For our 100th episode of Ever Onward, Dr. Tommy Ahlquist sits down with Boise radio legend Kevin Miller for one of the most wide-ranging and relevant conversations we’ve ever released — a deep dive into Charlie Kirk, Kanye West, AI, Idaho politics, college sports, and what the future looks like for the next generation of Americans.

The episode opens with never-before-told stories from the early days of Turning Point USA, when Charlie Kirk was still mostly unknown — including a wild trip Tommy took with Charlie and Candace Owens to Kanye and Kim Kardashian’s home in LA. Tommy shares what Charlie was really like behind the scenes, how TPUSA made conservative ideas culturally “cool” again on college campuses long before it hit mainstream politics, and why the response to Charlie’s recent death has revealed so much about today’s online world.

From there, the conversation moves into conspiracy culture and why so many people — especially young people — are getting pulled into increasingly extreme narratives. Tommy and Kevin talk candidly about online influencers, polarization, and how a vacuum in culture has created space for voices that don’t always lead people in the healthiest direction. They also explore what the counter to that should be: grounded mentors, real conversations, faith, context, and slowing down enough to offer the next generation something deeper than algorithms and outrage.

The episode also goes inside Idaho politics, including Tommy’s brutally competitive governor’s race — complete with the moment when two attack ads against him ran simultaneously on two TVs inside Kevin’s radio studio. They unpack what running a major campaign is actually like, why losing hits differently than anything else in life, and how much influence donors, media, and timing really have on the political process.

Then the conversation shifts into one of the most pressing topics of our time: AI. From Terminator references to Sam Altman’s confirmation that real humans decide AI’s moral guardrails in back rooms at OpenAI, they explore why the coming years will redefine how people learn, how truth is filtered, and why the next generation will desperately need mentors, scripture, grounding, and real-world wisdom to navigate what’s coming.

Sports fans will get a deep look at the future of Boise State, NIL, and college athletics — including why schools like Ohio State have $40 million NIL war chests while mid-majors like BSU fight uphill battles. Tommy shares insights on stadium upgrades, leadership under Jeremiah Dickey, and whether Boise State can still compete in a landscape changing faster than anyone expected.

They also cover Idaho’s rapid growth, infrastructure delays, and the possibility of Idaho drifting toward the same gridlock problems Austin experienced when it was too late to catch up. From Cuna to Star to I-84, Tommy explains why planning and bonding decisions made now will shape Idaho’s quality of life for decades.

And woven through the episode is Kevin’s quiet but powerful personal story — a seven-second heart pause, nearly needing a pacemaker, and the disciplined routine that helped him lose 93 pounds. It’s not the headline, but it adds a human and hopeful thread to everything else they

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We sit down with Senator Codi Galloway to trace a path from classroom to small business to the Idaho Senate, and we use that lens to tackle three urgent pressures in Boise and beyond: public safety and homelessness, foster care, and the cost and speed of building homes. The through-line is simple and powerful—clear standards, faster processes, and compassion that actually helps.

Codi was born in Panama City, Florida, raised in Ada County, and earned a BA in education from Brigham Young University.  She spent three years teaching in public schools and then founded a talent-development school in Meridian, Idaho.  That background—teaching, entrepreneurship, hands‐on education—shapes how she approaches policy: practical, accountable, grounded in real-world work.

Now serving in the Idaho Senate (after earlier service in the House) for District 15, she brings that teacher-turned-small-business mindset into a part-time legislature that still “moves mountains” of bills each session.  

Here’s how her story connects to three of the major issues facing Boise today:

• Public safety & homelessness.
  • With her classroom and business experience, Codi emphasizes that approaches which protect dignity and foster opportunity win out over purely symbolic action. She talks about small statutory tweaks that save schools money—like permitting minivans instead of expensive buses for smaller student groups—and how that principle scales: allow flexibility, reduce cost, deliver value. Then we turn to encampments: how can Boise keep its parks and river-path systems open and safe while also ensuring the unhoused aren’t left out in the cold? Codi argues for pairing shelter capacity and treatment with consistent enforcement—not to criminalize poverty, but to set a floor of dignity and access the whole community can support.
• Foster care & child‐first reforms.
  • As someone with a strong background in education and youth development, Codi looks at foster care through the lens of stability, relational bonds, and timeliness. We examine reforms to speed permanency—tightening court timelines, better supporting stable caregivers, and honoring the bonds children form when they have consistent adults in their lives.
• Housing affordability & building speed.
  • Here her business mindset comes into play: “time is money” in construction. Permits that take months, inspections that restart the clock—these slow the supply of housing and drive up rents and mortgages. Codi has championed practical fixes like video re-inspections and clearer, faster responses from city departments so builders can add supply without sacrificing safety. The idea: reduce friction in process so homes get built faster and costs don’t spiral for families and workers.

