Tim Haynes is the new Chief of Police for Star, Idaho. He has taken over as chief as the city has grown percentage wise faster than almost any other area in the state. It also happens to be an incredible community, led by an intentional mayor and city council that have a clear vision for the community and area they want to continue building. It was wonderful to understand Tim more and hear his visions. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organiz...
Jan 06, 2026•49 min•Ep. 736
Phil McGrane is the Idaho Secretary of State and came in to discuss what happened in Elmore County after the Nov 2025 election. It was uncovered post election that over 300 votes were not counted, and Phil came in to explain what happened, how Idaho responded, and why Idahoans should have even more faith now in the election process. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. The Ranch Podcast is ...
Jan 05, 2026•52 min•Ep. 735
Monica Church is a District 19 representative in Idaho and came in to ring in the new year. As always, we stumbled onto tricky subjects and talked them out like champs. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. The Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasure Valley and great state of Idaho. The Boise area is home to many counties and ways of lif...
Jan 02, 2026•2 hr 36 min•Ep. 734
Nick Fasciano is the executive director of the Idaho Wildlife Federation and came in to kindly share his bounty of wild game. The meal consisted of elk, pronghorn, mule deer, and bear, all of which were expertly prepared and served. Wild game access in Idaho is one of the state’s most incredible offerings, and thanks to Nick, I was able to try these incredible animals for the first time. Hearing how each was harvested was also awesome. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foun...
Dec 31, 2025•46 min•Ep. 733
Alex Zamora is the superintendent of the Wilder School District. Wilder integrated a tech heavy curriculum roughly 7 years ago when Ivanka Trump and Tim Cook visited the district, but after years of seeing lackluster educational performance, the district switched back to classic curriculum and is improving significantly. As Alex pointed out, tech companies frequently over promise and under deliver, and almost none of them has any studies or large scale results as evidence of efficacy ahead of ti...
Dec 29, 2025•46 min•Ep. 732
Luke Visser is a third-generation dairy farmer in Idaho, involved with his family's dairy operations. He kindly took me all though the Idaho Dairy Product plant and explained operations. Luke and several other dairy farmers have been able to take Idaho dairy and create high quality dairy derivatives that are enjoyed world wide. What the Idaho dairy industry is doing is amazing. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbias...
Dec 26, 2025•34 min•Ep. 731
Tammy Nichols is an Idaho State Senator who came on to talk about some of the political issues around elections that Idaho has faced for years. Political operatives from out of state get flown into Idaho to advocate for or against Idaho candidates. These people are housed, paid, and instructed to engage very specific dialogue. This is a problem across the state and we should all be aware of it, regardless of political affiliation. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundatio...
Dec 23, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 730
Brandy Furiani is the Executive Director of Eagle Chamber of Commerce and is coming to her last few days in the position. Over the last couple years, she has done a phenomenal job assisting her member businesses expand their visibility and support within the community. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization to unbiased, Idaho focused media. The Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasu...
Dec 22, 2025•57 min•Ep. 729
Eric Jones is the CEO of Thunder Mountain Gold, a prospecting and mining company operating in Idaho. His company has contributed both environmentally and financially to the state, and I greatly appreciate his willingness to come and explain what his organization does. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. The Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and information in t...
Dec 19, 2025•32 min•Ep. 728
Dr. Emily Wakild is a professor and historian and came in to talk about how people find their places in Idaho. As people move to this state, there is an ever evolving problem with building housing and changing the landscape. Boise specifically recently voted to tax itself to preserve more of the surrounding hills and open space because people felt it just wouldn’t be the same without it. Dr. Wakild came on to talk about the need for our surrounding areas to reflect what we associate with home an...
Dec 18, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 727
Ali Rabe is the new executive director of the Gem State Housing Alliance, a non-profit group focused on state wide housing affordability. The crisis with housing costs is real and affects all Idahoans. Ali is working to understand the policies, practices, and issues that are driving up costs so Idaho can potentially lead the way with addressing this issue. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused medi...
Dec 17, 2025•49 min•Ep. 726
Ron Nate is the President of the Idaho Freedom Foundation and came on to talk about the budget issues Idaho is facing. The Foundation has produced a budget that would cut off an additional 1.8 billion dollars, and I asked Ron to come on to explain how they came to that number. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. The Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and informa...
Dec 16, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 725
Austin Johnson lives in the Treasure Valley and is the director of Ghana Make a Difference, an organization that runs an orphanage in Ghana on the banks of lake Volta. The area is a hot bed for human trafficking and slavery as parents routinely unknowingly sell their own children into slavery. As these children are liberated, they need not only food and shelter but also education and a glimmer of hope that they’ll learn to survive in the real world and perhaps one day be reunited with their fami...
Dec 16, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 724
Scott Green is the President of University of Idaho and came on to speak about the value of education in Idaho. There is a large concern about youth of Idaho and their opportunities as they move into adulthood. There is also a growing anxiety amongst adults about their ability to retool and retrain as the AI wave washes over humanity. The University of Idaho has a place for all of these people. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization co...
Dec 15, 2025•48 min•Ep. 723
Mitchell Searle is a multi-generation Idaho farmer and came in to speak on the difficulties around entering the ag field professionally. The astronomical cost of land as well as the variability of the product market has made this option all but impossible for anyone trying to start from scratch. For those inheriting an operation from an older generation, there’s also an increasingly confusing Death Tax to be considered. Mitchell was a wealth of knowledge and understanding. Enjoy! The Ranch Podca...
Dec 12, 2025•52 min•Ep. 722
Tori O’Neal is a fifth generation, sustainable rancher in Custer County, Idaho. She didn’t go straight into ranching, but instead headed to college, left the state, and worked in food product development. Throughout her work and travels, she recognized the growing trend of people feeling disconnected from the food they consume and the growing desire to understand the food system better. She works every day to help address that. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, ...
