Ali Rabe is an Idaho State Senator and came in to talk about the recent action from the federal government around halting corporate investment in single family homes. The cost of housing is skyrocketing, especially in Idaho, and many investment firms are continuing to reduce the available housing stock for owner occupancy purchase by buying up huge chunks across the state. Ali and I spoke about potential solutions both at the local, state, and federal level. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported...
Jan 26, 2026•46 min•Ep. 775
Mike Moyle is the state Speaker of the House for Idaho and came in to talk about a range of issues that the state faces currently. Budget issues, out of state political manipulation, taxes, and more. 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 t...
Jan 26, 2026•29 min•Ep. 774
Ben Gillenwater is a parent and family advocate and educator in the technology space and created Family IT Guy to help families understand the risks and solutions with internet connectivity. Recently many countries have started engaging in government run age verification to allow access to social media or sensitive material like pornography. I initially thought this was a good idea, but Ben came in to explain why this is likely the worst possible option for America and Idaho. Enjoy! The Ranch Po...
Jan 26, 2026•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 773
Tal Sampson is an avid hunter and a member of the Idaho HAT Committee (Hunting and Advanced Technology), a group put together of Idahoans charged with making recommendations on how to address advanced technology, fair chase, and the longevity of our incredible natural resources. Tal graciously drove from Pocatello to discuss what the committee has grappled with and what they could agree on and what they couldn’t. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit me...
Jan 24, 2026•59 min•Ep. 772
Dexton Lake works with the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation and came in to talk about a bill they are hoping to pass that establishes better clarity and local control within the state for individuals who want to produce and prepare food for sale in more of a cottage industry style way for local markets. 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...
Jan 23, 2026•36 min•Ep. 771
Katherine Himes is the director for the McClure Center for Public Policy Research out of University of Idaho and came on to explain how they engage in the research they do, what their goals are, and what part they play in helping Idaho make the best possible decisions for the state and its people. 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 i...
Jan 23, 2026•30 min•Ep. 770
Megan Egbert is an Idaho State Representative and came in to talk about the problems with healthcare and our fiscal responsibility to the state and its taxpayers. 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 life. It’...
Jan 23, 2026•38 min•Ep. 769
Susie Keller is the Executive Director of the Idaho Medical Association and came in to talk about medical consideration and the ROI that doctors bring to the communities they practice in. 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 count...
Jan 23, 2026•30 min•Ep. 767
Luke Mayville is a citizen activist in the state of Idaho and was a leading force behind Medicaid Expansion in 2018. He came in to explain what was happening in the state prior to this expansion, what the costs to the taxpayers were, and what the state of medical coverage was. 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...
Jan 22, 2026•41 min•Ep. 768
Tori O’Neal is part of the social conservation district system in Idaho and came in to explain what these districts do. Idaho cares deeply for its soil health, and each county has a group that will help you find out how you can maximize the health and productivity of your individual soils. I’ve never been more excited for spring! 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...
Jan 22, 2026•34 min•Ep. 766
Luis Granados is the Executive Director of the Breaking Chains Academy of Development in Idaho. He works with youth that need guidance, help, and an education to move forward as contributing members of Idaho’s population. The importance of his work cannot be overstated. 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...
Jan 21, 2026•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 763
Stephanie Mickelsen is an Idaho State Representative and came in to talk about the budgeting process in Idaho. She also went into nuances of how funds can be agreed upon by the larger legislative body and then directed by the JFAC group, which is done without public comment. 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 informati...
Jan 21, 2026•40 min•Ep. 764
Jordan Redman is an Idaho State Representative and came in to talk about two most issues: housing and natural resources in Idaho. This will definitely be the first of many this session. 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 countie...
Jan 21, 2026•21 min•Ep. 765
Miguel Legarreta is the executive director of the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho and came on to talk about the tax considerations being considered currently in the state. The One Big Beautiful Bill passed many tax reforms on the federal level and this put Idaho in a position to either adopt these changes as well or break with tradition and develop its own separate decisions. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, ...
Jan 20, 2026•50 min•Ep. 762
Richard McPherson is a world leading authority on Nuclear Technology. In Episode 19 of the American Nuclear series, we consider the position of Hawaii as well as US Island territories. These landmasses in particular are vulnerable to natural disaster and direct attacks as they do not have reliable, easily repaired energy sources. Nuclear at any scale may be the only solution. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased...
Jan 20, 2026•41 min•Ep. 761
Janie Ward-Engelkind is a Idaho State Senator and also sits on the JFAC committee that appropriates Idaho taxpayer funds. She came in many times last session regarding the budget and came back to give an update on where she sees this going. 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...