We wrap with a call to expand re-entry opportunities: targeted training, employer partnerships, and a supportive runway that prevents people from slipping back into homelessness or instability.

If you care about safer streets, stronger families, and homes people can afford, this conversation offers grounded answers and proof that small changes add up. Subscribe, share with a friend who cares about Boise’s future, and leave a review with th

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A one-room school with three third graders. A teacher living in an RV to reach them through winter. A powerhouse high school on the other side of the state. That’s Idaho’s daily reality—and the backdrop for a quiet surge in K-12 results that’s changing how students read, train, and launch into work.

We sit down with Superintendent Debbie Critchfield to unpack the moves behind the momentum. She explains how returning to the science of reading—putting phonics, aligned curriculum, and real coaching at the center—turned “back to basics” into real gains, including a sharp rise in K-3 reading proficiency. We dig into why third grade is a decisive milestone, how smaller early-grade classes and better assessment practice support growth, and what it takes for leaders to build the conditions teachers need to thrive without shouldering the blame for every external factor.

The conversation then shifts to career technical education and the dignity of skilled work. Debbie walks through Launch and the Idaho Career Ready Students grant, which have brought welding, diesel, construction, health occupations, cybersecurity, forestry, machining, and more to life across the state—programs tied directly to local industry needs. We explore why Idaho ranks at the top for CTE participation and return on investment, and how these pathways keep students rooted in their communities with options that actually pay.

We also take on the hard stuff: the housing crunch that drives a teacher distribution problem, not a teacher shortage; the politics and potential of consolidation and shared services; and what it looks like to scale excellence by matchmaking similar districts to replicate proven strategies. Through it all, we keep the focus where it belongs—on the teachers who change lives and the students who deserve a system designed for their success.

If this conversation challenged a myth or sparked an idea, share it with a friend, subscribe for more candid education deep-dives, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

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Leadership isn’t always loud—it’s earned through humility, consistency, and the kind of listening that makes people feel seen. As Tommy Ahlquist shares in his introduction, this conversation has been a long time coming. Coach Wade Anderson isn’t just another guest—he’s one of Tommy’s greatest mentors, a man he calls a legend, a hero, and a friend. “God broke the mold when he made Wade,” Tommy says—and by the end of this episode, you’ll understand why.

From the hayfields of Rupert to Madison Square Garden, Wade’s story bridges cowboy grit with timeless lessons on teaching, parenting, and leadership. Alongside his son Clay—himself an accomplished real estate professional—they reflect on the kind of character, humility, and faith that shape lives far beyond the game.

Wade shares how setbacks can forge resilience, how faith becomes practical wisdom, and why the best leaders care more about growth than glory. Through stories of small-town roots, college triumphs, and decades of coaching, he reminds us that titles fade but integrity endures. You’ll hear about the class ring that became a lesson in earned respect, the noon-hoops games that broke down hierarchies, and how a stack of Louis L’Amour books turned into a lifelong habit of reflection and perspective.

Wade’s philosophy—family first, encouragement over criticism, and the simple goal of “raising your best friends”—translates far beyond sports. It’s a masterclass in leadership that lasts, delivered by a man who’s spent a lifetime proving that the best mentors don’t just coach—they build people.

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Boise is in a renaissance—and not the glossy kind that happens only on brochures. We’re talking about the gritty, sleeves-rolled-up version driven by accurate data, shared ownership, and citizens who show up when roads, schools, and hospitals feel the strain. With TOK Commercial’s managing partner Michael Ballantyne, a seventh-generation Idahoan and pillar of the Treasure Valley, we follow the throughline from family roots and adoption to a leadership philosophy that treats service as a core operating system.

Michael pulls back the curtain on TOK’s growth model: celebrate people at every level, expand only to create opportunity, and build your own research so decisions are grounded in what’s real, not what’s reported. That data advantage matters in non-disclosure markets and “lifestyle” regions like Boise and Spokane where national tools miss the mark. We unpack why office isn’t dead, how industrial overbuilt at the big end while small-bay space is scarce, and where retail thrives when it becomes Amazon-proof through services and experiences. The center of gravity keeps shifting west, and mixed-use will reshape legacy sites as the valley evolves.