Dec 11, 2025•50 min•Ep. 721
Alex Adams is the former head of Health and Welfare in Idaho and is now the Assistant Secretary for Family support, leading the administration for Children and Families at the US Department of Health and Welfare. He helps finance and oversee programs that help deliver vital services for our most in need populations, and as he points out, this area is one of the few where what is right and what is financially smartest align perfectly. Alex is an absolute treasure to Idaho and to our nation. Enjoy...
Dec 10, 2025•39 min•Ep. 720
Sid Sullivan as a Giving Machine ambassador here in the Treasure Valley and came in to speak about the nature of the machines and what charities they go to help fund. There is a problem with giving that has become highlighted in the past decade with some organizations taking large sums of money and giving very little to those intended recipients. The giving machines completely eliminate that problem by offering not just donor directed giving (you can purchase specific items for those in need lik...
Dec 09, 2025•47 min•Ep. 719
Dr. Jim Souza is the Chief Physician Executive at St. Luke’s Hospital system and came on to talk about the state of people’s faith in modern medicine. In recent years, people’s belief in the western medicine system has started declining. This has led to a paradox: we know more about medicine now than ever in recorded history and people are seeking alternative treatments more. Dr. Souza’s insights were both wonderful and heartbreaking. The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, ...
Dec 09, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 718
Aaron Menenberg works with Renewable Northwest to advocate for renewable energy sources in Idaho and came in to speak on the recent decision that was made by the Ada County Commissioners regarding solar farms on existing ag farms in the county limits. There is a big question about what ag producers should be allowed to use their land for, and Adam explained the position of Ada County perfectly. Shout out to Adam Richins from Idaho Power for taking my call mid episode. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is...
Dec 08, 2025•52 min•Ep. 717
David Douglass is the president of College of Idaho and came in to talk about the incredibly unique work that the school does. It is consistently rated at the top of the country for upward mobility, offering students that come from little to no means a path forward to prosperity and success in life. In a state like Idaho, this is an invaluable resource. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. ...
Dec 05, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 716
Paul Arrington is the Executive Director of the Idaho Water User Association and came in to speak on canals and ditches that run across private property in Idaho. This is a huge point of confusion for many moving here from out of state. Fun fact: a canal or ditch for water transport does NOT need to be marked on your property, but the mere existence of said feature does in fact give a legal easement to whatever water entity manages it to come on your property for a myriad of reasons. Paul broke ...
Dec 04, 2025•55 min•Ep. 715
Brian Whitlock is the executive director of the Idaho Hospital Association and came in to talk about the federal grant that Gov. Little is trying to garner for Idaho. Rural hospitals have always struggled with funding, and that problem has become exacerbated with recent legislation. Brian did an incredible job explaining how and why we need more federal funds going to these fundamental services. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization c...
Dec 04, 2025•42 min•Ep. 714
Dean Cameron is the director of Idaho’s Department of Insurance and came on to talk about the revisions to insurance and issues that were being discussed during the shutdown of our federal government. Things like tax credits for individuals making over 400% of the federal poverty level were passed into effect temporarily during previous administrations and were up for renewal, causing an enormous amount of conflict and ultimately part of the reason for the government shutdown. The Ranch Podcast ...
Dec 03, 2025•43 min•Ep. 713
Scott Bedke is the Lt. Gov. of Idaho and came in to speak about Idaho’s budget issues. Idaho exited the legislative session in a tenuous situation with its budget and earning forecast, and on top of lower than anticipated earnings, it faces the question of adopting the tax policies outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill. All told, this would put Idaho almost $500 million short. Lt. Gov. Bedke had some very specific and insightful thoughts on all of this. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by ...
Dec 03, 2025•55 min•Ep. 712
Tyler Kelly is the chairman of the Idaho Young Republicans group and came in to speak on the group, the mindset, and what matters to young republicans. Politics have become unrecognizable to many of the older generations, and Tyler is working to bring issue based discussions back to the political realm where people can disagree but also not hate each other. I couldn’t appreciate this goal more. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization co...
Dec 02, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 711
Elaine Clegg is the CEO of Valley Regional Transit and came in to speak about the current state and future of transit in the Treasure Valley. As the area grows, the cost and time to move around the area also grows. This is a problem for both private citizens as well as the growing industry. Elaine had some great insights into potential solutions. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. The Ran...
Dec 01, 2025•51 min•Ep. 710
Erica Louder works with the US Dairy Export Council, an organization that works to improve and support US Dairy in international markets. The dairy industry in particular is blocked in many foreign markets, even though we have some of the highest quality dairy products in the world. In spite of this, US Dairy is doing quite well on the international scene, and there are reasons to be optimistic. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization c...
Nov 28, 2025•39 min•Ep. 709
Mike Simpson is a US Congressman to Idaho and sat down with me to discuss Water and Ag Labor. Ag labor specifically is an issue threatening not just Idaho’s economy, but the national economy and food supply. The US has not made real immigration reform to supply growers and food producers with a viable foreign workforce since the 1960s. Congressman Simpson is trying to chip away at the problem. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization com...
Nov 26, 2025•21 min•Ep. 708
Mike Crapo is a US Senator from Idaho and came on the show to discuss issues as he sees them with water, fire, and healthcare. Healthcare in particular is an issue that is plaguing Idaho as costs have skyrocketed in recent years and appear to only be getting worse. Senator Crapo had specific actions he’s taking to try to address that. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. The Ranch Podcast i...
Nov 25, 2025•19 min•Ep. 707