Jan 20, 2026•35 min•Ep. 760
Lisa Knapp is a compost specialist with the city of Boise. The city goes to incredible lengths to incentivise and create fantastic compost that is available for free for the citizens of the city and is also used to improve parks and landscape throughout the area. It also goes to reduce landfill cost and storage needs, which is a huge win in and of itself. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused media...
Jan 19, 2026•42 min•Ep. 759
Rich Tyler is a retired fire fighter and now works with CORE Construction to help build, among other things, fire stations. These multipurpose buildings are incredibly complex and are also paid for by the taxpayer. Rich kindly came in to explain what goes into building a station and what considerations the average person should have when looking at the bill. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media organization committed to unbiased, Idaho focused me...
Jan 19, 2026•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 758
Debbie Critchfield is the Idaho State Superintendent of Public Education and recently played a key role in saving the federal grant going to many Idaho community schools. She came in to explain what happened, what Idaho had already done ahead of federal requests, and how she was able to save the day for many Idaho families. 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 premi...
Jan 19, 2026•34 min•Ep. 757
Sam Eaton works for the Idaho Potato Commission and came on to discuss this iconic crop, its reliance on our research institutions, the wavering markets, and the herculean effort put forth by our farmers to sustain this incredible crop and economy. 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 a...
Jan 19, 2026•51 min•Ep. 756
Keri Smith is a former Canyon County Commissioner and came on to discuss the issues with growth in Idaho. She is currently working with a group called Growing Together that educates residents about how to self advocate for how, where, and when they want their communities to grow. We can’t stop growth in Idaho, but we certainly can communicate better about our needs and wants and hopefully end up with communities that the most possible people like. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth I...
Jan 16, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 755
Todd Achilles is a former Idaho State Representative and current US Senate candidate and came on to discuss problems for consumers and the working class around lack of competition and actual free markets that would benefit businesses, workers, and consumers. 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 Treasur...
Jan 16, 2026•59 min•Ep. 754
Treg Bernt is an Idaho State Senator and came on to discuss several issues including his bi-partisan efforts to show positive political discourse to our next generation of voters and potentially eliminating cellphones in Idaho public schools. 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 gre...
Jan 16, 2026•23 min•Ep. 753
Dr. Rayme Geidl is the interim Co-Director of the School of Health and Medical Professions at the University of Idaho and came on to talk about the relationship with the University of Utah Medical School. Idaho ranks the lowest in many medical based metrics, and a partnership with UofU could help push this great state in the right direction. It’ll take, you know, like 10 or 15 years, but we’ll get there nonetheless. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit...
Jan 15, 2026•36 min•Ep. 752
Melissa Wintrow is a democratic senator in Idaho and came in to speak about the budgeting issues as she sees them. Idaho is currently facing a huge budget deficit in the coming years, and many, many people are discussing solutions and the problem. Sen. Wintrow was extremely clear in that she feels this is a manufactured crisis and there’s no actual financial reason for us to be in this position but instead it was poor planning and overly aggressive tax relief that led to this. Enjoy! The Ranch P...
Jan 15, 2026•44 min•Ep. 751
Dr. Anna Radin works with St. Luke’s on suicide prevention and recently ran a study about connecting with both teens and adults who had hightened suicide risk. What her team found is that the connection offered by St. Luke’s, which was not extravagant or crazy, was so effective it was capable of cutting suicide rates in half. Understanding how this can be rolled out statewide is crucial to saving Idaho lives. Enjoy! The Ranch Podcast is supported by Truth In Media Foundation, a non-profit media ...
Jan 15, 2026•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 750
Luis Granados is the Executive Director of the Breaking Chains Academy of Development in Idaho. He works with youth that need guidance, help, and an education to move forward as contributing members of Idaho’s population. The importance of his work cannot be overstated. 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...
Jan 14, 2026•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 763
Lauren Necochea is the head of the democratic party in Idaho and came on to talk about the 2026 legislative session that just started and what the priorities for the democratic party are. One of her greatest concerns centers around Medicaid expansion as many lawmakers have signaled that they want to repeal the expansion all together. 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 14, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 748
Nick Fasciano is the executive director of Idaho Wildlife Federation and came in to speak about migration patterns and needs of our wildlife. One of the issues with development is that there are very clear migration corridors that exist in Idaho that benefit untold numbers of wild game, and developers at times build communities over these areas. For some species, these are well worn trails that lead to winter grazing, safety, and labor and delivery areas for their next generation. Nick came in t...
Jan 14, 2026•55 min•Ep. 747
Alexis Pickering is the executive director of Conservation Voters of Idaho and came in to discuss how a portion of Idaho state land just got sold to a wealthy investor. There is a mandate in the Idaho constitution that requires lands be managed for the highest financial benefit, and in this case, it was worth more to do the one time sale than it was to continue the existing multiuse engagements. This is exactly what most people fear will happen if federal lands in Idaho were transferred to the s...
Jan 14, 2026•29 min•Ep. 749
