Why does this week matter in Idaho politics? Because the decisions being made right now will shape the future of our state—often without most people ever hearing about them.

On this episode of Ever Onward, Matt Todd and Tommy Ahlquist sit down with Idaho Senate President Pro Tem Kelly Anthon to break down what’s really happening inside the Capitol during one of the busiest stretches of the legislative session.

From the reality of reviewing 1,000+ drafted bills to the challenges of balancing rural and urban priorities, Kelly shares a candid look at leadership, the legislative process, and what it actually takes to move policy forward in Idaho.

The conversation also dives into education, online learning, banking and ESG concerns, and why staying engaged as a citizen matters more than ever.

If you want a clear, grounded perspective on Idaho politics—this is a conversation worth listening to.

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What’s actually happening inside the Idaho Capitol this session? In this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy Ahlquist and guest co-host Matt Todd sit down with Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle for a candid, in-the-moment conversation recorded during one of the most intense stretches of the legislative calendar.

They break down the real priorities driving this year’s session — budget pressure, tax cuts, spending constraints, Medicaid cost growth, and the ongoing property tax debate — along with how rapid turnover among legislators is reshaping committee leadership and decision-making. Speaker Moyle shares how experience, institutional knowledge, and negotiation shape outcomes behind the scenes, and why the learning curve for new lawmakers matters more than most voters realize.

The conversation also tackles the modern political environment: social media misinformation, AI-driven narratives, out-of-state money in Idaho races, and why long-form discussion may be the only way to restore context and trust. They also dig into state vs. local control tensions, revenue sharing, and the continued controversy around property tax structure and HB 389.

Direct, unfiltered, and wide-ranging — this episode offers a ground-level view of Idaho governance, leadership under pressure, and what it takes to keep the state moving forward.

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In this episode of Ever Onward, we sit down with Idaho Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke for a timely, plain-spoken conversation on why Idaho’s budget situation deserves attention — not just from policymakers, but from everyday citizens.

We dig into the realities behind state budgeting, tax cuts, federal dollars, balanced budget pressures, and how strong growth years can quietly create future constraints. Lt. Gov. Bedke breaks down how legislative decisions are actually made, why uncertainty in revenue forecasting matters, and what happens when government runs out of flexibility. The discussion also explores public trust, long-term decision making, and why governing for the next generation — not the next news cycle — should shape policy.

If you want a behind-the-scenes look at how state government weighs tough tradeoffs, this episode delivers clarity without spin.

Topics include:

• Idaho’s current budget pressures
• Tax cuts vs. long-term obligations
• Federal funding tradeoffs
• Balanced budget discipline
• How the legislative process really works
• Growth, infrastructure, and public priorities
• Leading with a long-term horizon

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This month on the Ever Onward Podcast, Tommy Ahlquist is joined by Matt Todd — host of the Ranch Podcast — for an in-depth, long-form conversation on Idaho government, the legislative session, and the real forces shaping policy across the state. This episode kicks off a special series focused on Idaho leadership and lawmaking, setting the stage for upcoming interviews with top state officials and legislative leaders.

Matt shares front-line insights from producing multiple Idaho policy and civic interviews each week, covering topics that range from city and county government to statewide legislation. Together, they unpack how laws actually get proposed, debated, influenced, and passed — and why the process is far more complex than most headlines suggest.

The discussion explores major Idaho issues including water supply and aquifer risk, infrastructure and transportation, rapid population growth, rural vs. urban policy impacts, public education and school choice, healthcare system pressures, corrections and incarceration costs, state budgeting, regulation, and the role of subject-matter experts and lobbyists in educating lawmakers. They also examine election-year legislative behavior, how political incentives shape bill proposals, and why experience and institutional knowledge matter inside state government.

A core theme throughout the episode is the power of long-format conversation to cut through talking points and reveal authenticity, depth of knowledge, and real intent. Tommy and Matt discuss why podcasts and extended interviews are becoming one of the most effective ways for citizens to understand complex public policy and evaluate leadership.

If you care about Idaho’s future, civic engagement, public policy, and responsible governance — this episode delivers context, clarity, and perspective you won’t get from short clips or surface-level coverage.

Key topics include:

• Idaho legislative session overview and priorities
• How Idaho state, county, and city governments interact
• Water policy, aquifers, and long-term planning challenges
• Infrastructure, roads, utilities, and growth pressure
• Education funding, school choice, and rural district impacts
• Healthcare policy and system strain
• Corrections budgets and out-of-state inmate housing
• Lobbyists, expert testimony, and policymaker education
• Election-year legislation dynamics
• Why long-form media improves civic understanding

Ever Onward is a podcast focused on leadership, growth, service, and the ideas shaping our communities and our future.