We also tackle the issues everyone feels: growth fatigue, infrastructure gaps, and the housing squeeze that turned a once-affordable market into a tougher climb. The fix isn’t a slogan; it’s policy and participation. Cities need to allow more apartments, townhomes, and condos, streamline entitlements, and stop treating infill like a four-letter word. Impact fees and process friction matter. So does showing up—at chamber committees, BVEP, city council, and nonprofit boards—where Boise’s cross-partisan, practical problem-solving still works.

If you care about how a city scales without losing its soul, this conversation is a blueprint: measure what matters, invest in people, build the missing supply, and keep the civic muscle strong. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Boise (or wants to), and leave a review with the one change you’d make to improve housing or infrastructure—we’ll feature the best ideas in a future episode.

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Garden City, Idaho is only four square miles—but right now, it feels like the center of the Treasure Valley. With a professional soccer team arriving, the Expo sports park taking shape, and the river and Greenbelt drawing more people every season, the stakes for smart, human‑centered growth have never been higher. We sit down with mayoral candidate and longtime community leader Molly Lenty to map out how a small city can make big moves without losing the people and places that make it home.

Molly’s path started with “accidental leadership”—showing up for hard school district votes, winning bond and levy campaigns, and guiding visioning work that translated values into buildable plans. That experience informs a clear framework for Garden City: pair a shared North Star with practical tools like urban renewal, targeted incentives for mixed‑income housing, and neighborhood pocket parks that make streets safer and families feel rooted. We dig into the Glenwood–Chinden corridor’s potential as an entertainment and mobility district, the role of a pedestrian bridge and better north–south connections, and why active transportation can’t rest on the Greenbelt alone.

We also get candid about zoning friction and “first do no harm” governance. Molly explains how to simplify approvals without lowering standards, collaborate with Ada County and nearby cities, and protect long‑time residents from displacement as investment accelerates on the east side. And because local elections are personal, she shares what she hears at the doorstep, why she handwrites her phone number on campaign cards, and how four thousand votes could redefine the city’s future.

If you care about inclusive growth, safer streets, and a riverfront that welcomes everyone, this conversation will give you a blueprint and the motivation to act. Listen, share with a Garden City neighbor, and if the show resonates, follow, rate, and leave a review—then text a voter who needs to hear this.

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What if the story of a city could be read through the choices of one family—what they built, what they preserved, and where they chose to lean in? We sit down with Skip Oppenheimer, chairman and CEO of Oppenheimer Companies, to trace Boise’s evolution from a pioneer outpost to a dynamic regional hub, and to examine how business, philanthropy, and policy intersect when leaders commit to the long game.

Skip opens with deep roots—his great‑grandfather’s department stores and his parents’ cross‑continental romance—then maps how he and his brother Doug turned a regional operation into a diversified food enterprise. From private‑label frozen desserts and True Whip to a national food service buying group and logistics, he shares how shared infrastructure, long partnerships, and patient strategy kept independents competitive and growth resilient. The conversation shifts downtown, where we unpack the coalition that revitalized Boise’s core: anchor tenants, visionary redevelopment leaders, credible urban planners, and a commitment to local subs. We also get inside The Arthur—named for Skip’s father—to see how thoughtful design, cultural fit, and national‑local collaboration can elevate multifamily living without losing a city’s character.

Healthcare takes center stage with an honest look at system strain: rising costs, value‑based care that hasn’t delivered broad savings, and the challenge of recruiting physicians amid cultural and legal headwinds. Yet there’s real hope in the caliber of local leadership, clinical excellence, and systems sized for both capability and humanity. Education rounds out the arc: literacy as a non‑negotiable, go‑on pathways that include trades and certificates, the outsized returns of early childhood, and the steady, nonpartisan role of Idaho Business for Education and Launch in aligning students with opportunity.

This is a playbook for builders and neighbors: cultivate partnerships that last, back institutions that outlive cycles, and show up long enough to see compounding effects. If you care about how places thrive—and how business can be a force for public good—this conversation will stay with you. If it resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more candid leadership stories, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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Recorded live at our Kerosene event, where they keynoted alongside Tommy Ahlquist, Glenn and Mindy Stearns share their extraordinary journey from adversity to impact.

Glenn’s path was anything but easy. Growing up in Maryland with alcoholic parents, he failed fourth grade due to dyslexia and became a father at just 14 years old. After a moment of clarity in a bar, he drove to California, where a chance encounter with a gardener sparked his interest in real estate—a moment that set him on the path to entrepreneurship.

