elected a Trustee of the Meridian Library Board on May 20th. We spoke at length about his concerns with the district, specifically fiscal responsibility and content moderation. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media.  www.theRanchPodcast.org The Ranch Podcast is the pre...

Jeff Kohler is an existing Meridian Library Board Trustee and running for re-election on May 20th. We spoke at length about the various programs, offerings, and struggles of the Meridian library system and what Jeff sees for the future. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media.  www.theRanchPodcas...