The Ranch Podcast

Charlie Lyons is a multi-decade Idaho rancher who found himself at odds with BLM over fire management for almost two decades. In a heart breaking and awe inspiring story, Charlie told me about being at odds with government agencies and what it took to find a way to both work with the establishment and also be an instrumental part of protecting his property and other Idaho ranchers’ properties. I find his story to be so uniquely Idahoan, centering on citizen led solutions to enormous problems, and in true Idaho fashion, because there wasn’t a solution, Charlie created one. This was beautiful. 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.orgThe 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

Doug Pickett is a District 27 Representative and sits as Chairman of the House Education Committee. He was formerly on the Revenue and Tax Committee and does not have a background with the Ed Committee. We spoke at length about what he sees in education, what Idaho does with tax dollars, what he sees as the value of small rural schools vs larger, urban schools, and more. 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.orgThe 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

Lori Den Hartog is the District 22 Senator in Idaho and is bringing the first School Choice Bill of the 2025 Legislative session forward this coming week. This is structured as a refundable tax credit and would be available to anyone who educates their children outside of the public school setting. There are a lot of details involved, and Lori and I spoke about many, including what accountability actually means with this system. As most people are extremely anxious to see and understand the bill, she offered a ton of details and graciously agreed to come back on as soon as the bill drops to talk about it. 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.orgThe 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.comSchool choice in Idaho, public funds for private schools, alternatives to public education, Senator Lori Den Hartog District 22, Matthew Todd Ranch Podcast, education reform in Idaho, school vouchers debate, public money for private education, Lori Den Hartog on school choice policies, Matthew Todd on education alternatives, private school funding with public resources, Idaho school choice legislation, benefits of school choice programs, Lori Den Hartog on education reform, Matthew Todd on funding education options, parental choice in education, private vs. public school funding, expanding educational opportunities in Idaho, school choice and educational freedom, public funding challenges for private schools, Senator Lori Den Hartog on school vouchers, Matthew Todd on school funding reform, Idaho education policy debates, alternatives to traditional public schooling, empowering parents with school choice.

Rob Gillis is a law enforcement advocate and president of the organization Idaho Tough on Crime. He works with many legislators advocating for bills and revisions in law to support law enforcement, and we spoke specifically in this interview about enhanced sentencing for a criminal who murders a police officer with the Bolter-Stall Bill as well as a bill that would deliver the possibility of capital punishment for a child predator. This was a sobering conversation but an important one, too.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.orgThe 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

Codi Galloway is the District 15 Senator in Idaho and served one term in the same district as a representative from 2020-2022. She has a background in education and business and deeply cares about children, both on an education front as well as prosperity front. There is an increasing population of homeless individuals and children and increasing cost of living in Idaho and especially the Treasure Valley, and Senator Galloway is focused on finding ways the government can help the community thrive without intervening with the big hand of government. 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.orgThe 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

Mike Miraglia is a former Boise PD detective and the current legislative chairman for the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police. We spoke extensively about the utility and value of license plate readers in detective and police work. The value spans immediate use for things like bank robberies or in the pursuit of the would-be assassin on the golf course that targeted our president elect as well as longer term uses as in murder investigations and missing person cases. Mike explained what the LPRs do, and more importantly, what they DON’T do. 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.orgThe 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

Lori Wolff is the Administrator of Division of Financial Management for Gov. Little's office, which means she is intimately aware of what is in Gov. Little's proposed budget. There are pages of key points of the budget, but we spoke specifically today about the Labor market (a topic where Idaho leads the nation in many places) and about Law Enforcement. This was definitely the first of many conversations to unpack everything the Governor is asking for from us, the citizens. 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.orgThe 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.comInvesting in the labor force, in-demand jobs in Idaho, supporting law enforcement, reducing crime through workforce investment, Lori Wolff from Governor Little’s office, Matthew Todd Ranch Podcast, strengthening Idaho’s labor market, job training programs for in-demand careers, funding law enforcement initiatives, workforce development and public safety, Lori Wolff on workforce priorities, Matthew Todd on crime reduction strategies, investing in Idaho’s future workforce, law enforcement and economic growth, addressing labor shortages in Idaho, crime prevention through community investment, Lori Wolff on labor and law enforcement, Matthew Todd on workforce challenges, Idaho’s efforts to reduce crime, supporting skilled trades and careers, enhancing law enforcement effectiveness, Governor Little’s labor force initiatives, Lori Wolff on job creation, Matthew Todd on improving public safety, building a stronger Idaho workforce.

