

The Ranch Podcast
Matt Todd
A podcast dedicated to the people and happenings of the Treasure Valley and the great State of Idaho.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 29, 2025 • 1h 11min
Creative Marketing in the Age of AI with Kelly Knopp
Kelly Knopp is the Creative Director VP at 116 & West Marketing and came in to speak on the ever evolving technology push in the marketing world, AI integration, and what they’re doing to be as efficient as possible but maintain the inherent quality and touch that can only be delivered by human creativity. 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’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Aug 29, 2025 • 52min
Eagle City Council Candidate Nancy Merrill
Nancy Merrill is a former Eagle Mayor and City Council woman and is running for Eagle City Council in the Nov. 2025 Election. She brings a background of knowledge from her experience building many aspects of Eagle that we enjoy today and wants to continue serving the great city. 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’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Aug 28, 2025 • 49min
Mental Illness in Idaho with Beth Markley
Beth Markley is the Executive Director of the Idaho chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness. Mental health and illness has become an enormous crisis in the United States, and the last 5 years has only worsened America’s mental and physical health. Beth came in to help explain the resources available here in Idaho for those suffer.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’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Aug 27, 2025 • 54min
Idaho & Renewable Energy with Aaron Menenberg
Aaron Menenberg is a policy manager for Renewable Northwest, an advocacy group that emphasizes the importance of considering renewable energy options for not just utility companies but also individuals with land that cannot otherwise be used for standard purposes such as agriculture or development. The United States is in a huge energy crisis, and every leader I have spoken to has an everything on the table approach. Classic renewables like solar and wind have their place in that conversation. 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’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Aug 26, 2025 • 28min
Activating the National Guard in Idaho with Dan McKnight
Dan McKnight is a proud champion and defender of the National Guard in the US and came in to speak about the recent activation of the guard in several states across the country. Idaho is activating 14 National Guard members in an administrative role to assist federal agencies in our state, and this is being portrayed by some as a federal overreach and military action by our president. As Dan explains, that is wholly inaccurate and not what is happening. 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’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Aug 26, 2025 • 53min
Saving Raptors in Idaho with Chris Parish
Chris Parish is the CEO of the Peregrine Fund, the raptor conservation agency credited with breeding and releasing over 4,000 peregrine falcons back into the wild, a move that ultimately led to the removal of the falcon from the endangered species list. The PF has and continues to assist with raptors and conservation efforts not just across the United States, but also across the world. The World Center for Birds of Prey is located right here in our Treasure Valley. Chris’ knowledge of and passion for maintaining healthy balances and populations of birds of prey is infectious and an example of true conservation at work. 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’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Aug 25, 2025 • 42min
American Nuclear E06: Electricity Bind in American Lifestyles with Richard McPherson
Richard McPherson is a world leading authority on Nuclear Technology. In Episode 6 of the American Nuclear series, we discuss the bind we are in as Americans and, in our case, Idahoans with our reliance on electricity. We don’t just need it to turn on and off our lights, but we fundamentally couldn’t exist with our water systems, traffic systems, manufacturing systems, or any other system required for the life support of our communities without it. It is literally the choke point of our entire civilization. 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’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Aug 25, 2025 • 27min
Local Economies, Growth, & Housing in Idaho
Jeff Cornilles is a District 12 Representative, which includes the Nampa area and large pieces of Canyon County. We spoke extensively about local economies, growth, and housing. Nampa in particular has just created an auditorium district and is working to encourage local economic growth, all while trimming down its budget to remain fiscally conservative. 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’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Aug 22, 2025 • 44min
Getting Idaho's Opinion on Abortion with Melanie Folwell
Melanie Folwell is the executive director of Idahoans United for Women & Families and came in to talk about the ballot initiative that her organization is pushing for with the 2026 Nov election. Her ballot initiative would ask Idahoans to vote on whether Idaho should allow a woman the right to make a decision about an abortion or if that is something that the state government of Idaho should choose for her. 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’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com

Aug 22, 2025 • 25min
The One, Big, Beautiful Bill & Idaho with Mike Crapo
US Senator Mike Crapo came in recently to discuss the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill on Idahoans. There are many nuances to the bill, including tax relief, health care reform, and more. He brought up points for considering that I had not heard previously. I greatly appreciate his willingness to sit down, unscripted and unedited and speak about why he thinks this was good legislation. 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’s also home to many law enforcement agencies, like Ada County and Canyon county Sheriff offices, Idaho State Police, Eagle Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and many more. The school systems in the area are also quite diverse. Boise school district and West Ada School District, though right next to each other, are quite different. Ada County is also home to our state capital and many of our elected officials. The Ranch Podcast is shot just north of Eagle, Idaho. If you’re interested in producing a podcast or need content of any kind, please feel free to reach out to Matt at Matt@MTUStudios.com