Debbie Critchfield is the State Superintendent of Education and came in to speak about the effects of closing the Federal Department of Education. Many programs coming from that department are utilized by many Idaho families, and there was a large concern amongst Idahoans that this closure would delay or completely stop some of these programs. Superintendent Critchfield came in to explain what we can expect. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media o...
Mar 22, 2025•35 min•Ep. 412
John Oppenheimer works for the Idaho Conservation League and has a fantastic knowledge of Idaho, its wildlands, its policies, and where it’s headed. There are so many moving pieces, especially as we approach the end of the 2025 legislative session, that the question was really, “where do we start?” I greatly enjoyed the conversation centered around public lands, water, and local control. This is the first of many. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit m...
Mar 21, 2025•56 min•Ep. 411
John Shirts is a District 9 Representative, a JAG officer, and a wool grower. He worked throughout this session to bring many bills forward related to law enforcement and was successful getting many across the line. Idaho is a safe place to live because we overwhelmingly believe in law and order, and Rep. Shirts worked for months to ensure that our state has the best tools available to continue pursuing that end. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit me...
Mar 21, 2025•52 min•Ep. 410
Ilana Rubel is a District 18 Representative and came in to speak about a broad swath of legislation that passed or is passing this year, including public land sales, criminal prosecution reform, and cancer screening. 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 premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasure Valley and great...
Mar 20, 2025•34 min•Ep. 409
Jordan Redman is a District 3 Representative and came in to talk about a multitude of things, including Soda on the SNAP program, Medicaid Expansion Reform, Medicaid for Illegal Immigrants, and DOGE in Idaho. We cover a lot of ground. 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 premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasur...
Mar 20, 2025•24 min•Ep. 408
Ty Jordan is a BSU Student, Political Intern, and an avid BJJ practitioner. As happens with most young men, he found himself in a dark, lost moment in life, but with the help of his jiu-jitsu team, he was able to correct his life and purpose and is now thriving. His story is one I have heard many times over and, in fact, experienced myself. Enjoy! www.theRanchPodcast.org The Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasure Valley and great state of I...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 407
Mike Crapo is one of Idaho’s US Senators and came in to speak about a myriad of things, including taxes, Medicaid/Medicare, land management and ownership, federal funding, labor forces, and more. I greatly appreciate his time and willingness to come and speak with me, especially in the midst of protests and turmoil in the area. 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 Th...
Mar 19, 2025•24 min•Ep. 406
Galen Lee is a lifelong Idaho farmer. He grows many crops and agreed to come in to speak about current best practices with herbicides and pesticides, what farmers have classically done, what chemicals are used now, and how technology is affecting this. There is a line of thinking that asks, why can’t we just grow things like we used to prior to the invention of RoundUp. Well, Galen answers that question conclusively. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profi...
Mar 19, 2025•55 min•Ep. 405
Alexis Morgan is the Idaho State PTA president and also works with school communities to bridge the gaps between administration, teachers, and parent groups. She came in to speak on a few topics but specifically address the trauma the West Ada School District is experiencing right now. She frequently travels the state, speaking with all stakeholders in our education system, and I greatly appreciated her insights in this case. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a ...
Mar 19, 2025•32 min•Ep. 404
Dr. Phil Gore is the Chief Learning Officer for the Idaho School Board Association. He has studied education and the administration thereof for decades and came in to expressly share the fundamental value proposition of public education. The “WHY” is public education is a question that has come into the public conversation as of late, and Dr. Gore answered it better than anyone I have ever heard. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization ...
Mar 18, 2025•55 min•Ep. 403
Dr. Andrea Christopher is an Idaho physician deeply concerned about and engaged in improving our Idaho Medical Education System. She is a huge supporter of the WWAMI program that offers Idaho students spots at the world class medical school in Washington, and is working to improve residencies and understanding around what is needed to bring Idaho up from the bottom of the barrel with Physician to Patient ratios. We currently sit in last place. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Me...
Mar 18, 2025•36 min•Ep. 402
Dr. Jaclyn Kettler is a professor of Poli-Sci at BSU and teaches state politics in the spring semester. She came in to speak about the mechanics and happenings of the 2025 session as well as out of state funding, motivations for bills, and who even constructs most of the bills we see. It is always a pleasure speaking with her. 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...
Mar 18, 2025•51 min•Ep. 401
Alicia Purdy is part of the Idaho State teachers union but appeared on the show representing herself and her personal views. The problems in West Ada have grabbed national attention, and we need community leaders to help us navigate out of this mess in one piece. I greatly appreciate Alicia taking the time to come in. 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 Po...
Mar 17, 2025•39 min•Ep. 400
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 supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho f...
Mar 17, 2025•42 min•Ep. 399
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! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committ...
Mar 17, 2025•33 min•Ep. 398
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. Dave came on to shed light on his thoughts and, more than anything, explain that the buck stops wit...
Mar 14, 2025•29 min•Ep. 397
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 the chief academic officer in the middle. I’m very grateful for Marcus taking the time to just expl...
Mar 14, 2025•28 min•Ep. 396
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 the premier source for long format interviews and information in the Treasure Valley and great state o...
Mar 13, 2025•28 min•Ep. 395
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 organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. www.theRanchPodcast.org The Ranch Podcast is the pre...
Mar 13, 2025•41 min•Ep. 394
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 organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. www.theRanchPodcast.org The Ranch Podcast is the pre...
Mar 13, 2025•25 min•Ep. 393
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 ultimately the greatest roadblock to change. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Fou...
Mar 12, 2025•53 min•Ep. 392
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, Heather!! www.theRanchPodcast.org The Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews...
Mar 12, 2025•47 min•Ep. 391
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! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committe...
Mar 11, 2025•41 min•Ep. 390
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!
Mar 11, 2025•40 min•Ep. 389
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 committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. www.theRanchPodcast.org The Ranch Podcast is the premie...
Mar 11, 2025•59 min•Ep. 388
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 Session episodes are supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed ...
Mar 10, 2025•48 min•Ep. 387
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.theRanchPodcast.org The Ranch Podcast is the premier source for long format interviews and information in the T...
Mar 10, 2025•37 min•Ep. 386
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 Legislative Session episodes are supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organizat...
Mar 07, 2025•25 min•Ep. 385
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 actual economic value to our public lands and their conservation. The ROI on our wild lands is actual...
Mar 07, 2025•40 min•Ep. 384
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 Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media. www.theRanchPodcas...
Mar 07, 2025•45 min•Ep. 383