Melissa Wintrow is the District 19 Senator for and has been in the legislature for 10 years. She came in to speak about human rights issues in Idaho as they pertain to same sex marriage and discrimination based on sexual preference. This was an eye opener for me for many reasons, but specifically I did not know that it is 100% legal in the state of Idaho to fire someone from a job or evict them from a home based solely on the fact that the employee or tenant is a homosexual. This was very informative, to say the least.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.orgThe 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.comHuman rights in Idaho, same-sex marriage rights, combating discrimination in Idaho, LGBTQ+ rights advocacy, Melissa Wintrow District 19 senator, Matthew Todd Ranch Podcast, discrimination based on sexual preference, Idaho’s stance on human rights, Melissa Wintrow on equality, Idaho Democratic priorities on human rights, fighting discrimination in Idaho, LGBTQ+ marriage equality in Idaho, legislative efforts for equality, Melissa Wintrow on same-sex marriage, human rights policies in Idaho, Idaho’s fight for LGBTQ+ rights, advancing equality through legislation, Melissa Wintrow on human rights advocacy, discrimination laws in Idaho, LGBTQ+ rights and legislation, promoting equality in Idaho, Melissa Wintrow on anti-discrimination efforts.

Steve Berch is the first democratic representative for District 15. He has historically sat on many committees, and when he came in we spoke extensively about taxation and school funding. He brought up considerations that I had never heard expressed about Idaho, like questioning the plan of borrowing to fund schools while cutting spending at the same 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.orgThe 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.comSchool funding in Idaho, property tax limits and education, Idaho Democratic priorities, Steve Berch District 15 representative, Matthew Todd Ranch Podcast, education funding challenges in Idaho, property tax reform for schools, Democratic perspectives on school funding, Steve Berch on education policy, Matthew Todd on property tax limits, Idaho school budget priorities, funding equity for Idaho schools, property tax relief and education, Democratic leadership on school funding, Steve Berch on tax reform, Matthew Todd on Idaho education challenges, balancing property taxes and public education, improving school funding in Idaho, legislative solutions for education funding, Idaho tax policy and schools, Steve Berch on Democratic education goals, Matthew Todd on tax reform for schools, Idaho property tax issues, funding priorities for Idaho schools, addressing education gaps in Idaho.

Justin Webb is the director of the Foundation For Wildlife Management (F4WM). He grew up in rural Idaho and has enjoyed everything Idaho has to offer, but he has fundamental concerns about the carrying capacity of the state and its natural resources as it relates to reintroduction of predators, specifically wolves. In order for hunters to enjoy a stable population of accessible big game, there needs to be an abundance of these animals, and Justin fears the data shows that not only has the wolf population eliminated the requisite abundance, but also that the wolves themselves are suffering because of inadequate food supplies, leading to problematic interactions with farmers and ranchers. I greatly enjoyed this conversation.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.orgThe 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.comWolves in Idaho management, wolf overpopulation issues, carrying capacity for wolves in Idaho, elk predation by wolves, domestic livestock attacks by wolves, Justin Webb Foundation for Wildlife Management, Matthew Todd Ranch Podcast, Idaho wolf population control, impacts of wolves on elk herds, balancing predators and prey in Idaho, wolf management strategies, Justin Webb on wildlife management, Matthew Todd on wolf conservation, protecting livestock from wolves, wildlife carrying capacity in Idaho, reducing wolf predation on livestock, managing elk and wolf populations, Justin Webb on predator control, Idaho ranchers and wolf conflicts, wolf population impact on hunting, sustainable wolf management practices, Matthew Todd on predator-prey dynamics, mitigating wolf overpopulation effects, wildlife conservation and management in Idaho, Justin Webb on balancing wildlife ecosystems.