When Matt Todd moved from California to Idaho, he didn’t just bring his family and his business—he brought questions. Big ones. Why is Idaho the way it is? Who’s making the decisions? And why is it so hard to hear directly from the people shaping the future of the state?

That curiosity sparked The Ranch Podcast, a platform dedicated to authentic, long-form conversations with the leaders, changemakers, and everyday residents who define Idaho. In this episode of Ever Onward, Matt shares his unlikely journey from college prep entrepreneur to one of Idaho’s most trusted independent voices.

Matt started The Ranch Podcast in 2019 with short, entertaining clips for his students to listen to on the way to school. But after relocating to Idaho in 2022, he realized there was a void—no central, credible space where Idahoans, especially newcomers like himself, could learn directly from those shaping the state’s education, politics, law enforcement, natural resources, and more.

With humility and curiosity, Matt began interviewing his neighbors—sometimes about HOA meetings—and slowly expanded to include mayors, legislators, sheriffs, and tribal leaders. Through it all, one theme remained: connection.

At the heart of this episode is a critical insight about media today: “People form their worldview passively through content—but the actual leaders of Idaho are rarely part of that content.” The Ranch Podcast bridges this disconnect, letting people speak for themselves—without filters, soundbites, or spin.

Together, we explore:

• What’s really happening in Idaho—beyond the headlines
• The tension between newcomers and longtime residents
• Challenges like affordable housing, property taxes, and education funding
• How thoughtful development can unify instead of divide
• The launch of the Truth in Media Foundation, Matt’s effort to build a long-format, unbiased media center for Idahoans

Whether you’re a lifelong resident or new to the Gem State, this conversation is a powerful reminder of what happens when we slow down, listen closely, and build trust through dialogue.

Matt's Podcast called "The Ranch Podcast" can be found here: https://www.theranchpodcast.org/

Follow Ahlquist on Social Media:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ahlquist/⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ahlquistdev/

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@ahlquistdev

X (Twitter): ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/ahlquistdev

Meta (Facebook): ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ahlquistdev/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ahlquistdev?si=ejOXPKRqQjtsdVFE