

The Ranch Podcast
Matt Todd
If you’re looking for a show focusing on Idaho and local community news, you found it. This show hits issues from across the Gem State, ranging from North Idaho, East Idaho, Southern Idaho, and everything in between.Interested in Idaho politics, ag, law enforcement, education, fish and game, recreation, and all things Idaho? This is literally your spot.If you ever have questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate.Thank you for watching!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 1, 2026 • 60min
The Line of Advocacy in Idaho's Education with Eric Smallwood
Eric Smallwood is a Twin Falls School District board member and came on to talk about a situation he finds himself in with several state legislators. In a recent district meeting, Eric advocated for participation in the upcoming May primary election and outlined what he felt was at stake, specifically the defunding of the public schools in Idaho, and urged everyone to participate. Some lawmakers feel that he crossed a line into advocating for a specific person, party, or issue and are calling for an investigation. This seems to be a complex issue, and although Eric feels he did not cross any lines, others 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

Jan 31, 2026 • 23min
Dairy Workforce in Idaho with Mike Simpson and Rick Naerebout
Mike Simpson is a US Congressman from Idaho and Rick Naerebout is the CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association. They both agreed to come on to discuss the state of ag labor in Idaho and the US which is a huge point of concern for both citizens and producers. The US hasn’t seen a revision to immigration law or labor law in many decades, and this inability to act at the federal level has put our dairy industry in an impossible position. Rep. Simpson came on to talk about what is and can be done to make this right. 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

Jan 31, 2026 • 15min
Idaho Agriculture with Mike Simpson and Zak Miller
Mike Simpson is a US Congressman from Idaho and Zak Miller is the CEO of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation. They both agreed to come on to discuss the state of agriculture in Idaho, which has seen better days. As Zak pointed out, Ag is Idaho’s baseload resource for its economy, and Rep. Simpson came on to talk about what is and can be done to support it. 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

Jan 31, 2026 • 29min
Idaho: Our Values Now Vs Then with James Ruchti
James Ruchti is an Idaho State Senator and came on to talk about how Idaho has changed in the last two decades. As a state lawmaker from 2006 to 2010, James was part of the severe cuts that were required during the great recession. Those cuts, as with the ones now, reflected the values and priorities of the state. Learning what the state held onto and protected then vs now was an eye opening experience. 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

Jan 30, 2026 • 34min
Agriculture in Idaho with Jerald Raymond
Jerald Raymond is an Idaho State Representative and came on to talk about the bind that Idaho agriculture is in. High production coupled with high imports has led the commodities to suffer extensively across the state. Jerald is working to help anyway he can. 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

Jan 30, 2026 • 48min
The YMCA Family with David Duro
David Duro is the CEO of the Treasure Valley Family YMCA and came on to talk about this pillar of the community. I did not grow up going to the “Y,” but since moving to Idaho, I have come to greatly appreciate and love the incredible commitment the organization has to improving our community. They’re the largest daycare provider in the valley, they run youth in government programs, and they even support water polo programs (you should check them out, for real). Hopefully this is the first of many conversations. 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

Jan 29, 2026 • 34min
Budget Realities in Idaho with Jason Monks
Jason Monks is an Idaho State Representative and came in to talk about the realities of Idaho’s budgeting process. The state budget is established at the beginning of the year, which takes effect in July of the same year and runs to the end of June the following year. Many things can and do happen during this almost 18 month timeframe, including changes at the federal level which make a balanced budget an ever evolving and moving target. Fortunately, as he pointed out, Idaho has the ability to turn up and turn down its spending to adjust. 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

Jan 29, 2026 • 38min
Ag & Water in Idaho's Magic Valley with Jack Nelsen
Jack Nelsen is an Idaho State Representative and came in to talk about the state of Ag and Water in Idaho’s Magic Valley. 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

Jan 28, 2026 • 37min
College of Eastern Idaho with Lori Barber
Lori Barber is the President of the College of Eastern Idaho and came in to talk about its role in the community, the students’ lives, and Idaho’s future. 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

Jan 28, 2026 • 26min
Sharing the Idaho PTA Message with Shelly Smede
Shelly Smede is the head of advocacy for the Idaho PTA and came on to talk about the work they’re doing, the growth, and the goals that the organization has for the future of the state and its children. 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