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In this episode of the Ever Onward Podcast, sports medicine physician Dr. Kaleb Redden returns to break down how your fitness, strength, and lifestyle choices in your 30s, 40s, and 50s directly determine your health, mobility, and longevity in your 60s, 70s, and beyond.

With our host Tommy Ahlquist and co-host Andy Scoggin, we dive into practical, science-backed strategies for building muscle, improving VO2 max, protecting joints, preventing injury, and staying active through every decade of life. Dr. Redden explains why strength training, cardiovascular fitness, balance, and grip strength are some of the strongest predictors of long-term health span, independence, and quality of life.

This conversation covers:

• Exercise and fitness for aging adults
• How to train with arthritis, joint pain, and past injuries
• The role of strength training in longevity and bone density
• VO2 max, cardiovascular health, and metabolic fitness
• Nutrition, protein intake, and body composition
• Balance, proprioception, and fall prevention
• Motivation vs. habits and sustainable lifestyle change
• Rejuvenation, sleep, stress, and recovery
• How to stay athletic and active into your 70s and 80s

Whether you’re focused on longevity, anti-aging, functional fitness, or simply want to keep doing what you love without pain, this episode provides a clear, actionable framework from one of Idaho’s leading sports medicine doctors.

If you care about living longer, moving better, and staying strong for life, this is a must-listen.

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In this exclusive episode of the Ever Onward Podcast, recorded inside the Idaho State Capitol, Governor Brad Little sits down for an in-depth conversation on leadership, economic growth, workforce development, education, and the future of the great state of Idaho.

Governor Little shares behind-the-scenes insight from the start of the legislative session, including budget priorities, tax policy, public safety, infrastructure, and the long-term strategy that has helped Idaho become one of the fastest-growing and most economically resilient states in America. We discuss how Idaho is attracting high-paying jobs, strengthening career and technical education, and keeping young people in the state through programs like LAUNCH, workforce training, and skilled trades investment.

The conversation also dives into family values, faith, heritage, and the personal side of leadership — from Governor Little’s deep agricultural roots and multigenerational Idaho history to his role as a husband, grandfather, and steward of Idaho’s future. He reflects on lessons learned from past governors, navigating economic cycles, federal policy, healthcare, education reform, and why Idaho’s approach to governance, fiscal responsibility, and community remains a model for the nation.

This episode covers:

• Idaho economic growth and job creation
• Workforce development, skilled trades, and education
• State budget, taxes, and fiscal responsibility
• Leadership, legacy, and public service
• Family values and the Idaho way of life
• How Idaho is building opportunity for the next generation

A powerful, timely conversation with one of America’s most respected governors on what it takes to lead, protect heritage, and build a thriving future for families, businesses, and communities across Idaho.

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What if your annual physical is giving you false confidence?

In this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy and co-host Andy Scoggin sit down with  Eric Lyall, MD —an ER-trained physician who founded Peak Personalized Healthcare in Meridian—to break down what he calls the leap from Medicine 2.0 (treat problems when they show up) to Medicine 3.0 (measure risk early, personalize the plan, and prevent disease before it becomes your “new normal”).

The conversation starts with genetic testing—APOE and Alzheimer’s risk, why “genes may load the gun,” and how lifestyle and data decide whether it ever fires. Then it gets practical: what Peak Health actually measures, what most standard checkups miss, and how a high-touch, quarterly approach creates real accountability and measurable change.

You’ll hear how Eric evaluates cardiovascular risk beyond LDL (think ApoB, LP(a), calcium scoring, and when to consider advanced imaging), why metabolic health is the foundation for everything else, and how tools like DEXA scans can track the levers that matter most: muscle, visceral fat, and bone density.

They also tackle the topics everyone’s asking about—without chasing trends:

• Hormone replacement therapy (what’s changed, what’s still misunderstood, and why “bioidentical” matters)
• Supplements that are actually worth your attention (omega-3s, D3/K2, magnesium, creatine, and when methylated B vitamins make sense)
• Peptides, experimental wellness fads, and why skepticism is a feature—not a flaw

Bottom line: this episode is a roadmap for anyone who wants to stop rolling the dice on their health—and start building a longer, stronger, more capable life with intention.

Learn more: Peak Health Idaho — peakehealthidaho.com

Location: Meridian (Treasure Valley)

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Cold plunging and sauna aren’t just trends—they’re ancient recovery tools now backed by modern neuroscience, cardiovascular research, and metabolic science.