Together, Glenn and Mindy built their first company, Stearns Lending, with a philosophy of treating every person equally and listening to employees at all levels. After selling to Blackstone in 2014, they launched Kind Lending, which has since grown to 1,000 employees and become the fastest-growing mortgage company in America. But their road wasn’t without struggle. Launching just before COVID, they endured 33 consecutive months of losses, yet refused to make excuses—choosing instead to lean into their culture of perseverance and kindness.

Glenn also faced a life-threatening battle with throat cancer, now receiving all of his nutrition through a feeding tube. Despite this, he never complains, embodying the resilience that has defined both his personal and professional life.

Beyond business, the Stearns devote themselves to mentoring disadvantaged youth through the Horatio Alger Association, planting seeds of possibility for the next generation. Their story proves that when relationships are built on honesty, kindness, and respect, extraordinary outcomes follow.

As Glenn and Mindy put it: “Our cell phone numbers are available to every employee at Kind Lending because we believe in servant leadership. When people feel heard and valued, they’ll help your company achieve extraordinary results.”

This episode is a powerful reminder that kindness is more than a value—it’s a strategy for building both successful companies and meaningful lives.

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What happens when a child who never felt she belonged grows up to create spaces where others can thrive? Dr. Mindi Anderson's journey from trauma to triumph is a masterclass in resilience and purpose.

At just thirteen years old, Mindi petitioned to enter foster care to escape an emotionally abusive home environment. This early experience instilled in her a deep understanding of what it means to seek belonging – a value that would become the cornerstone of her life's work. Through the kindness of foster parents, teachers, and mentors who believed in her, she discovered the transformative power of community.

When she joined the Air Force with her college roommates, Mindi found another kind of family. What began as a six-year commitment evolved into a 23-year military career that included being stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base during 9/11, where she witnessed President Bush deliver his first address after the attacks. Her service in medical roles as a medic and nurse prepared her for a lifetime of helping others in crisis.

The transition to civilian life revealed a gap that needed filling. Veterans weren't lacking resources – they were struggling to navigate the existing ones. Drawing on her doctoral research about integration in healthcare systems, Mindi founded the Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce, creating a navigation hub that connects veterans with local support rather than faceless 1-800 numbers. The organization has become a lifeline for military members transitioning to civilian careers, housing, and community integration.

Recently named the first veteran to receive Idaho Business Review's Woman of the Year award, Dr. Anderson continues expanding her impact through initiatives like creating tiny homes for veterans transitioning from homelessness and volunteering with Cascade Fire Department. Her work exemplifies how personal pain can become purposeful service when channeled through the right values.

Ready to support veterans in your community? Visit IdahoVeterans.org to learn how you can volunteer, donate, or connect veterans with the resources they need to thrive after service. Because when warriors come home, they shouldn't have to fight to belong.

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Matthew Byrd never planned to become a tech entrepreneur. After a devastating car accident ended his football dreams at 16, he briefly toured with a rock band before reluctantly following his father's footsteps into land surveying. What could have been just another job transformed when Byrd discovered laser scanning technology – devices that create precise 3D digital replicas of physical spaces by capturing millions of measurements per second.

This technological awakening sparked a passion that propelled Byrd from a $13-per-hour technician to founding his own company, all without formal higher education. The journey wasn't without challenges – from learning business fundamentals on the fly to managing cash flow while clients took months to pay. Yet his persistence and vision led to building a successful service company that was eventually acquired, allowing him to focus on his true calling: connecting and educating others.

Today, as founder and CEO of Reality Capture Network, Byrd has built a global community advancing digital mapping technologies across industries. His annual conference in Boise now attracts attendees from 15 countries, while his podcast shares insights on everything from laser scanning to digital twins – comprehensive digital replicas linked to real-time data from physical assets. These technologies are revolutionizing how we design, build, and maintain our built environment, though adoption remains surprisingly limited due to awareness gaps that Byrd works tirelessly to address.

Beyond the technical innovations, Byrd's story illuminates timeless entrepreneurial wisdom: the importance of embracing risk despite fear, the reality that passion must sustain you through countless challenges, and how finding alignment between your skills and genuine interests creates the foundation for meaningful success. Discover how Reality Capture Network is building a community that shapes not just how technology develops, but how it serves humanity's best interests. Want to join this technological revolution? Visit realitycapturenetwork.com or attend the upcoming conference, September 30th - October 2nd.

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