The Ranch Podcast

Todd Achilles is a District 16 Representative and very concerned about the cuts that Idaho is experiencing as a result of the DOGE initiatives on the federal level. There are programs that support national initiatives, like the VA and Forest Service, that greatly affect Idaho residents, vets, and wildlands that are being cut deep and hard. Rep. Achilles and I got to talk about quite a few. Enjoy!...

Dr. Clinton Morgan is an Oncologist in Idaho and has also been a WWAMI instructor. He has worked to train and teach future doctors and is concerned about the state of our physician to citizen ratio in Idaho. The efforts to improve our access to basic medical and specialized medicine is quite complex, and Dr. Morgan did a great job highlighting the roadblocks we face. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is su...

Marcus Myers is the Chief Academic Officer for West Ada School District. He was recently tasked with carrying out the district’s “Neutral Classroom” policy that restricts things in classrooms that do not have a curricular tie. This led to the removal of a poster that some people feel was in line with policy. This situation has ballooned into nationwide news with entrenched camps on both sides, and...

Dave Binetti is one of five West Ada School District Board of Education members. He came onto the show to represent his personal positions and speak about the events that have transpired over the last couple weeks. West Ada has a district policy that strives for “neutral classrooms,” and that led to the removal of a poster that some feel was in line with the policy and shouldn’t have been removed....

Jani Ward-Engelking is the District 18 Senator. She is also on JFAC and is concerned about the concept of eliminating federal funds within Idaho. Some people have proposed ending programs because of federal funding, but if we apply that idea broadly across Idaho, she feels it gives us terrible results. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organizat...

Brandon Shippy is the District 9 Senator. He and I had a fantastic conversation about the proper role of government in Idaho and how that concept applies broadly across many decisions. The conflict between local and state control is real in Idaho, and speaking with Senator Shippy was very illuminating. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organizat...

Chris Goetz is the Sheriff of Clearwater County. He came in to give a law enforcement legislative update about several bills that are points of concern or interest to Sheriffs in Idaho. There are quite a few! 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 t...

Brandy Furiani is the Executive Director of the Eagle Chamber of Commerce. She also happens to know where to get the best burritos in Eagle! Spitfire Taco hooked us up with bowls and burritos, and it paved the way for another epic conversation.  Special thanks to Heather Ferguson! She’s not only a board member of the Eagle Chamber but also offered to sponsor the show with Brandy and me. Thank you,...

Steve Fullmer is a child safety advocate focusing on removing online pornography from the hands of children. This is a rampant problem across our country that is degrading so many aspects of our fundamental lives, including the American family unit. There are many problems surrounding this, but the primary stumbling block that we discuss in this episode is the online platform defense which is ulti...

Dr. Brian Birch is a pediatrician in Idaho and came in to speak with me about the measles. I have never experienced the measles, either in my own health or with anyone close, and Dr. Birch agreed to explain to me why it was such a problem before the vaccine. I learned a ton. Enjoy!

Carter Niemeyer is a wildlife biologist, author, and famously part of the wolf reintroduction to Yellowstone National Park in the mid 1990s. He is publishing a third book titled, The Other Ten Wolves, following a relocation within the state of Montana of ten wolves that had become a problem for locals. He is a wealth of knowledge, and I also appreciate what I learn when speaking with him. Enjoy! T...

Monica Church is a District 19 Representative and a deep, deep lover of Idaho’s wildlands. She has profound ties to these wide open spaces that Idaho is so blessed with, and she is concerned that the tide is changing with views and perspectives on these state treasures. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast Legislative Session episodes are supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization...

Representative Jason Monks came in to speak about a number of things, including Tax Cuts for Idahoans to the tune of $400+ Million, our new school choice law, and more. I greatly appreciate him making the time! Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast Legislative Session episodes are supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media.  www.theRanchPo...

Josh Tanner is a District 14 Representative who has been working intensely throughout the session on many bills and priorities. He came in to speak about a few, including Capital Punishment for Child Sex Offenders. We also spoke about prices of housing and the state of the economy that makes the American Dream more of a dream and less of a reality in Idaho. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast Legislative Ses...

Brian Brooks is the VP of Advocacy at the American Bird Conservancy and has been traveling back to DC regularly to meet with many people regarding wildlands, wetlands, birds, and conservancy projects. Our waterfowl populations are maintained by massive international cooperative agreements that produce healthy, predictable migration habitats and patterns. Brian came in to speak about DOGE and the a...

David Claiborne is an Idaho attorney very familiar with the issues around immigrant labor and illegal residents. There are several bills in the legislature right now that would introduce more power and responsibility to Idaho law enforcement with detection, detaining, and deporting illegal immigrants, but there are also several problems with this from a legal standpoint. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast L...

Camille Blaylock is the District 11 Senator and apparently did not understand the nature of the “family dog” until she was in college. Much of Senator Blaylock’s area is becoming more urbanized which brings with it shifting culture and ways of life, and it was great hearing her perspectives on this change. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast Legislative Session episodes are supported by Truth In Media Founda...

Josh Wheeler is a District 35 Representative and is very connected to the medical establishment in Idaho. His spouse and several of his children are involved in the medical community, and as such he had a lot of say about what the limitations are within the state, what can be done, and what needs to be changed, especially considering the rural nature of so many Idaho communities. Enjoy! The Ranch...

Audra Talley is a Homeschool Idaho board member and deeply engaged with our educational system and rights in the state of Idaho. Idaho has an incredible level of school choice, and homeschooling is one of those options. It is also very flexible with no standardized tests or huge requirements. However, there are requirements. Audra came in to explain the basics of what the state expects from our ho...

Rob Shoplock is the president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Idaho. He came in to explain a recent bill presented that would strip away any of the gains and agreements arrived at by the PFFI for the last five decades. This bill has gained national attention, and Rob kindly took the time to explain why this would be disastrous to our first responder community. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast Legisla...

Andy Grover is the president of the Idaho Association of School Administrators. He also worked as a superintendent of a rural Idaho school district for over a decade and took it from the bottom quartile to the top quartile in a matter of years. He is intimately aware of the struggles of our rural schools and students, and is working to help bridge the gap between policy makers and educators to pro...

Phil McGrane is the Idaho Secretary of State and is acutely aware of the problems around campaign financing. This last election cycle saw a huge problem with out of state funds coming into the state of Idaho to manipulate our elections. SOS McGrane is working with several legislators to pass laws to make that entire process more transparent so Idahoans are not as easily manipulated by outside forc...

Andy Creech is the Sheriff in Payette County and came in to speak about upgrading the 911 system and the detention and deportation issues that Idaho is facing. Our 911 system was developed decades ago and has a habit of routing emergency calls either out of the area, state, and sometimes the country. We are also grappling as a nation with individual state capacities to deal with illegal immigrants...

Alicia Purdy is a conservative Idaho educator running to represent Idaho with the National Teachers Union. She has been in education for decades and feels we need balance in representing our educators. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast Legislative Session episodes are supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media.  www.theRanchPodcast.org...

Reid Stephan is on the Idaho Technology Council and working on developing digital literacy requirements for Idaho public schools. This is an incredibly complex curriculum to develop considering the pace of technology and changing industries world wide. Reid’s insights and the direction of the program blew my mind. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast Legislative Session episodes are supported by Truth In Medi...