This episode is part of the Ever Onward Podcast’s January Health & Longevity Series, where Tommy Ahlquist and co-host Andy Scoggin explore the habits, science, and mindsets that extend both healthspan and lifespan. Throughout the month, they’re sitting down with experts and practitioners who live this work to break down what actually moves the needle for long-term performance and vitality.

In this conversation, they’re joined by Spencer Crosland, co-founder of SISU Sauna & Cold Plunge in Meridian, Idaho, to unpack what contrast therapy (heat + cold exposure) really does to the body and brain—and why it’s become one of the most powerful habits for sleep, recovery, resilience, and mental clarity.

Spencer shares how his first intentional cold plunge happened back in 2003 after chipping a hole in a frozen Wyoming lake, long before cold plunging went mainstream. From that experience grew a lifelong respect for controlled stress, grit, and the Finnish concept of “Sisu”—a word that means courage, perseverance, and the ability to do hard things when it matters.

You’ll learn:

• How sauna impacts cardiovascular health, circulation, inflammation, and detox
• How cold plunging boosts dopamine, norepinephrine, brown fat, and stress resilience
• The real difference between 40°F vs 50°F cold plunges
• Why contrast therapy can dramatically improve sleep quality and recovery
• Common myths and mistakes people make with cold exposure
• Simple protocols for beginners (including cold showers vs plunges)
• The mental toughness and discipline benefits tied to heat and cold stress

Guest: Spencer Crosland

Founder & Co-Owner, SISU Sauna & Cold Plunge

Website: SISUIdaho.com

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Welcome to Ever Onward—and the start of a new 2026 format. Each month, Tommy Ahlquist will run a theme-based series with a co-host, beginning with a foundational conversation that frames the topic and sets up the episodes that follow.

We’re kicking off the year with Health & Longevity—and Tommy is joined by January’s co-host, Andy Scoggin, CEO of Scoggin Capital Investment, to lay the groundwork for what “living long” actually means: not just adding years to life, but building a longer healthspan—more strength, energy, clarity, and capability for the people and purpose that matter most.

In this kickoff episode, Tommy (58) and Andy (63) get practical about the shift that hits many high-performers in their 40s and 50s: you can’t keep mortgaging your health for hustle forever. They talk about when to “pull the throttle back,” how to re-stack priorities, and what they wish they would’ve done sooner—because you can’t bank sleep, and you can’t rewind a decade of inconsistent habits.

You’ll hear:

• Healthspan vs. lifespan and why the goal is “square the curve”
• How to major in the majors (exercise, strength, sleep, nutrition basics) instead of obsessing over minor hacks
• Andy’s personal operating system: the first hour that changes the other 23 (gratitude, prayer/meditation, mental training, movement)
• Strength + VO₂ max + consistency—what actually drives long-term independence
• Sleep protocols that work in real life (routine, cool/dark room, caffeine cutoff, magnesium, and getting back to sleep)
• Nutrition fundamentals that compound—especially protein and metabolic health
• The unsexy longevity edge most people ignore: avoid preventable accidents (yes, like texting and driving)

This is the foundation for the month—a framework you can use to reset your routine, refocus your goals, and build a life where success doesn’t come at the expense of your body, mind, or relationships.

New episodes drop Monday mornings in January 2026 (Jan 5, 12, 19, 26).

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How do you scale across five states and 23 locations without losing the culture that made you successful in the first place?

In this episode of Ever Onward, we sit down with Kelly Olson, President and COO of Western States Equipment, to unpack how a legacy Caterpillar dealer has grown into a 1,200-person organization while building a workplace people actually want to stay in.

Kelly shares her journey from Montana-raised CPA to leading one of the largest equipment dealers in the region—and why the leadership principle “manage processes, lead people” shapes everything from hiring and coaching to customer experience. We dig into the Western States Leadership Academy, how shared language and intentional development turn strategy into execution, and why culture—not perks—is the real retention strategy.

We also explore how heavy equipment has become a technology business. From sensor-driven machines and predictive diagnostics to platforms like VisionLink and MineStar—and Caterpillar’s partnership with Nvidia—Kelly explains how data, AI, and smarter job sites are helping customers bid tighter, work safer, and stay productive.

Beyond the job site, Kelly breaks down Western States’ investment in people and community: technician career pathways, a nine-month Technician Academy, CTE partnerships, Dozer Day, and a clear commitment to responsible mining, workforce development, and local impact through Western Cares.

If you care about leadership that scales, technology that actually improves work, or building a career without a traditional four-year path, this conversation delivers.

Follow the show, share it with someone who leads people, and leave a review to help more listeners find Ever Onward.

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