

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

Nov 7, 2025 • 1h 1min
Building the News with Don Day
Don Day is the co-founder of Boise Dev. Don and his wife co-founded the news source almost a decade ago and focused on local development in the Treasure Valley. This flew in the face of most other news outlets, many of which have national level ownership and focused on things other than hyper local issues. Hearing how this went from a one article a day project to now having a full time staff of 11 was incredible. Part of the solution to bringing our communities back together may be to help people engage in more localized issues that actually impact them on a daily basis, like a Costco on Hill Rd. 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

Nov 7, 2025 • 1h 16min
Salmon & Steelhead Solutions with Eric Crawford
Eric Crawford is a Salmon and Steelhead expert with Trout Unlimited in Idaho. He came on to discuss the ever evolving problems and solutions with species restoration, as well as larger pragmatic problems like power replacement and the western power grid structure. 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

Nov 6, 2025 • 1h 3min
Building Eagle, Idaho with Steve Guerber
Steve Guerber is a former mayor of Eagle, Idaho and helped design and guide the city to look the way it does today. Eagle started pushing to build in a unique manner compared to its surrounding cities at the end of the 20th century, and people like Steve helped shape the vision that has become a reality. 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

Nov 5, 2025 • 1h 3min
Pushing Back on Ed. Tech in Idaho with Joey Palmer
Joey Palmer is the assistant superintendent for Vallivue School District in Idaho’s Treasure Valley. There is a large conversation occurring across Idaho and the United States about the inundation and educational ROI that parents and schools are getting with technology. Almost all schools have identified personal tech devices like cell phones as a large problem, but many are also realizing that school administered tech is also a problem. Joey and Vallivue are taking a bold stance by starting to walk back the tech saturation. He came in to explain what they’re doing and, more importantly, how it’s helping the kids. 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

Nov 5, 2025 • 39min
Federal Agents in Wilder, Idaho with John Shirts
John Shirts is an Idaho state representative and former federal prosecutor. He came in to explain the process and obligations that various agencies had in the recent FBI operation in Wilder. Many have offered conflicting stories about who was in charge or what agency spearheaded the operation, and John came on to explain the process that is required and why so many various agencies appeared to be involved and taking credit.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

Nov 4, 2025 • 45min
Bridging America's Communication Divide with Rob Hanson
Rob Hanson is a member of the Braver Angels organization right here in Idaho. This group has been working for almost a decade nationally to engage the hyper polarized country that we find ourselves in and offer a framework to build bridges and connect with our fellow countrymen again. They host live and virtual events, and you can find them online and on Facebook. If you have the time or interest, I highly recommend that you look into the organization and the great work they do. 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

Nov 3, 2025 • 1h 4min
Geothermal Power in Idaho with Scott Nichols
Scott Nichols is a geothermal expert who has been working in the industry for decades. He came in to explain the nature and potential of geothermal power, from heating buildings to producing energy for our lights. The problem, however, is that although geothermal is indeed a baseload, green energy source, it takes considerable time to find and build out. Additionally, you’re not looking at making a 1000 megawatt geothermal plant anytime soon. Plants that come online are usually in the range of 5 to 50 megawatts. For reference, Idaho Power has a daily max load of around 4,000 megawatts and is trying to get that up to 5,500 megawatts in the next 5 years. As all experts have expressed, we need every energy source on the table, and geothermal will surely be one of them. 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

Nov 3, 2025 • 41min
American Nuclear E 16: Chernobyl
Richard McPherson is a world leading authority on Nuclear Technology. In Episode 16 of the American Nuclear series, we discuss the infamous Chernobyl disaster, whereby local operators engaged in an experiment with the reactor that was expressly forbidden in the operations manual, which resulted in loss of life.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

Nov 1, 2025 • 36min
Middleton City Council Candidate Dave Murray
Dave Murray is a longtime Middleton resident and is running for re-election for City Council. He is passionate about Middleton, the culture, the growth, and the direction the city is 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 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

Nov 1, 2025 • 55min
Middleton's Waste Water Plant with Jason Van Gilder
Jason Van Gilder is the director of public works for Middleton and came in to speak on the issue of the waste water treatment plant that Middleton is slated to build. The driving force behind the upgrade is in fact not growth, but instead a revision made by the Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality that was made in 2015 that requires phosphate levels to be dropped from 5 parts per million down to between 0.3 and 0.1 parts per million, depending on the season. Although Middleton has grown considerably, the growth at this point is not the driving factor of this massive project. 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


